Intro to Raspberry Pi Pico and RP2040 - C/C++ Part 1: VS Code and Blink | Digi-Key Electronics
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- Опубликовано: 9 май 2021
- Previously, we covered how to program the Raspberry Pi Pico using MicroPython. In this tutorial, we will show you how to create a simple blink program using C. We will also configure VS Code so that it can build projects with the push of a button.
Note that the written version of this tutorial can be found here: www.digikey.com/en/maker/proj...
You will need to install the build tools for the RP2040. I recommend following Chapter 1 (for Linux) or Chapter 9 (for macOS and Windows) of the official Getting Started with Raspberry Pi Pico guide (datasheets.raspberrypi.org/pi.... Alternatively, if you are on Windows and do not wish to install Build Tools for Visual Studio, you can follow the guide here: shawnhymel.com/2096/how-to-se....
In VS Code, you will want to install the CMake and CMake Tools extensions. These tools will provide buttons on your status bar that allow you to build your project by clicking a button. All of your projects will need a unique CMakeLists.txt file, which tells the cmake tool how to generate the build files.
CMake is a build system generator and does not actually build the program. The Raspberry Pi Pico SDK uses “make” as the actual build system. We can call cmake and make in the command line to build the project, or we can click on the CMake and Build buttons in VS Code to accomplish the same thing.
To upload the compiled program, we put the Pico into bootloader mode by pressing and holding the BOOTSEL button when plugging in the USB cable. This will cause the Pico to enumerate as a USB drive on the computer. Then, copy the compiled .uf2 file to that drive. The Pico will reset and automatically start running the program.
Product Links:
www.digikey.com/en/products/d...
Related Videos:
Intro to MicroPython - Maker.io Tutorial - • Intro to MicroPython -...
Intro to Raspberry Pi Pico and RP2040:
Part 1: VS Code and Blink - • Intro to Raspberry Pi ...
Part 2: Debug with Picoprobe - • Intro to Raspberry Pi ...
Part 3: How to Use PIO - • Intro to Raspberry Pi ...
Related Project Links:
www.digikey.com/en/maker/proj...
Related Articles:
Introduction to MicroPython - www.digikey.com/en/maker/blog...
Raspberry Pi Pico and RP2040 - MicroPython Part 1 - www.digikey.com/en/maker/proj...
Learn more:
Maker.io - www.digikey.com/en/maker
Digi-Key’s Blog - TheCircuit www.digikey.com/en/blog
Connect with Digi-Key on Facebook / digikey.electronics
And follow us on Twitter / digikey 
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Wow. That's a lot of configurations you had to go through. Thanks for going through all this hassle so that it is easy for people after you. You really are an expert. PS... your KiCAD videos are some of the best tutorials on all of RUclips.
It is pretty involved :) There's also the option of using PlatformIO that I didn't mention (community.platformio.org/t/official-platformio-arduino-ide-support-for-the-raspberry-pi-pico-is-now-available/20792). It allows you to use the Arduino framework (built on top of mbed OS for the Pico) within VS Code. I'm glad to hear you enjoyed the KiCad series, thank you!
If you compare it to modern programming languages indeed it is. But once you know them they are not so many
I was just a few hours ago browsing the raspberry pi pico and wondered if I could use it and still program in C, and now I see this video.
Indeed you should program it in C, otherwise you're losing a lot of performance off this platform.
already started going ahead setting up picoprobe. thanks for the great intro. I'll probably be returning to the kicad tutorials when I get around to making my project more permanent
This is cool, I followed the directions except I used cpp and a D: drive, just a couple little hick-ups of my own doing, but easily solved. Great Video, worked like a champ. Had some failed attempts with other tutorials, this just worked... This video is a jewel among all the Python, python, python everywhere I look python..... Thanks Shawn...
For a newbie that just bought his pico 5 days ago and have no prior code experience this was a struggle to get through. The failures I encountered were my own fault but I finally got that little green booger to flash!
When you are starting with the Pico, the best option is Micro-python
way easier to install and use and is all what a newbie would need
incredible video Digi-Key. I smashed the thumbs up on your video. Keep on up the fantastic work.
You're the best. I couldn't find IDE for RP Pico, but with this tool chain and SDK, this is fantastic solution and very simple to setup on Win10.
Is it worked in windows 10. when i run the blink program some errors are coming like unknown cmake command cmake _minimum_required not found. what u got terminal output. if u got no errors please tell me how u get it.
Jesus... I thought the idea was to make coding easier these days. That setup was crazy,.
Cmake is incredibly useful when managing long term support code bases
This helps us having a detailed control in compilation process to avoid deviations when compiling code updates
If you dont care about it (non professional targets) then just use micro python
Your web page and this video provided a working tool chain for the pico. Very usefull.
Awesome as usual.
Excellent tutorial 👍👍👍
I followed your guide to use MinGW because the normal way I just could not get working! Thank you so much for that excellent guide, now all is working well.
Your videos are a life saver.
Excellent video. Thanks!
Thank you bro amazing tutorial!! With your I got the basic idea and did it as u said and managed to get it working. Afterwards I managed to set it up with Visual Studio 2022 IDE (because I like it more, Personal Preference) using its default cmake project (no visual GDB), had some experience beforehand with those Ninja and CMake things.
Great video! I have started to get so frustrated of setting upp the build environment for the PI PICO. How hard can it be I tell myself and fail for the n:th time. So thank you for the input. I will take your advice and try again this evening...
Great explanation!
Followed your tutorial and at first I lost the port. I did a copy and paste of your code and now its working.
Detailed yet to the point. Great Job !
Thanks for the video!!! I have a question that I still can't solve, how can I set in visual code a different RP2040 based board, such as the adafruit feather. Thank you very much.
Hi Shawn, great videos. I'd like to see one about setting up Vscode to program in C and C++ on the raspberry pi and how to set up the launch, task files etc. Especially to bring in 3rd part libraries (like raylib).
Finally I was able to run my C program on pico, thanks. I was losing it.
Very good working
Apparently the site has changed, because when I go to the "documentation" tab at the bottom of the raspberry pi pico site (as seen 0:45) it no longer leads to the tutorial site but just to some documents.
And if I type in the link directly as shown in the video, it just redirects to raspberry pi's documentation search site.
Any information about where I can find the same info/site as shown in the video here?
How did you get bash to inherit all the Windows paths and variables in VSCode?
Thanks for the overview! C seems much better than Python for most realistic microcontroller applications, so good to show that. I'm looking forward to part 2 with debug, I assume using a second pico as hardware debug interface?
I used to be annoyed with the rubber room and straightjacket of the Arduino IDE, but cmake setup can be complex at the other extreme. Thanks for demonstrating that. Maybe we'll get better tools to do that.
You are correct...I'll show how to load the picoprobe firmware onto a second Pico to use it as a debugger in the next episode :)
Please keep up the series of cpp for pico
Thank you!
I am using the Windows WSL Ubuntu, and if your doing so there will be a warning but I just ran the setup script and it went just fine.
I’d recommend WSL with VS Code for windows. Definitely more complex but well worth it
have you tried.?? is it worked.???
I tried in windows 10, it doesn't worked.
Please tell me. Now im planning to use the method u told.
Please tell me your method worked.???
Ok....so in order to make my cute little pico understand my language of choice i need a master degree in informatics.
Is there an easy way as well like the platformio Add On for VS? Or did this also need the whole thing as well?
If you want this on windows, the documentation links to a github project that automates all of this. I'm trying it out now, but see section 9.2. Building on MS Windows
Stumbling block (for me anyway): CMake lists are space, not comma, separated! Accidentally using commas can create mysterious looking errors because the comma will be appended to the preceding name.
I typed "pico_enable_stdio_usb(${PROJECT_NAME}, 1)" and got the error message:
"set_target_properties Can not find target to add properties to: blink,"
Took a lot of head scratching before I finally noticed it was looking for "blink," instead of "blink".
I followed there instructions on my Mac OS which is using Monterey 12.5 unfortunately when I plug in the RP2040 I don't see any serial device under /dev. Holding boot select does work for uploading the .uf2 file though. Is there a missing driver for USB Serial on Mac?
hi, thank you verry much for this video.
I work on Linux and I have a certain pb at the end of the part, when i copy and paste the .uf2 programm, it works, the led swtchs state between on and off but my pico disappeared from my usb. I mean i don't know where it is, i can not find it and when i use lsusb it is not detected...
Someone can help me pls?
Nice video man! Can you please make a good project using pico with your environment specifically with some external arduino libraries
The problem programming in c/c++ sdk is that you wont get the convenience of using premade libraries for all different kinds of sensors out there as oppose to the Arduino IDE where almost every sensors and modules ever made there is a library for it.
The best way i can find to avoid the hassle is to use wsl in windows 10 and wslg in windows 11. It really streamlines the experience, specially with vscode supporting remoting into wsl...
thank you for a video, appreciated; now I know I shall keep away from Rp2040 since the setup complexity is on a border of pure madness. For example on LPCxpresso to dobtgecsame thing one must instal for example LpcXpresso IDE, or Keil uVision , with approx 30 example small projects included snd then choose Blinky project , click Build icon and then Debug and that’s it; program runs and led blinks and source code files are ready to furher editing.
I'm having trouble following: at about 11:40, you say "at the bottom, select the 'kit' button ...". I don't have that at the bottom. What makes that button appear?
Thanks! I was following OK up to that step.
On Pico W the LED uses the WiFi chip gpio.has anyone managed to make it blink?
How to program the microcontroller as a blank in a custom PCB?
The configuration process reminded me of the uncountable frustrating hours trying to get into embedded coding with c++. I have left make files and manual compilation stuff behind me. Hope the Arduino Core gets more feature-complete in the next month.
I think processor and manufacturer proprietary SDKs are terrible. you are forced to use a supported IDE and there are little documentation and examples online. It's just not productive.
Really nice video. Is there a Pico-like board where one does not have to unplug the cable all the time?
add a rest button or a switch on the power
I use a USB hub that has power switches for each port.
wow. That's so ridiculously complex I can't see many hobbyist doing all that.
What if I want to use both USB serial terminal and uart0 peripheral simultaneously? Can anyone help?
I follow the getting started guide.. the first 2 times everything ok.. now i think my raspberry is dead hehe. Any suggestions ??? I think buying one will be better haha
Even the pico documentation is out of date for the windows toolchain. Geez, I'll just go back to my attiny2313 on assembly, that was way easier to set up!
thanks for the awesome video. When connect the Pico to usb in boot mode, in device manager i can not see the com number and it appears with an unkown device. after i drag i drop the uf2 file automaticallt pico starts blinking but this time it disconnets and i can not see even unknown device name. so i can not work with putty.
I think you were missing the stdio_init_all();.
Happened to me
I followed this to a T multiple times. It caused damage to my Ubuntu install and nothing will build for the 2040 anymore. Everything worked fine in the terminal until I tried to use this tutorial to use VS Code.
Is there a single usable tutorial to get the pico sdk to function in an IDE??? Ideally without corrupting the laptop I use for all my work?
Can you make a similar video with esp8266/32 sdk
Their documentation is very confusing
😊
is the "C:\VSARM\mingw" intended or is it a typo for "C:\VSARM\minigw" (missing "i")?
It should be "mingw"
FYI "mingw" stands for "minimal gnu for windows"
I've got two issues.
1) Make does not work on Git Bash. Error is "mingw32-make: *** [Makefile:90: all] Error 1"
2) I've editted includePath for VS Code, however when build the file I get a include path error. fatal error: pico/stdlib.h: No such file or directory
#include "pico/stdlib.h"
The problem was that I had already a MinGW compiler in a different directory. I've removed it from my system and now I can make build files using Git bash.
The second problem is about includePath. I've added C:/VSARM/sdk/pico/** and it's fixed.
Must the installation be such complicated?
Isn't the PlatformIO better solution to just start, is it?
Oh, how I miss those days when one simply installed Microsoft C (from floppies), #include a couple of header files and could write/compile/run ANSI C, literally as simple as that. Of course, there were make-file options for more complex programs, but all this messing around to get a printf(); and toggle a GPIO pin to work... crazy!
Can we code in c++ on raspberry pi 3B plus model ? I dont see anywhere getting started with c++ for this model on the website.
The Raspbery Pi 3 or 4 are not the same as the Raspbery Pi Pico. The Raspberry Pi runs a full operating system, like Linux, and is real computer. The Pico is a microcontroller that does not run an operating system like Linux.
@@Hybrid.Robotics i see. So can we say that pico is just like arduino ?
@@vishalkumarsingh6468 pretty much yes. If you want to write C/C++ on RPi 3 (or 4 or any other than the Pico for that reason) check out how to setup a C++ Toolchain on Linux (looking for a tutorial based on a debian based distro will prbly make it easier). It isn't too hard since Linux comes with GCC preinstalled. Coding on the Pi can be hard though since you usually don't have a comfortable IDE like vscode and need to stick to something like Vim that works via SSH, which takes some (a lot) time to get used to.
Hello guy can anybody help me out i need to know WHERE in the datasheet of raspberry pi pico are the specs of general sink and source current of each input/output or groups of outputs, i have read it over and over and i cant find it, please help me out !
Hey man, I followed through with it according to your guide and all, but the problem is that whenever I start to code in main.c as you do, I get path error, like #include errors and cannot open source file "pico/stdlib.h". What yo do now man?
I have same problem, it shows errors but still works.
Lol this video is like telling someone it's easier to remove their teeth with a sledgehammer than dental tools.
I don't know how can I use pico-playground folder. There was no information about that!
hi guys...I follow exactly the instructions. But I make have this problem from the git bash terminal in vscode. Anyone can help me to resolve this problem?
$ make
'C:/Program' is not recognized as an internal or external command,
operable program or batch file.
mingw32-make: *** [Makefile:90: all] Error 1
I have fixed this by moving my mingw folder from Program Files to C:/ and editing the environment variables accordingly
Hi Shawn, very nice video. I followed your steps and I got this message "#include errors detected. Please update your includePath. Squiggles are disabled for this translation unit (/home/pi/pico/pico-examples/blink/main.c)." I am using the raspberry pi. I hope you can help me to fix this, thanks!
I am having the same issue :( any luck with a fix?
I should specify, everything works all the way up until compiling and then I get “fatal error: pico/stdlib.h: No such file or directory
@@grantpeterson2524 I have the same problem, something with how the PICO_SDK_PATH is configured in VSCode. I don't know how to solve it though. I'm stuck too.
That part of the sdk setup and install tutorial was unclear.
Quality
I do this and everything is great but it does not create a uf2 file at all. why?
Was hoping for C++20!😔
What is that blink???? How can i get it?
Can anyone help I did the bash script set up and when I try and create a program the file headers cannot be found
left click on the squiggly line and choose Quick Fix. Find the Include Path text box and add ${env:PICO_SDK_PATH}/**
This should help out.
@@Steven-jf4cs Thank you for your reply I have done this but get and error in the extension configuration "Cannot find: /home/redchowder/pico/pico-examples/pico_w/blink/PICO_SDK_PATH}/ " . Its strange when I add the SDK_PATH to the environment variables and echo it, it will print the SDK_PATH. Soon as I open up a new terminal and try to echo the path I get a blank
Doesn't Platform IO do all that automatically?
I thought it would!
It does, but I've had issues with PlatformIO in the past. I struggle with getting custom board definitions set up. I know people love it, and if it has Pico support, I say go for it. I figured it might be fun ("fun" is a relative term ;) for some to set up the toolchain from scratch. I know I learned a ton by doing it.
@@shawnhymel7647 PlatformIO To be fair does sound a lot more intro than setting up the whole toolchain manually.
It does have Arduino as the only available framework currently though, but I think that just means you need only not include Arduino.h and then its just C++ I think??
@@shawnhymel7647 I don't even have a pico.
I use it on ESP32 and saves me a lot of hastle.
VS Code + Platform IO is a good combination for many MCU and SBC projects. I love the dark mode theme for dev work. Arduino IDE screen is too harsh and loud.
@@BeefIngot You are correct--for just using PlatformIO, it's pretty easy. Once you include the Arduino framework, you can use C++ just like you would in the Arduino IDE. However, for the Pico, I *think* this means you're forced to use mbed OS (as that's now being shipped with the Arduino framework for the RP2040). I'm not 100% sure on that though. If so, it's a ton more overhead, especially if you don't need an RTOS.
1 week later, im still trying to figure out how to configure the darn thing
Here's my 0.83 cents (ie a dime a dozen) idea. Program the Pico to be an 8-bit CPU (6502, Z80, or 6809). Then wire it to a Commodore 64, ZX Sinclair, or Tandy Color Computer, respectively.
I´m using VS Code with PlatformIO. This is more nicer in my opinion
RP2040 looks unuseful if I need more time for setting the compiler than to do the software by itself
The Blink example will not build for me. I got errors on the CMakeLists.txt file. I followed the instructions so I expected this to work.
No way to get it working. Plenty of errors. Unable to understand where to install SDK actually. And libraries, it complains constantly it can't find libraries. I do specified exactly folder with all, but no hope.
Python it is then.
I think to many steps and to complicated. Needs to be more simple to program for average user
hey viewers like this vid. even if u got nothing or seen just 5min (like me )
Glad the board was only $5, without a raspberry pi 4 and using pc based Linux this was a huge waste of time. I understand why there are so few RUclips videos of folks using this for anything but loading your "examples". I would have thought Digi-Key would understand the need for a simple/classic lib support and setup. KISS always wins in the end.
Not sure what the comment about having to start vs code from the command line every time, but that's simply not true anymore. Cmake auto sets the environment, compiler, etc. automatically nowadays.
You skipped too fast to follow all steps how to install SDK and libraries. I am so desperate by now.
All that for a blink program, nah I would avoid it until it gets uploaded in 1 or 2 steps.
But you can use Emmet to define a standard CMake file, and then just add a few detail adjustments.
mmmmuuuuaa
People who are finding it difficult .
To understand the importance of Cmake Files:
- Compile C++ code using terminal ( command line )
- Linked multiple files into one output ( linking )
Why install sdk and write code on PC :
- install raspbian OS and vscode
- Write code and run it
you will find that writing code on PC and compiling for Raspberry pi is a 60 fps code writing decision :)
слишком запутано и сложно
I feel this is nothing for beginners ...
in this great article: replace c with python
😂😂😂😂 i use siemens s5 and s7 plc with simatic . rasp have much more power
C or no C++ as it sucks... Use Zig or Rust instead!