Visual Studio¶

Setup New Project¶

First of all, let’s create new project from Visual Studio Start Page: Start > New Project or using Menu: File > New > Project, then select project with Makefile type (Visual C++ > General > Makefile Project), fill Project name, Solution name, Location fields and press OK button.

Secondly, we need to configure project with PlatformIO Build System:

If we want to use native AVR programming, we have to specify additional preprocessor symbol (“Preprocessor definitions” field) about your MCU. For example, an Arduino Uno is based on the ATmega328 MCU. In this case We will add new definition __AVR_ATmega328__.

Release Configuration is the same as Debug, so on the next step we check “Same as Debug Configuration” and click “Finish” button.

Thirdly, we need to add directories with header files using project properties (right click on the project name or Alt-Enter shortcut) and add two directories to Configuration Properties > NMake > Include Search Path:

$(HOMEDRIVE)$(HOMEPATH)\.platformio\packages\toolchain-atmelavr\avr\include
$(HOMEDRIVE)$(HOMEPATH)\.platformio\packages\framework-arduinoavr\cores\arduino

First program in Visual Studio¶

Simple “Blink” project will consist from two files:

1. Main “C++” source file named main.cpp must be located in the src directory. Let’s create new file named main.cpp using Menu: File > New File or shortcut Ctrl+N:

Copy the source code which is described below to file main.cpp.

#include "Arduino.h"

void setup()
{
  pinMode(LED_BUILTIN, OUTPUT);  // set pin as output
}

void loop()
{
  digitalWrite(LED_BUILTIN, HIGH);  // set the LED on
  delay(1000);               // wait for a second
  digitalWrite(LED_BUILTIN, LOW);   // set the LED off
  delay(1000);               // wait for a second
}

2. Project Configuration File named platformio.ini must be located in the project root directory.

Copy the source code which is described below to it.

; PlatformIO Project Configuration File
;
;   Build options: build flags, source filter, extra scripting
;   Upload options: custom port, speed and extra flags
;   Library options: dependencies, extra library storages
;
; Please visit documentation for the other options and examples
; https://docs.platformio.org/page/projectconf.html

[env:arduino_uno]
platform = atmelavr
framework = arduino
board = uno

Conclusion¶

Taking everything into account, we can build project with shortcut Ctrl+Shift+B or using Menu: Build > Build Solution.