PlatformIO
v4.3.0

Getting Started

Configuration

Instruments

Professional

Integration

Miscellaneous

Sublime Text

The Sublime Text is a cross-platform text and source code editor, with a Python application programming interface (API). Sublime Text is proprietary software. Its functionality is extendable with plugins. Most of the extending packages have free-software licenses and are community-built and maintained. Sublime Text lacks graphical setting dialogues and is entirely configured by editing text files.

Refer to the Sublime Text Documentation page for more detailed information.

../../../_images/ide-sublimetext-demo.png

Deviot Plugin

We are glad to inform you about an awesome Sublime Text plugin for IoT development named Deviot. It is based on PlatformIO Core (CLI) and will automatically install it for you. Please visit official Deviot page for the further installation steps and documentation.

../../../_images/ide-sublime-text-deviot.gif

Integration

Project Generator

Integration process consists of these steps:

  1. Open system Terminal and install PlatformIO Core (CLI)

  2. Create new folder for your project and change directory (cd) to it

  3. Generate a project using PIO Core Project Generator (platformio project init --ide)

  4. Import project in IDE.

Choose board ID using platformio boards or Embedded Boards Explorer command and generate project via platformio project init --ide command:

platformio project init --ide sublimetext --board <ID>

# For example, generate project for Arduino UNO
platformio project init --ide sublimetext --board uno

Then:

  1. Import project via Menu: Project > Open Project... and select platformio.sublime-project from the folder where is located “platformio.ini” (Project Configuration File)

  2. Select PlatformIO as build system: Menu: Tools > Build System > PlatformIO

  3. Open source file from src directory (*.c, *.cpp, *.ino, etc.)

  4. Build project: Menu: Tools > Build.

Also, you can access to all pre-configured targets via Menu: Tools > Builds With... (ST3)

Manual Integration

Note

Please verify that folder where is located platformio program is added to PATH (wiki) environment variable.

Initial configuration

First of all, we need to create “New Build System” with name “PlatformIO” from Menu: Tools > Build System > New Build System and fill it like described below:

{
    "cmd": ["platformio", "-f", "-c", "sublimetext", "run"],
    "working_dir": "${project_path:${folder}}",
    "variants":
    [
        {
            "name": "Clean",
            "cmd": ["platformio", "-f", "-c", "sublimetext", "run", "--target", "clean"]
        },
        {
            "name": "Upload",
            "cmd": ["platformio", "-f", "-c", "sublimetext", "run", "--target", "upload"]
        }
    ]
}

Secondly, we need to select “PlatformIO” Build System from a list:

../../../_images/ide-sublimetext-newproject-1.png

After that, we can use the necessary commands from Menu: Tools > Command Palette or with Ctrl+Shift+P (Windows/Linux) Cmd+Shift+P (Mac) shortcut.

../../../_images/ide-sublimetext-newproject-2.png
Command Hotkeys

Sublime Text allows one to bind own hotkey per command. Let’s setup them for PlatformIO commands using shortcut Menu: Preferences > Key-Bindings - User:

../../../_images/ide-sublimetext-newproject-3.png

We are going to use these shortcuts:

  • F11 for clean project

  • F12 for upload firmware to target device

In this case, the final code will look like:

[
    { "keys": ["f11"], "command": "build", "args": {"variant": "Clean"} },
    { "keys": ["f12"], "command": "build", "args": {"variant": "Upload"} }
]

First program in Sublime Text

Simple “Blink” project will consist from two files:

1. Main “C” source file named main.c must be located in the src directory. Let’s create new file named main.c using Menu: File > New File or shortcut Ctrl+N (Windows/Linux) Cmd+N (Mac) with the next contents:

#include "Arduino.h"
#define WLED    13  // Most Arduino boards already have an LED attached to pin 13 on the board itself

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

void loop()
{
  digitalWrite(WLED, HIGH);  // set the LED on
  delay(1000);               // wait for a second
  digitalWrite(WLED, 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 open project directory in Sublime Text using Menu: File > Open Folder and build it with shortcut Ctrl+B (Windows/Linux) or Cmd+B (Mac), clean project with shortcut F11 and upload firmware to target with shortcut F12.

Debugging

A debugging feature is provided by PIO Unified Debugger and new debug configuration named “PlatformIO Debugger” is created. No need to do extra configuration steps!

  1. Install SublimeGDB package

  2. Launch debugger with F5

  3. Wait for a while, PlatformIO will prepare project for debugging and session will be started soon.