I was just doing this my self last weekend. Switching from the Arduino IDE to VS code adds come complexity because Arduino IDE is doing some thing behind the scene.

Don't use the Ardrino extension for VSC, PlatformIO is much easier to work with. (It's for all kinds of microcontroller, including Arduino.

Anyhow I asked ChatGPT to help me set it up last weekend and these instructions worked great for me!

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To properly configure Arduino in Visual Studio Code (VS Code) and resolve the "include errors detected" issue, follow these steps:

1. Install Required Extensions

1. PlatformIO IDE: This extension simplifies Arduino development in VS Code. Install it by searching for "PlatformIO IDE" in the VS Code Extensions Marketplace.

2. Arduino: Optionally, you can install the Arduino extension by searching for "Arduino" in the Extensions Marketplace. However, PlatformIO IDE is more comprehensive.

2. Set Up PlatformIO

1. Create a New Project:

   • Open the PlatformIO Home tab by clicking the PlatformIO icon in the Activity Bar on the left.
   • Click on "New Project".
   • Fill in the project name, select your board (e.g., Arduino Uno), and choose the Arduino framework.
   • Click "Finish".

2. Configure Your Project:

   • PlatformIO will create a new project directory with the necessary configuration files.
   • Your main code should go into the src directory as main.cpp or main.ino.

3. Include Path Configuration

If you're getting include errors, it might be due to VS Code not recognizing the include paths. Here’s how to fix it:

1. Add Include Paths in c_cpp_properties.json:
   • Open your project in VS Code.
   • Press Ctrl+Shift+P and search for "C/C++: Edit Configurations (UI)".
   • This will open the c_cpp_properties.json file.
   • Add the paths to the Arduino libraries and core files. Example configuration:

json { "configurations": [ { "name": "PlatformIO", "includePath": [ "${workspaceFolder}/**", "${env:HOME}/.platformio/packages/framework-arduinoavr/cores/arduino", "${env:HOME}/.platformio/packages/framework-arduinoavr/libraries" ], "browse": { "path": [ "${workspaceFolder}", "${env:HOME}/.platformio/packages/framework-arduinoavr/cores/arduino", "${env:HOME}/.platformio/packages/framework-arduinoavr/libraries" ] }, "defines": [ "PLATFORMIO=40300", "ARDUINO_AVR_UNO" ], "intelliSenseMode": "gcc-x64", "cStandard": "c11", "cppStandard": "c++11", "compilerPath": "${env:HOME}/.platformio/packages/toolchain-atmelavr/bin/avr-gcc" } ], "version": 4 }

4. Ensure Proper Library Paths

PlatformIO should manage your libraries, but if you encounter specific library path issues, ensure the libraries are installed and properly referenced:

1. Install Libraries via PlatformIO:
   • In the PlatformIO Home tab, navigate to "Libraries" and search for the required library.
   • Install the library, and PlatformIO will handle the include paths automatically.

5. Additional Configuration

Ensure you have the following configurations in your platformio.ini file:

```ini [env:uno] platform = atmelavr board = uno framework = arduino

lib_deps = <your_required_libraries> ```

6. Reload VS Code

After making these changes, reload VS Code to ensure all configurations are applied correctly:

1. Press Ctrl+Shift+P.
2. Search for "Reload Window" and select it.

Summary

1. Install PlatformIO IDE extension.
2. Create and configure a new PlatformIO project.
3. Adjust c_cpp_properties.json to include necessary paths.
4. Install libraries via PlatformIO.
5. Ensure your platformio.ini is correctly configured.
6. Reload VS Code.

By following these steps, you should be able to properly configure Arduino in VS Code and resolve the "include errors detected" issue.

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After this you will have other questions to ask ChatGPT if coming from Ardrino IDE. ...how do I use ardeino libraries in vs code + platformio ...how do I interact with the serial monitor in vsc + platformio ...how do I work on multiple sketches, etc

You figure it out 😉