Installing Visual Micro into Visual Studio (with Arduino)

[@RobertGeyerMusic]

Hey, thanks for the product! I'm testing it right now and having a good time with it. There is one thing that I don't understand: After compiling it launches the debugger and opens the Serial Monitor. It takes up to 5 seconds for the program to start on the arduino, even when resetting the arduino after that without serial connection. In the usual Arduino IDE it's almost instant. Is there any workaround or setting I'm missing? The startupdelay is on 0. Thanks!

[@visualmicro4389]

Hi, thanks for the note. This means that you have "Debug" selected on the tool bar. Please change to "Release" then upload again. Why? The serial debugger is enabled automatically when the "Debug" configuration is enabled. The system pauses for a few seconds, to ensure watch expressions, breakpoints and code editor are visible when the mcu starts in debug mode. The feature can be disabled using the vMicro>Debugger menu. ps: We have a forum here where we normally provide support and guidance www.visualmicro.com/forums

[@RobertGeyerMusic]

@@visualmicro4389 I will check that out! Thanks for your fast answer and again for this extension :)

[@markdlehane]

I'm confused by this product. I can't see any advantage over using PlatformIO with Visual Studio. I can build with an Arduino framework, Simba and many more. I can also use the Arduino libraries and lots more too. What is the advantage of this? The video doesn't show it in use.

[@visualmicro4389]

A lot of users experience is the Arduino IDE, this is same with extra capabilities. PlatformIO is a different framework. The Arduino IDE is more open than platform io, with cores and libraries dating back many years, many not on git but on author web sites. Therefore it is an unlimited set of boards and libraries. PlatformIO is very powerful but requires more knowledge to configure each project, board, libs etc. The point of the Arduino IDE is to take that away and make it easier for people. Multiple .ino files are a big part of the Arduino IDE and various open source projects. Platform IO does not support that. The Visual Studio user interface is easier for people who like toolbars, short cuts keys and menus. PlatformIO in vsCode is almost entirely short cut key (command) driven which is great for people who like that way of working. The solution explorer in Visual Studio gives clearer and easier access to shared code, shared libraries, core and library sources views. Makes navigation easier for most to understand. It really does depend on each persons preference.

[@alexayers9463]

This video was just for the purpose of installing it, not demoing it.

[@DCCEX]

How does this differ from PlatformIO?

[@visualmicro4389]

Arduino and PlatformIO are two different eco systems. Visual Micro builds on the Arduino eco system uses the same Board and Library system as the Arduino IDE. That means it is compatible with (but not limited to) all of the boards and libraries that have been made to the "Arduino Standard" over the years without requiring any additional configuration files. The "Arduino 3rd party platform and library specification" is different to the specification that PlatformIO has created. Visual Micro adheres to the Arduino specification. Visual Micro also has unique debug options, not just GDB. The full Visual Studio IDE, that Visual Micro uses, provides simple and customizable toobars/menus as is expected in many windows applications, this appeals to some users. Visual Micro is not an eco system and is not tied to Arduino. In the future Visual Micro might mgiht also support PlatformIO because it is also a good system. It is true to say that there are some boards and libraries that each of the two IDE support that the other does not. Visual Micro is impartial and will always consider newer eco systems such as PlatformIO. There is also consideration that Visual Micro also works in Atmel Studio. This is a benfit for hardware, such as Arduino Uno, Mega, Due, Zero etc., that are all based on Atmel micronctrollers. For the Atmel boards, the Atmel Studio Debugger can not be beaten. Visual Micro combines the Arduino specifications allowing normal Arduino development (.ino/.cpp etc.) in Atmel Studio and also makes a seemless leap to use the genuine Atmel device programming and debugging tools where required. More reading:- Arduino Platform Specification: arduino.github.io/arduino-cli/platform-specification/ Arduino Library Specification: arduino.github.io/arduino-cli/library-specification/ Shared Arduino Compatible Libraries w/ Version Control: www.visualmicro.com/page/User-Guide.aspx?doc=Add-Libraries.html Shared Arduino Compatible Code: www.visualmicro.com/post/2017/01/16/Arduino-Cross-Platform-Library-Development.aspx Atmel Hardware Debugger: kzbin.info/www/bejne/g5rGn4OfpK1po9E Visual Studio Hardware Debugger: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bZLHiqSepNWpeKM Visual Micro Serial/Wifi Debugger (Charting and Performance Monitor): kzbin.info/www/bejne/bX25ppKVZcSdkKM I think there are too many differences to summarize well here, maybe it's worth trying it. Thanks.

[@DCCEX]

@@visualmicro4389 Quite an excellent answer. It is worth a try. That description is better than most of the videos that I watch to try and learn something ;) The other issue we have is trying to find a way to install a sketch with libraries for someone using an installer. Every way we have seen so far requires 400MB of gcc, CMSIS, Arduino OTA, SAMD and more. So we are looking for a way to be able to compile something and upload it without a huge user download.

[@visualmicro4389]

Hi, Visual Micro is Arduino compatible and provides a LIbrary and Board Manager in the same way as the Arduino IDE. That allows install of new boards and libraries from inside the IDE. Each core that you install will be as designed by the manufacturer and the size defined by the manufacturer. Please open a thread in our forum if you would like asistance or links to install guides. Thank you.

[@lucianbetke]

You are my hero. thanks you for the good introduction

[@lucianbetke]

But I will ask many questions in the future, I hope I get answers to my questions here

[@stmohir]

Why did you download a instance of Arduino and not use the one in the program files, should I do that or just use my regular Arduino

[@visualmicro4389]

You can use the one installed into Program Files. We only showed it with the download to keep it compatible for our non-admin users who may only have the ZIP download option. ps: The Arduino IDE is only used for the extra libraries and avr boards that are included with it. If you use library manager and board manager to install libs and cores then you can use the No IDE option without needing Arduino but that is not recommended for most users. This is because it takes a bit more Arduino experience to understand why there will be a difference between Visual Micro and Arduino IDE.

[@RandomTorok]

Ok this video needs an update. Typing Arduino into the Extension manager does not bring up Visual Micro.

[@visualmicro4389]

It only shows in the Extension Manager in VS2022. For VS2017/VS2019, due to microsoft changes, the extension now needs to be downloaded from our website and installed: visualmicro.com/page/Arduino-Visual-Studio-Downloads.aspx

[@josephtanner248]

Hello I just installed Visual Micro. But I miss the menue "Try, Buy, Activate... (German Visual Studio)

[@visualmicro4389]

The product comes with 45 day trial which should have automatically activated, giving full functionality. After the trial ends the vMicro menus will be mostly disabled and the "Try, Buy, Activate" menu will appear. BUT it is a good point thanks, we never used to auto start the trials, now the menu item name should have the word "Try" removed :) Can you confirm you can build okay? If not please open a thread in our forum at visualmicro.com where we can help you more easily. Thanks

[@josephtanner248]

@@visualmicro4389 I could not open a forum-user/passw. My user is locked. jsail

[@visualmicro4389]

@@josephtanner248 Your membership needed to be approved. It has now been approved, you should be able to logon OK now. ( we have to use anti-spammer system of approvals)

[@خالدرشدى-ك8ذ]

Support "sim800l + rc522 + dfplayer "modules?!

[@visualmicro4389]

We support all Arduino Libraries, which can be installed and debugged as below: Installing Arduino Libraries in Visual Micro - kzbin.info/www/bejne/aWjYdJ98e6eEm6M Debugging Arduino Libraries in Visual Micro - kzbin.info/www/bejne/eH_Vm4ugrtSbg7c There are multiple libraries available for each of these modules, a few examples below: SIM800L - github.com/VittorioEsposito/Sim800L-Arduino-Library-revised MFRC522 - github.com/miguelbalboa/rfid DFPlayer - github.com/DFRobot/DFPlayer-Mini-mp3

[@vdunnell]

It would be nice if in your videos, you would hover over the links you are goin to click on long enough for people to see what you are going to click on before you actually click on it. YOU should always before you move the mouse say the name of the link, button, or image, then perform the action slowly. Some of us are doing this stuff for the first time.

[@visualmicro4389]

Thanks for the feedback, we will try to improve this in our future videos to make them easier to follow.

[@alzalame]

Hi , i want to start with Visual Micro and Visual Studio , which programming language i must learn , i'am focusing on arduino/microcontrolers ?

[@TimLeek]

Arduino is a simplified version of C++

[@n_kill5584]

c++

[@oyoyo2853]

this doesnt work for VS2019

[@visualmicro4389]

The VS2019 extension is no longer available from the Manage Extensions Window in VS. It can be downloaded and installed, as shown on our downloads page: www.visualmicro.com/page/Arduino-Visual-Studio-Downloads.aspx If you have any issues installing please let us know on the forum (requires registration), so we can assist: www.visualmicro.com/forums/

[@oyoyo2853]

@@visualmicro4389 thanks for update I did find

[@EduardoRodrigues-qo7yp]

I cannot seem to get this installed on Mac. I downloaded the .vsix and none of the options to install it makes any good It seems the version I have is not like the one in the video. I have just downloaded. Is it supposed to work on Mac? Is there a particular version of VS I should use?

[@visualmicro4389]

Visual Micro is currently only compatible with the Windows Visual Studio version. Sadly, the Mac version of Visual Studio does not support C++.