Kconfig GUI fails to open in VSCode on Linux and Windows

[_rm]

i am using vscode + nrf connect for vscode , nrf kconfig, ... on different machines, windows (11)  and linux (ubuntu current lts)

i often had the problem that nrf kconfig didn't open. now i tried to narrow it down.

i cloned the same projects in a workspace folder on a) windows and b) linux

i had tried some differently named builds but at the end only used "build"

on windows one of the projects in the workspace (2.6.0 / 2.6.0) allowed to open kconfig gui, but that didn't work for all projects -> kconfig gui can work on that machine

on linux none of the projects in the workspace (2.6.0 / 2.6.0) allowed to open kconfig gui, anyway kconfig gui worked on that machine in other workspaces -> kconfig gui can work on that machine

on linux:

 

on windows:

error looks the same on linux and windows

the vscode logs are not really helpfull. the only related info is :

- C:\Users\user\AppData\Roaming\Code\logs\20240323T145841\window1\exthost\exthost.log

2024-03-23 15:07:50.158 [error] Error: Exception: "expected string or bytes-like object"
    at Pt (c:\Users\user\.vscode\extensions\nordic-semiconductor.nrf-kconfig-2024.3.21\dist\extension.js:4:223)
    at xn (c:\Users\user\.vscode\extensions\nordic-semiconductor.nrf-kconfig-2024.3.21\dist\extension.js:3:11254)
    at Immediate.<anonymous> (c:\Users\user\.vscode\extensions\nordic-semiconductor.nrf-kconfig-2024.3.21\dist\extension.js:3:11104)
    at process.processImmediate (node:internal/timers:476:21)
    at process.callbackTrampoline (node:internal/async_hooks:130:17)

- C:\Users\user\AppData\Roaming\Code\logs\20240323T145841\window1\exthost\output_logging_20240323T145842\3-Kconfig.log

[Info  - 3:07:48 PM] Server starting
[Info  - 3:07:48 PM] workspaceFolders: [{'uri': 'file:///c%3A/code/workspace-nordic_26_', 'name': 'workspace-nordic_26_'}]

[Edvin]

Hello,

Is your environment set up in VS Code?

Does the "Manage toolchains" and "Manage SDKs" show the correct NCS version that you are working on?

What happens when you try to click the "nRF Kconfig GUI" close to the bottom of the menu?

Best regards,

Edvin

[_rm]

the setup seems to be ok

when i click on 

a popup appears in the lower right 

[Edvin]

I will have to run it by our nRF Connect for Desktop team. I will let you know as soon as I know more.

Best regards,

Edvin

[Edvin]

Hello,

Can you please try to generate support information? There should be a button close to the top of the nRF Connect for VS Code plugin:

And paste it here.

Best regards,

Edvin

[_rm]

i redacted the project names


i recently updated the windows nordic desktop stuff.

on windows on that day the kconfig gui worked. not sure if this is related or random

[15:57:19] Update available nsscprodmedia.blob.core.windows.net/.../nrf-command-line-tools_10.24.1_amd64.deb

IMPORTANT: The data below could contain sensitive or confidential information about your environment.

If you do not wish this to be seen by others, please make sure to remove it before sharing.

For help and support, visit the Nordic DevZone at devzone.nordicsemi.com/.

{

"platform": {

"os": "linux",

"osVersion": "#111-Ubuntu SMP Tue Mar 5 20:16:58 UTC 2024",

"osKernel": "5.15.0-101-generic",

"vscode": "1.87.2",

"electron": "27.3.2",

"node": "v18.17.1"

},

"system": {

"date": "2024-04-02T13:58:05.352Z",

"vscodeRoot": "/usr/share/code/resources/app",

"nrfConnectForDesktopInstalled": "unknown",

"vscodeUptime": "00:00:58",

"osUptime": "00:02:05",

"cpu": "Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-6700HQ CPU @ 2.60GHz"

},

"workspace": {

"name": "workspace-nordic_26_ (Workspace)",

"workspaceFile": "/home/user/workspace-nordic_26_/workspace-nordic_26_.code-workspace",

"folders": [

"/home/user/workspace-nordic_26_"

]

},

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{

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"path": "/home/user/ncs/v2.6.0"

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{

"version": "v2.5.2",

"path": "/home/user/ncs/v2.5.2"

},

{

"version": "v2.4.2",

"path": "/home/user/ncs/v2.4.2"

},

{

"version": "v2.4.1",

"path": "/home/user/ncs/v2.4.1"

},

{

"version": "v2.3.0",

"path": "/home/user/ncs/v2.3.0"

},

{

"version": "v3.6.99",

"path": "/home/user/zephyrproject"

}

],

"activeBuild": "/home/user/workspace-nordic_26_/redacted2/build",

"apps": [

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"uri": "/home/user/workspace-nordic_26_/redacted0",

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"type": "Zephyr",

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"taskBindings": {

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"flash": [],

"eraseAndFlash": []

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}

]

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"name": "build",

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"type": "Zephyr",

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"taskBindings": {

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"flash": [],

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}

]

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{

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{

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"boardId": "nrf9160dk_nrf9160_ns",

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"isChild": false,

"isStale": false,

"taskBindings": {

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"flash": [],

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}

}

]

}

],

"topdir": "/home/user/ncs/v2.6.0",

"workspaceState": "freestanding-ready",

"toolchains": [

{

"version": "2.6.0",

"path": "/home/user/ncs/toolchains/2be090971e"

},

{

"version": "2.5.2",

"path": "/home/user/ncs/toolchains/7795df4459"

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{

"version": "2.4.2",

"path": "/home/user/ncs/toolchains/1f9b40e71a"

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{

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},

{

"version": "2.3.0",

"path": "/home/user/ncs/toolchains/v2.3.0"

}

],

"connectedDevices": [],

"deviceProvider": "nrfutil",

"tools": {

"/home/user/ncs/toolchains/2be090971e/opt/zephyr-sdk/arm-zephyr-eabi/bin/arm-zephyr-eabi-gcc": "0.16.5",

"/opt/SEGGER/JLink/JLinkExe": "7.92d",

"/usr/local/bin/nrfjprog": "10.24.0",

"nrfutil": "Not found",

"/home/user/ncs/toolchains/2be090971e/usr/local/bin/cmake": "3.21.0",

"/home/user/ncs/toolchains/2be090971e/usr/local/bin/west": "1.2.0",

"/home/user/ncs/toolchains/2be090971e/usr/local/bin/python3": "3.9.18",

"/home/user/ncs/toolchains/2be090971e/usr/local/bin/ninja": "1.10.2",

"/home/user/ncs/toolchains/2be090971e/usr/bin/gperf": "3.1",

"/home/user/ncs/toolchains/2be090971e/usr/bin/dtc": "1.5.0",

"/home/user/ncs/toolchains/2be090971e/opt/bin/gn": "2132",

"/home/user/ncs/toolchains/2be090971e/usr/local/bin/git": "2.37.3",

"gdbPath": "/home/user/ncs/toolchains/2be090971e/opt/zephyr-sdk/arm-zephyr-eabi/bin/arm-zephyr-eabi-gdb"

},

"nrfutil": {

"nrfutil-device": {

"version": "2.0.0",

"binPath": "/home/user/.vscode/extensions/nordic-semiconductor.nrf-connect-2024.3.25-linux-x64/platform/nrfutil/bin/nrfutil-device"

},

"nrfutil-toolchain-manager": {

"version": "0.14.1",

"binPath": "/home/user/.vscode/extensions/nordic-semiconductor.nrf-connect-2024.3.25-linux-x64/platform/nrfutil/bin/nrfutil-toolchain-manager"

}

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"GIT_EXEC_PATH": "/home/user/ncs/toolchains/2be090971e/usr/local/libexec/git-core",

"HOME": "/home/user",

"PATH": "/home/user/ncs/toolchains/2be090971e/usr/bin:/home/user/ncs/toolchains/2be090971e/usr/bin:/home/user/ncs/toolchains/2be090971e/usr/local/bin:/home/user/ncs/toolchains/2be090971e/opt/bin:/home/user/ncs/toolchains/2be090971e/opt/nanopb/generator-bin:/home/user/ncs/toolchains/2be090971e/opt/zephyr-sdk/aarch64-zephyr-elf/bin:/home/user/ncs/toolchains/2be090971e/opt/zephyr-sdk/x86_64-zephyr-elf/bin:/home/user/ncs/toolchains/2be090971e/opt/zephyr-sdk/arm-zephyr-eabi/bin:/home/user/ncs/toolchains/2be090971e/opt/zephyr-sdk/riscv64-zephyr-elf/bin:/home/user/.pyenv/shims:/home/user/bin:/home/user/google-cloud-sdk/bin:/home/user/.sdkman/candidates/gradle/current/bin:/home/user/.cargo/bin:/home/user/.pyenv/bin:/home/user/bin:/usr/local/sbin:/usr/local/bin:/usr/sbin:/usr/bin:/sbin:/bin:/usr/games:/usr/local/games:/snap/bin:/home/user/.dotnet/tools:/home/user/.local/share/JetBrains/Toolbox/scripts:/home/user/opt/SEGGER_Jlink/:/home/user/opt/nrf-command-line-tools/bin/:/usr/local/go/bin:/home/user/.dotnet:/home/user/.dotnet/tools:/home/user/.dotnet/tools:/home/user/.local/share/JetBrains/Toolbox/scripts:/home/user/opt/SEGGER_Jlink/:/home/user/opt/nrf-command-line-tools/bin/:/usr/local/go/bin:/home/user/.dotnet:/home/user/.dotnet/tools:/home/user/.pyenv/shims:/home/user/bin:/home/user/google-cloud-sdk/bin:/home/user/.sdkman/candidates/gradle/current/bin:/home/user/.cargo/bin:/home/user/.pyenv/bin:/home/user/bin:/usr/local/sbin:/usr/local/bin:/usr/sbin:/usr/bin:/sbin:/bin:/usr/games:/usr/local/games:/snap/bin:/home/user/.dotnet/tools:/home/user/.local/share/JetBrains/Toolbox/scripts:/home/user/opt/SEGGER_Jlink/:/home/user/opt/nrf-command-line-tools/bin/:/usr/local/go/bin:/home/user/.dotnet:/home/user/.dotnet/tools:/home/user/.dotnet/tools:/home/user/.local/share/JetBrains/Toolbox/scripts:/home/user/opt/SEGGER_Jlink/:/home/user/opt/nrf-command-line-tools/bin/:/usr/local/go/bin:/home/user/.dotnet:/home/user/.dotnet/tools",

"ZEPHYR_BASE": "/home/user/ncs/v2.6.0/zephyr",

"ZEPHYR_TOOLCHAIN_VARIANT": "zephyr",

"ZEPHYR_SDK_INSTALL_DIR": "/home/user/ncs/toolchains/2be090971e/opt/zephyr-sdk",

"PYTHONPATH": "/home/user/ncs/toolchains/2be090971e/usr/local/lib/python3.9:/home/user/ncs/toolchains/2be090971e/usr/local/lib/python3.9/site-packages",

"USER": "user"

},

"inherited": {

"ELECTRON_RUN_AS_NODE": "1",

"HOME": "/home/user",

"PATH": "/home/user/.pyenv/shims:/home/user/bin:/home/user/google-cloud-sdk/bin:/home/user/.sdkman/candidates/gradle/current/bin:/home/user/.cargo/bin:/home/user/.pyenv/bin:/home/user/bin:/usr/local/sbin:/usr/local/bin:/usr/sbin:/usr/bin:/sbin:/bin:/usr/games:/usr/local/games:/snap/bin:/home/user/.dotnet/tools:/home/user/.local/share/JetBrains/Toolbox/scripts:/home/user/opt/SEGGER_Jlink/:/home/user/opt/nrf-command-line-tools/bin/:/usr/local/go/bin:/home/user/.dotnet:/home/user/.dotnet/tools:/home/user/.dotnet/tools:/home/user/.local/share/JetBrains/Toolbox/scripts:/home/user/opt/SEGGER_Jlink/:/home/user/opt/nrf-command-line-tools/bin/:/usr/local/go/bin:/home/user/.dotnet:/home/user/.dotnet/tools",

"USER": "user"

},

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"${workspaceFolder}/redacted0",

"${workspaceFolder}/redacted1",

"${workspaceFolder}/redacted2"

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"deviceProvider": "",

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"erase": false,

"recover": false

},

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"thirdpartyIntegration": {},

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"installDirectory": null

},

"nrfutil": {

"home": null

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"defaultOpenAction": "ask",

"welcome": {

"showOnStartup": true

}

},

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"terminalMode": "character"

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"marus25.cortex-debug": {

"variableUseNaturalFormat": true,

"liveWatchRefreshRate": "300",

"armToolchainPath": null,

"armToolchainPrefix": "arm-none-eabi",

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"JLinkGDBServerPath": null,

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"stutilPath": null,

"stlinkPath": null,

"stm32cubeprogrammer": null,

"enableTelemetry": true,

"dbgServerLogfile": null

}

},

"extensions": {

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"version": "2024.3.25",

"path": "/home/user/.vscode/extensions/nordic-semiconductor.nrf-connect-2024.3.25-linux-x64",

"isActive": true

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"path": "/home/user/.vscode/extensions/nordic-semiconductor.nrf-terminal-2024.3.15",

"isActive": true

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"version": "2024.3.78",

"path": "/home/user/.vscode/extensions/nordic-semiconductor.nrf-devicetree-2024.3.78",

"isActive": true

},

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"version": "2024.3.21",

"path": "/home/user/.vscode/extensions/nordic-semiconductor.nrf-kconfig-2024.3.21",

"isActive": true

}

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}

[Edvin]

Do you happen to know what the python shims are doing? Is that something you installed separately? Does removing it change the behavior?

BR,

Edvin

[_rm]

see https://github.com/pyenv/pyenv for the shims. just a way to manage python versions. i installed it.

i use it only on linux -> as the error behaviour also happens on windows it is not the cause.

 

after spending some more time on the problem i have the impression, that build configurations created with overlay / cmake params tend to not work with kconfig gui while build configurations created without any custom params tend to work.

i would suggest that some configurable logging is implemented in the extension -> see where and when and why things (not) work. 
open-sourcing the extension could also help (doesn't mean you have to make the code reusable for competitors - choice of license)  

[Edvin]

Can you please upload an application that reproduces what you are seeing, and I can see if I can replicate it here, if you say that it depends on the application.

BR,
Edvin

[_rm]

i didn't say it depends on the application.

i said " i have the impression, that build configurations created with overlay / cmake params tend to not work with kconfig gui while build configurations created without any custom params tend to work."

the error happens also with sample applications. last tried with udp, location , ... samples partly with 9160 dk / 7002 ek

[Edvin]

Sorry. I meant to say "application's build configuration". Can you please take one of the samples that you have tested, with the modifications that you have done, and zip it and upload it, so that I can see if that will also trigger the issue here on my end?

Best regards,

Edvin