Application-specific flash options ignored: softreset does not work

To preface:

  • nRF Connect SDK 2.9.0
  • nRF9151 DK
  • Windows 11 PC

Hello,

I just stumbled upon a potential issue after trying to figure out why I couldn't use 'softreset' in my settings.json file per this guide:

https://docs.nordicsemi.com/bundle/nrf-connect-vscode/page/guides/build_bind_tasks.html#how-to-add-application-specific-flash-options

The above guide states to add the following to your settings.json to enable 'softreset' functionality:

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{
"nrf-connect.applicationOptions": {
"/path/to/your/application": {
"flash": {
"softreset": true
}
}
}
}
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However, this didn't work for me. I tried adding it to my local workspace settings.json, then my user settings.json in AppData\Roaming\...

Nothing worked. Every time I programmed the devkit I could see the reset line pulse low (I am monitoring pin 10 on header P18 of the nRF9151DK).

Just when I was about to give up, I stumbled on this:

Upon checking the item highlighted in red, the following was added to my workspace settings.json file:

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"nrf-connect.flash.softreset": true
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Success! Programming my board no longer asserts the reset line. I now see "Applying system reset" instead of "Applying pin reset" in the VS Code terminal window 
 
"nrf-connect.flash.softreset": true does not match the documentation linked above.
 
Question 1: Is the documentation incorrect? If not, why doesn't the documentation's method work for me?
 
Question 2: Is there any issue or disadvantage to using 'softreset' for programming or debugging a nRF9151 module? Is there a preference?
 
We intend to use a single reset pin to reset two MCUs, hence the nature of this question.
 
I do see the following in the logs more frequently which is concerning:
 
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[00:00:07.360,382] <wrn> nrf_modem_lib_netif: The modem has detected a reset loop. LTE network attach is now restricted for the next 30 minutes.
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This makes me wonder how 'softreset' impacts the modem core reset procedure.
 
Question 3: When using 'softreset', does this also reset the modem core, or is the modem core only reset via nRESET?
 
Thanks,
Derek