nRF Connect for VS Code issues

[db_lw]

Hello everyone,

I'm having some issues working with the nRF Connect for VS Code extension in combination with the nrf_desktop application demo from the nRF Connect SDK.

When I use the default project configuration (prj.conf) the extension works fine but when I use e.g. the prj_dongle.conf I have this issues:

• Pristine build doesn't work when I add the prj*.conf with "Extra CMake arguments". It seems like that the west build command that is called by the extension uses an empty string instead of the project configuration I configured. This is the build log when I try to do a pristine build:
  

  Building nrf_desktop_demo
  west build --build-dir d:\dev\_temp_projects\nrf_desktop_demo\build_dongle d:\dev\_temp_projects\nrf_desktop_demo --pristine --board nrf52840dk_nrf52840 -- -DCMAKE_EXPORT_COMPILE_COMMANDS:BOOL=On -DNCS_TOOLCHAIN_VERSION:STRING="NONE" -DCONF_FILE:STRING="" -DDTC_OVERLAY_FILE:STRING="d:/dev/_temp_projects/nrf_desktop_demo/configuration/nrf52840dk_nrf52840/app.overlay"
  
  -- west build: generating a build system
  Including boilerplate (Zephyr base): C:/dev/NordicSemi/ncs/v1.9.0/zephyr/cmake/app/boilerplate.cmake
  -- Application: D:/dev/_temp_projects/nrf_desktop_demo
  -- Zephyr version: 2.7.99 (C:/dev/NordicSemi/ncs/v1.9.0/zephyr), build: v2.7.99-ncs1
  -- Found Python3: C:/dev/NordicSemi/ncs/v1.9.0/toolchain/opt/bin/python.exe (found suitable exact version "3.8.2") found components: Interpreter 
  -- Found west (found suitable version "0.12.0", minimum required is "0.7.1")
  -- Board: nrf52840dk_nrf52840
  -- Cache files will be written to: C:/dev/NordicSemi/ncs/v1.9.0/zephyr/.cache
  -- Found dtc: C:/dev/NordicSemi/ncs/v1.9.0/toolchain/opt/bin/dtc.exe (found suitable version "1.4.7", minimum required is "1.4.6")
  -- Found toolchain: gnuarmemb (c:/dev/NordicSemi/ncs/v1.9.0/toolchain/opt)
  -- Found BOARD.dts: C:/dev/NordicSemi/ncs/v1.9.0/zephyr/boards/arm/nrf52840dk_nrf52840/nrf52840dk_nrf52840.dts
  -- Found devicetree overlay: d:/dev/_temp_projects/nrf_desktop_demo/configuration/nrf52840dk_nrf52840/app.overlay
  -- Generated zephyr.dts: D:/dev/_temp_projects/nrf_desktop_demo/build_dongle/zephyr/zephyr.dts
  -- Generated devicetree_unfixed.h: D:/dev/_temp_projects/nrf_desktop_demo/build_dongle/zephyr/include/generated/devicetree_unfixed.h
  -- Generated device_extern.h: D:/dev/_temp_projects/nrf_desktop_demo/build_dongle/zephyr/include/generated/device_extern.h
  -- Including generated dts.cmake file: D:/dev/_temp_projects/nrf_desktop_demo/build_dongle/zephyr/dts.cmake
  Parsing D:/dev/_temp_projects/nrf_desktop_demo/Kconfig
  Loaded configuration 'C:/dev/NordicSemi/ncs/v1.9.0/zephyr/boards/arm/nrf52840dk_nrf52840/nrf52840dk_nrf52840_defconfig'
  Configuration saved to 'D:/dev/_temp_projects/nrf_desktop_demo/build_dongle/zephyr/.config'
  Kconfig header saved to 'D:/dev/_temp_projects/nrf_desktop_demo/build_dongle/zephyr/include/generated/autoconf.h'
  -- The C compiler identification is GNU 9.2.1
  -- The CXX compiler identification is GNU 9.2.1
  -- The ASM compiler identification is GNU
  -- Found assembler: C:/dev/NordicSemi/ncs/v1.9.0/toolchain/opt/bin/arm-none-eabi-gcc.exe
  CMake Error at C:\dev\NordicSemi\ncs\v1.9.0\zephyr\cmake\extensions.cmake:2030 (message):
    Assertion failed: HID report descriptor file must be specified
  Call Stack (most recent call first):
    d:\dev\_temp_projects\nrf_desktop_demo\build_dongle\CMakeLists.txt:29 (assert)
  
  
  -- Configuring incomplete, errors occurred!
  See also "D:/dev/_temp_projects/nrf_desktop_demo/build_dongle/CMakeFiles/CMakeOutput.log".
  See also "D:/dev/_temp_projects/nrf_desktop_demo/build_dongle/CMakeFiles/CMakeError.log".
  FATAL ERROR: command exited with status 1: 'c:\dev\NordicSemi\ncs\v1.9.0\toolchain\opt\bin\cmake.EXE' '-DWEST_PYTHON=c:\dev\NordicSemi\ncs\v1.9.0\toolchain\opt\bin\python.exe' '-Bd:\dev\_temp_projects\nrf_desktop_demo\build_dongle' '-Sd:\dev\_temp_projects\nrf_desktop_demo' -GNinja -DBOARD=nrf52840dk_nrf52840 -DCMAKE_EXPORT_COMPILE_COMMANDS:BOOL=On -DNCS_TOOLCHAIN_VERSION:STRING=NONE -DCONF_FILE:STRING= -DDTC_OVERLAY_FILE:STRING=d:/dev/_temp_projects/nrf_desktop_demo/configuration/nrf52840dk_nrf52840/app.overlay
  

  
  
  
• The Kconfig window in the VS Code extension doesn't open when I add the prj*.conf with "Extra CMake arguments". No errors are popping up or shown in the terminal.
  I also tried the guiconfig option but that gave me an error although the same west build command call worked when I manually copied the line into the terminal.
  

  > Executing task: west build -d d:\dev\RoomController\roomconplus-nrf52\firmware\build_bgr100664_nrf52840 -t guiconfig <
  
  The terminal process failed to launch: A native exception occurred during launch (File not found: C:\dev\NordicSemi\ncs\v1.9.0\toolchain\cmd).
  
  Terminal will be reused by tasks, press any key to close it.

In the following I will describe how I created my demo development environment:

1. I created a new application from sample with this settings:
   
2. I added a build configuration that uses the default prj.conf:
   
3. I added a build configuration that uses the prj_dongle.conf:
   

Thanks in advance!

Specifiations:
OS: Windows 10 (21H2)
VS Code: v1.64.2
nRF Connect SDK: v1.9.0
nRF Connect for VS Code: v2022.1.192

[db_lw]

Hi Swathy,

below you can see my build folders:

• The "build" folder uses -DCONF_FILE=prj.conf
• The "build_dongle" folder uses -DCONF_FILE=prj_dongle.conf
• The "build_keyboard" folder uses -DCONF_FILE=prj_keyboard.conf
• The "build_release" folder uses -DCONF_FILE=prj_release.conf

When I press the marked button bellow with folder "build" selected

the following window opens:

The issue is when I press the button with folders "build_dongle", "build_keyboard" or "build_release" selected, nothing happens, no window is opening. Why is that?

Best regards,
David

[SwRa]

Hi David,

I have contacted experts in the field and will get back to you as soon as I get an update..

Regards,

Swathy

[db_lw]

It seems like the issues I had with the VS Code extension are fixed in v2022.4.219.