nRF Connect VSCode Extension - Saving Build Configuration

Question

Hello, 
 
 I've started to develop with the nRF Connect VSCode extension and enjoying it a lot. However, I've noticed when I share a project the build configuration doesn't carry across. 
 Is there any way to get the extension to save the build configuration to a file or to .vscode/settings.json? 
 Our current workaround is to a shell script that runs the same command as the build configurator does but it's not ideal. 
 
 Many thanks, 
 Archie

Marte Myrvold · Accepted Answer

Hi Archie, 
 The build configuration is essentially a CMake build system . Much of what the VS Code extension does are things you can do on the command line using west and cmake, but with the extension you have a GUI making the process easier. When you create the build configuration it is the same as if you were to run the 'west build' command, but instead of needing to know what parameters to add to the command and how you can just select them in the GUI. For example, it is easier to select which .conf file to use using the drop down menu in the configuration option in the build configuration wizard than to know that you have to add -DCONF_FILE="<conf_filename>.conf" to the west build command. Additionally it makes it easier for users to do things such as rebuild and flash applications, as they can do so by selecting the build configuration and the desired action, instead of having to run the commands on command line. 
 Best regards, 
 Marte

Marte Myrvold · Answer

Hi Archie, 
 I see that you marked the ticket as verified answer, but I just want to inform you what the developers said. 
 They have thought a bit about this previously, and what they came up with then was to use cmake-presets: https://cmake.org/cmake/help/latest/manual/cmake-presets.7.html . Since we do not have any UI support for this you will need to use command line. Here is an example from the developers that works with CMake 3.22: 
 CMakePresets.json (in the app folder, next to CMakeLists.txt): 
 {
 "version": 3,
 "cmakeMinimumRequired": {
 "major": 3,
 "minor": 22,
 "patch": 0
 },
 "configurePresets": [
 {
 "name": "default",
 "displayName": "nRF52 DK",
 "description": "Default build for nRF52 DK",
 "generator": "Ninja",
 "cacheVariables": {
 "BOARD": "nrf52dk_nrf52832"
 }
 }
 ]
} 
 Call west build -d new_build_folder -- --preset default and west will generate and build a new configuration with this preset that the extension picks up automatically. 
 This has also been discussed with the Zephyr build system maintainers, who agreed that this is the right solution to this problem in Zephyr. The developers will look into also adding support for this in the generate build UI. 
 Best regards, 
 Marte

nRF Connect VSCode Extension - Saving Build Configuration

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