Build, upload and monitor your PlatformIO projects directly inside VS Code — with serial monitor, auto-reconnect, ESP32 backtrace decoder and more.
Features
- Verify & Upload — Build or flash your firmware with one click. Cancel mid-build at any time.
- Serial Monitor — Real-time serial output with auto-reconnect when the cable is unplugged and replugged.
- Send Messages — Type and send commands to your device directly from the monitor.
- Environment Selector — Switch between PlatformIO build environments without touching
platformio.ini.
- ESP32 Backtrace Decoder — Automatically detects Guru Meditation errors and decodes the backtrace into clickable source file links.
- DTR / RTS Control — Toggle DTR and RTS lines live without reconnecting.
- PlatformIO Home — Open PlatformIO Home directly from the toolbar.
- Configurable Log Buffer — Set the maximum number of lines kept in Monitor and Log output.
Requirements
- PlatformIO IDE extension installed.
- A workspace containing a
platformio.ini file (the panel appears automatically).
Quick Start
- Open a PlatformIO project — the PIO panel appears at the bottom of VS Code automatically.
- Select your environment from the dropdown (or leave it as Default).
- Click VERIFY to build or UPLOAD to flash your device.
- After upload the serial monitor connects automatically.
- Select your COM port and baud rate in the serial bar, then the monitor starts.
- Type a message in the input box and press Enter or click Send to write to the serial port.
First-time setup
If PlatformIO CLI is not detected automatically:
- Click the SETTINGS tab.
- Click Auto-detect — the extension searches common install locations.
- Or paste the full path to
pio / pio.exe and click Test then Save.
Settings
| Setting |
Default |
Description |
arduino.pioPath |
(auto) |
Full path to the PlatformIO CLI executable. Leave empty to auto-detect. |
arduino.maxLogLines |
200 |
Maximum lines kept in Monitor and Log output (50 – 10000). |
Tips
- Auto-reconnect — leave the monitor running; it reconnects automatically after a reset or cable replug.
- Backtrace links — click any decoded file path to jump directly to the offending line in your source.
- Cancel build — while building the Connect/Disconnect button turns into ✕ Cancel.
- Background monitor — switching to the Settings tab does not disconnect the serial monitor.
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