Prepare for compile

Back to Basebot

Development environment (IDE)

The Basebot code can be maintained in either Arduino IDE, by Microsoft Visual Studio Code, or from the command line (using any editor).

Arduino

Install Arduino support; see Arduino and Teensy libraries

Open Arduino and select the basebot_6.ino.

Then, set the board to Teensy 4.1.

You should now be able to compile and upload the code to the robot.

Note

Editing the basebot files in the src subdirectory can not be done in the Arduino IDE, but maybe that is unnecessary.

The basebot will send data to the serial monitor. This data needs to be stored in a file for Matlab use, and another serial monitor or other tool probably has to be used.

Visual Studio Code

To use this tool, there is a requirement for a directory structure and file names.

So; rename two files:

• In the basebot directory (where the platformio.ini resides):
  • rename the directory basebot_6 to src. (Otherwise, the code will not be found.)
• In this renamed directory:
  • rename basebot_6.ino to basebot_6.cpp. (Otherwise, code editor tools will be limited.)
  • In Windows, this is changing the file type, so the file type must be visible. In the File Explorer, select View > Show > File name extensions before renaming.

Install MS Visual Studio and PlatformIO; see Visual studio install

In MS-Code, open the basebot code using the PlatformIO icon :

PlatformIO -> "QUICK ACCESS" -> "PIO Home" -> "Open" and here press "Open Project"

Find the Basebot directory - it holds the platformio.ini file needed to configure the project (i.e. Teensy 4.1, and the libraries needed).

Then, PlatformIO will install dependencies and check the project. If there is an error, read the error text and try to fix it.

Command line compile and upload

This is a possibility when running Linux.

Refer to the command-line installation instructions for Arduino.

There are two files in the project for compiling (compile) and uploading (upload); these assume that the command-line tools are installed.