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Installing VS Code with PlatformIO extension on Debian 12.1 (with basic example code)

This is just a rough note on setting up Visual Studio Code in Debian 12.1 (Bookworm). Apart from the first step (installing python3-venv), I expect most of this process would be the same on Windows or Mac OS.

Installation

Firstly, to get around the requirement for installing Python 3.9, install the python3-venv package:

sudo apt install python3-venv

Go to https://code.visualstudio.com/ and click the big button to download the .deb file. Install the package as follows:

sudo dpkg -i code_1.82.2-1694671812_amd64.deb

Set up a new project in VS Code as follows:

Launch VS Code (e.g. from the XFCE program menu, or equivalent menu in another desktop environment).
Open the Extensions section in VS Code by clicking the button on the left-hand toolbar with four squares, one of which is separated from the others.
Search for "PlatformIO" to find that extension.
Click "Install" on the PlatformIO extension.
Click the PlatformIO button (the icon is an alien face) in the left-hand toolbar.
On the PlatformIO (PIO) home page, click on "+ New project".
Set project name to "MyExampleProject" (or whatever), set the board to "ST Nucleo F031K6" and set the Framework to "CMSIS". Click "Finish".
In the Explorer pane, within the "MyExampleProject" section, right-click on the "src" folder and select "New file...".
Create a file called "main.c" and add the example code listed below to it.
To build the program and upload it to the Nucleo board, click the right-facing arrow icon on the toolbar at the bottom of the VS Code window.
Assuming there were no errors, the code should now be executing on the Nucleo board.

Example code and circuit

A basic example program is provided below. The following breadboard circuit was used to test it:

insert alt text here

#include <stm32f031x6.h> // Header file for STM32F031K6

void delay(volatile int n); // Function prototype for a simple delay function

int main()
{
    // Configure i/o pins
    RCC->AHBENR |= 1<<17; // Enable clock for port A
    RCC->AHBENR |= 1<<18; // Enable clock for port B
    GPIOA->MODER |= 1;    // Make pin PA0 an output (for the LED)
    GPIOB->PUPDR |= 1<<8; // Enable pull-up resistor on pin B4 (button)

    // This while loop repeats forever (until powered is switched off)
    while(1)
    {
        // Turn on LED (PA0) if button (PB4) is pressed
        if (GPIOB->IDR & (1<<4)) // If PB4 is set
        {
            GPIOA->ODR = 1; // Set PA0 (Port A, bit 0) to turn on LED
        }

        delay(100000); // Time delay

        // Turn off LED (PA0)
        GPIOA->ODR = 0; // Clear the entire output data register for Port A (bit 0 controls the LED)

        delay(100000); // Time delay
    }

    return 0; // This point should never be reached!
}

void delay(volatile int n)
{
    // Waste some time by counting down to zero
    while(n--);
}

Useful resources

STM32F0x1/STM32F0x2/STM32F0x8 reference manual RM0091