Getting started with C/C++ & MicroPython on Raspberry Pi Pico on Windows

INFO:
You can either go through official 70 pages and 267 pages documentation or follow this video to get the C/C++ SDK and MicroPython sorted on Raspberry Pi Pico on Windows.

MicroPython - 1:40
C/C++ SDK - 4:04

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Music

[jaytannenhaus]

Thank you so much for posting this. I've been struggling with the C tool chain for hours trying to follow the RPi docs and other youtubers. I really like how you simplified it to just a blink example instead of all the examples, which takes a long time to build. GREAT WORK!

[CarlSargunar]

Best instructions I've seen so far for setting up the Pi Pico on Windows - THANK YOU!!!

[ithaca]

i almost cant believe it... after at least a dozen individual attempts and probably over 50-60 hours of debugging trying again giving up debugging etc... this one video finally made it work for me even after probably polluting the crap out of my paths variables. thank you so much

[usernamename]

In the 1980s we had Turbo C. In the early 90s we had Turbo C++. They were very fast, easy to install and easy to use (one key to compile, link, debug). Now with 500 times the processing power, 4, 000 times the memory and maybe 20 times the hassle in installation, where are we? It now takes many times longer to build for much the same result.

[TheTrudgingTech]

I'm not sure why this was so difficult. I was so close with my own test environment, but I just couldn't get it until I saw your examples. Cmake makes me feel dumb. Thank you for alleviating my frustrations.

[SahilTiwariOnPlus]

5:20 AM perfect time to watch a NotEnoughTECH video.

[ScibbieGames]

A lot of their design decisions were for performance I believe. They explain their design decisions in detail in their sdk manual I think.

It's about as convoluted to set up on Linux. But with the project generator it's really not that big of a deal. The project is only just out, and Im sure people on github will streamline the whole process, or even create new interpreters for more languages in the future.

[djencore]

Fantastic Video, once running it's OK but certainly takes a lot to get started, I'm glad the Arduino released support for the Pico PI, there are not that many examples of using the board with peripherals. Hopefully, there is wide adoption of the RP2040 otherwise we just drift back to our comfort zone with other proven solutions.

[DonHenderson]

Thanks Matt, did not realise the effort needed to use c on a windows machine

[nezbrun]

I'm a real time C embedded developer, and you're right, this is incredibly painful.

I found creating a fresh clean Windows VM was necessary, all the existing dev stuff I use on a daily basis just wasn't compatible. It's at least half a day if not more I'll never get back.


I very rarely use Python, but the MicroPython stuff took about 3 minutes to get up and running. Unfortunately MicroPython doesn't perform at all well compared to native C.

[myhandle]

Thanks for video, really helpful. I'm a beginner looking for information, not sure should I to start with micro python or c++?

[SalZam]

Is it possible to use the Pico to convert analog RGB video signal from old console to digital like Displayport/DVI?

[PhG]

Waw, looks complicated to get this installed. But I'll give it a try !

[kawrx]

Most of my blue bar at the bottom of VS Code is blank. I'm pretty sure I've done all the steps, but how do I select the compiler (gcc)?

[CaviteTechnology]

microPython it is then, just like you said I hope arduino will release a new update along with RP2040 :)

[dwDragon]

Excellent video, you helped me fix my install and I am up and running now on Windows 10.

I was very excited about the Pi Pico until I saw the SDK setup process. This is an absolute mess, do they really except your average hobbyist will deal with this much complexity? Everyone is just going to wait for Arduino IDE support now. And if your are using Arduino IDE, why not just use an Arduino???

[rheslip]

I tried the Pico getting started guide and was able to compile from the command line. Tried their instructions and then yours for Visual Studio Code and could not get it working on Win7. I'm wondering how they came up with a Windows toolchain so convoluted and difficult to set up. The Pico is kind of a cool little part but some of Raspberry Pi's implementation decisions are puzzling. Unless you have a day or 2 to waste I'd recommend using MicroPython or waiting for Arduino to add Pico support.

[gadjetsvideo]

Great video as I wanted to learn how to use C++ with the pico and I followed all the setup instructions (I think) but I lost you at 8:48, when I open an empty folder it is just that, Empty! you have files in your folder how did they get there?

[jumbo]

Does the board already come with preload bootloader? I had problem writing code to my Arduino nano which didn't come with bootloader. I don't want to go through the process of burning bootloader to the microcontroller board.

[Anthony-ymiz]

Do you find the lack of wifi on the device a problem?