When you start working with the extension, you only need to install the SDK and toolchain versions and use them for your build configuration. The nRF Connect SDK includes the software components for developing nRF Connect SDK applications. It comes with the nRF Connect SDK Bare Metal option, which includes a subset of software components that are optimized for bare metal applications. The toolchain refers to a set of development tools that are required to build nRF Connect SDK samples and applications. Such tools can be, for example, west or CMake.
After some time, you might need to modify other configuration options of the nRF Connect for VS Code extension if you want to customize its behavior. Make sure to have a good understanding of the nRF Connect SDK, the extension, and the workspaces when you do this.
The extension gathers information about the required settings from the following sources:
| Configuration | Source of settings |
|---|---|
| VS Code configuration | VS Code setting files, which includes changes you make in the Visual Studio Code's Settings editor. |
| nRF Connect SDK and nRF Connect SDK Toolchain version | Build configuration information or an internal setting that tracks the last used toolchain and SDK. |
| nRF Connect SDK application | Contents of the build directories (for example, CMakeCache.txt and .config files). |
| Environment variables | System environment variables and .profile on all operating systems, and ~/.bashrc on macOS and Linux. |