Arduino

Arduino

Integrating Git into Your PlatformIO Workflow for Version Control

Version control is no longer just for large software teams—it's a vital tool for anyone building embedded projects with PlatformIO. In this guide, you'll learn how to integrate Git into your PlatformIO workflow to manage code changes, isolate new features, and track firmware releases with precision. From setting up a clean .gitignore to using branches effectively and tagging stable builds, this post walks you through a professional development process tailored for Arduino projects. Whether you're a solo tinkerer or preparing for collaboration, Git will help you write better code and recover faster when things go wrong.

Read more 8 min read
Arduino

Creating and Managing Custom Board Definitions in PlatformIO

PlatformIO supports hundreds of official development boards out of the box, but what if you're working with a lesser-known Arduino clone or a custom-designed board? In this post, we’ll walk through how to create and manage custom board definitions in PlatformIO using VS Code. You’ll learn how to define board-specific settings like MCU type, upload speed, and memory layout so you can fully integrate unsupported boards into your PlatformIO workflow. Whether you’re building with a cheap ATmega328P-based board from AliExpress or your own PCB design, this guide will help you make it behave like a first-class citizen in PlatformIO.

Read more 6 min read
Arduino

Organizing Multi-File Projects in PlatformIO: Best Practices for Scalability

As embedded projects grow beyond a few hundred lines of code, managing a single main.cpp file becomes a recipe for confusion and bugs. PlatformIO offers a powerful and flexible structure that supports professional development workflows—but only if used effectively. This article explores best practices for organizing multi-file PlatformIO projects, focusing on clean modular design, proper use of src/ and include/, header file management, and long-term scalability. Whether you're refactoring a messy prototype or starting a new embedded system from scratch, a well-organized project layout is key to building reliable, maintainable firmware.

Read more 8 min read
Arduino

Refactoring Arduino Sketches into Clean C++ Projects with PlatformIO

Refactoring your Arduino `.ino` sketches into clean C++ modules makes your projects easier to maintain, scale, and reuse. In this guide, learn how to transform a single-file sketch into a structured PlatformIO project using .cpp and .h files, and discover how this modern workflow can make your code more robust and professional.

Read more 5 min read
Arduino

Writing Testable Code and Running Tests Before Flashing with PlatformIO’s Built-In Framework

PlatformIO isn’t just about flashing firmware to your Arduino or ESP32 board—it’s also a complete development ecosystem that supports writing unit tests, running them locally, and keeping your embedded projects robust and maintainable. In this post, we’ll explore how to write testable code and run tests using PlatformIO’s built-in testing framework, all before the code ever reaches your hardware.

Read more 4 min read
Arduino

Debugging Arduino Code with PlatformIO

Learn practical, real-world techniques for debugging your Arduino sketches using PlatformIO—whether you only have your board and a USB cable, or you decide to explore optional hardware debuggers. Discover why the Serial Monitor remains the most powerful tool, how to use LEDs and code structure to your advantage, and what changes when you step into the world of hardware debugging.

Read more 6 min read
Arduino

Managing Arduino Libraries in PlatformIO

Adding Arduino libraries by copying ZIP files can quickly become messy and hard to maintain. PlatformIO makes this process simpler and more reliable with lib_deps: declare your libraries once in the platformio.ini file, and PlatformIO handles installation, updates, and versioning automatically. This post explains how to add libraries using the VS Code extension or manually, and includes an example of displaying text on an OLED screen using the Adafruit SSD1306 library — all without manual copying or hidden dependencies.

Read more 3 min read
Arduino

PlatformIO Project Structure Explained for Arduino Users

Moving beyond Arduino’s single `.ino` sketch, PlatformIO introduces a structured project layout designed for scalability and professional development. This post explores what each folder means — from `src/` for your main source code, `lib/` for private libraries, and `include/` for shared headers, to the powerful `platformio.ini` configuration file. Learn how this structure helps organize larger projects, simplifies dependency management, and makes your builds reproducible — and see why many Arduino users find it worth the switch.

Read more 5 min read