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Development Environment Setup

Visual Studio Code

Install it from https://code.visualstudio.com/Download.

Python

Install the latest Python from https://www.python.org/downloads/. We require version 3.13 or newer. When prompted, add Python to your PATH.

Verify its installation by running

python --version # on windows
python3 --version # on Linux/Mac

PlatformIO

PlatformIO is a VS Code extension which provides cross-platform support for embedded-systems development.

Follow the PlatformIO IDE installation instructions at https://platformio.org/platformio-ide.

Install the "Native" platform dependencies https://docs.platformio.org/en/latest/platforms/native.html.

Optional: You may also install PlatformIO Core for CLI support.

Note on C++ Extensions

The PlatformIO VS Code extension will automatically install the C/C++ extension to provide language support.

Prior to 2025-26, Mac Formula used Clangd for C++ language support. You should disable/uninstall the Clangd extension when working on racecar.

STM32CubeMX

CubeMX is a program which generates configuration code for our microcontrollers.

  1. Go to www.st.com, click on the account icon in the top right and create an account. You will need this username and password later on.

  2. Download and install STM32CubeMX version 6.15.0 from https://www.st.com/en/development-tools/stm32cubemx.html.

Warning

You must install exactly version 6.15.0 (not even 6.15.1). Using a different version than your team members will cause conflicts when opening files.

Git & GitHub

  1. Create a GitHub account https://github.com/. As a student, you should join GitHub Education https://github.com/education to get benefits like increased storage and free GitHub Actions.

  2. Install Git from https://git-scm.com/downloads.

Git Bash (for Windows only)

Git Bash is an alternative terminal shell which is installed alongside git. This shell emulates the Linux bash shell, allowing you to use commands like grep, ls, rm and many more on Windows.

If you are on Windows, you must use Git Bash as your shell when developing in racecar/. (i.e. not Command Prompt or Powershell).

In VS Code, you can change your default shell by pressing F1 and entering >Terminal: Select Default Profile and selecting Git Bash.

Clone the racecar Repository

Find our repository on GitHub https://github.com/macformula/racecar.

Copy the repository address:

clone

Navigate to a directory where you want to hold the racecar repo, then run

git clone --recurse-submodules https://github.com/macformula/racecar.git

Choosing a folder

Good locations are short and memorable. Consider C:\formula\ on Windows or ~/formula on Linux/Mac.

Do not use a directory that has spaces anywhere in its path, such as C:\Users\My Files\Formula. Spaces wreak havoc on automated scripts.

Automated Backups

Never put Git repo somehwere that is automatically backed-up by another program (ex. OneDrive).

Git is itself a backup system, so it will fight with OneDrive and corrupt your local repository.

Pre-Commit

We use pre-commit to run formatting and code checks before the code is pushed.

pip install pre-commit

Now go to the racecar/ folder and run

pre-commit install

Optional VS Code Extensions

These extensions are not required but will improve your development experience.

You should now check out Using VS Code and Platformio.