Build Your Project

Projects based on this boilerplate use CMake to handle all the stages of compiling your work and creating a uf2 file suitable for putting on your PicoW.

Create Your Build Directory

By convention, all your compiling will take place in a ‘build’ directory; this is good practice, as it keeps your build artifacts neatly tucked away from your actual source code (and also why you’ll find build/* already included in your .gitignore file):

cd awesome-project-1
mkdir build
cd build

Prepare Your Makefiles

The CMake tool needs to generate a lot of configuration and scripts which will be used to compile your project. This will be based on all the settings in your CMakeLists.txt file:

cmake ..

Build Your Project

Once CMake has finished it’s work, it’s time to build your uf2 file:

make

It’s as simple as that; all being well, you’ll be left with a new file called awesome-project-1.uf2 that you can copy onto your PicoW in the usual way:

• hold down the BOOTSEL button on your PicoW
• plug the USB cable in (or, if you have a device with a reset button, use that)

This should cause your PicoW to appear as a drive. This will contain two files by default - INDEX.HTM and INFO_UF2.TXT - that you can safely ignore. Copy your uf2 file to that drive, and your PicoW will reboot and start running your code!