Microsoft MakeCode

C++ Compilation

#1

I want to develop makecode extensions based on C++. I have many c++ libraries for arduino and would simply like to port it over with minor changes. I used github and the web browser to develop a simple extension, imported the extension via github url so I can edit the extension in the makecode editor. When I edit the C++ or h hile, any time i make a change it compiles immediately. It takes up to 2 minutes to compile and I can’t stop it. How can prevent this? Using the local builder still compiles the C++ every time I change the code in the browser. Its impossible to develop like this.

The C++ compiler doesn’t provide error messages as well. It will just say there’s an error at ‘base’ and nothing else.

Any help would be appreciated

#2

Which editor are you specifically trying to use? To speed up c++ you will have to install our CLI and build from it using

     pxt build —local
#3

I’m using the web browser (https://maker.makecode.com/#editor). I have installed it locally but its not helpful. If I simply comment out a line of code it will begin to compile on its own immediately. Serving the editor locally results in the same situation. If there is an error in the c code, it doesn’t provide the source of the error (see below).

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#4

Modifying C++ in the web browser will generate a request to our cloud compilation service – which will take minute(s) to complete. Instead, you will need to use the PXT command line.

  • download the program to .uf2
  • extract it to disk
pxt extract myprogram.uf2
  • build locally
pxt build --local
#5

Following https://github.com/microsoft/pxt-maker/blob/master/README.md, I I’m unable to complete step 8. I get the error ‘Could not remove /node_modules/pxt-core’

#6

Oh right… you need to delete node_modules/pxt-core and node_modules/pxt-common-packages.

1 Like
#7

Hi. I tried building using above instructions, and got this error while building. Any idea please:

Building of code, using typescript extensions builds fine. Am I missing any toolchain? Thanks

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#8

You’ll need to install docker to run the c++ tool chain.

#9

Thanks. I installed and I am now getting the error “docker: Error response from daemon: invalid mode: /src.”. Looks like path is not correctly set?

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#10

Does docker have access to your drive? Otherwise use “—cloud” to use the cloud compiler (much smaller)

#11

In Windows you need to give permissions to Docker to access the host machine. I think it’s the “shared drives” setting described on this page: https://docs.docker.com/docker-for-windows/

#12

@peli Yes, the --cloud compiler compiles and is much smaller. But when I make any small changes in .cpp files, it causes error:

edited
It starts with this, yeah seems that build is failed:

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The complete log is very long. Can’t paste here

#13

This means that the build Failed. The log above should have more details.

#14

If you are editing the C++ code yourself you should not be using the —cloud option. Try to set up docker - see Richard’s instructions above.