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Prerequisites

Complete the setup steps before starting this guide:

Install Visual Studio Code

Set up VS Code on Ubuntu or Windows with WSL.

Install the Extension

Download the .vsix from Qualcomm Software Center and install it in VS Code.

Configure udev Rules

Allow USB access for ADB and EDL on Linux hosts.

USB Forwarding (WSL)

Forward the device from Windows into WSL using usbipd.
Before continuing, confirm the Qualcomm extension icon is visible in the VS Code Activity Bar and the Home page loads with a Get Started button.

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Step 1 — Run the Getting Started Wizard

Click Get Started on the Home page to launch the setup wizard. Get Started button on Home page The wizard configures your host and dev kit in 5 steps:

Step 1 — Dev Kit

Select the development kit you want to target. If a device is already connected via USB, the extension detects and pre-selects it. You can also select a kit that is not yet physically connected.Wizard — dev kit selection
Qualcomm Device Cloud support — develop and debug on cloud-hosted devices — is coming soon.
Device not showing up? Verify the USB cable, check lsusb, and confirm udev rules and WSL USB forwarding are configured.
Choose the target OS for the selected dev kit. Select the Variant and Version using the inline dropdowns. The selected device is shown in the top-right corner.Wizard — OS selection
The wizard lists SDKs available for the selected dev kit and OS. Select the version using the inline dropdown. The latest version for your host architecture (x86_64 or arm64) is pre-selected.Wizard — SDK selection
To change the SDK version after initial setup, go to Dashboard → Downloads → SDK tab.
Select the development tools to install on your host machine:Wizard — host tools selection

Host Software

ADB, GCC toolchain, and debugger. ADB is required and cannot be deselected.

VS Code Extensions

C/C++ IntelliSense, CMake Tools, and others that enhance the editor.
Keep the defaults if unsure. You can add more tools later from Dashboard → Downloads.
Some tools require elevated privileges. Watch the VS Code Terminal for sudo password prompts (View → Terminal if hidden).
Click Download & Install to fetch and install everything from the previous steps. Progress is shown across four sections: Operating System, SDK, Tools, and Extensions.Wizard — downloads and installation
Use Install from archive (OS) or Install from zip (SDK) to skip the download if you already have the files on disk.
Do not close VS Code during the download — interrupted installs can break the toolchain. Watch the Terminal for sudo prompts.
After installation, all software appears in Dashboard → Downloads:
TabContents
Operating SystemOS images for your dev kit — flash directly from here
SDKsHost-side libraries and headers — configure device after install
ToolsCLI tools (ADB, GCC toolchain, debugger)
ExtensionsVS Code extensions (C/C++, CMake Tools, etc.)

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Step 2 — Activate Your Device

Navigate to the Device section and click Activate next to your connected device. This sets it as the Active Device for builds and flashing. Available devices list Activated device
For devices running Ubuntu OS, see the Ubuntu Device Setup section.

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Step 3 — Flash Device Software

Open Dashboard → Downloads → Operating System tab and click Flash & Setup Device next to the image for your dev kit. Downloads — Operating System tab
Do not disconnect the device during flashing. An interrupted flash can destabilize the device and may require power-cycle + manual EDL + reflash to recover.

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Step 4 — Develop Your Application

Navigate to Projects to browse sample projects or import templates from the SDK. IntelliSense is configured automatically when a project is open. Projects — recent projects Use the Status Bar buttons to build, deploy, run, and select your target device:

Build

Cross-compile the application for the active device.

Deploy

Build and push the binary to the active device.

Run

Execute the deployed binary on the device.

Refresh Device

Re-scan for connected devices.

Select a Connected Device

Choose which connected device to target.
VS Code Status Bar — Build, Deploy, Run, Refresh Device, and device selector buttons
By default, Deploy installs the binary at /usr/bin, overwriting any existing binary with the same name on the device.