> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://dragonwingdocs.qualcomm.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Run the Extension On-Device

> Run the Qualcomm® VS Code Extension directly on your development kit — no separate host machine required.

## Overview

This guide helps you run the Qualcomm® VS Code Extension entirely on the development kit — no separate host machine needed. Connect a monitor, keyboard, and mouse directly to the device to interact with it locally.

***

## Prerequisites

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Visual Studio Code installed" icon="code" href="./install-vscode">
    Install VS Code on the device before proceeding.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Extension installed" icon="puzzle-piece" href="./install-extension">
    Install the Qualcomm® VS Code Extension from a `.vsix` file.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

***

## Using the Extension

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open the extension">
    Launch VS Code on the device and click the **Qualcomm Visual Studio Code Extension** icon in the Activity Bar. The **Home** page loads with **Get Started** and **Go to Dashboard** buttons.

    <img src="https://mintlify.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/qualcomm-prod/Tools/QVSCE/images/vscode_extension_icon.png" alt="VS Code — Qualcomm extension icon in Activity Bar" />
  </Step>

  <Step title="Go to the Dashboard">
    Click **Go to Dashboard**.
  </Step>
</Steps>

The extension automatically detects that it's running on the device — it appears in the Devices list with an **On-Device** badge and `Active (On-Device)` status, with no manual activation needed.

<img src="https://mintlify.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/qualcomm-prod/Tools/QVSCE/images/on_device_badge_menu.png" alt="Devices page showing the device with an On-Device badge and Active (On-Device) status" />

***

## Set Up the Development Environment

The first time you open the device card, it shows **Dev environment not configured**. Click the **Set Up Dev Environment** button to configure sample projects and tools for on-device development.

You can also trigger this at any time from the **⋮** menu on the device card → **Set Up Dev Environment**.

<img src="https://mintlify.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/qualcomm-prod/Tools/QVSCE/images/on_device_not_configured.png" alt="Device card showing Dev environment not configured state" />

A progress indicator is shown on the device card while setup runs.

<Note>
  Requires an internet connection and about 2–3 GB of free disk space; takes
  10–20 minutes depending on network speed. Installs Qualcomm runtime packages
  (GStreamer, QNN, SNPE) and build dependencies, adds the `ms-vscode.cpptools`
  extension, and fetches sample application sources.
</Note>

<img src="https://mintlify.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/qualcomm-prod/Tools/QVSCE/images/on_device_setup_progress.png" alt="Device card showing setup progress indicator" />

Once complete, the card displays a table of preloaded applications with their name, location, and run status.

***

## Next Steps

Head to **[Build & Run](../development/build-run)** to compile and run a sample application, or browse **[Sample Projects](../development/projects)**.