My requirements are that I have internet available to download anything, but I need to setup an IDE, libraries, framework completely offline. I can move anything over, but all installation and development needs to be setup manually offline. I was hoping to utilize ESP32, ethernet, and a file system, but have never attempted to try an offline setup for development.
The question is, is this even possible without major headache–as in should I look for a different solution/platform/board? Also, any help as to the starting points to setup offline would be appreciated.
VSCode will attempt do download dependencies (C/C++ extension, Python extension, …) when installing the PlatformIO VSCode extension, that needs internet
PlatformIO will install packets, platforms or libraries from the internet if they’re missing locally.
This question also partly overlaps with the already asked question on how to make PlatformIO building offline and reproducable with e.g. a docker container: How to download libraries. Please read those fully.
A way that I would try would be:
download a portable version of VSCode. Install the Microsoft C/C++, Python and PlatformIO extension. Through some magic way, create an archive that contains this entire VSCode installation with installed plugins so that it can be moved from one computer to another and used without internet access. VSCode people maybe know more about this.
download all necessary libraries, platforms and packages that PlatformIO will need in the offline install, through PlatformIO
see post above
easiest way would be to simply compile and upload the target project(s) once, as that will trigger the installation of the platform and packages (toolchain, framework, upload tools, …) in PlatformIO, which will be saved in the <home path>/.platformio/ folder. Then that folder has to be copied accross computers as well.
Thank you, I’d searched and saw one of the answers, but considering the level I’m starting at with this stuff, your answer is thoroughly helpful bringing the concept of offline together. I’ll try it out, and hopefully–before timelines run out–I’ll have an interesting solution to add.