Using the Fuchsia extension for VS Code

This extension adds support for working with Fuchsia targets and source code.

Compatibility

The Fuchsia extension is compatible with ffx 2025-08-12T20:40:15+00:00 and forward.

Edit code

By default, VS code provides syntax highlighting, errors and warnings, jumping to a definition, and lists references for C++.

VS Code actively analyzes your code in the background and can show you various warnings or errors. For more information, see Errors and warnings.

The Fuchsia extension also provides syntax highlighting for FIDL and CML.

Core features

All features are accessible via the VS Code command palette Ctrl+Shift+P (Linux/Windows) or Cmd+Shift+P(Mac). Type "Fuchsia" in the command palette to see a list of available commands.

This figure shows Fuchsia commands with the command palette.

Building Fuchsia

fx set

This feature allows you to interactively select product, board, compilation mode, and packages for your Fuchsia build.

The current build configuration shows at the top of the list.

This figure shows the list of products from fx set.

Packages show a history of selections made within the session.

This figure shows the history list of packages from fx set.

fx build

Run Fuchsia builds within VS Code. The extension displays current build progress and you can see more details in Output > Fuchsia Extension.

This figure shows fx build in the command palette and build progress.

File paths in the build output errors are clickable, allowing you to jump directly to the error in the source code.

This figure shows the fx build error in the output and occurrence in the file.

The extension parses build output to show C++ and Rust errors in the "Problems" panel of VS Code.

This figure shows the fx build error in the output and occurrence in the file.

fx serve

Start and stop the package server from the command palette.

This figure shows the commands to start and stop a package server.

fx ota

Trigger an over-the-air update for a connected device.

This figure shows an ota update with details of the build.

Target management

Connect to a Fuchsia device

The Fuchsia extension allows you to connect to a Fuchsia target which can be a physical device or an emulator. The extension supports multiple target devices and allows you to easily switch between various Fuchsia devices. You can only connect to a single device at any given time.

If your emulator is properly configured and started, you should see a and the name of your Fuchsia device in the status bar of VS Code. If you are using the emulator and not seeing a Fuchsia device, see Start the Fuchsia emulator.

This figure shows the how to connect the Fuchsia VS Code extension to a Fuchsia device.

Target interaction

You can click the and the name of your Fuchsia device in the status bar of VS Code to see the various options that you have for your Fuchsia devices.

This figure shows the various options to control a connected Fuchsia device through the Fuchsia VS Code extension.

  • VSCode Target device: <device-name>: Shows current Fuchsia device configured as the active target for the Fuchsia VSCode extension's features.
  • Switching between targets: If you have additional targets, select Use target device: <device-name> to switch to that specific target.
  • Emulator control: Start and stop the Fuchsia emulator (ffx emu).
  • Target controls: Reboot or power off a connected target. Reboot shows until the target is available.
  • Capturing a snapshot: Capture a snapshot of the active device.

Viewing Logs

The Fuchsia extension allows you to view the symbolized logs (human-readable stack traces) for your connected Fuchsia device. This is equivalent to running ffx log. For more information on ffx log, see Monitor device logs.

Select Fuchsia logs from the drop-down in the Output tab to see the device logs.

This figure shows logs from the Fuchsia extension in the output tab.

Clear Fuchsia logs

Once the Fuchsia extension has streamed the Fuchsia logs, you can clear the listed Fuchsia logs to see the incoming logging events for your Fuchsia device.

To clear the Fuchsia logs, click the in the top right corner of the Fuchsia logs tab.

Auto-scroll Fuchsia logs

To toggle auto-scroll for Fuchsia logs, click the in the top right corner of the Fuchsia logs tab.

Debug code

The Fuchsia extension integrates the zxdb debugger into the VS Code IDE.

Component explorer

The Fuchsia extension provides a tree view of components on your Fuchsia device. This is the equivalent of running ffx component list. To view the Fuchsia component list, open Run and Debug in the Activity Bar and expand the Fuchsia Components section.

To debug a component, click the to the right of the component name.

This figure shows the Fuchsia component list in the Fuchsia extension.

You can hover over a component to see its lifecycle information or click on it to view more details. This opens a new window with details of the component and is the equivalent of running ffx component show <component-name>.

This figure shows the details of a component in the Fuchsia extension either by hovering over the component name or by clicking on the component name.

You can right click a component to control the component's lifecycle. For more information, see Component lifecycle.

This figure shows component start on 'hello world' and the log response.

Task explorer

The Fuchsia extension provides a tree view of all jobs, processes, and threads running in the Fuchsia system. To view the Fuchsia task explorer, open Run and Debug and expand the Fuchsia Jobs, Processes, and Threads section.

To attach a debugger to a task, click the to the right of the process.

This figure shows the Fuchsia task explorer in the Fuchsia extension.

Testing

Test explorer

Run and debug tests within the VS Code UI. You can find the Test Explorer in the activity bar.

This figure shows the Fuchsia tests in the extension.