After installing the VEX VScode extension, you can access the DEVICE INFO. The DEVICE INFO view provides an overview of the connected VEX Device (a VEX Brain or a VEX Controller), which can help us to make sure that the devices are working properly.
Accessing VEX DEVICE INFO in VS Code
Launch Visual Studio Code on the computer. Click on the VEX icon on the VS Code Activity Bar.
The VEX view will open in the Side Bar. The VEX DEVICE INFO category is in the middle of the VEX view. All of the connected devices' information will be displayed in this category.
VEX DEVICE INFO Overview
The VEX Device Indicator
The VEX Device Indicator indicates which type of the VEX Device is connected to the VEX VS Code Extension. The VEX Device Indicator is under VEX DEVICE INFO including the icon and the type of the connected VEX Device followed by the Brain name.
If a VEX Brain is connected, hover the mouse over the VEX Device Indicator, a Camera Icon and an Event Log Icon will appear next to it.
Note: If a controller is connected to the computer, but does not have a radio link to a brain, no brain name will be displayed next to the Controller Icon.
Camera Icon
When clicked, the VEX Extension will take a screenshot of the VEX Brain Screen.
For instructions on taking a screenshot of the VEX Brain Screen in VS Code, check out this article.
Event Log Icon
When clicked, the VEX Extension will upload the Event Log of the VEX Brain. For helpful information about how to upload the Event Log of the VEX Brain in VS Code, check out this article.
Brain
Brain is the top-level category for all the device information related to the Brain.
The Brain Icon of the Brain category will indicate the following warning messages:
VEXos Outdated Warning
When a VEX Brain’s VEXos version is out of date, the Brain icons turn yellow, and a Warning Message Icon appears next to VEXos under the system subcategory.
To update the Brain's firmware, hover the mouse over the icon or text of the Brain category. An Up Arrow Icon will appear next to it. Click on the Up Arrow Icon to update the VEXos for the VEX Brain.
For more information on updating firmware with the VEX VScode extension, go here.
VEX Brain is not Linked
When a VEX Controller is connected to the computer but does not have a radio link to a Brain, the Brain icon will turn yellow, and the text indicates that Brain - not linked.
To resolve this warning, link the Controller to the IQ (2nd gen) Brain. For helpful information about pairing the Controller with the IQ (2nd gen) Brain, go here.
System
System is a subcategory of the Brain category. The system subcategory provides information on the Brain’s VEXos version, name, team number, ID, and Python runtime version.
Set the name of the Brain
To set the name for the IQ (2nd gen) Brain, hover the mouse over the text of the name information, click the Pencil Icon that appears next to it.
For more information on how to rename your IQ (2nd gen) Brain in the VEX VScode extension, go here.
Set the team's number
To set the team number for the IQ (2nd gen) Brain, hover the mouse over the text of the team information and click the Pencil Icon that appears next to it.
For more information on how to set your team's number in the VEX VScode extension, go here.
Serial Port
Serial port is a subcategory of the Brain Category. The serial port subcategory displays the device path for each serial port available for the IQ (2nd gen) Brain.
Note: The Communication serial port is used to download programs and control the brain functions. The User serial port is used to transfer data between the user app running on the Brain and the host computer connected via USB.
Programs
Programs is a subcategory of the Brain Category. The programs subcategory displays a list of all the user programs downloaded on the IQ (2nd gen) Brain.
This category allows you to delete downloaded programs from the IQ (2nd gen) Brain or view detailed program information.
To delete a downloaded program from the IQ (2nd gen) Brain, hover the mouse over the text of the selected program item and click the Trashcan Icon that appears next to it.
Note: Once a program is deleted, it can not be recovered. Please be cautious when using this feature.
For more information on erasing projects from a IQ (2nd gen) Brain in the VEX VScode extension, go here.
Devices
Devices is a subcategory of the Brain category. The devices subcategory displays a list of all devices plugged into the IQ (2nd gen) Brain's Smart Ports and the battery that is currently connected to the IQ (2nd gen) Brain.
To view the detailed information of a Smart Port Device or Battery connected to the Brain, select the expand icon next to the device item. Additional information about the connected device, such as the Smart Port number and device type, will be displayed.
Controller
Controller will show you whether or not a IQ (2nd gen) Controller is or is not linked to the IQ (2nd gen) Brain.
For information on how to pair your IQ (2nd gen) Controller with your IQ (2nd gen) Brain, go here.