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

# Getting started

> Install Adsum IoT Coder, meet the requirements, and run your first loop.

## Install

Open the VS Code **Extensions** panel, search for **Adsum IoT Coder**, and click Install. Or install from the [VS Code Marketplace](https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=AdsumNetwork.nrf-ai-debugger) or [Open VSX](https://open-vsx.org/extension/AdsumNetwork/nrf-ai-debugger) (for Cursor, Windsurf, and VSCodium) directly.

You can start immediately. The [free tier](/free-tier) runs on a managed model, so there is no provider screen to clear first. Add your own key whenever you want.

## Set up your toolchain

Adsum drives your existing vendor toolchain, so install the one for your platform first. The agent detects it automatically.

* **Nordic nRF** install the [nRF Connect Extension Pack](https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=nordic-semiconductor.nrf-connect-extension-pack), which brings the nRF Connect SDK, toolchain, and SEGGER J-Link tooling.
* **Espressif ESP** install ESP-IDF (the [Espressif IDF extension](https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=espressif.esp-idf-extension) is the easiest path). Adsum detects the Espressif extension if it is present.

## See it work in 30 seconds

With nothing of your own open, the home lets you try it on a bundled sample project: debug a real BLE bug end to end (capture, analyze, fix on a genuine failure), or preview a CRA readiness check, with no board and no key. It is the fastest way to see how the agent works.

<Frame caption="Try it on a bundled sample: preview a CRA readiness check, or debug a real BLE bug, with no board and no key.">
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/adsumnetworks/7w3LHrET8HA0d-8V/images/home-demo.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=7w3LHrET8HA0d-8V&q=85&s=f5f1bca6b406a8642ab3b8e325e3e79d" alt="Adsum IoT Coder 'Try it on a sample project' panel: preview CRA readiness on a sample, or debug a real BLE bug (BLE NUS one-directional communication) on bundled nRF firmware, with no board or key" width="732" height="1100" data-path="images/home-demo.png" />
</Frame>

## It already knows your setup

Before you open a project, the home reads your environment and auto-detects your nRF and ESP toolchains and any connected boards.

<Frame caption="The home detects your nRF and ESP toolchains and boards, surfaces a CRA readiness prompt, and offers one-click workflows.">
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/adsumnetworks/MUHHuxmvfHopdx_F/images/home-cra.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=MUHHuxmvfHopdx_F&q=85&s=d7d3360edff1c55856f08fda1059cba1" alt="Adsum IoT Coder home: the status strip detects nRF (NCS 3.2.1) and ESP (ESP-IDF) with versions and boards, a 'Get ahead of the CRA' prompt, and workflow cards including CRA SBOM & Fix" width="890" height="1775" data-path="images/home-cra.png" />
</Frame>

## Then it adapts to your project

Open your nRF or ESP project and the agent reads what it is, detects your boards and toolchain, and offers the right one-click moves for daily work.

<Frame caption="With a project open, the agent reads it and offers the right workflow cards.">
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/adsumnetworks/HAVmSL3HaPzrek6q/images/project-nrf.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=HAVmSL3HaPzrek6q&q=85&s=0b20839e9f0c8328689b7c3b49de625d" alt="Adsum IoT Coder with an nRF project (central_uart, NCS 3.2.1) open in VS Code: the panel reads the project, detects the boards, and offers workflow cards including Build/flash & debug, Add a feature, Test & validate, and CRA SBOM & Fix" width="3600" height="2268" data-path="images/project-nrf.png" />
</Frame>

* **Build, flash & debug.** The full loop: build, flash, capture live logs (RTT/UART on nRF, serial monitor on ESP), find the issue, iterate until resolved. Boards auto-detect, with multi-device capture and source-aware correlation.
* **Add a feature.** Wire a new capability (a BLE service, a sensor, a shell, storage) into your actual project, not a throwaway sample.
* **Start a prototype.** Scaffold a new nRF or ESP-IDF project, set the target, and get to a first build.
* **Test & validate.** Exercise your firmware with host tests and on-hardware checks.
* **CRA SBOM & Fix.** One click builds an SBOM (SPDX), checks your secure-by-design posture from your real config, and helps you close a CVE, so you get ahead of the EU Cyber Resilience Act. See [CRA readiness](/cra-readiness).

The same workflows drive ESP-IDF too:

<Frame caption="An ESP-IDF Wi-Fi project (softAP) on ESP32-S3 / ESP32-C6, with the same workflow cards and CRA readiness.">
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/adsumnetworks/MUHHuxmvfHopdx_F/images/esp-build.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=MUHHuxmvfHopdx_F&q=85&s=ce452082efaea022c746f8c9e3997fe0" alt="Adsum IoT Coder with an ESP-IDF Wi-Fi softAP project open in VS Code: the panel detects Espressif ESP-IDF and ESP32-S3 / ESP32-C6, a 'Get ahead of the CRA' Wi-Fi prompt, and the workflow cards including CRA SBOM & Fix" width="3600" height="2268" data-path="images/esp-build.png" />
</Frame>

After any task finishes, the agent suggests where to go next, so you are never left at a blank prompt. See [workflows](/workflows) for the full set of everyday jobs.

## Your first debug loop

<Steps>
  <Step title="Run the built-in demo">
    With no board and no project, run the bundled demo from the home. It debugs a real BLE bug on bundled firmware, so you see the capture-analyze-fix loop end to end.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Open your own project">
    Open an nRF or ESP-IDF project. The agent reads it, detects your boards and toolchain, and shows the workflow cards that fit it.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Build, flash & debug">
    Pick **Build, flash & debug**. The agent builds, flashes, captures live logs, and iterates with you until the issue is resolved.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Requirements

| Requirement        | Details                                                                                                                                                                                                                    |
| :----------------- | :------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Platforms**      | Nordic nRF (nRF Connect SDK / Zephyr) and Espressif ESP32 (ESP-IDF)                                                                                                                                                        |
| **Supported SoCs** | nRF52, nRF53, nRF54 · ESP32, ESP32-S3, ESP32-C6                                                                                                                                                                            |
| **Protocols**      | BLE (nRF and ESP), Wi-Fi (ESP)                                                                                                                                                                                             |
| **Toolchain**      | The [nRF Connect Extension Pack](https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=nordic-semiconductor.nrf-connect-extension-pack) for nRF; an ESP-IDF install for ESP (the Espressif extension is detected if present) |
| **Python**         | 3.8 or newer                                                                                                                                                                                                               |
| **AI provider**    | Any OpenAI- or Anthropic-compatible endpoint, cloud or local. See [Models](/models). The free tier is on by default.                                                                                                       |

<Card title="Choosing a model" icon="robot" href="/models">
  Start with Claude Haiku 4.5 (the benchmark model), or bring any OpenAI-compatible key.
</Card>