MCUXpresso workspace data?

[VassiliN]

I have some problems sharing the workspace data using git. 

I created git repository with couple of projects in MCUxpresso workspace.  

Modified .gitignore to exclude

/.metadata/

/.mcuxpressoide_packages_support/

Pushed my code into the repository. 

Cloned the repository on another computer and pulled everything there. 

All the files seems to be created on the second computer. 

However when I open MCUXpresso on the second computer and select the root of the workspace that includes my projects, MCUXpresso shows me emptry workspace, telling me there no projects in my workspace. So is seems that workspace data (project structure specifically) is not under workspace itself.

How I can push/pull the workspace including the projects? Where it is located on Windows machines? Registry, Application Data? 

I read this: https://mcuoneclipse.com/2018/09/30/tutorial-git-with-eclipse/ , it did not really answer my question. 

[ErichStyger · Accepted solution]

Hi @VassiliN,

it is correct that you should not share the .metadata (that would not be good). Instead you should share the projects. What many are not aware: the projects don't have to be placed inside the workspace folder, they can be anywhere. What I'm using is just to have them linked to the project, and my workspace folder usually is empty (only containing the .metadata folder plus other internal directories).

So what I recommend is using 'Team Project Sets': you can organize projects in sets in a description file, which you can share. Importing the Team Project Set file will clone repositories as necessary and add then to your workspace, and you are ready to go.

Not sure if you are following my blog, but I have an article for you describing the usage of Team Project Set files here: https://mcuoneclipse.com/2024/08/27/eclipse-workspace-sharing-team-project-set-export-and-import/

I hope this helps,

Erich

[VassiliN]

Erych, 

thank you very much, I guess we can reuse this Team Project Set as a counterpart of the solution file in Visual Studio, for example.

I actually also put my projects outside of workspace, so they can be used in multiple workspaces. 

Still I wonder where the MCUXpresso workspace internally stores the projects structure, since  this structure can be exported/imported,  and why this data can't be used directly for the same purpose if it's exists somewhere as files/folders.  

Anyways, I really appreciate your help. 

[ErichStyger]

Hi @VassiliN ,

The structure of the projects (and other things) is indeed stored in the .metadata.

I don't know the reasons for this, but Eclipse stores all it settings there, and the concept or design is that you can export and import them. VS Code is newer and has a different concept, and the fact that it is an editor and not an IDE makes things probably easier for it too.

I hope this helps,

Erich

[AdrianOltean]

".metadata" is the folder that contains the workspace-specific (configuration) data. It should be enough to keep in the version control system only the project. You can then import it in any other workspace by using File -> Import.

Regards,

Adrian