One time setup

• Launch VS Code and do not connect the Pynq through remote ssh connection.

  • Make sure bottom left of VS code looks like this (does NOT show “SSH: 10.43.0.1”)

    

    Note no SSH in bottom left

  • If it is connected to the Pynq, open a new VS Code window (File → New Window) to disconnect

• Install SSH FS extension

• While still in the extension listing, click the gear icon and select settings

  

• Click on any “Edit in settings.json”

• Replace the contents of the opened file with

  {
      "sshfs.configs": [
          {
              "name": "pynq",
              "host": "10.43.0.1",
              "username": "student",
              "root": "/home/student",
              "label": "pynq",
              "password": "student"
          }
      ]
  }
  

  • If there are preexisting settings in the file and you wish to keep them, you can append only the sshfs.configs section. Pay attention to the nesting ([] and {}) hierarchy.

• Save the file (ctrl+s / cmd+s)

How to connect to the board

• Connect the Pynq and wait for green light as usual

• Open SSHFS menu by selecting this icon in the left toolbar

  

• Click the “Add as Workspace” folder

  

• Go back to files (Explorer tab) and you should see your Pynq’s files

  

  • No files visible? Look for this error on bottom right and click retry. If still doesn’t work, try connecting the “official” way and debug that first.

  

• Right click the folder you want to navigate to (e.g. libpynq…) and click Open remote SSH terminal

  • Right clicking a file won’t show this option

  • Always make sure you’re running commands in the Pynq and not your laptop by looking for student@... at start of line

    • If not, click open remote ssh terminal again

  • An alternative way to open terminal on Pynq is the open remote ssh terminal button in configurations

    

Guide written by Kristupas Lapinskas, edited 2026 April 25