Effortlessly Connect Your MXCHIP AZ3166 to MQTT Using MXCHIP AZ1366 TOOLBOX

If you've ever tried to get an embedded IoT board connected to the cloud, you know it can feel like wrestling a dragon toolchains, drivers, configurations... and that’s before you even write a single line of MQTT code.

Good news: those days are over.

At Afrilogic Solutions, we’ve built the MXCHIP AZ1366 TOOLBOX, a Visual Studio Code extension that makes it incredibly easy to bring your MXCHIP AZ3166 board online. Whether you're prototyping for fun or building a serious IoT project, this guide will show you how to go from blinking lights to MQTT-powered cloud integration in under 15 minutes.

Let’s get into it. 👇

What You’ll Need.

• An MXCHIP AZ3166 development board

• Visual Studio Code installed

• A Wi-Fi connection

• An MQTT broker (you can use HiveMQ, Mosquitto, Azure IoT Hub)

• And of course, the star of the show:
  🧩 MXCHIP AZ1366 TOOLBOX (available in the VS Code Marketplace, link 👇)

Why you need the ToolBox as a Developer

• Pre-configured project scaffolding

• Easy Wi-Fi setup

• A working MQTT client example

• Built-in OLED display support

• Sensor reading(Temperature, Humidity , Pressure , etc)

• Even fun stuff like a Dino Game and Pong 🎮

Step 1: Install and Setup the Mxchip Extension

• Open Visual Studio Code

• Go to the Extensions panel (Ctrl + Shift + X)

• Search: MXCHIP AZ1366 TOOLBOX

• Click Install

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Step 2: Setup the MQTT Client project from the Extension

Here’s where the magic starts:

• Press F1 or Ctrl + Shift + P to open the Command Palette

• Type Mxchip

• Select Mxchip Example: MQTT Client

• Choose a location to save your project for example, your Documents folder

• VS Code will open a new window with the project scaffolded and ready to go!

• 

Step 3: Install Required Toolchains

Still in the Command Palette:

• Press F1 again

• Type Mxchip

• Select Mxchip: Install Drivers

• 

This installs:

• CMake

• GCC ARM Toolchain

• Dependencies needed to build and upload to your board

💡 Heads up: This may take a few minutes. Go grab a coffee while the extension sets everything up ☕.

Step 4: Configure Your Wi-Fi and MQTT Settings

Navigate to your project folder and open:

📄 cloud_config.h

Update the placeholders with your network info and Brooker info:

Step 5: Build & Upload Your Firmware

Edit the main.c file to setup your custom mqtt topics for subscriptions and publishing.

Once everything is ready:

1. Connect your MXCHIP board via USB

2. Press F1

3. Select Mxchip: Upload Project

The extension will compile your code and flash it to the board automatically. You'll see output logs confirming when the process is complete.

Step 6: Monitor Your Board's Output (Install Serial Monitor Extension)

To visualize logs, sensor data, or MQTT messages from your MXCHIP board, you’ll need a Serial Monitor in VS Code.

🔧 Here’s how to set it up:

1. Press Ctrl + Shift + X to open the Extensions tab

2. Search for: Serial Monitor

3. Install the extension by Microsoft or Adam Wulkiewicz (both work great)

Once installed:

• Connect your board via USB

• Open the Serial Monitor tab (usually appears in the bottom panel)

• Select the correct COM port (you’ll see it listed once the board is plugged in)

• Set the baud rate to 115200

What's Next?

Once you're connected:

• Add real sensor data from onboard MEMS

• Send data to Azure IoT Hub

• Subscribe to control messages and trigger board actions

• Use Node-RED (coming soon!) for a visual logic builder

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🎉 That’s a Wrap!

In just a few steps, you’ve gone from zero to MQTT hero all thanks to the MXCHIP AZ1366 TOOLBOX. Whether you're building smart sensors, cloud dashboards, or just experimenting, this extension is your shortcut to fast, reliable development on the MXCHIP platform.

Have feedback or want to showcase what you built? Reach out or contribute on GitHub!

Happy coding! 🌍🔧