Arduino 'file missing' compile error in version 1.6.12

I've never successfully compiled anything with any version of Arduino.
I have blinked the light on my ESP8266 with Putty.
I've tried compiling several different Arduino examples & get the same error indicating this file is missing: xtensa-lx106-elf-g++
When I look on my computer changing the missing file line below such that double back slashes are changed to one backslash & forward slashes are changed to backslash, I see this folder
C:\Users\Fritz\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\esp8266\tools\xtensa-lx106-elf-gcc\1.20.0-26-gb404fb9-2\xtensa-lx106-elf
which contains files & folders.
I've pasted the compile error below:

Arduino: 1.6.12 (Windows 7), Board: "Adafruit HUZZAH ESP8266, 80 MHz, 115200, 4M (3M SPIFFS)"

C:\Program Files (x86)\Arduino\arduino-builder -dump-prefs -logger=machine -hardware C:\Program Files (x86)\Arduino\hardware -hardware C:\Users\Fritz\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages -tools C:\Program Files (x86)\Arduino\tools-builder -tools C:\Program Files (x86)\Arduino\hardware\tools\avr -tools C:\Users\Fritz\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages -built-in-libraries C:\Program Files (x86)\Arduino\libraries -libraries C:\Users\Fritz\Documents\Arduino\libraries -fqbn=esp8266:esp8266:huzzah:CpuFrequency=80,UploadSpeed=115200,FlashSize=4M3M -ide-version=10612 -build-path C:\Users\Fritz\AppData\Local\Temp\arduino_build_267880 -warnings=none -prefs=build.warn_data_percentage=75 -prefs=runtime.tools.xtensa-lx106-elf-gcc.path=C:\Users\Fritz\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\esp8266\tools\xtensa-lx106-elf-gcc\1.20.0-26-gb404fb9-2 -verbose C:\Users\Fritz\Documents\Arduino\libraries\Adafruit_ESP8266\examples\webclient\webclient.ino
C:\Program Files (x86)\Arduino\arduino-builder -compile -logger=machine -hardware C:\Program Files (x86)\Arduino\hardware -hardware C:\Users\Fritz\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages -tools C:\Program Files (x86)\Arduino\tools-builder -tools C:\Program Files (x86)\Arduino\hardware\tools\avr -tools C:\Users\Fritz\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages -built-in-libraries C:\Program Files (x86)\Arduino\libraries -libraries C:\Users\Fritz\Documents\Arduino\libraries -fqbn=esp8266:esp8266:huzzah:CpuFrequency=80,UploadSpeed=115200,FlashSize=4M3M -ide-version=10612 -build-path C:\Users\Fritz\AppData\Local\Temp\arduino_build_267880 -warnings=none -prefs=build.warn_data_percentage=75 -prefs=runtime.tools.xtensa-lx106-elf-gcc.path=C:\Users\Fritz\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\esp8266\tools\xtensa-lx106-elf-gcc\1.20.0-26-gb404fb9-2 -verbose C:\Users\Fritz\Documents\Arduino\libraries\Adafruit_ESP8266\examples\webclient\webclient.ino
Using board 'huzzah' from platform in folder: C:\Users\Fritz\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\esp8266\hardware\esp8266\2.3.0
Using core 'esp8266' from platform in folder: C:\Users\Fritz\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\esp8266\hardware\esp8266\2.3.0
Detecting libraries used...
"C:\Users\Fritz\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\esp8266\tools\xtensa-lx106-elf-gcc\1.20.0-26-gb404fb9-2/bin/xtensa-lx106-elf-g++" -D__ets__ -DICACHE_FLASH -U__STRICT_ANSI__ "-IC:\Users\Fritz\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\esp8266\hardware\esp8266\2.3.0/tools/sdk/include" "-IC:\Users\Fritz\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\esp8266\hardware\esp8266\2.3.0/tools/sdk/lwip/include" "-IC:\Users\Fritz\AppData\Local\Temp\arduino_build_267880/core" -c -w -Os -g -mlongcalls -mtext-section-literals -fno-exceptions -fno-rtti -falign-functions=4 -std=c++11 -ffunction-sections -fdata-sections -w -x c++ -E -CC -DF_CPU=80000000L -DLWIP_OPEN_SRC -DARDUINO=10612 -DARDUINO_ESP8266_ESP12 -DARDUINO_ARCH_ESP8266 -DARDUINO_BOARD="ESP8266_ESP12" -DESP8266 "-IC:\Users\Fritz\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\esp8266\hardware\esp8266\2.3.0\cores\esp8266" "-IC:\Users\Fritz\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\esp8266\hardware\esp8266\2.3.0\variants\adafruit" "C:\Users\Fritz\AppData\Local\Temp\arduino_build_267880\sketch\webclient.ino.cpp" -o "nul"
Generating function prototypes...
"C:\Users\Fritz\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\esp8266\tools\xtensa-lx106-elf-gcc\1.20.0-26-gb404fb9-2/bin/xtensa-lx106-elf-g++" -D__ets__ -DICACHE_FLASH -U__STRICT_ANSI__ "-IC:\Users\Fritz\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\esp8266\hardware\esp8266\2.3.0/tools/sdk/include" "-IC:\Users\Fritz\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\esp8266\hardware\esp8266\2.3.0/tools/sdk/lwip/include" "-IC:\Users\Fritz\AppData\Local\Temp\arduino_build_267880/core" -c -w -Os -g -mlongcalls -mtext-section-literals -fno-exceptions -fno-rtti -falign-functions=4 -std=c++11 -ffunction-sections -fdata-sections -w -x c++ -E -CC -DF_CPU=80000000L -DLWIP_OPEN_SRC -DARDUINO=10612 -DARDUINO_ESP8266_ESP12 -DARDUINO_ARCH_ESP8266 -DARDUINO_BOARD="ESP8266_ESP12" -DESP8266 "-IC:\Users\Fritz\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\esp8266\hardware\esp8266\2.3.0\cores\esp8266" "-IC:\Users\Fritz\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\esp8266\hardware\esp8266\2.3.0\variants\adafruit" "C:\Users\Fritz\AppData\Local\Temp\arduino_build_267880\sketch\webclient.ino.cpp" -o "C:\Users\Fritz\AppData\Local\Temp\arduino_build_267880\preproc\ctags_target_for_gcc_minus_e.cpp"
exec: "C:\Users\Fritz\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\esp8266\tools\xtensa-lx106-elf-gcc\1.20.0-26-gb404fb9-2/bin/xtensa-lx106-elf-g++": file does not exist
Error compiling for board Adafruit HUZZAH ESP8266.

Fritz230:
I see this folder
C:\Users\Fritz\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\esp8266\tools\xtensa-lx106-elf-gcc\1.20.0-26-gb404fb9-2\xtensa-lx106-elf
which contains files & folders.

Read the error message again:

Fritz230:
exec: "C:\Users\Fritz\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\esp8266\tools\xtensa-lx106-elf-gcc\1.20.0-26-gb404fb9-2/bin/xtensa-lx106-elf-g++": file does not exist

Does the file:
C:\Users\Fritz\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\esp8266\tools\xtensa-lx106-elf-gcc\1.20.0-26-gb404fb9-2\bin\xtensa-lx106-elf-g++.exe
exist?

Please use code tags(</> button on the toolbar) when you post any console output such as error/warning messages or when you post code to the forum.

Sounds like the ESP8266 core is not correctly installed, or is a version that's not compatible with the IDE version you're using. Look at the page you got the core from and make sure it doesn't have compatibility issues with the latest versions of the IDE - I remember something about that that I don't know if has been fixed (and make sure you're using the latest version of the esp8266 core - that one is still getting updated).

There's an ESP8266 forum somewhere - it might be a better forum to ask, seeing as the esp8266 arduino core is an unofficial addon. The majority of discussion here regards AVR microcontrollers as used on the classic arduino boards.

Found it best to use the "additional board manger" URL in preferences for ESP's
This is the one I use

boardsmanager.additional.urls=http://downloads.arduino.cc/packages/package_mkr1000_index.json,http://arduino.esp8266.com/stable/package_esp8266com_index.json,http://downloads.arduino.cc/PR/samd/package_samd-b97_index.json.

Also IDE 1.6.5 rt5 from an unzipped copy works very well with the ESP's

Not broken my ESP's out since moving house otherwise I might have been able to test with the newer IDE's as I have the defs and libs all in place ready.

I apologize for all my ignorance with regard to protocol & not understanding when '.exe' is assumed.
I went back to version 1.6.5 & all is working well now.
I used the "additional board manger" for the ESP8266 with both versions.
I suspect Adafruit needs some updating for 1.6.12. (has anyone heard of backward compatibility?)
Regarding the "xtensa-lx106-elf-g++.exe" file. Sorry, I got impatient before getting any feedback and deleted all files when reinstalling 1.6.5, so I don't know if the file existed or not. Would it have said it didn't if it did?

1 Like

Fritz230:
(has anyone heard of backward compatibility?)

On the Arduino IDE development team? The 1.6.x release history suggests no (don't get me started)

Fritz230:
Would it have said it didn't if it did?

I don't know. I'm using esp8266 2.3.0 with Arduino IDE 1.6.12 and Windows 7, just as you were, that file does exist on my system and I have no problems using esp8266.

Well, if you're happy with using Arduino IDE 1.6.5 then I guess there's no reason to worry about it. If you end up running into the issue again later we'll look into it further.

Wait a moment I want to Start DrAzzy on a dev rant....sorry I could not resist and this is not on topic. :slight_smile: