Arduino IDE 2.x in a classroom setting: No compile cache for students

J-M-L · August 21, 2023, 7:26am

There are discussions about a portable version of the 2.x IDE

See Arduino IDE 2.0 Portable - #7 by ptillisch for example

And tracked here

github.com/arduino/arduino-ide

Add a portable mode

opened 10:04AM - 01 Feb 20 UTC

ornea

type: enhancement topic: code

### Describe the request Allow the Arduino IDE installation and dependencies …(application, preferences, platforms, sketchbook) to be stored under a single folder. 🙂 The user can put a complete sketch development environment on a portable drive and use it on any available computer. 🙂 The user can create a complete self-contained project environment with all project dependencies, including the IDE application itself. ### Describe the current behavior The IDE installation and dependencies are stored in multiple separate places on the user's computer: - Application folder (e.g., `C:\Program Files\Arduino IDE\`) - Configuration folder (e.g., `C:\Users\<username>\.arduinoIDE\`) - Data folder (e.g., `C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Local\Arduino15\`) - Sketchbook folder (e.g., `C:\Users\<username>\Documents\Arduino\`) It is not possible for the user to configure the location of the "configuration folder". It is possible to configure the location of the "data folder" (via `<configuration folder>/arduino-cli.yaml`), but doing so is user friendly and the configuration file is under the non-configurable "configuration folder" anyway. 🙁 A complete sketch development environment can not be easily moved between computers. 🙁 Complete self-contained project environments can't be created. ### Arduino IDE version 58aac236bf51532313db1855298294348c0abeb0 ### Operating system All ### Operating system version Any ### Additional context Arduino IDE 1.x has a portable installation capability, which is enabled by creating a folder named `portable` under the Arduino IDE installation folder. The configuration, boards platforms, and sketchbook are then stored under that folder: https://docs.arduino.cc/software/ide-v1/tutorials/PortableIDE Due to system security restrictions, it is not possible for users of the macOS or Microsoft Store packages of Arduino IDE 1.x to use that feature. These deficiencies in the previous system might be considered when designing an equivalent feature for Arduino IDE 2.x #### Additional reports - https://forum.arduino.cc/t/is-there-really-a-portable-version-of-the-arduino-ide-2/1101134 - https://forum.arduino.cc/t/italiano-lo-spamm-bar-part-2/847652/5079 - https://forum.arduino.cc/t/arduino-ide-2-0-portable/1031833/1 - https://forum.arduino.cc/t/arduino-ide-2-0-portable/1031833/6 - https://forum.arduino.cc/t/arduino-ide-2-0-portable/1031833/9 - https://forum.arduino.cc/t/arduino-ide-2-0-portable/1031833/10 - https://forum.arduino.cc/t/arduino-ide-2-0-portable/1031833/11 - https://forum.arduino.cc/t/arduino-ide-2-0-portable/1031833/13 - https://forum.arduino.cc/t/arduino-ide-2-0-portable/1031833/16 - https://forum.arduino.cc/t/arduino-ide-2-0-portable/1031833/17 - https://forum.arduino.cc/t/arduino-ide-2-0-portable/1031833/19 - https://forum.arduino.cc/t/portable-version/1033334 - https://forum.arduino.cc/t/instructions-for-portable-installation-of-ide-2-0/885980 - https://forum.arduino.cc/t/how-to-use-arduino-ide-2-0-0-b9-in-offline-mode/888926 - https://forum.arduino.cc/t/portable-is-not-honored/850853 - https://forum.arduino.cc/t/post-here-for-ide-2-0-rc/937541/3 - https://forum.arduino.cc/t/arduino-ide-2-0-windows-multiuser-environment/972533 - https://forum.arduino.cc/t/italiano-lo-spamm-bar-part-2/847652/6854 - https://www.facebook.com/official.arduino/posts/pfbid02x5KM54Gf7L56Tea79pLYVafrciYAGZrioedDVD6YFKEnJdsiNT3w6S2WinZtrAc9l?comment_id=941291360659178 ### Issue checklist - [X] I searched for previous requests in [the issue tracker](https://github.com/arduino/arduino-ide/issues?q=) - [X] I verified the feature was still missing when using the latest [nightly build](https://www.arduino.cc/en/software#nightly-builds) - [X] My request contains all necessary details

I guess this is related. Have you tried with the latest IDE 1.x?

Topic		Replies	Views
Force re-build re-compile re-verify? IDE 2.x	13	421	July 14, 2025
How to clear cache from IDE? IDE 2.x	15	2374	September 30, 2025
Arduino IDE 2.3.2 & 2.3.3 always installs in C: for current user IDE 2.x	8	784	November 16, 2024
Why always recompiling unchanged library code IDE 2.x	15	511	June 2, 2025
LGVLDemo recompiles libraries every time GIGA Display Shield	9	474	August 1, 2024

Arduino IDE 2.x in a classroom setting: No compile cache for students

Related topics