Brand new - can't find Arduino hardware folder

Development Tools IDE 2.x
1

I am trying to build the open source Spacemouse by Teaching Tech. This is my first Arduino project and I just downloaded Arduino IDE.

In the video tutorial (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2xAk-wegS9o&t=583s), they navigate to a hardware folder in the Program Files. I cannot find this folder - I tried downloading it just for one user and for all users. A Google search for "Install Arduino Hardware" only brings up IDE information.

Did I do something wrong, has it changed, or am I missing something obvious?

2

The video is more than two years old. Lots of stuff has changed,

3

Never heard of such a thing. Either ignore and move on, or document its purpose so we can try to figure it out.

4

On my PC its here

C:\Program Files (x86)\Arduino\hardware
5

I had a look at the video, and there are a lot of files and folders in the Program Files that I never saw before. This may be a very advanced project that uses bleeding edge techniques. Do you back up your PC continuously so you can undo any damage you cause by not understanding what is being done. Is there a document that tells you how to do this, YT videos are great eye-candy but not good for detailed instructions and hard to go back and forth.

6

Which version of the IDE are you using? IDE 2.x does not use a hardware directory in Program Files.

That directory is used in IDE 1.x for the initial AVR board package (version 1.8.3); if you upgrade that AVR board package the new one will be in the Arduino15 directory (see below)

In IDE 2.x you can find the board packages in the Arduino15 directory (see https://support.arduino.cc/hc/en-us/articles/4415103213714-Find-sketches-libraries-board-cores-and-other-files-on-your-computer#boards).

7

The video is pretty confused about the Arduino installation stuff. Copying the entire "hardware" directory, apparently just to add a new board type is ... overly complex, not to mention harder to do with the newer versions of IDEs.

There are better ways to do this. Ideally, there would be a board definition that you could configure in the preferences and load without having to know the details of installation directories.