I'm trying to learn ESP32 with ili9431

mikemarcu · January 29, 2026, 9:26pm

I’m using Espressif ESP32-WROOM-32 along with ili9341 TFT display, IDE 2.3.7.

Compiling I have the following error: exit status 1

Compilation error: exit status 1

This is the sketch:

//#include <Adafruit_GFX.h>
//#include <Adafruit_ILI9341.h>
#include <SPI.h>
#include <TFT_eSPI.h>
#include <WiFiManager.h>  // https://github.com/tzapu/WiFiManager


// Pin definitions
#define TFT_CS   5
#define TFT_DC   4
#define TFT_RST  2
#define TRIGGER_PIN 0

// Use hardware SPI
//Adafruit_ILI9341 tft = Adafruit_ILI9341(TFT_CS, TFT_DC, TFT_RST);
TFT_eSPI tft = TFT_eSPI();       // Invoke custom library
  int x=10;
  int y=20;

#define TFT_GREY 0x5AEB
int timeout = 120;  // seconds to run for




void setup() {
  Serial.begin(115200);
   WiFi.mode(WIFI_STA);  // explicitly set mode, esp defaults to STA+AP

  Serial.begin(115200);
  delay(2000);  // wait for Serial
  Serial.println("\n Starting");
  pinMode(TRIGGER_PIN, INPUT_PULLUP);

  Serial.println("starting Display ili8341 ");

  
  
  tft.begin();


  // Set display rotation (optional, 1 is landscape for some displays)
  tft.setRotation(2); 
  
  // Set background color
  tft.fillScreen(ILI9341_YELLOW);

  

  // Set text size
  tft.setTextSize(3); // Size 1 is 6x8 pixels, Size 2 is 12x16, etc.

  // Set text color
  tft.setTextColor(ILI9341_BLACK);
tft.print("Press the Connect button");
 // is configuration portal requested?

  if (digitalRead(TRIGGER_PIN) == LOW) {
    WiFiManager wm;

    //reset settings - for testing
    wm.resetSettings();
  
    // set configportal timeout
    wm.setConfigPortalTimeout(timeout);
  
    if (!wm.startConfigPortal("OnDemandAP")) {
      Serial.println("failed to connect and hit timeout");
      delay(3000);
      //reset and try again, or maybe put it to deep sleep
      ESP.restart();
      delay(5000);
    }
  }
      //if you get here you have connected to the WiFi
    Serial.println("connected...yeey :)");

      // Set background color
  tft.fillScreen(ILI9341_RED);

  

  // Set text size
  tft.setTextSize(3); // Size 1 is 6x8 pixels, Size 2 is 12x16, etc.

  // Set text color
  tft.setTextColor(ILI9341_WHITE);
  tft.print("WIFI connected");
  delay(10000);

}

void loop() {
  for (int y=20; y <= 300; y=y+20){
  
  
    // Set cursor position (X, Y)
  tft.setCursor(x, y);
  
   // Print the message
  tft.print("Hello world");
 

  delay(1000);
  tft.fillScreen(ILI9341_YELLOW);
  //y=y+20;
  }
}

Can someone to guide to solve this error, please?

gfvalvo · January 30, 2026, 12:04am

There's much more to the error message than that. Post the entire thing.

mikemarcu · January 30, 2026, 12:07am

This is the message, no coloured error messages.

mikemarcu · January 30, 2026, 12:23am

Using library ESP32 Async UDP at version 3.3.5 in folder: C:\Users\mikem\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\esp32\hardware\esp32\3.3.5\libraries\AsyncUDP
Using library Hash at version 3.3.5 in folder: C:\Users\mikem\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\esp32\hardware\esp32\3.3.5\libraries\Hash
exit status 1

Compilation error: exit status 1

sonofcy · January 30, 2026, 12:42am

If you don't post the entire verbose error log in code tags, nobody can help you.
BTW, Exit status 1 is not an error message, it's just the non-zero exit status. An error is a symbol not declared, and similar. We need to see which line number has the error.

sonofcy · January 30, 2026, 12:43am

In future first use the Tools menu Auto format and reduce blank lines to the minimum needed.

mikemarcu · January 30, 2026, 12:51am

Compiling sketch...
"C:\\Users\\mikem\\AppData\\Local\\Arduino15\\packages\\esp32\\tools\\esp-x32\\2511/bin/xtensa-esp32-elf-g++" -MMD -c "@C:\\Users\\mikem\\AppData\\Local\\Arduino15\\packages\\esp32\\tools\\esp32-arduino-libs\\idf-release_v5.5-9bb7aa84-v2\\esp32/flags/cpp_flags" -Wall -Wextra -Os -Werror=return-type -DF_CPU=240000000L -DARDUINO=10607 -DARDUINO_ESP32_WROOM_DA -DARDUINO_ARCH_ESP32 "-DARDUINO_BOARD=\"ESP32_WROOM_DA\"" "-DARDUINO_VARIANT=\"esp32da\"" -DARDUINO_PARTITION_default "-DARDUINO_HOST_OS=\"windows\"" "-DARDUINO_FQBN=\"esp32:esp32:esp32da:UploadSpeed=921600,CPUFreq=240,FlashFreq=80,FlashMode=qio,FlashSize=4M,PartitionScheme=default,DebugLevel=none,LoopCore=1,EventsCore=1,EraseFlash=none\"" -DESP32=ESP32 -DCORE_DEBUG_LEVEL=0 -DARDUINO_RUNNING_CORE=1 -DARDUINO_EVENT_RUNNING_CORE=1 -DARDUINO_USB_CDC_ON_BOOT=0 "@C:\\Users\\mikem\\AppData\\Local\\Arduino15\\packages\\esp32\\tools\\esp32-arduino-libs\\idf-release_v5.5-9bb7aa84-v2\\esp32/flags/defines" "-IC:\\Users\\mikem\\Documents\\Arduino\\ESP32_WROOM_32_ILI9341" -iprefix "C:\\Users\\mikem\\AppData\\Local\\Arduino15\\packages\\esp32\\tools\\esp32-arduino-libs\\idf-release_v5.5-9bb7aa84-v2\\esp32/include/" "@C:\\Users\\mikem\\AppData\\Local\\Arduino15\\packages\\esp32\\tools\\esp32-arduino-libs\\idf-release_v5.5-9bb7aa84-v2\\esp32/flags/includes" "-IC:\\Users\\mikem\\AppData\\Local\\Arduino15\\packages\\esp32\\tools\\esp32-arduino-libs\\idf-release_v5.5-9bb7aa84-v2\\esp32/qio_qspi/include" "-IC:\\Users\\mikem\\AppData\\Local\\Arduino15\\packages\\esp32\\hardware\\esp32\\3.3.5\\cores\\esp32" "-IC:\\Users\\mikem\\AppData\\Local\\Arduino15\\packages\\esp32\\hardware\\esp32\\3.3.5\\variants\\esp32da" "-IC:\\Users\\mikem\\AppData\\Local\\Arduino15\\packages\\esp32\\hardware\\esp32\\3.3.5\\libraries\\SPI\\src" "-Ic:\\Users\\mikem\\Documents\\Arduino\\libraries\\TFT_eSPI" "-IC:\\Users\\mikem\\AppData\\Local\\Arduino15\\packages\\esp32\\hardware\\esp32\\3.3.5\\libraries\\FS\\src" "-IC:\\Users\\mikem\\AppData\\Local\\Arduino15\\packages\\esp32\\hardware\\esp32\\3.3.5\\libraries\\SPIFFS\\src" "-Ic:\\Users\\mikem\\Documents\\Arduino\\libraries\\WiFiManager" "-IC:\\Users\\mikem\\AppData\\Local\\Arduino15\\packages\\esp32\\hardware\\esp32\\3.3.5\\libraries\\WiFi\\src" "-IC:\\Users\\mikem\\AppData\\Local\\Arduino15\\packages\\esp32\\hardware\\esp32\\3.3.5\\libraries\\Network\\src" "-IC:\\Users\\mikem\\AppData\\Local\\Arduino15\\packages\\esp32\\hardware\\esp32\\3.3.5\\libraries\\Update\\src" "-IC:\\Users\\mikem\\AppData\\Local\\Arduino15\\packages\\esp32\\hardware\\esp32\\3.3.5\\libraries\\WebServer\\src" "-IC:\\Users\\mikem\\AppData\\Local\\Arduino15\\packages\\esp32\\hardware\\esp32\\3.3.5\\libraries\\DNSServer\\src" "-IC:\\Users\\mikem\\AppData\\Local\\Arduino15\\packages\\esp32\\hardware\\esp32\\3.3.5\\libraries\\AsyncUDP\\src" "-IC:\\Users\\mikem\\AppData\\Local\\Arduino15\\packages\\esp32\\hardware\\esp32\\3.3.5\\libraries\\Hash\\src" "@C:\\Users\\mikem\\AppData\\Local\\arduino\\sketches\\4D8B09605486584D16D22B2DAB0179FD/build_opt.h" "@C:\\Users\\mikem\\AppData\\Local\\arduino\\sketches\\4D8B09605486584D16D22B2DAB0179FD/file_opts" "C:\\Users\\mikem\\AppData\\Local\\arduino\\sketches\\4D8B09605486584D16D22B2DAB0179FD\\sketch\\ESP32_WROOM_32_ILI9341.ino.cpp" -o "C:\\Users\\mikem\\AppData\\Local\\arduino\\sketches\\4D8B09605486584D16D22B2DAB0179FD\\sketch\\ESP32_WROOM_32_ILI9341.ino.cpp.o"
In file included from C:\Users\mikem\Documents\Arduino\ESP32_WROOM_32_ILI9341\ESP32_WROOM_32_ILI9341.ino:4:
c:\Users\mikem\Documents\Arduino\libraries\TFT_eSPI/TFT_eSPI.h:973:8: warning: #warning >>>>------>> TOUCH_CS pin not defined, TFT_eSPI touch functions will not be available! [-Wcpp]
  973 |       #warning >>>>------>> TOUCH_CS pin not defined, TFT_eSPI touch functions will not be available!
      |        ^~~~~~~
C:\Users\mikem\Documents\Arduino\ESP32_WROOM_32_ILI9341\ESP32_WROOM_32_ILI9341.ino:9:9: warning: "TFT_CS" redefined
    9 | #define TFT_CS   5
      |         ^~~~~~
In file included from c:\Users\mikem\Documents\Arduino\libraries\TFT_eSPI/User_Setup_Select.h:27,
                 from c:\Users\mikem\Documents\Arduino\libraries\TFT_eSPI/TFT_eSPI.h:69:
c:\Users\mikem\Documents\Arduino\libraries\TFT_eSPI/User_Setup.h:215:9: note: this is the location of the previous definition
  215 | #define TFT_CS   15  // Chip select control pin
      |         ^~~~~~
C:\Users\mikem\Documents\Arduino\ESP32_WROOM_32_ILI9341\ESP32_WROOM_32_ILI9341.ino:10:9: warning: "TFT_DC" redefined
   10 | #define TFT_DC   4
      |         ^~~~~~
c:\Users\mikem\Documents\Arduino\libraries\TFT_eSPI/User_Setup.h:216:9: note: this is the location of the previous definition
  216 | #define TFT_DC    2  // Data Command control pin
      |         ^~~~~~
C:\Users\mikem\Documents\Arduino\ESP32_WROOM_32_ILI9341\ESP32_WROOM_32_ILI9341.ino:11:9: warning: "TFT_RST" redefined
   11 | #define TFT_RST  2
      |         ^~~~~~~
c:\Users\mikem\Documents\Arduino\libraries\TFT_eSPI/User_Setup.h:217:9: note: this is the location of the previous definition
  217 | #define TFT_RST   4  // Reset pin (could connect to RST pin)
      |         ^~~~~~~
In file included from c:\Users\mikem\Documents\Arduino\libraries\WiFiManager/WiFiManager.h:94,
                 from C:\Users\mikem\Documents\Arduino\ESP32_WROOM_32_ILI9341\ESP32_WROOM_32_ILI9341.ino:5:
C:\Users\mikem\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\esp32\hardware\esp32\3.3.5\libraries\WebServer\src/WebServer.h:226:32: error: 'FS' was not declared in this scope; did you mean 'fs::FS'?
  226 |   typedef std::function<String(FS &fs, const String &fName)> ETagFunction;
      |                                ^~
      |                                fs::FS
In file included from c:\Users\mikem\Documents\Arduino\libraries\TFT_eSPI/Processors/TFT_eSPI_ESP32.h:138,
                 from c:\Users\mikem\Documents\Arduino\libraries\TFT_eSPI/TFT_eSPI.h:101:
C:\Users\mikem\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\esp32\hardware\esp32\3.3.5\libraries\FS\src/FS.h:87:7: note: 'fs::FS' declared here
   87 | class FS {
      |       ^~
C:\Users\mikem\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\esp32\hardware\esp32\3.3.5\libraries\WebServer\src/WebServer.h:226:32: error: 'FS' was not declared in this scope; did you mean 'fs::FS'?
  226 |   typedef std::function<String(FS &fs, const String &fName)> ETagFunction;
      |                                ^~
      |                                fs::FS
C:\Users\mikem\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\esp32\hardware\esp32\3.3.5\libraries\FS\src/FS.h:87:7: note: 'fs::FS' declared here
   87 | class FS {
      |       ^~
C:\Users\mikem\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\esp32\hardware\esp32\3.3.5\libraries\WebServer\src/WebServer.h:226:60: error: template argument 1 is invalid
  226 |   typedef std::function<String(FS &fs, const String &fName)> ETagFunction;
      |                                                            ^
C:\Users\mikem\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\esp32\hardware\esp32\3.3.5\libraries\WebServer\src/WebServer.h:226:16: error: '<expression error>' in namespace 'std' does not name a type
  226 |   typedef std::function<String(FS &fs, const String &fName)> ETagFunction;
      |                ^~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
C:\Users\mikem\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\esp32\hardware\esp32\3.3.5\libraries\WebServer\src/WebServer.h:227:32: error: 'ETagFunction' has not been declared
  227 |   void enableETag(bool enable, ETagFunction fn = nullptr);
      |                                ^~~~~~~~~~~~
C:\Users\mikem\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\esp32\hardware\esp32\3.3.5\libraries\WebServer\src/WebServer.h:244:3: error: 'ETagFunction' does not name a type; did you mean 'TaskFunction_t'?
  244 |   ETagFunction _eTagFunction = nullptr;
      |   ^~~~~~~~~~~~
      |   TaskFunction_t
C:\Users\mikem\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\esp32\hardware\esp32\3.3.5\libraries\WebServer\src/WebServer.h:227:50: error: could not convert 'nullptr' from 'std::nullptr_t' to 'int'
  227 |   void enableETag(bool enable, ETagFunction fn = nullptr);
      |                                                  ^~~~~~~
      |                                                  |
      |                                                  std::nullptr_t
Multiple libraries were found for "WiFi.h"
  Used: C:\Users\mikem\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\esp32\hardware\esp32\3.3.5\libraries\WiFi
  Not used: C:\Users\mikem\Documents\Arduino\libraries\WiFi
Using library SPI at version 3.3.5 in folder: C:\Users\mikem\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\esp32\hardware\esp32\3.3.5\libraries\SPI 
Using library TFT_eSPI at version 2.5.43 in folder: C:\Users\mikem\Documents\Arduino\libraries\TFT_eSPI 
Using library FS at version 3.3.5 in folder: C:\Users\mikem\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\esp32\hardware\esp32\3.3.5\libraries\FS 
Using library SPIFFS at version 3.3.5 in folder: C:\Users\mikem\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\esp32\hardware\esp32\3.3.5\libraries\SPIFFS 
Using library WiFiManager at version 2.0.17 in folder: C:\Users\mikem\Documents\Arduino\libraries\WiFiManager 
Using library WiFi at version 3.3.5 in folder: C:\Users\mikem\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\esp32\hardware\esp32\3.3.5\libraries\WiFi 
Using library Networking at version 3.3.5 in folder: C:\Users\mikem\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\esp32\hardware\esp32\3.3.5\libraries\Network 
Using library Update at version 3.3.5 in folder: C:\Users\mikem\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\esp32\hardware\esp32\3.3.5\libraries\Update 
Using library WebServer at version 3.3.5 in folder: C:\Users\mikem\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\esp32\hardware\esp32\3.3.5\libraries\WebServer 
Using library DNSServer at version 3.3.5 in folder: C:\Users\mikem\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\esp32\hardware\esp32\3.3.5\libraries\DNSServer 
Using library ESP32 Async UDP at version 3.3.5 in folder: C:\Users\mikem\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\esp32\hardware\esp32\3.3.5\libraries\AsyncUDP 
Using library Hash at version 3.3.5 in folder: C:\Users\mikem\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\esp32\hardware\esp32\3.3.5\libraries\Hash 
exit status 1

Compilation error: exit status 1

sonofcy · January 30, 2026, 1:04am

Where did you get the code from. I can't compile it either and tere are some obvious mistakes.

gfvalvo · January 30, 2026, 1:14am

Quite a different story than:

xfpd · January 30, 2026, 1:39am

Compile errors pointing at a working library indicate syntax errors in the sketch.

mikemarcu · January 30, 2026, 1:49am

I put together two sketches that I tried before independently, the Wifi on demand and the display part that follow, scroll the “Hello world”

xfpd · January 30, 2026, 2:30am

These variables are not used. Indiscriminate mashup of various sketches.
Show the link to each individual sketch.
Also...

To properly use the TFT_eSPI library, you need a configuration file called User_Setup.h with the right definitions.

mikemarcu · January 30, 2026, 2:43am

@xfpd

void loop() {
  for (int y=20; y <= 300; y=y+20){
  
  
    // Set cursor position (X, Y)
  tft.setCursor(x, y);
  
   // Print the message
  tft.print("Hello world");
 

  delay(1000);
  tft.fillScreen(ILI9341_YELLOW);
  //y=y+20;
  }

xfpd · January 30, 2026, 3:02am

Oh, I see.

Show the link to each sketch source.

6v6gt · January 30, 2026, 3:23am

Which tutorial have you used or which code sample have you used to get started (link)?
Your code contains references to the <TFT_eSPI.h> library but contains also relics of a similar Adafruit screen handling library.
Note that <TFT_eSPI.h> has compatibility problems with newer Esp32 Arduino cores .
I'd recommend using the Adafruit libraries unless you have a good reason to use an alternative.

mikedb · January 30, 2026, 6:02am

So , did the two sketches work on their own , no compile errors and screen working?

mikedb · January 30, 2026, 6:31am

The code does compile without errors , not test on hardware.

Using board 'esp32' from platform in folder: C:\Users\mikee\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\esp32_2\hardware\esp32\2.0.11

Libraries used.(Screenshot).

build_1971 · January 30, 2026, 7:16am

In the for loop a new variable named y is created... it shadows the other y.
Not wrong, but may be not the intention and may cause confusion.
Not recommended to have short variable names.
Do not allow yourself a lazy attitude (by not typing a few characters more) as it will cause a headache sooner or later...

mikemarcu · January 30, 2026, 10:17am

Both parts of the sketch are working independently. The reference to Adafruit is from the fact that I first tried it with OLED display.

6v6gt · January 30, 2026, 11:20am

mikemarcu:

\Documents\Arduino\ESP32_WROOM_32_ILI9341\ESP32_WROOM_32_ILI9341.ino:11:9: warning: "TFT_RST" redefined
   11 | #define TFT_RST  2
      |         ^~~~~~~
c:\Users\mikem\Documents\Arduino\libraries\TFT_eSPI/User_Setup.h:217:9: note: this is the location of the previous definition
  217 | #define TFT_RST   4  // Reset pin (could connect to RST pin)
      |         ^~~~~~~

You have pin definitions in ESP32_WROOM_32_ILI9341.ino and in \libraries\TFT_eSPI/User_Setup.h which conflict.
Maybe some left overs from your experiment with the Adafruit libraries.

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I'm trying to learn ESP32 with ili9431

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