macOS: Arduino IDE 2.3.6 Plugins Not Working, Missing Folders

[ptillisch]

Hi @seldomintune.

@seldomintune

The standard ~/Library/Application Support/Arduino IDE folder is never created.

The Arduino IDE application uses the identifier "arduino-ide" internally:

package.json

which is then used by the Electron application framework on which Arduino IDE is built:

https://www.electronjs.org/docs/latest/api/app#appgetpathname

• appData Per-user application data directory, which by default points to:
  • %APPDATA% on Windows
  • $XDG_CONFIG_HOME or ~/.config on Linux
  • ~/Library/Application Support on macOS

[...]

• userData The directory for storing your app's configuration files, which by default is the appData directory appended with your app's name.

So this is normal and expected.

@seldomintune

I have tried placing the .vsix plugin file in both logical locations: first in ~/.arduinoIDE/plugins/ as the guide directs

That is correct.

@seldomintune

then in ~/Library/Application Support/arduino-ide/plugins/.

That is incorrect.

@seldomintune

Unfortunately, after restarting the IDE in both cases, the command still does not appear.

You can try the suggestion provided here by the author of the extension:

https://github.com/earlephilhower/arduino-littlefs-upload/issues/80#issuecomment-2596131864

Please triple check you have actually completely exited/killed and restarted the IDE after installation. I've heard that Macs sometimes leave the app actually running in the background when they appear to have exited.

If all else fails, try the "nuclear option" of restarting your computer.