newly installed library, header (.h) files not found at compile time

Pardon if this has been answered 1000 times before, but I couldn't find a clean answer anyplace.

I've installed a new library (I've tried several with the same result, but GitHub - electronicdrops/RFIDRdm630: Arduino Library for RDM630 RFID 125Khz module for example) from a zip file into ~username/Documents/Arduino/library. It shows up in the appropriate menus (Examples, Sketch -> Include Library) but when I try to compile (Verify or Upload), I get an error message that the include file cannot be found.

Example:

#include <RFIDRdm630.h>

const int rxPin = 6; // pin that will receive the data
const int txPin = 7; // connection not necessary.

//char * tag;

RFIDtag * tag; // a pointer to an RFIDtag object

RFIDRdm630 reader = RFIDRdm630(rxPin,txPin); // the reader object.

void setup() {

Serial.begin(9600); // open the Serial for show data

}

void loop() {

if (reader.isAvailable()){ // tests if a card was read by the module

tag = reader.getTag(); // if true, then receives a pointer to an tag object

Serial.print("TAG: ");
Serial.print(tag->getTag()); // get TAG in ascii format
Serial.print(" Card Number: ");
Serial.println(tag->getCardNumber()); // get cardNumber in long format
Serial.println();

}
}

results in:

/Applications/Arduino.app/Contents/Java/arduino-builder -dump-prefs -logger=machine -hardware /Applications/Arduino.app/Contents/Java/hardware -hardware /Users/bownes/Library/Arduino15/packages -tools /Applications/Arduino.app/Contents/Java/tools-builder -tools /Applications/Arduino.app/Contents/Java/hardware/tools/avr -tools /Users/bownes/Library/Arduino15/packages -built-in-libraries /Applications/Arduino.app/Contents/Java/libraries -libraries /Users/bownes/Documents/Arduino/libraries -fqbn=arduino:avr:uno -ide-version=10613 -build-path /var/folders/_0/30sfgnb12fzcdr2cc9fz0nhc0000gp/T/arduino_build_87649 -warnings=none -prefs=build.warn_data_percentage=75 -prefs=runtime.tools.avr-gcc.path=/Users/bownes/Library/Arduino15/packages/arduino/tools/avr-gcc/4.9.2-atmel3.5.4-arduino2 -prefs=runtime.tools.avrdude.path=/Users/bownes/Library/Arduino15/packages/arduino/tools/avrdude/6.3.0-arduino9 -prefs=runtime.tools.arduinoOTA.path=/Users/bownes/Library/Arduino15/packages/arduino/tools/arduinoOTA/1.1.1 -verbose /Users/bownes/Documents/Arduino/libraries/RFIDRdm630/Examples/getTAG/getTAG.ino
/Applications/Arduino.app/Contents/Java/arduino-builder -compile -logger=machine -hardware /Applications/Arduino.app/Contents/Java/hardware -hardware /Users/bownes/Library/Arduino15/packages -tools /Applications/Arduino.app/Contents/Java/tools-builder -tools /Applications/Arduino.app/Contents/Java/hardware/tools/avr -tools /Users/bownes/Library/Arduino15/packages -built-in-libraries /Applications/Arduino.app/Contents/Java/libraries -libraries /Users/bownes/Documents/Arduino/libraries -fqbn=arduino:avr:uno -ide-version=10613 -build-path /var/folders/_0/30sfgnb12fzcdr2cc9fz0nhc0000gp/T/arduino_build_87649 -warnings=none -prefs=build.warn_data_percentage=75 -prefs=runtime.tools.avr-gcc.path=/Users/bownes/Library/Arduino15/packages/arduino/tools/avr-gcc/4.9.2-atmel3.5.4-arduino2 -prefs=runtime.tools.avrdude.path=/Users/bownes/Library/Arduino15/packages/arduino/tools/avrdude/6.3.0-arduino9 -prefs=runtime.tools.arduinoOTA.path=/Users/bownes/Library/Arduino15/packages/arduino/tools/arduinoOTA/1.1.1 -verbose /Users/bownes/Documents/Arduino/libraries/RFIDRdm630/Examples/getTAG/getTAG.ino
Using board 'uno' from platform in folder: /Users/bownes/Library/Arduino15/packages/arduino/hardware/avr/1.6.18
Using core 'arduino' from platform in folder: /Users/bownes/Library/Arduino15/packages/arduino/hardware/avr/1.6.18
Detecting libraries used...
"/Users/bownes/Library/Arduino15/packages/arduino/tools/avr-gcc/4.9.2-atmel3.5.4-arduino2/bin/avr-g++" -c -g -Os -w -std=gnu++11 -fpermissive -fno-exceptions -ffunction-sections -fdata-sections -fno-threadsafe-statics -flto -w -x c++ -E -CC -mmcu=atmega328p -DF_CPU=16000000L -DARDUINO=10613 -DARDUINO_AVR_UNO -DARDUINO_ARCH_AVR "-I/Users/bownes/Library/Arduino15/packages/arduino/hardware/avr/1.6.18/cores/arduino" "-I/Users/bownes/Library/Arduino15/packages/arduino/hardware/avr/1.6.18/variants/standard" "/var/folders/_0/30sfgnb12fzcdr2cc9fz0nhc0000gp/T/arduino_build_87649/sketch/getTAG.ino.cpp" -o "/dev/null"
"/Users/bownes/Library/Arduino15/packages/arduino/tools/avr-gcc/4.9.2-atmel3.5.4-arduino2/bin/avr-g++" -c -g -Os -w -std=gnu++11 -fpermissive -fno-exceptions -ffunction-sections -fdata-sections -fno-threadsafe-statics -flto -w -x c++ -E -CC -mmcu=atmega328p -DF_CPU=16000000L -DARDUINO=10613 -DARDUINO_AVR_UNO -DARDUINO_ARCH_AVR "-I/Users/bownes/Library/Arduino15/packages/arduino/hardware/avr/1.6.18/cores/arduino" "-I/Users/bownes/Library/Arduino15/packages/arduino/hardware/avr/1.6.18/variants/standard" "/var/folders/_0/30sfgnb12fzcdr2cc9fz0nhc0000gp/T/arduino_build_87649/sketch/getTAG.ino.cpp" -o "/var/folders/_0/30sfgnb12fzcdr2cc9fz0nhc0000gp/T/arduino_build_87649/preproc/ctags_target_for_gcc_minus_e.cpp"
/Users/bownes/Documents/Arduino/libraries/RFIDRdm630/Examples/getTAG/getTAG.ino:21:24: fatal error: RFIDRdm630.h: No such file or directory
#include <RFIDRdm630.h>
^
compilation terminated.
exit status 1
Error compiling for board Arduino/Genuino Uno.
Invalid library found in /Users/bownes/Documents/Arduino/libraries/RFIDRdm630: /Users/bownes/Documents/Arduino/libraries/RFIDRdm630

Can someone hit me with a clue stick?

Thanks,
Bob

I'm not sure what could be wrong. From the output I can see that the RFIDRdm630 folder is in the right place but it's being considered invalid by the Arduino IDE. Here's my advice:

  • Delete /Users/bownes/Documents/Arduino/libraries/RFIDRdm630. Please be very careful when deleting things on your computer. When in doubt back up!
  • Download https://github.com/electronicdrops/RFIDRdm630/archive/master.zip
  • Sketch > Include library > Add .ZIP library > Select the downloaded file > Open
  • File > Examples > RFIDRdm630-master > Examples > getTAG
  • Sketch > Compile/Verify

It worked for me.

Nope. Exactly the same.

/var/folders/_0/30sfgnb12fzcdr2cc9fz0nhc0000gp/T/arduino_modified_sketch_929908/getTAG.ino:21:24: fatal error: RFIDRdm630.h: No such file or directory
#include <RFIDRdm630.h>

I notice that the getTAG file uses "RFIDRdm630.h". I tried both " and <>. Same result.

Please post the full error output. I want to see if you're still getting the same invalid library warning.

Please use code tags (</> button on the toolbar) when you post code or warning/error messages. The reason is that the forum software can interpret parts of your code as markup, leading to confusion, wasted time, and a reduced chance for you to get help with your problem. This will also make it easier to read your code and to copy it to the IDE or editor. Using code tags and other important information is explained in the How to use this forum post. Please read it.

thanks for the tip on code tags.

Here is the error message when I try to compile getTAG.

/Applications/Arduino.app/Contents/Java/arduino-builder -dump-prefs -logger=machine -hardware /Applications/Arduino.app/Contents/Java/hardware -hardware /Users/bownes/Library/Arduino15/packages -tools /Applications/Arduino.app/Contents/Java/tools-builder -tools /Applications/Arduino.app/Contents/Java/hardware/tools/avr -tools /Users/bownes/Library/Arduino15/packages -built-in-libraries /Applications/Arduino.app/Contents/Java/libraries -libraries /Users/bownes/Documents/Arduino/libraries -fqbn=arduino:avr:uno -ide-version=10613 -build-path /var/folders/_0/30sfgnb12fzcdr2cc9fz0nhc0000gp/T/arduino_build_132267 -warnings=none -prefs=build.warn_data_percentage=75 -prefs=runtime.tools.avr-gcc.path=/Users/bownes/Library/Arduino15/packages/arduino/tools/avr-gcc/4.9.2-atmel3.5.4-arduino2 -prefs=runtime.tools.avrdude.path=/Users/bownes/Library/Arduino15/packages/arduino/tools/avrdude/6.3.0-arduino9 -prefs=runtime.tools.arduinoOTA.path=/Users/bownes/Library/Arduino15/packages/arduino/tools/arduinoOTA/1.1.1 -verbose /Users/bownes/Documents/Arduino/libraries/RFIDRdm630-master/Examples/getTAG/getTAG.ino
/Applications/Arduino.app/Contents/Java/arduino-builder -compile -logger=machine -hardware /Applications/Arduino.app/Contents/Java/hardware -hardware /Users/bownes/Library/Arduino15/packages -tools /Applications/Arduino.app/Contents/Java/tools-builder -tools /Applications/Arduino.app/Contents/Java/hardware/tools/avr -tools /Users/bownes/Library/Arduino15/packages -built-in-libraries /Applications/Arduino.app/Contents/Java/libraries -libraries /Users/bownes/Documents/Arduino/libraries -fqbn=arduino:avr:uno -ide-version=10613 -build-path /var/folders/_0/30sfgnb12fzcdr2cc9fz0nhc0000gp/T/arduino_build_132267 -warnings=none -prefs=build.warn_data_percentage=75 -prefs=runtime.tools.avr-gcc.path=/Users/bownes/Library/Arduino15/packages/arduino/tools/avr-gcc/4.9.2-atmel3.5.4-arduino2 -prefs=runtime.tools.avrdude.path=/Users/bownes/Library/Arduino15/packages/arduino/tools/avrdude/6.3.0-arduino9 -prefs=runtime.tools.arduinoOTA.path=/Users/bownes/Library/Arduino15/packages/arduino/tools/arduinoOTA/1.1.1 -verbose /Users/bownes/Documents/Arduino/libraries/RFIDRdm630-master/Examples/getTAG/getTAG.ino
Using board 'uno' from platform in folder: /Users/bownes/Library/Arduino15/packages/arduino/hardware/avr/1.6.18
Using core 'arduino' from platform in folder: /Users/bownes/Library/Arduino15/packages/arduino/hardware/avr/1.6.18
Detecting libraries used...
"/Users/bownes/Library/Arduino15/packages/arduino/tools/avr-gcc/4.9.2-atmel3.5.4-arduino2/bin/avr-g++" -c -g -Os -w -std=gnu++11 -fpermissive -fno-exceptions -ffunction-sections -fdata-sections -fno-threadsafe-statics  -flto -w -x c++ -E -CC -mmcu=atmega328p -DF_CPU=16000000L -DARDUINO=10613 -DARDUINO_AVR_UNO -DARDUINO_ARCH_AVR   "-I/Users/bownes/Library/Arduino15/packages/arduino/hardware/avr/1.6.18/cores/arduino" "-I/Users/bownes/Library/Arduino15/packages/arduino/hardware/avr/1.6.18/variants/standard" "/var/folders/_0/30sfgnb12fzcdr2cc9fz0nhc0000gp/T/arduino_build_132267/sketch/getTAG.ino.cpp" -o "/dev/null"
"/Users/bownes/Library/Arduino15/packages/arduino/tools/avr-gcc/4.9.2-atmel3.5.4-arduino2/bin/avr-g++" -c -g -Os -w -std=gnu++11 -fpermissive -fno-exceptions -ffunction-sections -fdata-sections -fno-threadsafe-statics  -flto -w -x c++ -E -CC -mmcu=atmega328p -DF_CPU=16000000L -DARDUINO=10613 -DARDUINO_AVR_UNO -DARDUINO_ARCH_AVR   "-I/Users/bownes/Library/Arduino15/packages/arduino/hardware/avr/1.6.18/cores/arduino" "-I/Users/bownes/Library/Arduino15/packages/arduino/hardware/avr/1.6.18/variants/standard" "/var/folders/_0/30sfgnb12fzcdr2cc9fz0nhc0000gp/T/arduino_build_132267/sketch/getTAG.ino.cpp" -o "/var/folders/_0/30sfgnb12fzcdr2cc9fz0nhc0000gp/T/arduino_build_132267/preproc/ctags_target_for_gcc_minus_e.cpp"
/Users/bownes/Documents/Arduino/libraries/RFIDRdm630-master/Examples/getTAG/getTAG.ino:21:24: fatal error: RFIDRdm630.h: No such file or directory
 #include "RFIDRdm630.h"
                        ^
compilation terminated.
exit status 1
Error compiling for board Arduino/Genuino Uno.

Strange. We fixed the invalid library warning at least but I don't understand why it's still having the error. Does the file /Users/bownes/Documents/Arduino/libraries/RFIDRdm630-master/RFIDRdm630.h exist?

One thing that I notice is that the library author has incorrectly capitalized the Examples folder. The library specification states that folder name should be in all lowercase. I don't see why that would make any difference but you could try renaming the folder just to make sure it's not causing a problem.

Thanks for the continued assistance.

The file does exist, has rational permissions:

tunguska:getTAG bownes$ ls -l /Users/bownes/Documents/Arduino/libraries/RFIDRdm630-master/RFIDRdm630.h
-rw-r--r--+ 1 bownes  staff  2035 May 18 18:19 /Users/bownes/Documents/Arduino/libraries/RFIDRdm630-master/RFIDRdm630.h

I find it interesting that the example code has the .h in "s, yet when you do an 'include library', it puts the .h in <>. Not that it makes a difference.

As you suspect, moving it from Examples to examlples made no difference.

On a lark, I put a copy of the .h file in the same directory as the source, went with the " syntax for local include and got this:

/Applications/Arduino.app/Contents/Java/arduino-builder -dump-prefs -logger=machine -hardware /Applications/Arduino.app/Contents/Java/hardware -hardware /Users/bownes/Library/Arduino15/packages -tools /Applications/Arduino.app/Contents/Java/tools-builder -tools /Applications/Arduino.app/Contents/Java/hardware/tools/avr -tools /Users/bownes/Library/Arduino15/packages -built-in-libraries /Applications/Arduino.app/Contents/Java/libraries -libraries /Users/bownes/Documents/Arduino/libraries -fqbn=arduino:avr:uno -ide-version=10613 -build-path /var/folders/_0/30sfgnb12fzcdr2cc9fz0nhc0000gp/T/arduino_build_810924 -warnings=none -prefs=build.warn_data_percentage=75 -prefs=runtime.tools.avr-gcc.path=/Users/bownes/Library/Arduino15/packages/arduino/tools/avr-gcc/4.9.2-atmel3.5.4-arduino2 -prefs=runtime.tools.avrdude.path=/Users/bownes/Library/Arduino15/packages/arduino/tools/avrdude/6.3.0-arduino9 -prefs=runtime.tools.arduinoOTA.path=/Users/bownes/Library/Arduino15/packages/arduino/tools/arduinoOTA/1.1.1 -verbose /Users/bownes/Documents/Arduino/libraries/RFIDRdm630-master/examples/getTAG/getTAG.ino
/Applications/Arduino.app/Contents/Java/arduino-builder -compile -logger=machine -hardware /Applications/Arduino.app/Contents/Java/hardware -hardware /Users/bownes/Library/Arduino15/packages -tools /Applications/Arduino.app/Contents/Java/tools-builder -tools /Applications/Arduino.app/Contents/Java/hardware/tools/avr -tools /Users/bownes/Library/Arduino15/packages -built-in-libraries /Applications/Arduino.app/Contents/Java/libraries -libraries /Users/bownes/Documents/Arduino/libraries -fqbn=arduino:avr:uno -ide-version=10613 -build-path /var/folders/_0/30sfgnb12fzcdr2cc9fz0nhc0000gp/T/arduino_build_810924 -warnings=none -prefs=build.warn_data_percentage=75 -prefs=runtime.tools.avr-gcc.path=/Users/bownes/Library/Arduino15/packages/arduino/tools/avr-gcc/4.9.2-atmel3.5.4-arduino2 -prefs=runtime.tools.avrdude.path=/Users/bownes/Library/Arduino15/packages/arduino/tools/avrdude/6.3.0-arduino9 -prefs=runtime.tools.arduinoOTA.path=/Users/bownes/Library/Arduino15/packages/arduino/tools/arduinoOTA/1.1.1 -verbose /Users/bownes/Documents/Arduino/libraries/RFIDRdm630-master/examples/getTAG/getTAG.ino
Using board 'uno' from platform in folder: /Users/bownes/Library/Arduino15/packages/arduino/hardware/avr/1.6.18
Using core 'arduino' from platform in folder: /Users/bownes/Library/Arduino15/packages/arduino/hardware/avr/1.6.18
Detecting libraries used...
"/Users/bownes/Library/Arduino15/packages/arduino/tools/avr-gcc/4.9.2-atmel3.5.4-arduino2/bin/avr-g++" -c -g -Os -w -std=gnu++11 -fpermissive -fno-exceptions -ffunction-sections -fdata-sections -fno-threadsafe-statics  -flto -w -x c++ -E -CC -mmcu=atmega328p -DF_CPU=16000000L -DARDUINO=10613 -DARDUINO_AVR_UNO -DARDUINO_ARCH_AVR   "-I/Users/bownes/Library/Arduino15/packages/arduino/hardware/avr/1.6.18/cores/arduino" "-I/Users/bownes/Library/Arduino15/packages/arduino/hardware/avr/1.6.18/variants/standard" "/var/folders/_0/30sfgnb12fzcdr2cc9fz0nhc0000gp/T/arduino_build_810924/sketch/getTAG.ino.cpp" -o "/dev/null"
"/Users/bownes/Library/Arduino15/packages/arduino/tools/avr-gcc/4.9.2-atmel3.5.4-arduino2/bin/avr-g++" -c -g -Os -w -std=gnu++11 -fpermissive -fno-exceptions -ffunction-sections -fdata-sections -fno-threadsafe-statics  -flto -w -x c++ -E -CC -mmcu=atmega328p -DF_CPU=16000000L -DARDUINO=10613 -DARDUINO_AVR_UNO -DARDUINO_ARCH_AVR   "-I/Users/bownes/Library/Arduino15/packages/arduino/hardware/avr/1.6.18/cores/arduino" "-I/Users/bownes/Library/Arduino15/packages/arduino/hardware/avr/1.6.18/variants/standard" "-I/Users/bownes/Library/Arduino15/packages/arduino/hardware/avr/1.6.18/libraries/SoftwareSerial/src" "/var/folders/_0/30sfgnb12fzcdr2cc9fz0nhc0000gp/T/arduino_build_810924/sketch/getTAG.ino.cpp" -o "/dev/null"

<redacted to meet 9k char limit>

"/Users/bownes/Library/Arduino15/packages/arduino/tools/avr-gcc/4.9.2-atmel3.5.4-arduino2/bin/avr-gcc-ar" rcs  "/var/folders/_0/30sfgnb12fzcdr2cc9fz0nhc0000gp/T/arduino_build_810924/core/core.a" "/var/folders/_0/30sfgnb12fzcdr2cc9fz0nhc0000gp/T/arduino_build_810924/core/new.cpp.o"
Linking everything together...
"/Users/bownes/Library/Arduino15/packages/arduino/tools/avr-gcc/4.9.2-atmel3.5.4-arduino2/bin/avr-gcc" -w -Os -g -flto -fuse-linker-plugin -Wl,--gc-sections -mmcu=atmega328p  -o "/var/folders/_0/30sfgnb12fzcdr2cc9fz0nhc0000gp/T/arduino_build_810924/getTAG.ino.elf" "/var/folders/_0/30sfgnb12fzcdr2cc9fz0nhc0000gp/T/arduino_build_810924/sketch/getTAG.ino.cpp.o" "/var/folders/_0/30sfgnb12fzcdr2cc9fz0nhc0000gp/T/arduino_build_810924/libraries/SoftwareSerial/SoftwareSerial.cpp.o" "/var/folders/_0/30sfgnb12fzcdr2cc9fz0nhc0000gp/T/arduino_build_810924/core/core.a" "-L/var/folders/_0/30sfgnb12fzcdr2cc9fz0nhc0000gp/T/arduino_build_810924" -lm
/var/folders/_0/30sfgnb12fzcdr2cc9fz0nhc0000gp/T//ccsy7nUn.ltrans0.ltrans.o: In function `__static_initialization_and_destruction_0':
/Users/bownes/Documents/Arduino/libraries/RFIDRdm630-master/examples/getTAG/getTAG.ino:30: undefined reference to `RFIDRdm630::RFIDRdm630(int, int)'
/var/folders/_0/30sfgnb12fzcdr2cc9fz0nhc0000gp/T//ccsy7nUn.ltrans0.ltrans.o: In function `loop':
/Users/bownes/Documents/Arduino/libraries/RFIDRdm630-master/examples/getTAG/getTAG.ino:42: undefined reference to `RFIDRdm630::isAvailable()'
/Users/bownes/Documents/Arduino/libraries/RFIDRdm630-master/examples/getTAG/getTAG.ino:44: undefined reference to `RFIDRdm630::getTag()'
/Users/bownes/Documents/Arduino/libraries/RFIDRdm630-master/examples/getTAG/getTAG.ino:47: undefined reference to `RFIDtag::getTag()'
/Users/bownes/Documents/Arduino/libraries/RFIDRdm630-master/examples/getTAG/getTAG.ino:49: undefined reference to `RFIDtag::getCardNumber()'
collect2: error: ld returned 1 exit status
Using library SoftwareSerial at version 1.0 in folder: /Users/bownes/Library/Arduino15/packages/arduino/hardware/avr/1.6.18/libraries/SoftwareSerial 
exit status 1
Error compiling for board Arduino/Genuino Uno.

Further update, this really seems to be a problem importing new libraries.

I tried importing another library from a zip file at random with the same result, example won't compile because it can't find the header files.

#include "RFIDRdm630.h"

causes the IDE to search the sketch folder and then the libraries folders for the file.

#include <RFIDRdm630.h>

causes the IDE to search only the libraries folders for the file.
In this case #include <RFIDRdm630.h> is more correct but either will work, maybe #include "RFIDRdm630.h" causes a little slower compilation. In the case of you moving the .h file to the sketch folder #include "RFIDRdm630.h" is required.

It is possible to place libraries in the sketch folder but you would need to put the .cpp file in the sketch folder also. The library source files will appear as tabs in the Arduino IDE when you open the sketch which may be annoying. If so you can put them in the /src/RFIDRdm630/ subfolder of your sketch folder and change the include in the sketch to:

#include "src/RFIDRdm630/RFIDRdm630.h"

Right. i grok the difference between " and <>, and can certainly add the lib to the source, but im trying to do it the Right Way.

Thanks!

I'm having the exact problem with softwareserial.h. i did not have this problem yesterday. i tried reloading arduino from scratch, no effect...please help i use softwareserial for many of my projects

Arduino: 1.8.2 (Mac OS X), Board: "NodeMCU 1.0 (ESP-12E Module), 80 MHz, 115200, 4M (3M SPIFFS)"

/Applications/Arduino.app/Contents/Java/arduino-builder -dump-prefs -logger=machine -hardware /Applications/Arduino.app/Contents/Java/hardware -hardware /Users/bluegure/Library/Arduino15/packages -hardware /Users/bluegure/Documents/Arduino/hardware -tools /Applications/Arduino.app/Contents/Java/tools-builder -tools /Applications/Arduino.app/Contents/Java/hardware/tools/avr -tools /Users/bluegure/Library/Arduino15/packages -built-in-libraries /Applications/Arduino.app/Contents/Java/libraries -libraries /Users/bluegure/Documents/Arduino/libraries -fqbn=esp8266com:esp8266:nodemcuv2:CpuFrequency=80,UploadSpeed=115200,FlashSize=4M3M -ide-version=10802 -build-path /var/folders/by/vhv78wns3wj04l60r4mcnp080000gn/T/arduino_build_163197 -warnings=default -prefs=build.warn_data_percentage=75 -verbose /Users/bluegure/Documents/Arduino/sketches/Tank/Virtuino_esp12e/Virtuino_esp12e.ino
/Applications/Arduino.app/Contents/Java/arduino-builder -compile -logger=machine -hardware /Applications/Arduino.app/Contents/Java/hardware -hardware /Users/bluegure/Library/Arduino15/packages -hardware /Users/bluegure/Documents/Arduino/hardware -tools /Applications/Arduino.app/Contents/Java/tools-builder -tools /Applications/Arduino.app/Contents/Java/hardware/tools/avr -tools /Users/bluegure/Library/Arduino15/packages -built-in-libraries /Applications/Arduino.app/Contents/Java/libraries -libraries /Users/bluegure/Documents/Arduino/libraries -fqbn=esp8266com:esp8266:nodemcuv2:CpuFrequency=80,UploadSpeed=115200,FlashSize=4M3M -ide-version=10802 -build-path /var/folders/by/vhv78wns3wj04l60r4mcnp080000gn/T/arduino_build_163197 -warnings=default -prefs=build.warn_data_percentage=75 -verbose /Users/bluegure/Documents/Arduino/sketches/Tank/Virtuino_esp12e/Virtuino_esp12e.ino
Using board 'nodemcuv2' from platform in folder: /Users/bluegure/Documents/Arduino/hardware/esp8266com/esp8266
Using core 'esp8266' from platform in folder: /Users/bluegure/Documents/Arduino/hardware/esp8266com/esp8266
Detecting libraries used...
"/Users/bluegure/Library/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__ "-I/Users/bluegure/Documents/Arduino/hardware/esp8266com/esp8266/tools/sdk/include" "-I/Users/bluegure/Documents/Arduino/hardware/esp8266com/esp8266/tools/sdk/lwip/include" "-I/Users/bluegure/Documents/Arduino/hardware/esp8266com/esp8266/tools/sdk/libc/xtensa-lx106-elf/include" "-I/var/folders/by/vhv78wns3wj04l60r4mcnp080000gn/T/arduino_build_163197/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=10802 -DARDUINO_ESP8266_NODEMCU -DARDUINO_ARCH_ESP8266 -DARDUINO_BOARD="ESP8266_NODEMCU" -DESP8266 "-I/Users/bluegure/Documents/Arduino/hardware/esp8266com/esp8266/cores/esp8266" "-I/Users/bluegure/Documents/Arduino/hardware/esp8266com/esp8266/variants/nodemcu" "/var/folders/by/vhv78wns3wj04l60r4mcnp080000gn/T/arduino_build_163197/sketch/Virtuino_esp12e.ino.cpp" -o "/dev/null"
"/Users/bluegure/Library/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__ "-I/Users/bluegure/Documents/Arduino/hardware/esp8266com/esp8266/tools/sdk/include" "-I/Users/bluegure/Documents/Arduino/hardware/esp8266com/esp8266/tools/sdk/lwip/include" "-I/Users/bluegure/Documents/Arduino/hardware/esp8266com/esp8266/tools/sdk/libc/xtensa-lx106-elf/include" "-I/var/folders/by/vhv78wns3wj04l60r4mcnp080000gn/T/arduino_build_163197/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=10802 -DARDUINO_ESP8266_NODEMCU -DARDUINO_ARCH_ESP8266 -DARDUINO_BOARD="ESP8266_NODEMCU" -DESP8266 "-I/Users/bluegure/Documents/Arduino/hardware/esp8266com/esp8266/cores/esp8266" "-I/Users/bluegure/Documents/Arduino/hardware/esp8266com/esp8266/variants/nodemcu" "-I/Users/bluegure/Documents/Arduino/libraries/virtuino" "/var/folders/by/vhv78wns3wj04l60r4mcnp080000gn/T/arduino_build_163197/sketch/Virtuino_esp12e.ino.cpp" -o "/dev/null"
"/Users/bluegure/Library/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__ "-I/Users/bluegure/Documents/Arduino/hardware/esp8266com/esp8266/tools/sdk/include" "-I/Users/bluegure/Documents/Arduino/hardware/esp8266com/esp8266/tools/sdk/lwip/include" "-I/Users/bluegure/Documents/Arduino/hardware/esp8266com/esp8266/tools/sdk/libc/xtensa-lx106-elf/include" "-I/var/folders/by/vhv78wns3wj04l60r4mcnp080000gn/T/arduino_build_163197/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=10802 -DARDUINO_ESP8266_NODEMCU -DARDUINO_ARCH_ESP8266 -DARDUINO_BOARD="ESP8266_NODEMCU" -DESP8266 "-I/Users/bluegure/Documents/Arduino/hardware/esp8266com/esp8266/cores/esp8266" "-I/Users/bluegure/Documents/Arduino/hardware/esp8266com/esp8266/variants/nodemcu" "-I/Users/bluegure/Documents/Arduino/libraries/virtuino" "/var/folders/by/vhv78wns3wj04l60r4mcnp080000gn/T/arduino_build_163197/sketch/Virtuino_esp12e.ino.cpp" -o "/var/folders/by/vhv78wns3wj04l60r4mcnp080000gn/T/arduino_build_163197/preproc/ctags_target_for_gcc_minus_e.cpp"
/Users/bluegure/Documents/Arduino/sketches/Tank/Virtuino_esp12e/Virtuino_esp12e.ino:42:28: fatal error: SoftwareSerial.h: No such file or directory
#include <SoftwareSerial.h>
^
compilation terminated.
Using library virtuino in folder: /Users/bluegure/Documents/Arduino/libraries/virtuino (legacy)
exit status 1

why do you have esp8266 installed at /Users/bluegure/Documents/Arduino/hardware/esp8266com? It seems like you have two versions of the package installed, the other is at /Users/bluegure/Library/Arduino15/packages/esp8266, which is where it gets installed if you do a Boards Manager installation.

i manually installed it by mistake then added the url for the board...has not caused any issues for months so i never fixed it

when i add a copy of softwareserial downloaded from "Create" i get this:

n file included from /Users/bluegure/Documents/Arduino/sketches/Tank/Virtuino_esp12e/Virtuino_esp12e.ino:42:0:
/Users/bluegure/Documents/Arduino/libraries/SoftwareSerial/SoftwareSerial.h:26:21: fatal error: variant.h: No such file or directory
#include <variant.h>
^
compilation terminated.
Using library virtuino in folder: /Users/bluegure/Documents/Arduino/libraries/virtuino (legacy)
Using library SoftwareSerial at version 1.0.0 in folder: /Users/bluegure/Documents/Arduino/libraries/SoftwareSerial
exit status 1
Error compiling for board NodeMCU 1.0 (ESP-12E Module).

i did a search for the file and it is nowhere on my system (except the one i downloaded} is there a place where i can get the complete library? when i try to add the .zip from "Create" it says "invalid library"

The SoftwareSerial library should be found at /Users/bluegure/Documents/Arduino/hardware/esp8266com/esp8266/libraries/SoftwareSerial. You may find other copies elsewhere on your computer. For example, the AVR version located in the Arduino IDE installation folder. That copy will not be used by the Arduino IDE because it is part of the Arduino AVR Boards package and so is not compatible with ESP8266.

My advice is to delete /Users/bluegure/Documents/Arduino/hardware/esp8266com and then install the esp8266 core using Boards Manager. Please be very careful when deleting files on your computer. When in doubt, back up!

thank you that did the trick and it got rid of the duplicate esp8266 install

Also, be aware SoftwareSerial may or may not be there for a particular board.

The fix for my original problem was to blow away my IDE install and re-install it. Something someplace was hosed.

Thanks folks