Problem with the IDE: "ctags: bad CPU type in executable"

Eternyt · July 9, 2021, 9:10pm

Hi, I'm a Mac user and I recently update to MacOS Big Sur (from Mojave). Now when I try to compile an Arduino sketch, I encounter this problem:
fork/exec /Users/Mattia/Library/Arduino15/packages/builtin/tools/ctags/5.8-arduino11/ctags: bad CPU type in executable
I tried to get some help online, and it seems a problem related to MacOS refusing to use any 32-bit software, but I'm using the latest version availale already (1.8.15). Also, after 3/4 times I press the compile button consecutively, it compiles the sketch without any problem (and then starts again with the error). I've tryed also the cli tool, but I get the same problem.
Any suggestion on how to resolve my problem?
Thanks!

pert · July 10, 2021, 12:56am

I see another report of the same here:

github.com/arduino/arduino-ide

ctags: bad CPU type in executable in macOS (2.0.0-beta.7)

opened 02:24AM - 03 Jul 21 UTC

hgrecco

topic: code os: macos type: imperfection

**Describe the bug** Cannot Verify/Compile even simple examples (AnalogReadSeri…al.ino). ctags: bad CPU type in executable in macOS with **To Reproduce** Just run the any example. > > Using board 'uno' from platform in folder: /Users/grecco/Library/Arduino15/packages/arduino/hardware/avr/1.8.3 > Using core 'arduino' from platform in folder: /Users/grecco/Library/Arduino15/packages/arduino/hardware/avr/1.8.3 > Detecting libraries used... > /Users/grecco/Library/Arduino15/packages/arduino/tools/avr-gcc/7.3.0-atmel3.6.1-arduino7/bin/avr-g++ -c -g -Os -w -std=gnu++11 -fpermissive -fno-exceptions -ffunction-sections -fdata-sections -fno-threadsafe-statics -Wno-error=narrowing -flto -w -x c++ -E -CC -mmcu=atmega328p -DF_CPU=16000000L -DARDUINO=10607 -DARDUINO_AVR_UNO -DARDUINO_ARCH_AVR -I/Users/grecco/Library/Arduino15/packages/arduino/hardware/avr/1.8.3/cores/arduino -I/Users/grecco/Library/Arduino15/packages/arduino/hardware/avr/1.8.3/variants/standard /var/folders/xj/xsrq0ml15_q98sq78466mbwr000bjr/T/arduino-sketch-ECD2946323C50FF71A5DD32C03F77EE8/sketch/AnalogReadSerial.ino.cpp -o /dev/null > Generating function prototypes... > /Users/grecco/Library/Arduino15/packages/arduino/tools/avr-gcc/7.3.0-atmel3.6.1-arduino7/bin/avr-g++ -c -g -Os -w -std=gnu++11 -fpermissive -fno-exceptions -ffunction-sections -fdata-sections -fno-threadsafe-statics -Wno-error=narrowing -flto -w -x c++ -E -CC -mmcu=atmega328p -DF_CPU=16000000L -DARDUINO=10607 -DARDUINO_AVR_UNO -DARDUINO_ARCH_AVR -I/Users/grecco/Library/Arduino15/packages/arduino/hardware/avr/1.8.3/cores/arduino -I/Users/grecco/Library/Arduino15/packages/arduino/hardware/avr/1.8.3/variants/standard /var/folders/xj/xsrq0ml15_q98sq78466mbwr000bjr/T/arduino-sketch-ECD2946323C50FF71A5DD32C03F77EE8/sketch/AnalogReadSerial.ino.cpp -o /var/folders/xj/xsrq0ml15_q98sq78466mbwr000bjr/T/arduino-sketch-ECD2946323C50FF71A5DD32C03F77EE8/preproc/ctags_target_for_gcc_minus_e.cpp > /Users/grecco/Library/Arduino15/packages/builtin/tools/ctags/5.8-arduino11/ctags -u --language-force=c++ -f - --c++-kinds=svpf --fields=KSTtzns --line-directives /var/folders/xj/xsrq0ml15_q98sq78466mbwr000bjr/T/arduino-sketch-ECD2946323C50FF71A5DD32C03F77EE8/preproc/ctags_target_for_gcc_minus_e.cpp > Compilation error: Error: 2 UNKNOWN: fork/exec /Users/grecco/Library/Arduino15/packages/builtin/tools/ctags/5.8-arduino11/ctags: bad CPU type in executable **Expected behavior** It should compile (and it does with Arudino 1.8.13. **Desktop (please complete the following information):** - OS: macOS Big Sur (11.4). MacBook Pro 2017 - IDE: Arduino IDE 2.0.0-beta.7 **Additional context** I also have Arduino 1.8.13 installed and there it works fine. It seems to be using a differen toolchain located in: ``` /Applications/Arduino.app/Contents/Java/tools-builder/ctags/5.8-arduino11/ctags ```

Please try deleting the /Users/Mattia/Library/Arduino15/packages/builtin/tools/ctags/5.8-arduino11 folder and then compiling some sketch again. Does the problem still occur after that?

Eternyt · July 10, 2021, 7:09am

Wow, now seems working. Thanks!
Can I ask why the removal of that folder resolved the problem? Arduino now looks at a new compile tool that run on 64-bit?
Thanks again!

system · November 7, 2021, 7:09am

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