Compiler error when trying to compile "Node" program [solved]

[Tom12]

Hi Everyone,
Moteino newbie here, just getting started with Moteinos, but I have a lot of previous Arduino and general microprocessor experience.  Having a bit of trouble getting the "Node" example program to compile, so I thought I would ask the group for some advice.
Just downloaded the latest Arduino IDE 2.0.3. (I know, I know, I'm probably asking for trouble, using the "bleeding" edge like this, but I thought I would try it.

Hardware: Linux computer running Ubuntu 22.04.1 LTS on an Intel Core i3-10100 CPU, 16GB of RAM
Arduino Software: arduino-ide_2.0.3_Linux_64bit

The IDE seems to come up just fine and I installed the (latest?) LowPowerLab libraries as follows:
RFM69 (Version: 1.5.2)  and SPIFlash (Version 101.1.3)
And installed the (latest?) LowPowerLab boards manager files as follows:
Moteino AVR Boards (Version 1.6.1)

When I try to compile the example LPL "Node" program, with the IDE set up for a "Moteino(-USB)" board, I get a compile error that goes as follows:
   "sutomm1/Arduino/libraries/SPIFlash_LowPowerLab /tmp/arduino-sketch-1A998E693E87028E4D0971E079BE76DF/sketch/Node.ino.cpp -o /tmp/arduino-sketch-1A998E693E87028E4D0971E079BE76DF/sketch/Node.ino.cpp.o
    sorry - this program has been built without plugin support"

You can view the complete compiler output on pastebin.com here:  https://pastebin.com/xCdFAZdh

I can't seem to figure this error out.  Anyone have any suggestions for me?  Thanks in advance everyone and Happy Holidays!
Tom12

[Felix]

This error seems to refer to the IDE maybe?
"sorry - this program has been built without plugin support"

Can you compile the same example with an Arduino UNO target?

[Tom12]

OK, compiling the same program with an Arduino Uno target, I don't get the same error but instead a different one, related to the SPIFlash:

/tmp/.arduinoIDE-unsaved20221112-7465-1sgg2e2.pvmo/Node/Node.ino:72:16: error: 'SS_FLASHMEM' was not declared in this scope
SPIFlash flash(SS_FLASHMEM, 0xEF30); //EF30 for 4mbit  Windbond chip (W25X40CL)
                ^~~~~~~~~~~
Complete compiler output at pastebin.com here: https://pastebin.com/eLsvYFW8

Note: there was no actual target board plugged into the computer, either a Moteino in the first case or a Arduino Uno in the second case. But, since I'm only trying to do a *compile*  and not a *download*, that shouldn't make a difference. (should it?)  Maybe, I'll go and try that now, though, just to see.

[Tom12]

OK, so doing the same compile of the "Node" program with an Arduino Uno target board *AND* with an Arduino Uno board connected to the computer didn't make a difference. Still got the same compile error: 'SS_FLASHMEM' was not declared in this scope'

And, doing the same compile of the "Node" program with an Moteino (-USB) target board *AND* with an Moteino USB board connected to the computer still gave the same errors as I detailed in my very first post: " sorry - this program has been built without plugin support"

[Tom12]

Another data point:  If I try to compile the standard, built-in, Arduino "Blink" example program, but with a Moteino(-USB) target I get a similar error message:
"/tmp/arduino-sketch-2644C9DCB64384C7CD17F4E80F29BD51/sketch/Blink.ino.cpp -o /tmp/arduino-sketch-644C9DCB64384C7CD17F4E80F29BD51/sketch/Blink.ino.cpp.o
sorry - this program has been built without plugin support"
Complete compiler output at pastebin.com here:  https://pastebin.com/myaBGAKq

Finally, just for the sake of completeness, compiling "Blink" with a standard Arduino Uno target, will compile just fine and will download to a Uno just fine and also run.

[Felix]

Something's very weird, you have the SPIFlash library so that error should not show.
The other error is also not ringing a bell.
I would suggest trying this on a different computer if you are able.

[Tom12]

Sorry, Felix, I only have the one Linux desktop computer.
I'll try backing off to a slightly older version of the Arduino IDE and see what that does. 
Thanks for your help!

[Tom12]

Actually, before trying earlier IDEs, I did a google search for: arduino compile error "sorry - this program has been built without plugin support"
and came up with an entry in the arduino forums from about 6 years ago:   https://forum.arduino.cc/t/1-6-10-plugin-error/402467
in which user "steodor" says:
"The problems appears to be from platform.txt file in the Arduino main install folder.
I am using windows so this is "C:\Program Files\Arduino\hardware\arduino\avr"
When installing additional boards the ar program is switched from avr-ar to avr-gcc-ar, which requires the compiler to enable linker plugins when building.
To fix it I removed -fuse-linker-plugin from the compiler.c.elf.flags= line and replace avr-gcc-ar with avr-ar on the compiler.ar.cmd= line
After this I am able to compile for both Arduino UNO and WeMos D1 R2 boards."

So, I'll try poking around in the arduino IDE files and see if I can find a "platform.txt" file. Hopefully, the newer Linux IDE files are similar to the older Windows files

[Tom12]

OK, decided to go back to an earlier version of the Arduino IDE: 1.8.19 instead of the newest version I was using: 2.0.3 (Reading up a bit on 2.0.3, I guess it's a *major* change, being based on a new Eclipse Theia framework,and I suppose one should expect some teething problems.)

Anyway, I deleted the main 2.0.3 directory and the two hidden directories it created under my home directory: ".arduino15" and ".arduinoIDE" and installed 1.8.19 and the latest Moteino libraries and board files. 

Now, I can compile the standard Arduino "Blink" program without errors; download it to a Moteino USB and it seems to run just fine.
And when I compile the Moteino "Node" example, I only get a slight syntax error related to SPIFlash ("SS_FLASHMEM' was not declared in this scope", see complete compiler output here: https://pastebin.com/eJQVUJ54).  So, I guess there must be a slight syntax error in the "Node" example. (Which I haven't tried to figure out, as my C/C++ programming skills are very rusty after a long absence.)
Anyway, not having any SPIFlash on any of the Moteinos I recently ordered, I commented out all the SPIFlash code and the "Node" program now compiles just fine and downloads OK as well.
So, I think I'm making progress and I'm ready to start playing around with some Moteino networks (and I'm excited about that!).

Happy Holidays, Everyone!
Tom12

[Felix]

Good, but the SS_FLASHMEM error is because it cannot find the declaration of it.
This is declared here:

path .. to .. Arduino15/packages/Moteino/hardware/avr/1.6.1/variants/Moteino/pins_arduino.h

When you pick the Moteino board this should automatically be included by the compiler and recognized in sketches that make reference to it.

[Tom12]

Oh, you're right, you're right.  I tried to compile the sketch with it accidentally set to board = "Arduino Uno" instead of board = "Moteino-USB" (trying too many different things, I guess, and lost track.)
When I set it to the correct board, the "Node" sketch compiles perfectly.  Thank you!