Do not decode ESP32 compiled with gcc8_4_0-esp-2021r2

[cicciocb]

When compiling with latest arduino-ESP32 2.0.1(using the compiler gcc8_4_0-esp-2021r2) an error message is shown "Decode failed".

Using the previous version of the compiler (using the compiler gcc8_4_0-esp-2021r1) works properly.

[cicciocb]

Finally the problem comes from xtensa-esp32-elf-gdb.exe that has not been compiled using static libraries so it miss many .dll to work

[pilnikov]

++

[witnessmenow]

Is this an ESP32 Core issue? Is there a issue raised over there?

I have an issue on 2.0.1 and I am basically lost without this 😄

[cicciocb]

@witnessmenow It is an issue with the compiler gcc8_4_0-esp-2021r2 that is part of the 2.0.1. The "xtensa-esp32s2-elf-gdb.exe" inside the folder has been compiled to be used with external dll that are missing in the folder (not statically compiled like the others .exe). Simply copy these 2 dll in the folder packages\esp32\tools\xtensa-esp32-elf-gcc\gcc8_4_0-esp-2021r2\bin and voilà. gdb_dll_missing.zip

[witnessmenow]

Thanks @cicciocb

[smuellener]

@cicciocb where is this folder "packages\esp32\tools\xtensa-esp32-elf-gcc\gcc8_4_0-esp-2021r2\bin" exactely? I am on arduino core 2.0.2 tag and can not find it in the folder ide\hardware\espressif\esp32. Thanks

[cicciocb]

@cicciocb where is this folder "packages\esp32\tools\xtensa-esp32-elf-gcc\gcc8_4_0-esp-2021r2\bin" exactely? I am on arduino core 2.0.2 tag and can not find it in the folder ide\hardware\espressif\esp32. Thanks

Hi @smuellener, the folder is generally located here :

C:\Users\YOUR_NAME\AppData\Local\Arduino15

[smuellener]

I have the following folder as custom installation folder for the IDE: C:\Users\Public\arduino\ide. That resulted in having to copy the files into the following folder:

C:\Users\Public\arduino\ide\hardware\espressif\esp32\tools\xtensa-esp32-elf\bin

Thanks @cicciocb !

[mcpicoli]

The solution provided by @cicciocb worked nicely, thank you very much.

However, it would be much more preferable if someone could point to some official source for these DLLs, and/or instructions for downloading official binaries for them instead of a ZIP file.

I checked the files provided with Windows Defender and found nothing wrong or malicious about them, and decided to take some risk in downloading and using unsigned DLLs from an unknown source. Users in corporate environments, or dealing with sensitive data probably would not share my point of view.

Please let me be clear, I am NOT creating any suspicion about @cicciocb (thanks again), just pointing that it is not a good practice from a security standpoint.

Unfortunately I currently do not have the resources to find and post the solution for the problem I just pointed.

[pgrawehr]

It appears the bug has been fixed on master. With xtensa-esp32-elf-g++ (crosstool-NG esp-2021r2-patch2) 8.4.0 the exception decoder works again (without having to copy the files from the above zip)

[me-no-dev]

https://github.com/me-no-dev/EspExceptionDecoder/releases/tag/2.0.2 works for all

[mcpicoli]

Hi,

Just to help people avoiding all of the trouble I had to get this working. TL;DR: Manual Install is the way

• Simply downloading the latest release of the EspExceptiodDecoder (2.0.2) and installing does not solve the problem.
• Simply re-downloading the ESP32 SDK using the Arduino Board Manager (2.0.2 coincidentally as well) does not solve the problem
• Nuking and reinstalling the ESP32 packages ("packages" and "staging/packages" - download cache) does not solve the problem.
• Installing the 2.0.2 ESP32 Board for the first time ever may solve the problem (not tested).
• Deleting the "package_esp32_index.json" file (pointed to at the installation instructions) does not solve the problem. It just downloads the old versions of the toolchain!

Finally...

• Installing the Arduino ESP32 SDK manually (from here) and removing the old URL for the board manager works. Get ready for a few GB of downloads...

I believe that the board definition files from the official Espressif repository on Github are outdated, using the old toolchain, and the EspExceptionDecoder will never work "out of the box" using the standard, easy procedures of installation, until they're updated to use the newer toolchain.

Please note that this comment will be obsoleted the moment the definitions for the ESP32 boards are updated. Please try the usual "Arduino Board Manager" method before. It is valid as of today however (2022-03-03 11:47 UTC).

Edit.: Typo, comment about newer versions.