"Export Compiled Binary" saves binary under temporary folder when using an example sketch

[Jens869]

Describe the problem

When the user has never saved a new sketch, it is staged under the system temporary folder at a location something like:

C:\Users\per\AppData\Local\Temp\.arduinoIDE-unsaved2023517-20504-23cc4o.42k1f\Foo

In addition to the sketches created via File > New Sketch, example sketches are opened as a new sketch in order to prevent users from making inadvertent changes to the "known good" example code files.

🐛 If a "Export Compiled Binary" operation is done when a example sketch is open in the IDE, the binary is saved under that "staged" sketch folder under the system temporary folder.

To reproduce

1. Use Library Manager to install the "ArduinoGraphics" library.
2. Select File > Examples > ArduinoGraphics > ASCIIDraw from the Arduino IDE menus.
3. Select Sketch > Export Compiled Binary from the Arduino IDE menus.
4. Wait for the "Export Compiled Binary" operation to complete successfully.
5. Select Sketch > Show Sketch Folder from the Arduino IDE menus.

🐛 The binary is saved somewhere like this:

C:\Users\per\AppData\Local\Temp\.arduinoIDE-unsaved2023517-20504-j7d70c.9dhkj\ASCIIDraw\build\arduino.avr.uno

Instead of the more convenient location:

C:\Users\per\Documents\Arduino\libraries\ArduinoGraphics\examples\ASCIIDraw\build\arduino.avr.uno

Expected behavior

Exported binary is saved in the source example sketch folder.

Arduino IDE version

2.0.0

Operating system

macOS

Operating system version

MacOS 11.6.8 Intel

Additional context

Arduino IDE 1.x has the expected behavior.

Issue checklist

• I searched for previous reports in the issue tracker
• I verified the problem still occurs when using the latest nightly build
• My report contains all necessary details

[per1234]

The reason it is saved to that temporary folder is because the Arduino IDE 2.x opens example code in a temporary new sketch (as discussed at #925). The IDE does this because example sketches are intended to be treated as "read-only" so that the user does not unintentionally make modifications to what is expected to be "known good" reference code provided by the library author and Arduino.

So I'm not convinced that Arduino IDE 1.x saving the compiled binary inside what is intended to be somewhat of a "read-only" location was actually "right". On the other hand, doing so shouldn't cause problems like allowing a modification to the example code would because the presence of the exported binary in a sketch folder shouldn't affect the IDE in any way.

The workaround for the problem of the example sketch being in an odd temporary folder is to use File > Save As... to save the temporary new sketch to a persistent location on your hard drive.

the subfolder is hard to reach

Even in the temporary folder, it is sill just as easy to reach by selecting Sketch > Show Sketch Folder from the Arduino IDE menus.

[kittaakos]

Arduino IDE 1.x saving the compiled binary inside what is intended to be somewhat of a "read-only" location was actually "right".

IDE2 can prompt a dialog and guide users to save the temp sketch before doing Sketch > Export Compiled Binary.

IDE 1.x shows this dialog when trying to save an example:

[Jens869]

I'm sorry.
Arduino 1.x places the bin file in /Documents/Arduino/name/name.bin

Arduino 2.0 in /Documents/Arduino/name/build/esp8266-something/name.bin

It's also a problem that modern operating systems hide the path, but when I upload the file via browser then I have to specify the entire path.

There it is useless to have a shortened path in Finder/Explorer.

Unless you're using the terminal/shell/cmd.exe to find out the path

[per1234]

Arduino 2.0 in /Documents/Arduino/name/build/esp8266-something/name.bin

This is intentional.

It's also a problem that modern operating systems hide the path

Then change the operating system settings to have the right behavior. If that setting is not available, take it up with Apple.

when I upload the file via browser then I have to I have to specify the entire path.

If that is a problem, you can move the file to a more convenient location.

[hemangjoshi37a]

where is this located in ubuntu ?