Description
Describe the request
Please consider adding a --skip-platform flag to the core install command to allow installation of only the tool dependencies, excluding the platform (e.g., hardware/esp32/...).
This would benefit use cases where the core is not used for compiling or uploading sketches, but the CLI tools are still required, such as decoding core dumps or flashing precompiled binaries.
Motivation
Currently, a core install always downloads the platform in addition to its tool dependencies. For example:
arduino-cli core install esp32:esp32
Creates:
pwd
/Users/akoskitta/Library/Arduino15/packages/esp32
tree -L 3 .
.
├── hardware
│ └── esp32
│ └── 3.1.3
└── tools
├── esp-rv32
│ └── 2405
├── esp-x32
│ └── 2405
├── esp32-arduino-libs
│ └── idf-release_v5.3-489d7a2b-v1
├── esptool_py
│ └── 4.9.dev3
├── mklittlefs
│ └── 3.0.0-gnu12-dc7f933
├── mkspiffs
│ └── 0.2.3
├── openocd-esp32
│ └── v0.12.0-esp32-20241016
├── riscv32-esp-elf-gdb
│ └── 14.2_20240403
└── xtensa-esp-elf-gdb
└── 14.2_20240403
However, the is not needed in workflows where the firmware is already compiled (e.g., CI builds, production flashing) or the tools are invoked manually or programmatically (e.g., esptool, gdb, mkspiffs, etc.). Skipping them could save disk space and reduce install time.
Proposal
Add a flag like:
arduino-cli core install esp32:esp32 --skip-platform
This would fetch and install only the tools defined in the core’s JSON index. It would omit downloading or unpacking the hardware/ folder.
This likely depends on how cores are structured in the index and whether the platform and tools are independently listed. If tools can be installed standalone (as arduino-cli core install already handles tool dependencies), this might be a manageable change, but my Arduino Boards Manager knowledge is limited here, and I am just guessing.
If this is possible, would Arduino be open to such a contribution?
Describe the current behavior
There is no option to install only the toolchain of a core.
Arduino CLI version
1.2.0
Operating system
macOS
Operating system version
15.5
Additional context
No response
Issue checklist
- I searched for previous requests in the issue tracker
- I verified the feature was still missing when using the nightly build
- My request contains all necessary details