ESP8266 Community Forum

I am having a problem “uploading” a compiled binary for the example sketch”Blink” via the Mac’s USB Port “/dev/cu-usbserial.0001” to an ESP8266 while using the Arduino IDE. Results in this Error:

pyserial or esptool directories not found next to this upload.py tool.
An error occurred while uploading the sketch

A setup problem perhaps? …but I am not solving it and could use a little help, please. More detailed info follows that may help. Thanks in advance.


Mac Hardware Overview:

Model Name: MacBook Pro
Model Identifier: MacBookPro12,1
Processor Name: Dual-Core Intel Core i7
Processor Speed: 3.1 GHz
Number of Processors: 1
Total Number of Cores: 2
L2 Cache (per Core): 256 KB
L3 Cache: 4 MB
Hyper-Threading Technology: Enabled
Memory: 16 GB
System Firmware Version: 424.0.0.0.0
SMC Version (system): 2.28f7
Serial Number (system): C2QQ501KGM13
Hardware UUID: 20FFAD40-1AC3-586B-B71F-103FFEC4EADF
Provisioning UDID: 20FFAD40-1AC3-586B-B71F-103FFEC4EADF


System Software Overview:

System Version: macOS 11.0.1 (20B50)
Kernel Version: Darwin 20.1.0
Boot Volume: Macintosh HD
Boot Mode: Normal
Computer Name: Gregory’s MacBook Pro
User Name: Gregory Baker (gregorybaker)
Secure Virtual Memory: Enabled
System Integrity Protection: Enabled
Time since boot: 2:13


Arduino:

Version: 1.8.13
Obtained from: Identified Developer
Last Modified: 6/16/20, 5:43 AM
Kind: Intel
Signed by: Developer ID Application: ARDUINO SA (7KT7ZWMCJT), Developer ID Certification Authority, Apple Root CA
Location: /Applications/Arduino.app


Example Sketch: 0.1 Basics/Blink

Preference Linked: http://arduino.esp8266.com/stable/packa ... index.json

Hardware Manager Loaded: ESP8266 Community version 2.7.4


Compile and Upload Binary:
/Applications/Arduino.app/Contents/Java/arduino-builder -dump-prefs -logger=machine -hardware /Applications/Arduino.app/Contents/Java/hardware -hardware /Users/gregorybaker/Library/Arduino15/packages -tools /Applications/Arduino.app/Contents/Java/tools-builder -tools /Applications/Arduino.app/Contents/Java/hardware/tools/avr -tools /Users/gregorybaker/Library/Arduino15/packages -built-in-libraries /Applications/Arduino.app/Contents/Java/libraries -libraries /Users/gregorybaker/Documents/Arduino/libraries -fqbn=esp8266:esp8266:nodemcuv2:xtal=80,vt=flash,exception=legacy,ssl=all,eesz=4M2M,led=2,ip=lm2f,dbg=Disabled,lvl=None____,wipe=none,baud=115200 -vid-pid=0000_0000 -ide-version=10813 -build-path /var/folders/h7/wf7nxlvj6jj3r1hw4ghnj0yw0000gn/T/arduino_build_28821 -warnings=none -build-cache /var/folders/h7/wf7nxlvj6jj3r1hw4ghnj0yw0000gn/T/arduino_cache_722106 -prefs=build.warn_data_percentage=75 -prefs=runtime.tools.mkspiffs.path=/Users/gregorybaker/Library/Arduino15/packages/esp8266/tools/mkspiffs/2.5.0-4-b40a506 -prefs=runtime.tools.mkspiffs-2.5.0-4-b40a506.path=/Users/gregorybaker/Library/Arduino15/packages/esp8266/tools/mkspiffs/2.5.0-4-b40a506 -prefs=runtime.tools.mklittlefs.path=/Users/gregorybaker/Library/Arduino15/packages/esp8266/tools/mklittlefs/2.5.0-4-fe5bb56 -prefs=runtime.tools.mklittlefs-2.5.0-4-fe5bb56.path=/Users/gregorybaker/Library/Arduino15/packages/esp8266/tools/mklittlefs/2.5.0-4-fe5bb56 -prefs=runtime.tools.xtensa-lx106-elf-gcc.path=/Users/gregorybaker/Library/Arduino15/packages/esp8266/tools/xtensa-lx106-elf-gcc/2.5.0-4-b40a506 -prefs=runtime.tools.xtensa-lx106-elf-gcc-2.5.0-4-b40a506.path=/Users/gregorybaker/Library/Arduino15/packages/esp8266/tools/xtensa-lx106-elf-gcc/2.5.0-4-b40a506 -prefs=runtime.tools.python3.path=/Users/gregorybaker/Library/Arduino15/packages/esp8266/tools/python3/3.7.2-post1 -prefs=runtime.tools.python3-3.7.2-post1.path=/Users/gregorybaker/Library/Arduino15/packages/esp8266/tools/python3/3.7.2-post1 -verbose /Applications/Arduino.app/Contents/Java/examples/01.Basics/Blink/Blink.ino
/Applications/Arduino.app/Contents/Java/arduino-builder -compile -logger=machine -hardware /Applications/Arduino.app/Contents/Java/hardware -hardware /Users/gregorybaker/Library/Arduino15/packages -tools /Applications/Arduino.app/Contents/Java/tools-builder -tools /Applications/Arduino.app/Contents/Java/hardware/tools/avr -tools /Users/gregorybaker/Library/Arduino15/packages -built-in-libraries /Applications/Arduino.app/Contents/Java/libraries -libraries /Users/gregorybaker/Documents/Arduino/libraries -fqbn=esp8266:esp8266:nodemcuv2:xtal=80,vt=flash,exception=legacy,ssl=all,eesz=4M2M,led=2,ip=lm2f,dbg=Disabled,lvl=None____,wipe=none,baud=115200 -vid-pid=0000_0000 -ide-version=10813 -build-path /var/folders/h7/wf7nxlvj6jj3r1hw4ghnj0yw0000gn/T/arduino_build_28821 -warnings=none -build-cache /var/folders/h7/wf7nxlvj6jj3r1hw4ghnj0yw0000gn/T/arduino_cache_722106 -prefs=build.warn_data_percentage=75 -prefs=runtime.tools.mkspiffs.path=/Users/gregorybaker/Library/Arduino15/packages/esp8266/tools/mkspiffs/2.5.0-4-b40a506 -prefs=runtime.tools.mkspiffs-2.5.0-4-b40a506.path=/Users/gregorybaker/Library/Arduino15/packages/esp8266/tools/mkspiffs/2.5.0-4-b40a506 -prefs=runtime.tools.mklittlefs.path=/Users/gregorybaker/Library/Arduino15/packages/esp8266/tools/mklittlefs/2.5.0-4-fe5bb56 -prefs=runtime.tools.mklittlefs-2.5.0-4-fe5bb56.path=/Users/gregorybaker/Library/Arduino15/packages/esp8266/tools/mklittlefs/2.5.0-4-fe5bb56 -prefs=runtime.tools.xtensa-lx106-elf-gcc.path=/Users/gregorybaker/Library/Arduino15/packages/esp8266/tools/xtensa-lx106-elf-gcc/2.5.0-4-b40a506 -prefs=runtime.tools.xtensa-lx106-elf-gcc-2.5.0-4-b40a506.path=/Users/gregorybaker/Library/Arduino15/packages/esp8266/tools/xtensa-lx106-elf-gcc/2.5.0-4-b40a506 -prefs=runtime.tools.python3.path=/Users/gregorybaker/Library/Arduino15/packages/esp8266/tools/python3/3.7.2-post1 -prefs=runtime.tools.python3-3.7.2-post1.path=/Users/gregorybaker/Library/Arduino15/packages/esp8266/tools/python3/3.7.2-post1 -verbose /Applications/Arduino.app/Contents/Java/examples/01.Basics/Blink/Blink.ino
Using board 'nodemcuv2' from platform in folder: /Users/gregorybaker/Library/Arduino15/packages/esp8266/hardware/esp8266/2.7.4
Using core 'esp8266' from platform in folder: /Users/gregorybaker/Library/Arduino15/packages/esp8266/hardware/esp8266/2.7.4
Detecting libraries used...
/Users/gregorybaker/Library/Arduino15/packages/esp8266/tools/xtensa-lx106-elf-gcc/2.5.0-4-b40a506/bin/xtensa-lx106-elf-g++ -D__ets__ -DICACHE_FLASH -U__STRICT_ANSI__ -I/Users/gregorybaker/Library/Arduino15/packages/esp8266/hardware/esp8266/2.7.4/tools/sdk/include -I/Users/gregorybaker/Library/Arduino15/packages/esp8266/hardware/esp8266/2.7.4/tools/sdk/lwip2/include -I/Users/gregorybaker/Library/Arduino15/packages/esp8266/hardware/esp8266/2.7.4/tools/sdk/libc/xtensa-lx106-elf/include -I/var/folders/h7/wf7nxlvj6jj3r1hw4ghnj0yw0000gn/T/arduino_build_28821/core -c -w -Os -g -mlongcalls -mtext-section-literals -fno-rtti -falign-functions=4 -std=gnu++11 -ffunction-sections -fdata-sections -fno-exceptions -w -x c++ -E -CC -DNONOSDK22x_190703=1 -DF_CPU=80000000L -DLWIP_OPEN_SRC -DTCP_MSS=536 -DLWIP_FEATURES=1 -DLWIP_IPV6=0 -DARDUINO=10813 -DARDUINO_ESP8266_NODEMCU -DARDUINO_ARCH_ESP8266 "-DARDUINO_BOARD=\"ESP8266_NODEMCU\"" -DLED_BUILTIN=2 -DFLASHMODE_DIO -DESP8266 -I/Users/gregorybaker/Library/Arduino15/packages/esp8266/hardware/esp8266/2.7.4/cores/esp8266 -I/Users/gregorybaker/Library/Arduino15/packages/esp8266/hardware/esp8266/2.7.4/variants/nodemcu /var/folders/h7/wf7nxlvj6jj3r1hw4ghnj0yw0000gn/T/arduino_build_28821/sketch/Blink.ino.cpp -o /dev/null -DARDUINO_LIB_DISCOVERY_PHASE
Generating function prototypes...
/Users/gregorybaker/Library/Arduino15/packages/esp8266/tools/xtensa-lx106-elf-gcc/2.5.0-4-b40a506/bin/xtensa-lx106-elf-g++ -D__ets__ -DICACHE_FLASH -U__STRICT_ANSI__ -I/Users/gregorybaker/Library/Arduino15/packages/esp8266/hardware/esp8266/2.7.4/tools/sdk/include -I/Users/gregorybaker/Library/Arduino15/packages/esp8266/hardware/esp8266/2.7.4/tools/sdk/lwip2/include -I/Users/gregorybaker/Library/Arduino15/packages/esp8266/hardware/esp8266/2.7.4/tools/sdk/libc/xtensa-lx106-elf/include -I/var/folders/h7/wf7nxlvj6jj3r1hw4ghnj0yw0000gn/T/arduino_build_28821/core -c -w -Os -g -mlongcalls -mtext-section-literals -fno-rtti -falign-functions=4 -std=gnu++11 -ffunction-sections -fdata-sections -fno-exceptions -w -x c++ -E -CC -DNONOSDK22x_190703=1 -DF_CPU=80000000L -DLWIP_OPEN_SRC -DTCP_MSS=536 -DLWIP_FEATURES=1 -DLWIP_IPV6=0 -DARDUINO=10813 -DARDUINO_ESP8266_NODEMCU -DARDUINO_ARCH_ESP8266 "-DARDUINO_BOARD=\"ESP8266_NODEMCU\"" -DLED_BUILTIN=2 -DFLASHMODE_DIO -DESP8266 -I/Users/gregorybaker/Library/Arduino15/packages/esp8266/hardware/esp8266/2.7.4/cores/esp8266 -I/Users/gregorybaker/Library/Arduino15/packages/esp8266/hardware/esp8266/2.7.4/variants/nodemcu /var/folders/h7/wf7nxlvj6jj3r1hw4ghnj0yw0000gn/T/arduino_build_28821/sketch/Blink.ino.cpp -o /var/folders/h7/wf7nxlvj6jj3r1hw4ghnj0yw0000gn/T/arduino_build_28821/preproc/ctags_target_for_gcc_minus_e.cpp -DARDUINO_LIB_DISCOVERY_PHASE
/Applications/Arduino.app/Contents/Java/tools-builder/ctags/5.8-arduino11/ctags -u --language-force=c++ -f - --c++-kinds=svpf --fields=KSTtzns --line-directives /var/folders/h7/wf7nxlvj6jj3r1hw4ghnj0yw0000gn/T/arduino_build_28821/preproc/ctags_target_for_gcc_minus_e.cpp
Compiling sketch...
/Users/gregorybaker/Library/Arduino15/packages/esp8266/tools/python3/3.7.2-post1/python3 /Users/gregorybaker/Library/Arduino15/packages/esp8266/hardware/esp8266/2.7.4/tools/signing.py --mode header --publickey /Applications/Arduino.app/Contents/Java/examples/01.Basics/Blink/public.key --out /var/folders/h7/wf7nxlvj6jj3r1hw4ghnj0yw0000gn/T/arduino_build_28821/core/Updater_Signing.h
/Users/gregorybaker/Library/Arduino15/packages/esp8266/tools/xtensa-lx106-elf-gcc/2.5.0-4-b40a506/bin/xtensa-lx106-elf-g++ -D__ets__ -DICACHE_FLASH -U__STRICT_ANSI__ -I/Users/gregorybaker/Library/Arduino15/packages/esp8266/hardware/esp8266/2.7.4/tools/sdk/include -I/Users/gregorybaker/Library/Arduino15/packages/esp8266/hardware/esp8266/2.7.4/tools/sdk/lwip2/include -I/Users/gregorybaker/Library/Arduino15/packages/esp8266/hardware/esp8266/2.7.4/tools/sdk/libc/xtensa-lx106-elf/include -I/var/folders/h7/wf7nxlvj6jj3r1hw4ghnj0yw0000gn/T/arduino_build_28821/core -c -w -Os -g -mlongcalls -mtext-section-literals -fno-rtti -falign-functions=4 -std=gnu++11 -MMD -ffunction-sections -fdata-sections -fno-exceptions -DNONOSDK22x_190703=1 -DF_CPU=80000000L -DLWIP_OPEN_SRC -DTCP_MSS=536 -DLWIP_FEATURES=1 -DLWIP_IPV6=0 -DARDUINO=10813 -DARDUINO_ESP8266_NODEMCU -DARDUINO_ARCH_ESP8266 "-DARDUINO_BOARD=\"ESP8266_NODEMCU\"" -DLED_BUILTIN=2 -DFLASHMODE_DIO -DESP8266 -I/Users/gregorybaker/Library/Arduino15/packages/esp8266/hardware/esp8266/2.7.4/cores/esp8266 -I/Users/gregorybaker/Library/Arduino15/packages/esp8266/hardware/esp8266/2.7.4/variants/nodemcu /var/folders/h7/wf7nxlvj6jj3r1hw4ghnj0yw0000gn/T/arduino_build_28821/sketch/Blink.ino.cpp -o /var/folders/h7/wf7nxlvj6jj3r1hw4ghnj0yw0000gn/T/arduino_build_28821/sketch/Blink.ino.cpp.o
Compiling libraries...
Compiling core...
Using precompiled core: /var/folders/h7/wf7nxlvj6jj3r1hw4ghnj0yw0000gn/T/arduino_cache_722106/core/core_94ad119316d92b784f277a81a16e495d.a
Linking everything together...
/Users/gregorybaker/Library/Arduino15/packages/esp8266/tools/xtensa-lx106-elf-gcc/2.5.0-4-b40a506/bin/xtensa-lx106-elf-gcc -CC -E -P -DVTABLES_IN_FLASH /Users/gregorybaker/Library/Arduino15/packages/esp8266/hardware/esp8266/2.7.4/tools/sdk/ld/eagle.app.v6.common.ld.h -o /var/folders/h7/wf7nxlvj6jj3r1hw4ghnj0yw0000gn/T/arduino_build_28821/local.eagle.app.v6.common.ld
/Users/gregorybaker/Library/Arduino15/packages/esp8266/tools/xtensa-lx106-elf-gcc/2.5.0-4-b40a506/bin/xtensa-lx106-elf-gcc -fno-exceptions -Wl,-Map -Wl,/var/folders/h7/wf7nxlvj6jj3r1hw4ghnj0yw0000gn/T/arduino_build_28821/Blink.ino.map -g -w -Os -nostdlib -Wl,--no-check-sections -u app_entry -u _printf_float -u _scanf_float -Wl,-static -L/Users/gregorybaker/Library/Arduino15/packages/esp8266/hardware/esp8266/2.7.4/tools/sdk/lib -L/Users/gregorybaker/Library/Arduino15/packages/esp8266/hardware/esp8266/2.7.4/tools/sdk/lib/NONOSDK22x_190703 -L/Users/gregorybaker/Library/Arduino15/packages/esp8266/hardware/esp8266/2.7.4/tools/sdk/ld -L/Users/gregorybaker/Library/Arduino15/packages/esp8266/hardware/esp8266/2.7.4/tools/sdk/libc/xtensa-lx106-elf/lib -Teagle.flash.4m2m.ld -Wl,--gc-sections -Wl,-wrap,system_restart_local -Wl,-wrap,spi_flash_read -o /var/folders/h7/wf7nxlvj6jj3r1hw4ghnj0yw0000gn/T/arduino_build_28821/Blink.ino.elf -Wl,--start-group /var/folders/h7/wf7nxlvj6jj3r1hw4ghnj0yw0000gn/T/arduino_build_28821/sketch/Blink.ino.cpp.o /var/folders/h7/wf7nxlvj6jj3r1hw4ghnj0yw0000gn/T/arduino_cache_722106/core/core_94ad119316d92b784f277a81a16e495d.a -lhal -lphy -lpp -lnet80211 -llwip2-536-feat -lwpa -lcrypto -lmain -lwps -lbearssl -laxtls -lespnow -lsmartconfig -lairkiss -lwpa2 -lstdc++ -lm -lc -lgcc -Wl,--end-group -L/var/folders/h7/wf7nxlvj6jj3r1hw4ghnj0yw0000gn/T/arduino_build_28821
/Users/gregorybaker/Library/Arduino15/packages/esp8266/tools/python3/3.7.2-post1/python3 /Users/gregorybaker/Library/Arduino15/packages/esp8266/hardware/esp8266/2.7.4/tools/elf2bin.py --eboot /Users/gregorybaker/Library/Arduino15/packages/esp8266/hardware/esp8266/2.7.4/bootloaders/eboot/eboot.elf --app /var/folders/h7/wf7nxlvj6jj3r1hw4ghnj0yw0000gn/T/arduino_build_28821/Blink.ino.elf --flash_mode dio --flash_freq 40 --flash_size 4M --path /Users/gregorybaker/Library/Arduino15/packages/esp8266/tools/xtensa-lx106-elf-gcc/2.5.0-4-b40a506/bin --out /var/folders/h7/wf7nxlvj6jj3r1hw4ghnj0yw0000gn/T/arduino_build_28821/Blink.ino.bin
Creating BIN file "/var/folders/h7/wf7nxlvj6jj3r1hw4ghnj0yw0000gn/T/arduino_build_28821/Blink.ino.bin" using "/Users/gregorybaker/Library/Arduino15/packages/esp8266/hardware/esp8266/2.7.4/bootloaders/eboot/eboot.elf" and "/var/folders/h7/wf7nxlvj6jj3r1hw4ghnj0yw0000gn/T/arduino_build_28821/Blink.ino.elf"
/Users/gregorybaker/Library/Arduino15/packages/esp8266/tools/python3/3.7.2-post1/python3 /Users/gregorybaker/Library/Arduino15/packages/esp8266/hardware/esp8266/2.7.4/tools/signing.py --mode sign --privatekey /Applications/Arduino.app/Contents/Java/examples/01.Basics/Blink/private.key --bin /var/folders/h7/wf7nxlvj6jj3r1hw4ghnj0yw0000gn/T/arduino_build_28821/Blink.ino.bin --out /var/folders/h7/wf7nxlvj6jj3r1hw4ghnj0yw0000gn/T/arduino_build_28821/Blink.ino.bin.signed --legacy /var/folders/h7/wf7nxlvj6jj3r1hw4ghnj0yw0000gn/T/arduino_build_28821/Blink.ino.bin.legacy_sig
/Users/gregorybaker/Library/Arduino15/packages/esp8266/tools/python3/3.7.2-post1/python3 /Users/gregorybaker/Library/Arduino15/packages/esp8266/hardware/esp8266/2.7.4/tools/sizes.py --elf /var/folders/h7/wf7nxlvj6jj3r1hw4ghnj0yw0000gn/T/arduino_build_28821/Blink.ino.elf --path /Users/gregorybaker/Library/Arduino15/packages/esp8266/tools/xtensa-lx106-elf-gcc/2.5.0-4-b40a506/bin
Executable segment sizes:
IROM : 228624 - code in flash (default or ICACHE_FLASH_ATTR)
IRAM : 26752 / 32768 - code in IRAM (ICACHE_RAM_ATTR, ISRs...)
DATA : 1248 ) - initialized variables (global, static) in RAM/HEAP
RODATA : 688 ) / 81920 - constants (global, static) in RAM/HEAP
BSS : 24880 ) - zeroed variables (global, static) in RAM/HEAP
/Users/gregorybaker/Library/Arduino15/packages/esp8266/tools/xtensa-lx106-elf-gcc/2.5.0-4-b40a506/bin/xtensa-lx106-elf-size -A /var/folders/h7/wf7nxlvj6jj3r1hw4ghnj0yw0000gn/T/arduino_build_28821/Blink.ino.elf
Sketch uses 257312 bytes (24%) of program storage space. Maximum is 1044464 bytes.
Global variables use 26816 bytes (32%) of dynamic memory, leaving 55104 bytes for local variables. Maximum is 81920 bytes.
/Users/gregorybaker/Library/Arduino15/packages/esp8266/tools/python3/3.7.2-post1/python3 /Users/gregorybaker/Library/Arduino15/packages/esp8266/hardware/esp8266/2.7.4/tools/upload.py --chip esp8266 --port /dev/cu.usbserial-0001 --baud 115200 --before default_reset --after hard_reset write_flash 0x0 /var/folders/h7/wf7nxlvj6jj3r1hw4ghnj0yw0000gn/T/arduino_build_28821/Blink.ino.bin
pyserial or esptool directories not found next to this upload.py tool.
An error occurred while uploading the sketch


Error:

/Users/gregorybaker/Library/Arduino15/packages/esp8266/tools/python3/3.7.2-post1/python3 /Users/gregorybaker/Library/Arduino15/packages/esp8266/hardware/esp8266/2.7.4/tools/upload.py --chip esp8266 --port /dev/cu.usbserial-0001 --baud 115200 --before default_reset --after hard_reset write_flash 0x0 /var/folders/h7/wf7nxlvj6jj3r1hw4ghnj0yw0000gn/T/arduino_build_28821/Blink.ino.bin
pyserial or esptool directories not found next to this upload.py tool.
An error occurred while uploading the sketch

____________________
Again, thanks, greg.

First of all check how much memory do you have on your esp module. Then check all the reference libraries are installed or not and the did you put the path of downloaded libraries? Make sure of that and try hard resetting and then upload

Thank you for your time.

"First of all check how much memory do you have on your esp module." [ 4MB ]

"Then check all the reference libraries are installed or not and the did you put the path of downloaded libraries?" [ They are and libraries work/compile. ]

"Make sure of that and try hard resetting and then upload." [ yes... as well as rebooted my mac. ]


It seems to me that the problem is Python/esptools.py related as in not linked in properly. Is a mess for I have tried, unsuccessfully, to untangle it all. My bad I am sure. Mac's default is Python 2.7 and I recently loaded a 3+ version for other work. Now, Arduino is broken and I am not knowledgeable enough to sort it all out. Argh...

Thanks, greg.

my two cents:
if you want to keep the Arduino stuff separated from everything else on your Mac
you may try to install it on a virtual machine
this is an example using virtualbox and ubuntu
https://roboticsbackend.com/control-arduino-from-ubuntu-virtualbox/#:~:text=Configure%20Arduino%20USB%20port%20on%20VirtualBox,-First%20make%20sure&text=Go%20to%20the%20USB%20section,now%20appear%20on%20the%20list.
all the stuff you will install on the virtual machine will be available only there
and will not interfer with your Mac environment