After upgrade of esp-idf framework, I get errors when compiling

niels · August 7, 2025, 1:40pm

After updating the esp-idf framework I get the following error. It seems to be something with the framework?

niels · August 7, 2025, 4:23pm

I have tried deleting the …/framework-espidf folder in order to reinstall it and clean the project. I am still getting the same error messages.

maxgerhardt · August 7, 2025, 4:52pm

How did you “update the esp-idf framework”? By updating the espressif32 platform?

If there was an issue with the installment of the python environment, you need to delete C:\Users\<user>\.platformio\penv\* and restart VSCode.

niels · August 7, 2025, 5:09pm

@maxgerhardt Thanks for the reply!

As I always do using the

pio pkg update

I will try and delete the python environment as you suggest.

niels · August 7, 2025, 6:29pm

Okay I deleted the …/penv/* and restarted VScode, same problem exist?

Building .pio\build\supermini_esp32c3\bootloader.bin
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "C:\Users\niels\.platformio\packages\tool-esptoolpy\esptool.py", line 41, in <module>
    import esptool
  File "C:\Users\niels\.platformio\packages\tool-esptoolpy\esptool\__init__.py", line 42, in <module>
    from esptool.bin_image import intel_hex_to_bin
  File "C:\Users\niels\.platformio\packages\tool-esptoolpy\esptool\bin_image.py", line 16, in <module>
    from intelhex import HexRecordError, IntelHex
ModuleNotFoundError: No module named 'intelhex'
*** [.pio\build\supermini_esp32c3\bootloader.bin] Error 1
===================================================================== [FAILED] Took 70.07 seconds =====================================================================

This is my platformio.ini:

[env:supermini_esp32c3]
platform = espressif32
board = lolin_c3_mini
framework = espidf
board_build.partitions = ESP32_OTA_4M.csv
board_build.embed_files = src/mqtt_eclipseprojects_io.pem
monitor_speed = 115200
monitor_filters = esp32_exception_decoder
monitor_rts = 0
monitor_dtr = 0

maxgerhardt · August 7, 2025, 6:30pm

Ah actually, this is a current bug.

github.com/platformio/platform-espressif32

tool-esptoolpy@2.40900.0 unconditionally imports intelhex, causing ModuleNotFoundError for ESP32 builds

opened 03:33PM - 04 Aug 25 UTC

ryandtracy

Summary After updating to platform = espressif32@6.12.0, PlatformIO installs too…l-esptoolpy@2.40900.0. This version of esptool.py contains the following unconditional import: from intelhex import HexRecordError, IntelHex This causes builds to fail with: ModuleNotFoundError: No module named 'intelhex' —even when the project doesn't use .hex files and doesn't require intelhex. Environment Details - PlatformIO Core: 6.1.18 - Platform: espressif32@6.12.0 - Tool: tool-esptoolpy@2.40900.0 - Python used by PlatformIO: "~\Local\Programs\Python\Python311\python.exe" - Host OS: Windows 10 (Git Bash + VSCode) - Framework: Arduino - Board: nodemcu-32s How to Reproduce 1. Use a basic PlatformIO platformio.ini: platform = espressif32@6.12.0 board = nodemcu-32s framework = arduino 2. Ensure intelhex is not installed in the Python environment used by PlatformIO 3. Run platformio run or call a build script 4. Observe this crash: File "...tool-esptoolpy\esptool\bin_image.py", line 16, in <module> from intelhex import HexRecordError, IntelHex ModuleNotFoundError: No module named 'intelhex' Expected Behavior - If .hex functionality is unused, intelhex should not be required - Builds should succeed without forcing intelhex installation Actual Behavior - Even .bin-only ESP32 builds fail due to an import in bin_image.py that is not guarded by a try-except Suggested Fixes 1. Move the from intelhex import ... inside the function that needs it 2. Or wrap in a try-except ImportError block and emit a clear message if .hex usage is triggered 3. Or add intelhex to tool-esptoolpy's install-time requirements Workaround Manually install intelhex into the Python environment used by PlatformIO: "~\Local\Programs\Python\Python311\python.exe" -m pip install intelhex Impact This silently breaks ESP32 builds for users after updating to espressif32@6.12.0, even for projects that don't need .hex support. The crash is non-obvious and unrelated to the user's code or libraries.

Delete C:\Users\<user>\.platformio\packages\tool-esptoolpy to try to force the installation of the latest package version for that.

niels · August 7, 2025, 6:41pm

@maxgerhardt Thank for that info. that did it!!

rsbe · August 9, 2025, 5:57am

Hi,
also have the same intelhex problem. Deleting the C:\Users\<user>\.platformio\packages\tool-esptoolpy folder doesn’t fix the problem. In my platformio.ini file I use platform = espressif32 @ 6.11.0 to stick to the previous version. But if anyone has another suggestion to get around this problem, I will be happy to try it!