Library Manager downloads libraries, which are notrequired by the project

[sivar2311]

@milanbx

I wanted to use the PLATFORMIO_LIB_DIR environment variable to tell Platformio, where is the folder, where all Arduino related libraries, even my own custom libraries, are stored.

Well that’s the wrong approach!

I know, however, that such a sharing of libraries is againts Platformio startegy…

For a good reason - as you have found out

But you can use symlink instead to have some similiar but working behavior.

lib_deps = 
  symlink://path-to-Utils.h
  symlink://path-to-Blink.h

Take a look at this post:

Platformio ignores dependencies of local library

Please note that according to the documentation lib_extra_dirs is deprecated since version 6.0 and the use of Local Folder and “Symbolic Link” feature is recommended. By using symlink, the resolving of dependent libraries is performed without any problems. Example File and folder structure: . ├── libraries │ └── LibA │ ├── src │ │ ├── LibA.cpp │ │ └── LibA.h │ └── library.json └── projects └── projectA ├── include ├── lib ├── src …

If you have a folder strukture like this:

.
├── libraries
│   ├── LibA
│   ├── LibB
│   └── LibC
└── projects
    ├── ProjectA
    ├── ProjectB
    └── ProjectC

Then you can use relative symlinks.

Example:

Project-B depends on LibA and LibC
platformio.ini of ProjectB:

lib_deps = 
  symlink://../../libraries/LibA
  symlink://../../libraries/LibB

This ensures that only LibA and LibB are used to build ProjectB but not every library in the libraries folder.