Thanks for the report and the log file.

Just to check, when you say "other boards" I assume these are non-STM32 boards?


From the log all of the code compilation seems correct and cached, but the log shows the prebuild #1 hook is taking 30s to execute.
(The prebuild.sh script it executes via busybox looks simple enough to generate the build.opt and requiredLibraries.cpp)

Can you try adding exclusions to the busybox program and the DLL files in the same folder to Windows Defender (or your current antivirus real time scanner).

Quote:

Thanks for clarifying, the non-STM boards will use different compilers and toolchains so the build times can be drastically different as you have seen.  ESP32 can be a slower build for example due to the volume of internal libraries, wheras an AVR board will build in a few seconds.

I wouldn't imagine the different disks would make a major difference to compile time, but depends on various factors (disk speed, which bus each is connected to etc).  The best way to check would be to create a simple project (e.g. blink) on the C: drive and compile it.

It sounds like there is some improvement, however it does feel that busybox is slowing this down more than it should still.

The script can be converted to batch and used instead of the current busybox shell script, a quick attempt is attached:
1) Download the ZIP attachment
2) Copy the prebuild.bat to your project (next to the INO File)
3) Add a Local board.txt to your project (vMicro > Add Code > Add Local board.txt)
4) Paste in the contents from the board.txt file included in the ZIP

That should shave about 14s of your build time for every build of that individual project.  It can be deployed globally with some different steps if this helps.....

OK Simon, thanks for all your efforts.
I ran Build speed and library analysis which suggested Root and None which I applied.
Without the boards.txt a file change (delay(100) to delay(1000)) build takes approx 51 seconds.
Using boards.txt  a file change build takes approx 47 seconds, a saving of approx 4 seconds.
Having the project in the same drive as the programmes made no difference.
I have attached the verbose for a file change build with the boards,txt for your information.
Its just about acceptable now, maybe I need a faster computer.

Different board packages use different toolchains and compilers, as well as different numbers of internal libraries, all of which can create considerable differences in compiling the same sketch.

The latest log you attached doesn't appear to have overridden the prebuild hook correctly, as it is still using the old busybox approach.

Could you try amending it to from "recipe.hooks.prebuild.1.pattern.windows" to "recipe.hooks.prebuild.1.pattern" and restarting Visual Studio afterwards to see if this helps?