# Particle Workbench New user question **URL:** \ **Category:** Particle Workbench\ **Created:** [March 30, 2019, 3:07pm UTC](https://community.particle.io/t/particle-workbench-new-user-question/48794 "2019-03-30T15:07:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![sunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ba8739/32.png) [@sunder](https://community.particle.io/u/sunder)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2019, 3:07pm UTC](https://community.particle.io/t/particle-workbench-new-user-question/48794/1 "2019-03-30T15:07:34Z")
I am new to software and just getting started on Particle using Relay Shield. I used the Web IDE successfully, now moving to the Particle Workbench on the desktop (need the serial debug). When I create a new project, copy the code from the example code, it’s giving a compile error. build.mk:65: \*\*\* “No sources found in c:/Sunder/projects/Particle IO/junk2/Trial/”. Stop. make[2]: \*\*\* […/…/…/build/recurse.mk:12: user] Error 2 make[1]: \*\*\* […/build/recurse.mk:12: modules/photon/user-part] Error 2 make: \*\*\* [C:\Users\sunder.particle\toolchains\buildscripts\1.5.0\Makefile:42: compile-user] Error 2 The terminal process terminated with exit code: 2 Can someone help with this? or point me to a step-by-step tutorial to compile, run and debug with the serial port on the Desktop workbench. Any help appreciated ---
**Author:** ![ScruffR](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/community.particle.io/scruffr/32/6952_2.png) [@ScruffR](https://community.particle.io/u/ScruffR)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2019, 4:54pm UTC](https://community.particle.io/t/particle-workbench-new-user-question/48794/2 "2019-03-30T16:54:26Z")
Have you created the project via the dedicated command? ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/uploads/particle/original/3X/2/a/2a249f596a98ac3fafee771619b6dedbb169918a.png) If so, your sources should go inside the `src` folder. How are you compiling? ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/uploads/particle/original/3X/0/2/02725aa0ef0d2ce76bea10d7ea96d5eb31a94917.png) or ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/uploads/particle/original/3X/d/9/d985a64afb95d1b9e7e0ce56066907157221ed88.png) or any other way? ---
**Author:** ![m\_m](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/community.particle.io/m_m/32/18365_2.png) [@m\_m](https://community.particle.io/u/m_m)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2019, 6:36pm UTC](https://community.particle.io/t/particle-workbench-new-user-question/48794/3 "2019-03-30T18:36:08Z")
in addition to what @ScruffR suggests, we have docs over here: [https://docs.particle.io/workbench/](https://docs.particle.io/workbench/) including a quick start: [https://docs.particle.io/quickstart/workbench/](https://docs.particle.io/quickstart/workbench/) and more in-depth tutorial: [https://docs.particle.io/tutorials/developer-tools/workbench/](https://docs.particle.io/tutorials/developer-tools/workbench/) these and other resources are available within Workbench via the `Particle: Get Help` command - from VSCode’s main menu, click “View \> Command Palette” and then start typing “Particle” - or from the “Welcome” screen that is shown when you click the Particle logo in the main Activity Bar on the left. hope that helps! ---
**Author:** ![sunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ba8739/32.png) [@sunder](https://community.particle.io/u/sunder)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2019, 8:38pm UTC](https://community.particle.io/t/particle-workbench-new-user-question/48794/4 "2019-03-30T20:38:00Z")
If I use the buttons at the top right of the screen ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/uploads/particle/original/3X/6/8/685b54d47ab9bff87c5be9f59fcc2f69b80b0ca3.png) (or use Particle Compile Application (local)) it DOES NOT work, gives the same compile error. (I did install the local compiler) but when I used Particle: Cloud Compile and Particle Cloud Flash, I was able to upload to the photon. For now I am unblocked, thank you both. ---
**Author:** ![m\_m](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/community.particle.io/m_m/32/18365_2.png) [@m\_m](https://community.particle.io/u/m_m)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2019, 9:40pm UTC](https://community.particle.io/t/particle-workbench-new-user-question/48794/5 "2019-03-30T21:40:09Z")
those buttons and a number of other things are configurable - see: > **[Visual Studio Code User and Workspace Settings](https://code.visualstudio.com/docs/getstarted/settings)** > > How to modify Visual Studio Code User and Workspace Settings. Workbench-related settings can be found under the “Particle” section 👍 the error you are seeing is most likely due to what @ScruffR pointed out > your sources should go inside the `src` folder ---
**Author:** ![bloukingfisher](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/community.particle.io/bloukingfisher/32/11573_2.png) [@bloukingfisher](https://community.particle.io/u/bloukingfisher)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2019, 1:40am UTC](https://community.particle.io/t/particle-workbench-new-user-question/48794/6 "2019-08-13T01:40:47Z")
I’m getting the same error compiling locally so I landed on this conversation. My sources are in the /src folder. However, I have a library that uses sub folders so I have /src/util/ folder too. Must src be flat with no sub folders? (And I have a readme.md and changelog.md in the base folder) I have not yet tested moving the files out of the sub folder, not knowing if I’ll end up with new problems or not. ---
**Author:** ![bloukingfisher](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/community.particle.io/bloukingfisher/32/11573_2.png) [@bloukingfisher](https://community.particle.io/u/bloukingfisher)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2019, 5:54am UTC](https://community.particle.io/t/particle-workbench-new-user-question/48794/7 "2019-08-13T05:54:37Z")
So for anyone else coming across this thread…not all of these things may be a problem, but follow along and it may solve your problem too. When trying to create a new project it wouldn’t due to a space in the folder name. So it may not build if your current project is in a folder like /users/me/Visual Code/projects/Test1/ So I moved my folder to c:\test1\ but it wouldn’t build. Interestingly, a .cpp file appeared that was never before in my project folders. Then I moved supporting library files from my src/utils/ sub folder into the main src folder, and updated dependencies. Still would not build. Deleted the now empty src/utils/ sub folder. Finally it build! Yay. And took maybe 15 minutes. I’m not sure the local compile will get much use taking that long and not sure if that is normal or if there is a way to speed it up. ---
**Author:** ![ScruffR](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/community.particle.io/scruffr/32/6952_2.png) [@ScruffR](https://community.particle.io/u/ScruffR)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2019, 7:03am UTC](https://community.particle.io/t/particle-workbench-new-user-question/48794/8 "2019-08-13T07:03:55Z")
> [@bloukingfisher](#): > > So I moved my folder to c:\test1\ but it wouldn’t build. Interestingly, a .cpp file appeared that was never before in my project folders. Was it a `.cpp` file with the same name as your `.ino`? If so, that's to be expected. It is the output of the Partice pre-processor converting the `.ino` (which the compiler wouldn't touch) into something the compiler likes to work with. > [@bloukingfisher](#): > > Then I moved supporting library files from my src/utils/ sub folder into the main src folder, and updated dependencies. I can confirm that Workbench has no issues with subfolders under `./src` as long there are no conflicting files in it, but (real \*) libraries should rather go into a subfolder`./lib/` Can you provide some tree diagram of a non-working project for us to test? * * * \*) real libraries adhering to the library standard structure with a `library.properties` file and all. ---
**Author:** ![bloukingfisher](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/community.particle.io/bloukingfisher/32/11573_2.png) [@bloukingfisher](https://community.particle.io/u/bloukingfisher)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2019, 4:44pm UTC](https://community.particle.io/t/particle-workbench-new-user-question/48794/9 "2019-08-13T16:44:22Z")
Thanks @ScruffR for taking a look. This morning I tried to retrace the steps. Yes, the .cpp file is the same name as the .ino. Part of the point is that the .cpp file does not build when your project is in a folder with a space (in my case meaning a folder higher up in the tree, e.g. “/users/me/Visual Code/projects”). So if there is no .cpp file that is the first hint of the problem. This morning it did compile with the src/utils/ sub folder, when I exercised a lot more patience and paying attention. When the project folder (with the space removed) is opened it takes a really long time for it to go through its process (keeping an eye on the terminal until it is finally done). Then compiling locally, the terminal is stuck at “/makefile” for almost 9 minutes before finally there is some action and part 1 is produced. It takes nearly 20 minutes before finally part 3 with the user firmware is completed. I think my prior perception of failure is either I interrupted the process or assumed it to be completed when it was still stuck on “/makefile”. My libraries are actually in the /src folder. I’ve not created a libraries.properties file so I guess they are not \*real. PS: Running local compile a 2nd time (no code changes), it only takes 45 seconds to get to part 1, 1:30 to part 2 and finishes part 3 after 2:10. ---
**Author:** ![ScruffR](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/community.particle.io/scruffr/32/6952_2.png) [@ScruffR](https://community.particle.io/u/ScruffR)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2019, 4:48pm UTC](https://community.particle.io/t/particle-workbench-new-user-question/48794/10 "2019-08-13T16:48:31Z")
> [@bloukingfisher](#): > > it takes a really long time for it to go through its process (keeping an eye on the terminal until it is finally done). If the inaction in terminal is something you want to change, you can re-enable the verbose output of the compiler via _File - Preferences - Settings_ ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/uploads/particle/original/3X/6/d/6d6d9f8eab5d762ba4a845a6c4ed919a9db6e619.png) > [@bloukingfisher](#): > > Running local compile a 2nd time (no code changes), it only takes 45 seconds to get to part 1, 1:30 to part 2 and finishes part 3 after 2:10. Yup, that's expected. A full build with all modules for the first time takes ages on Windows, but as long the sources are unaltered (and you don't switch platform) previously compiled modules can be reused. ---
**Author:** ![m\_m](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/community.particle.io/m_m/32/18365_2.png) [@m\_m](https://community.particle.io/u/m_m)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2019, 5:05pm UTC](https://community.particle.io/t/particle-workbench-new-user-question/48794/11 "2019-08-13T17:05:08Z")
@bloukingfisher > the .cpp file does not build when your project is in a folder with a space this is a limitation of the underlying build system (`make`) - see here: > [@\[ISSUE\] Build failures caused by space in install path on windows](https://community.particle.io/t/issue-build-failures-caused-by-space-in-install-path-on-windows/49850): > > Unfortunately, I have a space in my username since it’s my full name, and since Workbench seems to install all the toolchains under ~/.particle/…, I wind up with Executing task: make -f ‘C:\Users\Yes Walrus.particle\toolchains\buildscripts\1.5.0\Makefile’ compile-all -s \< make[1]: C:/Users/Yes: Command not found …/build/arm-tools.mk:61: \*\*\* "ARM gcc version 5.3.1 or later required, but found ". Stop. make: \*\*\* [C:\Users\Walter Gray.particle\toolchains\buildscripts\1.5.0\Makefile:47: compile… ---
**Author:** ![Gildons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8edcca/32.png) [@Gildons](https://community.particle.io/u/Gildons)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2019, 5:57pm UTC](https://community.particle.io/t/particle-workbench-new-user-question/48794/12 "2019-08-13T17:57:23Z")
You can also add support to different directories by customize the file tree. The default configuration to avoid mistakes if you don’t have much experience with build environments is to only look at root/lib and root/src. In fact, the default make file has a weak definition to the make file in use, allowing you to point to a new one: ```auto USER_MAKEFILE ?= build.mk ``` and if you want to follow different standard to organize your code, like root\_folder/app/src; root\_folder/app/include; root\_folder/lib1/src; root\_folder/lib1/include you can customize your make file with the following entries: ```auto INCLUDE_DIRS += $(SOURCE_PATH)/include APPSOURCES+= $(SOURCE_PATH)/src/file1.cpp ``` Edit @m_m, sorry I wrongly quoted your comment. ---
**Author:** ![bloukingfisher](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/community.particle.io/bloukingfisher/32/11573_2.png) [@bloukingfisher](https://community.particle.io/u/bloukingfisher)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2019, 6:22pm UTC](https://community.particle.io/t/particle-workbench-new-user-question/48794/13 "2019-08-13T18:22:51Z")
> [@ScruffR](#): > > If the inaction in terminal is something you want to change, you can re-enable the verbose output of the compiler via _File - Preferences - Settings_ > > ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/uploads/particle/original/3X/6/d/6d6d9f8eab5d762ba4a845a6c4ed919a9db6e619.png) That's helpful thanks, at minimum as a visual reminder that the process is still running. Good info to have @Gildons. If anything, I think I should first migrate to the default configuration before getting that fancy.