LoadVIDPIDSpecificPreferences fails when connected board returns no string text

[logan893]

I'm receiving the following error with the newly downloaded Arduino IDE 1.6.5-r4, when compiling any sketch.

java.lang.NullPointerException
at cc.arduino.LoadVIDPIDSpecificPreferences.load(LoadVIDPIDSpecificPreferences.java:48)
at processing.app.debug.Compiler.createBuildPreferences(Compiler.java:592)
at processing.app.debug.Compiler.(Compiler.java:193)
at processing.app.debug.Compiler.build(Compiler.java:96)
at processing.app.Sketch.build(Sketch.java:1109)
at processing.app.Sketch.build(Sketch.java:1084)
at processing.app.Editor$BuildHandler.run(Editor.java:1955)
at java.lang.Thread.run(Thread.java:745)

I need to have my Arduino Pro Mini board (most likely a Chinese knock-off) connected via USB and have that COM port selected for this error to show up. The port shows up as e.g. COM4, with no additional parenthesis like my Arduino Uno which shows up as COM7 (Arduino Uno).

Disconnecting this device (i.e. selecting none), or connecting and selecting my Arduino Uno, allows me to compile.

Source file at fault:
https://github.com/arduino/Arduino/blob/1.6.5-r4/arduino-core/src/cc/arduino/LoadVIDPIDSpecificPreferences.java

This file is new as of 1.6.5-r4

Line 48:
int VIDPIDIndex = findVIDPIDIndex(prefs, boardPort.getPrefs().get("vid").toUpperCase(), boardPort.getPrefs().get("pid").toUpperCase());

One, or likely both, of the boardPort.getPrefs().get(String) functions returns null, which throws this exception when calling .toUpperCase() on a null value (default return value from java.util.LinkedHashMap.get() when no match is found).

Possible suggestion to fix this (you likely know better if this has any other side effects); use a default option for the get() function of PreferencesMap data structure.
int VIDPIDIndex = findVIDPIDIndex(prefs, boardPort.getPrefs().get("vid","").toUpperCase(), boardPort.getPrefs().get("pid","").toUpperCase());

[cmaglie]

Thanks for the quick and detailed report!
We'll check this out ASAP.

[haaland1]

I am having the same issue. I downloaded version 1.6.5 of Arduino IDE this morning and receive the same error when compiling code with my Arduino Pro Mini connected via USB.

java.lang.NullPointerException
at cc.arduino.LoadVIDPIDSpecificPreferences.load(LoadVIDPIDSpecificPreferences.java:48)
at processing.app.debug.Compiler.createBuildPreferences(Compiler.java:592)
at processing.app.debug.Compiler.(Compiler.java:193)
at processing.app.debug.Compiler.build(Compiler.java:96)
at processing.app.Sketch.build(Sketch.java:1109)
at processing.app.Sketch.exportApplet(Sketch.java:1127)
at processing.app.Sketch.exportApplet(Sketch.java:1113)
at processing.app.Editor$DefaultExportHandler.run(Editor.java:2380)
at java.lang.Thread.run(Thread.java:745)

The sketch compiles fine when the board is disconnected.

[mojtabacazi]

same here
Arduino Mega 2560

java.lang.NullPointerException
    at cc.arduino.LoadVIDPIDSpecificPreferences.load(LoadVIDPIDSpecificPreferences.java:48)
    at processing.app.debug.Compiler.createBuildPreferences(Compiler.java:657)
    at processing.app.debug.Compiler.<init>(Compiler.java:214)
    at processing.app.debug.Compiler.build(Compiler.java:99)
    at processing.app.Sketch.build(Sketch.java:1117)
    at processing.app.Sketch.exportApplet(Sketch.java:1135)
    at processing.app.Sketch.exportApplet(Sketch.java:1121)
    at processing.app.Editor$DefaultExportHandler.run(Editor.java:2421)
    at java.lang.Thread.run(Thread.java:745)

[Juanah]

downgrade to 1.6.4 ;)

[objectiveSee]

Oh geez I guess I'll downgrade too!

[netstv]

I get it on the nano as well.. downgrading...

[PaulStoffregen]

I'm also seeing the bug here. :(

downgrade to 1.6.4 ;)

If you're going to downgrade, you'll probably want to skip 1.6.4 and go back to 1.6.3, so you don't get hit with issue #3115.

[netstv]

I don't seem to have that problem. (Yet)

[dmjlambert]

Perhaps 1.6.5-r2 could be posted on the website download section again, since there have been several issues brought up in the forum about this. New users are having trouble.

[cmaglie]

The fix is available for download as 1.6.5-r5:

https://www.arduino.cc/en/Main/Software