Add support for `programmers.local.txt`

[NormanDunbar]

Describe the request

Add support for the user to adjust the programmer definitions of a platform via a programmers.local.txt file.

🙂 The user will be able to add programmer definitions or modify existing definitions without having to modify the programmers.txt file, and easily apply that modification after updating the platform by simply copying a copy of their programmers.local.txt file into the platform folder.

Describe the current behavior

The Arduino boards platform allows the user to extend the boards.txt file via a boards.local.txt file, and the platform.txt file via a platform.local.txt file. Inexplicably, that system was not implemented for the other platform configuration file: programmers.txt.

🙁 The only way for the user to add programmer definitions to a platform, or modify the existing definitions is by editing the programmers.txt file. This is more prone to user error since the user's changes are not isolated. It also is very inconvenient because the user's patch must be reapplied to the content of the programmers.txt file after every update of the platform.

Arduino CLI version

55f86b5

Operating system

All

Operating system version

Any

Additional context

Here is an example of a use case for programmers.local.txt:

https://github.com/JAndrassy/ArduinoOTA/tree/master?tab=readme-ov-file#ota-upload-from-ide-without-network-port

Issue checklist

• I searched for previous requests in the issue tracker
• I verified the feature was still missing when using the latest nightly build
• My request contains all necessary details

[NormanDunbar]

Afternoon All,
I realise you are busy with arduino-cli etc, but is there any chance of a response please? Can I create and use programmers.local.txt and is the programmers.txt file documented anywhere?

Many thanks.

Cheers,
Norm.

[per1234]

Hi @NormanDunbar. I know it's been a long time, but I have now submitted a pull request to fully document the programmers system of Arduino boards platforms. It's here: #925
If you get a chance to take a look and see anything that is unclear or could be improved, please let me know.

As for your question about programmers.local.txt, this is not supported, but I think it would be nice to have, especially now that the available programmers have been limited to only those provided by the platform of the currently selected board (arduino/Arduino#9900).

I hope #925 will fulfill your request for documentation of the programmers system, but we can still leave this issue open to serve as the feature request for programmers.local.txt. Thanks!

[NormanDunbar]

Hi @per1234 ,

Thanks very much. I'll have a look and see if there's anything I think needs adding/changing etc. Appreciate your time and effort. Thanks again.

Cheers,
Norm.