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Installation fails when required tools (gum or timer) are missing but error is unclear #2

@Manu95021

Description

@Manu95021

The current installation instructions mention that several external tools such as gum, timer, arduino-cli, and optionally homebrew are needed for aci to work properly. However, if one of these prerequisites (specifically gum or timer) is not installed, the script doesn’t provide a clear error or guidance on how to install them before proceeding.

This leads to confusing failures during installation, especially for first-time users who are unfamiliar with terminal UI dependencies.

🔍 Steps to Reproduce

Clone the repository:

git clone https://github.com/Vaishnav-Sabari-Girish/arduino-cli-interactive.git

Ensure one or more prerequisites are not installed (e.g., gum or timer).

Run the installer script as documented:

cd arduino-cli-interactive
chmod +x main.sh
./main.sh

Observe that installation fails without a clear message explaining the missing dependency.

❗ Expected Behavior

When a prerequisite is missing:

The script should clearly state which dependency is missing.

It should suggest how to install it (e.g., brew / package manager commands).

Ideally, the script should detect the environment (macOS/Linux) and guide accordingly.

🤔 Actual Behavior

The installer proceeds but fails without a helpful error or suggestion, leaving users confused about what’s missing.

✅ Suggested Fix

Add a dependency check at the start of the installation script that:

Verifies whether gum, timer, and arduino-cli are available in PATH.

Prints a clear message for each missing tool.

Provides installation instructions based on the OS (e.g., brew install gum timer).

💡 This will make the onboarding experience much smoother for new users and avoid frustration or abandonment.

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