Force cache directory creation only if strictly needed

internal/arduino/builder/core.go

@@ -108,12 +108,13 @@ func (b *Builder) compileCore() (*paths.Path, paths.PathList, error) {
 			return true
 		}
 
-		// If there is an archived core in the current build cache, use it
-		if _, err := buildcache.New(b.coreBuildCachePath).GetOrCreate(archivedCoreName); errors.Is(err, buildcache.CreateDirErr) {
-			return nil, nil, errors.New(i18n.Tr("creating core cache folder: %s", err))
-		}
 		targetArchivedCore = b.coreBuildCachePath.Join(archivedCoreName, "core.a")
 		if canUseArchivedCore(targetArchivedCore) {
+			// Update timestamp of the cache folder to extend expire time
+			if _, err := buildcache.New(b.coreBuildCachePath).GetOrCreate(archivedCoreName); errors.Is(err, buildcache.CreateDirErr) {
+				return nil, nil, errors.New(i18n.Tr("creating core cache folder: %s", err))
+			}
+
 			// use archived core
 			if b.logger.Verbose() {
 				b.logger.Info(i18n.Tr("Using precompiled core: %[1]s", targetArchivedCore))
@@ -151,17 +152,23 @@ func (b *Builder) compileCore() (*paths.Path, paths.PathList, error) {
 
 	// archive core.a
 	if targetArchivedCore != nil && !b.onlyUpdateCompilationDatabase {
-		err := archiveFile.CopyTo(targetArchivedCore)
-		if b.logger.Verbose() {
-			if err == nil {
-				b.logger.Info(i18n.Tr("Archiving built core (caching) in: %[1]s", targetArchivedCore))
-			} else if os.IsNotExist(err) {
-				b.logger.Info(i18n.Tr("Unable to cache built core, please tell %[1]s maintainers to follow %[2]s",
-					b.actualPlatform,
-					"https://arduino.github.io/arduino-cli/latest/platform-specification/#recipes-to-build-the-corea-archive-file"))
-			} else {
+		if err := targetArchivedCore.Parent().MkdirAll(); err != nil {
+			if b.logger.Verbose() {
 				b.logger.Info(i18n.Tr("Error archiving built core (caching) in %[1]s: %[2]s", targetArchivedCore, err))
 			}
+		} else {
+			err := archiveFile.CopyTo(targetArchivedCore)
+			if b.logger.Verbose() {
+				if err == nil {
+					b.logger.Info(i18n.Tr("Archiving built core (caching) in: %[1]s", targetArchivedCore))
+				} else if os.IsNotExist(err) {
+					b.logger.Info(i18n.Tr("Unable to cache built core, please tell %[1]s maintainers to follow %[2]s",
+						b.actualPlatform,
+						"https://arduino.github.io/arduino-cli/latest/platform-specification/#recipes-to-build-the-corea-archive-file"))
+				} else {
+					b.logger.Info(i18n.Tr("Error archiving built core (caching) in %[1]s: %[2]s", targetArchivedCore, err))
+				}
+			}
 		}
 	}