diff --git a/app/src/processing/app/Base.java b/app/src/processing/app/Base.java
index 72eae3f18..d2be82822 100644
--- a/app/src/processing/app/Base.java
+++ b/app/src/processing/app/Base.java
@@ -1169,10 +1169,15 @@ public class Base {
         continue;
       }
 
-      Library lib = Library.create(subfolder);
-      // (also replace previously found libs with the same name) 
-      if (lib != null)
-        res.addOrReplace(lib);
+      try {
+        Library lib = Library.create(subfolder);
+        // (also replace previously found libs with the same name)
+        if (lib != null)
+          res.addOrReplace(lib);
+      } catch (IOException e) {
+        System.out.println(I18n.format(_("Invalid library found in {0}: {1}"),
+                                       subfolder, e.getMessage()));
+      }
     }
     return res;
   }
diff --git a/app/src/processing/app/Editor.java b/app/src/processing/app/Editor.java
index 621d1bfc9..42413b267 100644
--- a/app/src/processing/app/Editor.java
+++ b/app/src/processing/app/Editor.java
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@
 package processing.app;
 
 import processing.app.debug.*;
+import processing.app.helpers.PreferencesMapException;
 import processing.app.syntax.*;
 import processing.app.tools.*;
 import processing.core.*;
@@ -2432,6 +2433,10 @@ public class Editor extends JFrame implements RunnerListener {
         if (serialMenu.getItemCount() == 0) statusError(e);
         else if (serialPrompt()) run();
         else statusNotice(_("Upload canceled."));
+      } catch (PreferencesMapException e) {
+        statusError(I18n.format(
+                    _("Error while uploading: missing '{0}' configuration parameter"),
+                    e.getMessage()));
       } catch (RunnerException e) {
         //statusError("Error during upload.");
         //e.printStackTrace();
@@ -2468,6 +2473,10 @@ public class Editor extends JFrame implements RunnerListener {
         if (serialMenu.getItemCount() == 0) statusError(e);
         else if (serialPrompt()) run();
         else statusNotice(_("Upload canceled."));
+      } catch (PreferencesMapException e) {
+        statusError(I18n.format(
+                    _("Error while uploading: missing '{0}' configuration parameter"),
+                    e.getMessage()));
       } catch (RunnerException e) {
         //statusError("Error during upload.");
         //e.printStackTrace();
@@ -2543,9 +2552,10 @@ public class Editor extends JFrame implements RunnerListener {
             statusError(_("Error while burning bootloader."));
             // error message will already be visible
           }
-        } catch (RunnerException e) {
-          statusError(_("Error while burning bootloader."));
-          e.printStackTrace();
+        } catch (PreferencesMapException e) {
+          statusError(I18n.format(
+                      _("Error while burning bootloader: missing '{0}' configuration parameter"),
+                      e.getMessage()));
           //statusError(e);
         } catch (Exception e) {
           statusError(_("Error while burning bootloader."));
diff --git a/app/src/processing/app/Sketch.java b/app/src/processing/app/Sketch.java
index ee1c82f78..2fead5b88 100644
--- a/app/src/processing/app/Sketch.java
+++ b/app/src/processing/app/Sketch.java
@@ -1581,7 +1581,7 @@ public class Sketch {
    * Handle export to applet.
    */
   public boolean exportApplet(String appletPath, boolean usingProgrammer)
-    throws RunnerException, IOException, SerialException {
+    throws Exception {
 
     prepare();
       
@@ -1660,7 +1660,7 @@ public class Sketch {
   }
 
   protected String upload(String buildPath, String suggestedClassName, boolean usingProgrammer)
-    throws RunnerException, SerialException {
+    throws Exception {
 
     Uploader uploader;
 
diff --git a/app/src/processing/app/debug/BasicUploader.java b/app/src/processing/app/debug/BasicUploader.java
index 1909c464a..6daa5b4e9 100644
--- a/app/src/processing/app/debug/BasicUploader.java
+++ b/app/src/processing/app/debug/BasicUploader.java
@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@ import processing.app.Preferences;
 import processing.app.Serial;
 import processing.app.SerialException;
 import processing.app.helpers.PreferencesMap;
+import processing.app.helpers.PreferencesMapException;
 import processing.app.helpers.StringReplacer;
 
 import static processing.app.I18n._;
@@ -45,12 +46,18 @@ public class BasicUploader extends Uploader  {
 
   public boolean uploadUsingPreferences(String buildPath, String className,
                                         boolean usingProgrammer)
-      throws RunnerException, SerialException {
+      throws Exception {
     // FIXME: Preferences should be reorganized
     TargetPlatform targetPlatform = Base.getTargetPlatform();
     PreferencesMap prefs = Preferences.getMap();
     prefs.putAll(Base.getBoardPreferences());
-    prefs.putAll(targetPlatform.getTool(prefs.get("upload.tool")));
+    String tool = prefs.getOrExcept("upload.tool");
+    if (tool.contains(":")) {
+      String[] split = tool.split(":", 2);
+      targetPlatform = Base.getCurrentTargetPlatformFromPackage(split[0]);
+      tool = split[1];
+    }
+    prefs.putAll(targetPlatform.getTool(tool));
 
     // if no protocol is specified for this board, assume it lacks a 
     // bootloader and upload using the selected programmer.
@@ -71,7 +78,7 @@ public class BasicUploader extends Uploader  {
     boolean waitForUploadPort = (t != null) && t.equals("true");
     
     if (doTouch) {
-      String uploadPort = prefs.get("serial.port");
+      String uploadPort = prefs.getOrExcept("serial.port");
       try {
         // Toggle 1200 bps on selected serial port to force board reset.
         List<String> before = Serial.list();
@@ -109,9 +116,9 @@ public class BasicUploader extends Uploader  {
     prefs.put("build.path", buildPath);
     prefs.put("build.project_name", className);
     if (verbose)
-      prefs.put("upload.verbose", prefs.get("upload.params.verbose"));
+      prefs.put("upload.verbose", prefs.getOrExcept("upload.params.verbose"));
     else
-      prefs.put("upload.verbose", prefs.get("upload.params.quiet"));
+      prefs.put("upload.verbose", prefs.getOrExcept("upload.params.quiet"));
 
     boolean uploadResult;
     try {
@@ -120,7 +127,7 @@ public class BasicUploader extends Uploader  {
 //        flushSerialBuffer();
 //      }
 
-      String pattern = prefs.get("upload.pattern");
+      String pattern = prefs.getOrExcept("upload.pattern");
       String[] cmd = StringReplacer.formatAndSplit(pattern, prefs, true);
       uploadResult = executeUploadCommand(cmd);
     } catch (Exception e) {
@@ -211,7 +218,7 @@ public class BasicUploader extends Uploader  {
   }
 
   public boolean uploadUsingProgrammer(String buildPath, String className)
-      throws RunnerException {
+      throws Exception {
 
     TargetPlatform targetPlatform = Base.getTargetPlatform();
     String programmer = Preferences.get("programmer");
@@ -224,15 +231,15 @@ public class BasicUploader extends Uploader  {
     PreferencesMap prefs = Preferences.getMap();
     prefs.putAll(Base.getBoardPreferences());
     prefs.putAll(targetPlatform.getProgrammer(programmer));
-    prefs.putAll(targetPlatform.getTool(prefs.get("program.tool")));
+    prefs.putAll(targetPlatform.getTool(prefs.getOrExcept("program.tool")));
 
     prefs.put("build.path", buildPath);
     prefs.put("build.project_name", className);
 
     if (verbose)
-      prefs.put("program.verbose", prefs.get("program.params.verbose"));
+      prefs.put("program.verbose", prefs.getOrExcept("program.params.verbose"));
     else
-      prefs.put("program.verbose", prefs.get("program.params.quiet"));
+      prefs.put("program.verbose", prefs.getOrExcept("program.params.quiet"));
 
     try {
       // if (prefs.get("program.disable_flushing") == null
@@ -241,7 +248,7 @@ public class BasicUploader extends Uploader  {
       // flushSerialBuffer();
       // }
 
-      String pattern = prefs.get("program.pattern");
+      String pattern = prefs.getOrExcept("program.pattern");
       String[] cmd = StringReplacer.formatAndSplit(pattern, prefs, true);
       return executeUploadCommand(cmd);
     } catch (Exception e) {
@@ -249,7 +256,7 @@ public class BasicUploader extends Uploader  {
     }
   }
   
-  public boolean burnBootloader() throws RunnerException {
+  public boolean burnBootloader() throws RunnerException, PreferencesMapException {
     TargetPlatform targetPlatform = Base.getTargetPlatform();
     
     // Find preferences for the selected programmer
@@ -272,7 +279,7 @@ public class BasicUploader extends Uploader  {
     
     // Create configuration for bootloader tool
     PreferencesMap toolPrefs = new PreferencesMap();
-    String tool = prefs.get("bootloader.tool");
+    String tool = prefs.getOrExcept("bootloader.tool");
     if (tool.contains(":")) {
       String[] split = tool.split(":", 2);
       TargetPlatform platform = Base.getCurrentTargetPlatformFromPackage(split[0]);
@@ -291,20 +298,20 @@ public class BasicUploader extends Uploader  {
     // Merge tool with global configuration
     prefs.putAll(toolPrefs);
     if (verbose) {
-      prefs.put("erase.verbose", prefs.get("erase.params.verbose"));
-      prefs.put("bootloader.verbose", prefs.get("bootloader.params.verbose"));
+      prefs.put("erase.verbose", prefs.getOrExcept("erase.params.verbose"));
+      prefs.put("bootloader.verbose", prefs.getOrExcept("bootloader.params.verbose"));
     } else {
-      prefs.put("erase.verbose", prefs.get("erase.params.quiet"));
-      prefs.put("bootloader.verbose", prefs.get("bootloader.params.quiet"));
+      prefs.put("erase.verbose", prefs.getOrExcept("erase.params.quiet"));
+      prefs.put("bootloader.verbose", prefs.getOrExcept("bootloader.params.quiet"));
     }
     
     try {
-      String pattern = prefs.get("erase.pattern");
+      String pattern = prefs.getOrExcept("erase.pattern");
       String[] cmd = StringReplacer.formatAndSplit(pattern, prefs, true);
       if (!executeUploadCommand(cmd))
         return false;
 
-      pattern = prefs.get("bootloader.pattern");
+      pattern = prefs.getOrExcept("bootloader.pattern");
       cmd = StringReplacer.formatAndSplit(pattern, prefs, true);
       return executeUploadCommand(cmd);
     } catch (Exception e) {
diff --git a/app/src/processing/app/debug/TargetPackage.java b/app/src/processing/app/debug/TargetPackage.java
index 020cf89e3..68c1a488c 100644
--- a/app/src/processing/app/debug/TargetPackage.java
+++ b/app/src/processing/app/debug/TargetPackage.java
@@ -23,11 +23,14 @@
  */
 package processing.app.debug;
 
+import static processing.app.I18n._;
+
 import java.io.File;
 import java.util.Collection;
 import java.util.LinkedHashMap;
 import java.util.Map;
 
+import processing.app.I18n;
 import processing.app.helpers.filefilters.OnlyDirs;
 
 public class TargetPackage {
@@ -47,8 +50,18 @@ public class TargetPackage {
       if (!subFolder.exists() || !subFolder.canRead())
         continue;
       String arch = subFolder.getName();
-      TargetPlatform platform = new TargetPlatform(arch, subFolder, this);
-      platforms.put(arch, platform);
+      try {
+        TargetPlatform platform = new TargetPlatform(arch, subFolder, this);
+        platforms.put(arch, platform);
+      } catch (TargetPlatformException e) {
+        System.out.println(e.getMessage());
+      }
+    }
+
+    if (platforms.size() == 0) {
+      throw new TargetPlatformException(I18n
+          .format(_("No valid hardware definitions found in folder {0}."),
+                  _folder.getName()));
     }
   }
 
diff --git a/app/src/processing/app/debug/Uploader.java b/app/src/processing/app/debug/Uploader.java
index 50d7a5e13..1a240831f 100644
--- a/app/src/processing/app/debug/Uploader.java
+++ b/app/src/processing/app/debug/Uploader.java
@@ -35,7 +35,6 @@ import java.util.Collection;
 import processing.app.I18n;
 import processing.app.Preferences;
 import processing.app.Serial;
-import processing.app.SerialException;
 import processing.app.SerialNotFoundException;
 
 public abstract class Uploader implements MessageConsumer  {
@@ -52,11 +51,11 @@ public abstract class Uploader implements MessageConsumer  {
   boolean verbose;
 
   public abstract boolean uploadUsingPreferences(String buildPath, String className, boolean usingProgrammer)
-    throws RunnerException, SerialException;
+    throws Exception;
   
-  public abstract boolean burnBootloader() throws RunnerException;
+  public abstract boolean burnBootloader() throws Exception;
   
-  protected void flushSerialBuffer() throws RunnerException, SerialException {
+  protected void flushSerialBuffer() throws Exception {
     // Cleanup the serial buffer
     try {
       Serial serialPort = new Serial();
@@ -87,14 +86,14 @@ public abstract class Uploader implements MessageConsumer  {
   }
 
   protected boolean executeUploadCommand(Collection<String> commandDownloader)
-      throws RunnerException {
+      throws Exception {
     String[] commandArray = new String[commandDownloader.size()];
     commandDownloader.toArray(commandArray);
     return executeUploadCommand(commandArray);
   }
 
   protected boolean executeUploadCommand(String commandArray[]) 
-    throws RunnerException
+    throws Exception
   {
     firstErrorFound = false;  // haven't found any errors yet
     secondErrorFound = false;
diff --git a/app/src/processing/app/helpers/PreferencesMap.java b/app/src/processing/app/helpers/PreferencesMap.java
index e4729c166..cd3bb7dd2 100644
--- a/app/src/processing/app/helpers/PreferencesMap.java
+++ b/app/src/processing/app/helpers/PreferencesMap.java
@@ -245,6 +245,22 @@ public class PreferencesMap extends LinkedHashMap<String, String> {
     return res;
   }
 
+  /**
+   * Returns the value to which the specified key is mapped, or throws a
+   * PreferencesMapException if not found
+   * 
+   * @param k
+   *          the key whose associated value is to be returned
+   * @return the value to which the specified key is mapped
+   * @throws PreferencesMapException
+   */
+  public String getOrExcept(String k) throws PreferencesMapException {
+    String r = get(k);
+    if (r == null)
+      throw new PreferencesMapException(k);
+    return r;
+  }
+
   @Override
   public String toString() {
     return toString("");
diff --git a/app/src/processing/app/helpers/PreferencesMapException.java b/app/src/processing/app/helpers/PreferencesMapException.java
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..456e476fc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/src/processing/app/helpers/PreferencesMapException.java
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+package processing.app.helpers;
+
+@SuppressWarnings("serial")
+public class PreferencesMapException extends Exception {
+
+  public PreferencesMapException(String message) {
+    super(message);
+  }
+
+}
diff --git a/build/shared/examples/02.Digital/tonePitchFollower/tonePitchFollower.ino b/build/shared/examples/02.Digital/tonePitchFollower/tonePitchFollower.ino
index e74c7b343..69caff744 100644
--- a/build/shared/examples/02.Digital/tonePitchFollower/tonePitchFollower.ino
+++ b/build/shared/examples/02.Digital/tonePitchFollower/tonePitchFollower.ino
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
  Plays a pitch that changes based on a changing analog input
  
  circuit:
- * 8-ohm speaker on digital pin 8
+ * 8-ohm speaker on digital pin 9
  * photoresistor on analog 0 to 5V
  * 4.7K resistor on analog 0 to ground
  
diff --git a/build/shared/revisions.txt b/build/shared/revisions.txt
index d9e9b863f..bad682ea5 100644
--- a/build/shared/revisions.txt
+++ b/build/shared/revisions.txt
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ ARDUINO 1.5.3 BETA
 * avr: Added support for Flash strings on String class (Jantje)
 * Added support for floating point numbers in String class (Tevin Zhang, SebiTimeWaster)
 * sam: Fixed String buffer overflows (Paul Stoffregen)
+* avr: Added recipe for assembly files (C. A. Church)
 
 [libraries]
 * sam: Added CAN library (still in early stage of development) (Palliser)
diff --git a/hardware/arduino/avr/platform.txt b/hardware/arduino/avr/platform.txt
index 6bbe078ab..eaf946947 100644
--- a/hardware/arduino/avr/platform.txt
+++ b/hardware/arduino/avr/platform.txt
@@ -40,6 +40,9 @@ recipe.c.o.pattern="{compiler.path}{compiler.c.cmd}" {compiler.c.flags} -mmcu={b
 ## Compile c++ files
 recipe.cpp.o.pattern="{compiler.path}{compiler.cpp.cmd}" {compiler.cpp.flags} -mmcu={build.mcu} -DF_CPU={build.f_cpu} -DARDUINO={runtime.ide.version} -DARDUINO_{build.board} -DARDUINO_ARCH_{build.arch} {build.extra_flags} {includes} "{source_file}" -o "{object_file}"
 
+## Compile S files
+recipe.S.o.pattern="{compiler.path}{compiler.c.cmd}" {compiler.S.flags} -mmcu={build.mcu} -DF_CPU={build.f_cpu} -DARDUINO={runtime.ide.version} -DARDUINO_{build.board} -DARDUINO_ARCH_{build.arch} {build.extra_flags} {includes} "{source_file}" -o "{object_file}"
+
 ## Create archives
 recipe.ar.pattern="{compiler.path}{compiler.ar.cmd}" {compiler.ar.flags} "{build.path}/{archive_file}" "{object_file}"
 
diff --git a/libraries/SoftwareSerial/keywords.txt b/libraries/SoftwareSerial/keywords.txt
index 3f36dfc80..aaea17c20 100644
--- a/libraries/SoftwareSerial/keywords.txt
+++ b/libraries/SoftwareSerial/keywords.txt
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 #######################################
 # Syntax Coloring Map for SoftwareSerial
-# (formely NewSoftSerial)
+# (formerly NewSoftSerial)
 #######################################
 
 #######################################