Hi,
I have the same problem as aziemer.
esptool is installed and working.

pip show esptool:
Name: esptool
Version: 4.8.1

When I try to upload something to the esp, I get this error:

LittleFS Filesystem Uploader v1.5.1 -- https://github.com/earlephilhower/arduino-littlefs-upload

Uploading LittleFS filesystem
Command Line: python3 /home/willi/.arduino15/packages/esp32/tools/esptool_py/4.9.dev3/esptool.py --chip esp32 --port /dev/ttyUSB0 --baud 921600 --before default_reset --after hard_reset write_flash -z --flash_mode dio --flash_freq 80m --flash_size detect 2686976 /tmp/tmp-1901608-03GfhMX7zNU1-.littlefs.bin
python3: can't open file '/home/willi/.arduino15/packages/esp32/tools/esptool_py/4.9.dev3/esptool.py': [Errno 2] No such file or directory

ERROR: Upload failed, error code: 2

When I create a symbolic link from esptool.py to esptool,

15:04:27 willi@icho:4.9.dev3 ls -l esptool.py
lrwxrwxrwx 1 willi willi 7 1. Jan 15:00 esptool.py -> esptool

I get this error:

LittleFS Filesystem Uploader v1.5.1 -- https://github.com/earlephilhower/arduino-littlefs-upload

Uploading LittleFS filesystem
Command Line: python3 /home/willi/.arduino15/packages/esp32/tools/esptool_py/4.9.dev3/esptool.py --chip esp32 --port /dev/ttyUSB0 --baud 921600 --before default_reset --after hard_reset write_flash -z --flash_mode dio --flash_freq 80m --flash_size detect 2686976 /tmp/tmp-1901608-FtiedAzwNetk-.littlefs.bin
SyntaxError: Non-UTF-8 code starting with '\xba' in file /home/willi/.arduino15/packages/esp32/tools/esptool_py/4.9.dev3/esptool.py on line 1, but no encoding declared; see https://peps.python.org/pep-0263/ for details

ERROR: Upload failed, error code: 1

But when I copy this command from Arduino and run it with “esptool ...” it works.

esptool --chip esp32 --port /dev/ttyUSB0 --baud 921600 --before default_reset --after hard_reset write_flash -z --flash_mode dio --flash_freq 80m --flash_size detect 2686976 /tmp/tmp-1879377-Fn9WV4E19hxg-.littlefs.bin

Arduino-AppImage:
Version: 2.3.3
Date: 2024-09-25T09:35:36.309Z
CLI Version: 1.0.4

OS:
MX-Linux
Version:24.12.04