App list command returns "folders in the middle" as broken apps

[mirkoCrobu]

Describe the problem

arduino-app-cli already supports nested folders (e.g., myApps/app1/app.yaml), in fact, the list command returns all the nested apps, no matter the number of nested sub-folders. BUT each folder or subfolder that doesn't contain an app.yaml file is listed in the broken apps section.

  "apps": [
    { //user:deep_nest/deep_nest/copy-of-classify-images-imported-renamed-20260130-171428
      "id": "dXNlcjpkZWVwX25lc3QvZGVlcF9uZXN0L2NvcHktb2YtY2xhc3NpZnktaW1hZ2VzLWltcG9ydGVkLXJlbmFtZWQtMjAyNjAxMzAtMTcxNDI4", 
      "name": "Copy of Classify images imported renamed",
      "description": "Image classification in the browser using a web-based interface.",
      "icon": "📊",
      "status": "uninitialized",
      "example": false,
      "default": false
    },
    { // user:my_category/copy-of-classify-images-imported-renamed
      "id": "dXNlcjpteV9jYXRlZ29yeS9jb3B5LW9mLWNsYXNzaWZ5LWltYWdlcy1pbXBvcnRlZC1yZW5hbWVk",
      "name": "Copy of Classify images imported renamed",
      "description": "Image classification in the browser using a web-based interface.",
      "icon": "📊",
      "status": "uninitialized",
      "example": false,
      "default": false
    }
  ],
  "brokenApps": [
    {
      "name": "deep_nest",
      "error": "unable to parse the app.yaml: descriptor app.yaml file missing from app"
    },
    {
      "name": "deep_nest",
      "error": "unable to parse the app.yaml: descriptor app.yaml file missing from app"
    },
    {
      "name": "my_category",
      "error": "unable to parse the app.yaml: descriptor app.yaml file missing from app"
    }
  ]
}

To reproduce

1. in /ArduinoApps folder create

   • main_folder/second_layer/my_app/app.yaml
   • second_main_folder/my_app/app.yaml

2. run arduino-app-cli app list --format json

3. should have in broken: main_folder, second_layer, second_main_folder

Expected behavior

Folders in the middle shouldn't be listed within broken list

Arduino App CLI version

v0.8.1

Additional context

should check the http comand too

Issue checklist

• I searched for previous reports in the issue tracker
• I verified the problem still occurs when using the latest version
• My report contains all necessary details