"CMAKE_CXX_COMPILER broken" while compiling with CMake

Question

I'm trying to compile a Git project, and I'm facing some problems with CMake. Initially, it didn't find the C++ compiler and prompted an error:

cmake ..

No CMAKE_CXX_COMPILER could be found.

Tell CMake where to find the compiler by setting either the environment variable "CXX" or the CMake cache entry CMAKE_CXX_COMPILER to the full path to the compiler, or to the compiler name if it is in the PATH.

So, I did:

CXX="gcc" cmake ..

But another error was prompted:

-- The CXX compiler identification is unknown
-- Check for working CXX compiler: /usr/bin/gcc
-- Check for working CXX compiler: /usr/bin/gcc -- broken
CMake Error at /usr/share/cmake-3.0/Modules/CMakeTestCXXCompiler.cmake:54 (message):
The C++ compiler "/usr/bin/gcc" is not able to compile a simple test program.

How can I solve this error and compile the project?

Are you trying to use CMake on a Linux or Mac OS system? CMake should be able to detect the default compiler on your machine automatically. What does g++ -v command returns in a terminal? — Antwane
– Antwane, Commented Jul 15, 2015 at 7:11
Linux system. About the g++ -v, it throws a "command not found". — ptkato
– ptkato, Commented Jul 15, 2015 at 17:20

Bhargav Rao · Accepted Answer · 2018-09-01 23:47:06Z

57

You should try installing build-essential if you haven't done so.

Try this

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install -y build-essential

edited Sep 1, 2018 at 23:47

Bhargav Rao

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answered Mar 24, 2017 at 20:21

thiagoh

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4 Comments

Dan Schnau Over a year ago

This resolved the issue for me. But why? What does the build-essential package do?

Roel Van de Paar Over a year ago

I ended up doing:

sudo apt purge gcc-7 gcc-8 gcc-9 gcc-10 gcc c-compiler && sudo apt autoremove && sudo apt install gcc-9 g++-9 gcc g++ build-essential

and that fixed my issue (which was No CMAKE_CXX_COMPILER could be found. Tell CMake where,compiler name if it is in the PATH.)

endolith Over a year ago

this works, but it's a bad answer because it doesn't explain why it works

Shaun Over a year ago

build-essential worked for me also. Looks like build-essential is a package that contains a list of required Debian packages as dependencies, so when you install build-essential, you install all those packages in one single command.

Tsyvarev · Accepted Answer · 2018-10-08 11:37:29Z

25

You are trying to use C compiler gcc as C++ one, which is wrong.

You need to install g++ or other C++ compiler.

edited Oct 8, 2018 at 11:37

answered Jul 15, 2015 at 7:06

Tsyvarev

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3 Comments

ptkato Over a year ago

Really? I read this answer and, in my understanding, it says that the gcc can compile both C and C++ programs.

Tsyvarev Over a year ago

It can, but it requires at least stdc++ library, which comes with g++. Just install g++, and everything will work without intervention like setting CXX variable.

mirek Over a year ago

If you need it for Red Hat use yum install gcc-c++

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