Can't build v13.0.0+ from source without g++ and make

[alexsch01]

Current behavior

I ran npm i -g yarn
I ran git clone https://github.com/cypress-io/cypress
I ran cd cypress
I ran yarn

This works for versions v12.17.4 and below, but fails for versions v13.0.0 and up

Debug logs

Without g++ installed

make: g++: No such file or directory

Without make installed

Error: not found: make

Cypress Version

develop - 2247ffd

Node version

v18.18.0

Package Manager

yarn

Package Manager Version

1.22.19

Operating system

Linux

Operating System Version

• Operating System: Debian GNU/Linux 11 (bullseye)
• Kernel: Linux 5.15.124-20260-g158060cabb35
• Architecture: x86-64

Non-documented fix

Installing g++ and make packages seem to be required as of v13.0.0 in order to build Cypress from source - this was not the case with v12.17.4 and earlier versions

Other

If the above packages are intended to be required now, the CONTRIBUTING file should be updated to state this

[MikeMcC399]

Hi @alexsch01

When I set this up for Ubuntu 22.04 I installed:

sudo apt install make
sudo apt install build-essential
sudo apt install cmake

I don't know if this is exactly the same for your OS and if that will help you.

You write Node.js v18.18.0, however it is better to use exactly what is in .node-version i.e. 18.15.0. This is the same version that Electron is built with. If you use n then n auto does it for you - see CONTRIBUTING > Requirements.

$ npx cypress version
Cypress package version: 13.2.0
Cypress binary version: 13.2.0
Electron version: 25.8.0
Bundled Node version:
18.15.0

[MikeMcC399]

I checked on Ubuntu 22.04 and using Node.js 18.18.0 instead of the required 18.15.0 does not affect the ability to build Cypress from source.

[alexsch01]

sudo apt install make
sudo apt install build-essential
sudo apt install cmake

@MikeMcC399 This should be in the CONTRIBUTING file if these packages are needed for Cypress to build

This is only an issue since v13.0.0
v12.17.4 doesn't have this behavior

[MikeMcC399]

@alexsch01

Did that solve your issue?

I didn't feel experienced enough to make suggestions to change the CONTRIBUTING > Requirements section in this regard, especially as the Cypress build is very complex and I don't really understand a lot of what it does.

[alexsch01]

Yes, it did solve the issue. But this isn't documented in the CONTRIBUTING file @jennifer-shehane

Summary: make, build-essential. and cmake packages seem to be required as of v13.0.0 in order to build Cypress from source - this was not the case with v12.17.4 and earlier versions

[jennifer-shehane]

@alexsch01 We're open to a PR to update the contributing guide to reflect this.

[Crustum7]

I can update the contributing guide if nobody else is working on this

[MikeMcC399]

@Crustum7

I can update the contributing guide if nobody else is working on this

I was going to make an attempt, but I'd be happy if you want to do it.

My suggestion would be to add the following to the bottom of the list below python:

• CMake (for Unix sudo apt install cmake)

as it is not covered by the node-gyp requirements. The list is supposed to be generic and not for a specific operating system, however I think the hint about installing cmake would be OK. On Ubuntu it is also available as a snap package.

CONTRIBUTING > Requirements

• Node.js (See the root .node-version file for the required version. You can find a list of tools on node-version-usage to switch the version of Node.js based on .node-version.)
• yarn
• python (since we use node-gyp. See their repo for Python version requirements.)

[Crustum7]

Thank you @MikeMcC399! That sounds accurate and concise

[MikeMcC399]

As far as I can see whilst cross-checking on Ubuntu 22.04, the requirements for modules supporting the use of node-gyp in the build process (yarn install) did not change between Cypress v12.17.4 and v13.0.0. The main problem seems to be that the documentation is not so helpful and could be improved.

make was already recommended through
README > Requirements > node-gyp > On Unix

gcc and make alone are not enough and there is no explicit information in the documentation that you also need g++ and cmake. This is also true for Cypress v12.17.4.

• The revised PR chore: Update installation requirements in CONTRIBUTING.md #27878 should fix this, which now suggests:
  • Note for Debian-based systems: python is pre-installed.
    sudo apt install g++ make cmake meets the additional requirements to run node-gyp in the context of building Cypress from source.

Repro

To demonstrate:

sudo apt remove g++ cmake
sudo apt install gcc make
sudo apt autoremove

git clone https://github.com/cypress-io/cypress
cd cypress

git checkout v12.17.4
n auto # or similar to set node to 16.16.0
yarn # error messages note that g++ and cmake are missing

git checkout v13.0.0
n auto # or similar to set node to 16.16.0
yarn # error messages note that g++ and cmake are missing

Now run again after executing

sudo apt install g++ cmake

[alexsch01]

@MikeMcC399 On Debian, installing cmake will also install make since make is a recommended package - NOT a dependency

On other operating systems like Mac I don't know how that works

[MikeMcC399]

@alexsch01

On Debian, installing cmake will also install make since make is a recommended package

Thank you for that hint. I will suggest a change to the PR in that case.

[alexsch01]

@MikeMcC399 I meant that the install command should have g++, make, and cmake for the good path

[MikeMcC399]

@alexsch01

Well I checked:

sudo apt remove g++ gcc cmake make
sudo apt install g++ cmake

and that was OK for yarn install

If you know some reason why:

sudo apt install g++ cmake

is not enough then please let us know.

[alexsch01]

Just being more explicit since make is not technically a dependency of cmake

[MikeMcC399]

I've reverted the suggestion to remove make from the command. If you think the PR is now OK, then you could approve it.

[alexsch01]

@MikeMcC399 just did, thanks for the reminder

[MikeMcC399]

@jennifer-shehane

We're open to a PR to update the contributing guide to reflect this.

• The community has prepared chore: Update installation requirements in CONTRIBUTING.md #27878 for review and merge to resolve the documentation issue in the CONTRIBUTING > Requirements section.

It is suggested to add the following line to the document:

• Note for Debian-based systems: python is pre-installed.
  sudo apt install g++ make cmake meets the additional requirements to run node-gyp in the context of building Cypress from source

[MikeMcC399]

• Due to PR chore(deps): refresh [email protected] #28726 cmake is no longer required on Ubuntu in order to build Cypress.