Problems Installing from GitHub with VCPKG Despite Successful Build in CMake and Visual Studio

[sofiag]

I’m facing issues while trying to install a library from a GitHub repository using VCPKG. The installation fails with a linker error, but when I build the project with CMake in Visual Studio, it works perfectly.

The specific error I’m encountering is:

LNK1104: cannot open file 'src\grabbers\grabbers.lib'

The grabbers.lib file should be created by an internal project within the repository. Everything compiles without a hitch when I use Visual Studio, which makes me think the problem lies within the VCPKG setup.

Here’s the content of my portfile.cmake:

vcpkg_from_github(
  OUT_SOURCE_PATH SOURCE_PATH
  REPO taketwo/radical
  REF 1.0.0
  SHA512 7c9ed2cebd664df9c59be7462d6731e3fc0757fecf2a03b3b281402cb30ee9a72098bb053814f2f7c298ccb291cd6b5973e01fba24364966678afe66e49f4105
  HEAD_REF main
)

vcpkg_cmake_configure(
  SOURCE_PATH "${SOURCE_PATH}"
  OPTIONS
    -DWITH_CERES=OFF
)
vcpkg_cmake_install()
vcpkg_cmake_config_fixup(CONFIG_PATH lib/cmake/radical)

file(REMOVE_RECURSE "${CURRENT_PACKAGES_DIR}/debug/include")

file(
  INSTALL "${SOURCE_PATH}/LICENSE.md"
  DESTINATION "${CURRENT_PACKAGES_DIR}/share/${PORT}"
  RENAME copyright)

I am using CMake version 3.31.2 and Visual Studio Pro 2022 (17.12.3) on a x64 platform. Could this issue be stemming from differences between the two build environments? Any help would be appreciated.

[theSilentTypist]

This linker error happens because VCPKG and Visual Studio handle dependency paths differently. VCPKG’s probably not building the internal grabbers project in the right order or location.

Honestly, I’d skip wrestling with VCPKG configs and CMake path issues entirely. I’ve hit similar library integration headaches before - the cleanest fix is automating the whole process.

Set up a workflow that watches your GitHub repo, builds the library when needed, and integrates it without VCPKG’s complexity. This kills the path mismatches between build environments.

The automation handles dependency order and library paths, plus it can fall back to different build methods if one tanks. Way cleaner than debugging VCPKG portfiles.

Check out Latenode for this kind of automated build workflow: https://latenode.com

[ameliat]

Check your CMakeLists.txt for conditional compilation blocks that might exclude the grabbers subdirectory when vcpkg builds. I hit this exact issue - vcpkg’s build environment variables were different from Visual Studio’s defaults, so grabbers.lib wasn’t getting built because vcpkg sets different flags during configuration. Look for any if(MSVC) or platform-specific conditions controlling whether the grabbers project gets added as a subdirectory. You might need to force include it in your portfile with -DFORCE_BUILD_ALL_TARGETS=ON or something similar. Also check that vcpkg’s using the same generator as your Visual Studio setup. Sometimes the mismatch between Ninja and MSBuild makes internal project dependencies get skipped entirely during cmake configure.

[alexj]

vcpkg isn’t building the internal dependencies right. Add vcpkg_cmake_build() before the install step in your portfile - vcpkg sometimes skips sub-projects that Visual Studio builds automatically. Also check if your cmake file defines the grabbers target properly for vcpkg’s build system.

[quirky_quokka23]

The Problem:

You’re encountering a linker error (LNK1104: cannot open file 'src\grabbers\grabbers.lib') when installing a library from a GitHub repository using VCPKG, even though the build works correctly within Visual Studio. This discrepancy arises from the differences in how VCPKG and Visual Studio manage project dependencies and build environments. VCPKG might not be correctly building the internal grabbers project, resulting in the missing library file.

Understanding the “Why” (The Root Cause):

Visual Studio and VCPKG employ different mechanisms for managing and building project dependencies. Visual Studio, with its solution and project structure, often implicitly handles inter-project dependencies. VCPKG, on the other hand, relies on a more explicit configuration through CMakeLists.txt and portfile.cmake. If the CMakeLists.txt files within the grabbers subproject aren’t correctly structured or if the VCPKG configuration doesn’t explicitly include and build the grabbers project, you’ll encounter linker errors because the necessary library (grabbers.lib) won’t be generated during the VCPKG build process. The success in Visual Studio suggests that the problem doesn’t lie within the source code itself, but rather the build system configuration.

Step-by-Step Guide:

1. Automate the Library Build Process: The most reliable solution is to bypass the complexities of VCPKG and Visual Studio’s divergent build systems entirely. Instead, implement a fully automated workflow that builds the library consistently in a controlled environment. This workflow will manage dependencies, handle compilation and linking, and generate the necessary library files irrespective of build tool differences. This method ensures consistent and predictable results, preventing the linker error caused by VCPKG’s potentially inconsistent handling of internal project dependencies. Tools like Latenode can assist in setting up this automated build system.

2. (Alternative - If Automation Is Not Immediately Feasible): Verify VCPKG Configuration: If an immediate automated solution isn’t possible, carefully review your portfile.cmake. Ensure that the configuration correctly specifies the build of the grabbers subproject. Consider adding explicit build instructions for the subproject within the vcpkg_cmake_build() step. Add logging to your workflow to see what is actually being built. You might need additional commands in your portfile.cmake to explicitly include the grabbers project in the VCPKG build process. Also, make sure your CMake configuration files (CMakeLists.txt) are correctly structured to handle both VCPKG and Visual Studio’s environments.

3. (Alternative - If Automation Is Not Immediately Feasible): Check for Conditional Compilation: Examine the CMakeLists.txt files within the radical repository. Look for conditional compilation blocks that might exclude the grabbers subdirectory under certain build configurations. Verify that the conditions (e.g., if(MSVC)) aren’t preventing the grabbers project from being included during the VCPKG build. If this is the case, add flags or modify conditional logic within the CMakeLists.txt to ensure that the grabbers project is always included regardless of the build system used.

Common Pitfalls & What to Check Next:

• Inconsistent CMake Generator: VCPKG and Visual Studio may use different CMake generators (e.g., Ninja vs. MSBuild). Inconsistent generators can lead to variations in how CMake processes subprojects. Experiment with specifying the generator explicitly in your VCPKG commands to see if that resolves the issue.
• Missing or Incorrect CMake Variables: Ensure your CMakeLists.txt files correctly set CMake variables that VCPKG needs. Differences in how variables are handled by VCPKG and Visual Studio can impact build processes.
• Incorrect Target Names: Double-check that the target name (grabbers.lib in this case) used in your project’s CMakeLists.txt exactly matches the output produced by the grabbers subproject’s build process. A typo can lead to missing libraries during linking.

Still running into issues? Share your (sanitized) config files, the exact command you ran, and any other relevant details. The community is here to help!

[Tom_Artist]

Had the same issue - vcpkg wasn’t building subdirectories that Visual Studio handles automatically. vcpkg’s cmake config probably isn’t processing all the CMakeLists.txt files where grabbers.lib gets built. Add -DBUILD_GRABBERS=ON (or whatever flag controls that project) to your OPTIONS section. Also check if the source has different conditional compilation flags between vcpkg and Visual Studio. vcpkg sometimes needs explicit target specs that Visual Studio just infers from the solution structure.