Question

I’m getting this error when I try and install node on my new mac

error: could not configure a cxx compiler!

The error always occurs when I get to the ./configure part of the installation

I found this problem which applies to a linux build with the same error, but the solution does not seem to apply in my case:

How to compile/install node.js(could not configure a cxx compiler!) (Ubuntu).

I also took a look at the troubleshoot guide on the node wiki here:

https://github.com/joyent/node/wiki/Troubleshooting-Installation

and tried this solution:

export PATH=/Developer/usr/bin:$PATH
ISYSROOT="-isysroot /Developer/SDKs/MacOSX10.5.sdk"
export LINKFLAGS=$ISYSROOT CXXFLAGS=$ISYSROOT CFLAGS=$ISYSROOT
./configure --prefix=$HOME --without-ssl
make

But I get the same problem when I get to the ./configure step

Any advice, insights or help would be much appreciated here.

Thanks

Answer 1

When you install Mac OS X Developer Tools (XCode, etc) ensure you have the Unix Tools option checked. I had to remember to install Developer Tools/Unix tools when I set up my new MBP and it resolved this error for me.

Optionally, you could remove and try installing with Homebrew. However, it still has the same requirements (XCode/Dev Tools) so ensure that you have those installed.

Hope this helps.