cmake build_error ai_generated true

CMake Error: Imported target 'Boost::filesystem' includes non-existent path

ID: cmake/imported-target-not-found

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85%Fix Rate
88%Confidence
3Evidence
2023-01-01First Seen

Version Compatibility

VersionStatusIntroducedDeprecatedNotes
3 active — — —

Root Cause

An imported target references paths that do not exist on disk. Library was moved, uninstalled, or partially installed.

generic

Workarounds

  1. 92% success Reinstall the dependency that provides the imported target 
    sudo apt install libboost-filesystem-dev  # provides Boost::filesystem target

    Sources: https://cmake.org/cmake/help/latest/command/find_package.html

  2. 90% success Delete CMakeCache.txt AND install the missing library, then reconfigure 
    rm -rf build/ && sudo apt install libfoo-dev && cmake -B build
  3. 82% success Set the package DIR variable to the correct install prefix 
    cmake -DBoost_DIR=/opt/boost/lib/cmake/Boost-1.83.0 ..

Dead Ends

Common approaches that don't work:

  1. Create the missing path manually 80% fail

    Manually creating library directories does not provide the actual libraries and headers.

  2. Remove CMakeCache.txt and assume reconfigure will find it 65% fail

    If the library is not installed, reconfiguring still will not find it. Cache removal alone is not a fix.