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

Question

How can I compile/install node.js on Ubuntu? It failed with an error about cxx compiler.

Solution 1

One-liner to install all needed dependencies(curl and git are not really needed, but are very useful and also needed if you install via nvm).

sudo apt-get install build-essential libssl-dev curl git-core

Last two dependencies are not always needed, but installing them is really usefull anyway and you probably need it later anyway.

To only install cxx compiler

sudo apt-get install build-essential

If openssl is missing

sudo apt-get install libssl-dev

Solution 2

If like me, you are attempting to install this on an AWS instance running Amazon Linux AMI (which looks to be a cut down version CentOS):

Install base tools:

yum groupinstall "Development Tools"

Now install openssl-devel:

yum install openssl-devel

Node should compile fine now.

Solution 3

If you're attempting this on Win7 like me, running:

ash.exe
$ /bin/rebaseall

...did the trick.

Good luck!

Solution 4

If you find yourself getting this error on Mac OSX, you need to install XCode.

https://developer.apple.com/

Solution 5

I needed to run yum install gcc-c++ on Cent OS.

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Comments

[Alfred]

I also found this very good tutorial explaining how to install node.js on ubuntu => codediesel.com/linux/installing-node-js-on-ubuntu-10-04

[Alfred]

I think you should make this a separate topic if it does not exist. Then when users google for compiling node.js for windows they will find your topic.

[Alfred]

I also heard this of a friend of mine using macosx

[Jay Sidri]

Should be worth noting that Nicholas is compiling node in Windows using cygwin. ash.exe and rebaseall.exe are utilities that ship with cygwin.

[tentonipete]

this should be on your installation DVD. at least it was on my copy of snow leopard.

[Mike Grace]

Thank you! This is exactly what I needed. Saved me tons of time.

[Dominic K]

Running ash.exe in bash gave me weird output. I opened a normal cmd instead, and ran cd C:/cygwin/bin,, then dash.exe (A better ash.exe supposedly, but either works). Then used ./rebaseall

[quantumpotato]

I have Xcode installed from the app store and still get this error.

[tosh]

@quantumpotato same here with mountain lion :(

[timoxley]

Try sudo. Had same issue but managed to get it to build with sudo xcode-select -switch /Applications/Xcode.app/Contents/Developer then using sudo to configure/install.