Rust pkg-config fails on openssl for cargo-generate

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1

I am trying to generate a slint template project, but first I need cargo-generate but when compiling all the crates it fails on openssl-sys with the below error.

error: failed to run custom build command for `openssl-sys v0.9.99`

Caused by:
  process didn't exit successfully: `/tmp/cargo-installxh7lha/release/build/openssl-sys-f0214cddd08cf40f/build-script-main` (exit status: 101)
  --- stdout
  cargo:rerun-if-env-changed=X86_64_UNKNOWN_LINUX_GNU_OPENSSL_LIB_DIR
  X86_64_UNKNOWN_LINUX_GNU_OPENSSL_LIB_DIR unset
  cargo:rerun-if-env-changed=OPENSSL_LIB_DIR
  OPENSSL_LIB_DIR unset
  cargo:rerun-if-env-changed=X86_64_UNKNOWN_LINUX_GNU_OPENSSL_INCLUDE_DIR
  X86_64_UNKNOWN_LINUX_GNU_OPENSSL_INCLUDE_DIR unset
  cargo:rerun-if-env-changed=OPENSSL_INCLUDE_DIR
  OPENSSL_INCLUDE_DIR unset
  cargo:rerun-if-env-changed=X86_64_UNKNOWN_LINUX_GNU_OPENSSL_DIR
  X86_64_UNKNOWN_LINUX_GNU_OPENSSL_DIR unset
  cargo:rerun-if-env-changed=OPENSSL_DIR
  OPENSSL_DIR unset
  cargo:rerun-if-env-changed=OPENSSL_NO_PKG_CONFIG
  cargo:rerun-if-env-changed=PKG_CONFIG_x86_64-unknown-linux-gnu
  cargo:rerun-if-env-changed=PKG_CONFIG_x86_64_unknown_linux_gnu
  cargo:rerun-if-env-changed=HOST_PKG_CONFIG
  cargo:rerun-if-env-changed=PKG_CONFIG
  cargo:rerun-if-env-changed=OPENSSL_STATIC
  cargo:rerun-if-env-changed=OPENSSL_DYNAMIC
  cargo:rerun-if-env-changed=PKG_CONFIG_ALL_STATIC
  cargo:rerun-if-env-changed=PKG_CONFIG_ALL_DYNAMIC
  cargo:rerun-if-env-changed=PKG_CONFIG_PATH_x86_64-unknown-linux-gnu
  cargo:rerun-if-env-changed=PKG_CONFIG_PATH_x86_64_unknown_linux_gnu
  cargo:rerun-if-env-changed=HOST_PKG_CONFIG_PATH
  cargo:rerun-if-env-changed=PKG_CONFIG_PATH
  cargo:rerun-if-env-changed=PKG_CONFIG_LIBDIR_x86_64-unknown-linux-gnu
  cargo:rerun-if-env-changed=PKG_CONFIG_LIBDIR_x86_64_unknown_linux_gnu
  cargo:rerun-if-env-changed=HOST_PKG_CONFIG_LIBDIR
  cargo:rerun-if-env-changed=PKG_CONFIG_LIBDIR
  cargo:rerun-if-env-changed=PKG_CONFIG_SYSROOT_DIR_x86_64-unknown-linux-gnu
  cargo:rerun-if-env-changed=PKG_CONFIG_SYSROOT_DIR_x86_64_unknown_linux_gnu
  cargo:rerun-if-env-changed=HOST_PKG_CONFIG_SYSROOT_DIR
  cargo:rerun-if-env-changed=PKG_CONFIG_SYSROOT_DIR
  run pkg_config fail: 
  pkg-config exited with status code 1
  > PKG_CONFIG_ALLOW_SYSTEM_CFLAGS=1 pkg-config --libs --cflags openssl

  The system library `openssl` required by crate `openssl-sys` was not found.
  The file `openssl.pc` needs to be installed and the PKG_CONFIG_PATH environment variable must contain its parent directory.
  The PKG_CONFIG_PATH environment variable is not set.

  HINT: if you have installed the library, try setting PKG_CONFIG_PATH to the directory containing `openssl.pc`.


  --- stderr
  thread 'main' panicked at /home/allusive/.cargo/registry/src/index.crates.io-6f17d22bba15001f/openssl-sys-0.9.99/build/find_normal.rs:190:5:


  Could not find directory of OpenSSL installation, and this `-sys` crate cannot
  proceed without this knowledge. If OpenSSL is installed and this crate had
  trouble finding it,  you can set the `OPENSSL_DIR` environment variable for the
  compilation process.

  Make sure you also have the development packages of openssl installed.
  For example, `libssl-dev` on Ubuntu or `openssl-devel` on Fedora.

  If you're in a situation where you think the directory *should* be found
  automatically, please open a bug at https://github.com/sfackler/rust-openssl
  and include information about your system as well as this message.

  $HOST = x86_64-unknown-linux-gnu
  $TARGET = x86_64-unknown-linux-gnu
  openssl-sys = 0.9.99


  note: run with `RUST_BACKTRACE=1` environment variable to display a backtrace

From what I can tell this is the same error as experienced in this post.

The difference is that person’s issue was to do with building packages that had specific inputs.

I do have openssl installed in my home-manager config.

2

Exact same problem; no solution.

asked on Matrix; no answer yet

3 
# configuration.nix
  environment.systemPackages = with pkgs; [
    # ...
    openssl
  ];
  environment.variables = {
    PKG_CONFIG_PATH="${pkgs.openssl.dev}/lib/pkgconfig";
  };

sudo nixos-rebuild switch then relog.

1 Like
4

Don’t install compilers and libraries or explicit build tooling in the system, use a devshell, to ensure hooks are properly ran.

This post contains some valuable resources and examples for various ecosystems.

1 Like
5

I just got hit by that. Add pkg-config to nativeBuildInputs and you will be good to go.

6

This is my default.nix for rust projects:

with import <nixpkgs> {};
mkShell {
  buildInputs = [
    pkg-config
  ];
}

And of course use nix in .envrc and then direnv allow ..
Works a treat :slight_smile:

As time goes by, it may move to a flake.nix (especially if there are other contributors).

7

Yo this is incredibly bad advice. Googling for “building rust on nix with openssl” should give you enough hits to fix this properly. Also, using that snippet might very well break other builds based on shell.nix/default.nix/flake.nix/etc. that you run locally.

As other comments have pointed out, the correct way to go about this is to use a shell.nix or a flake.nix with a devShell, to setup a build environment for your project.

8

Your solution worked for me on Google IDX!
Thanks