Make failing for Tk-8.6.4-foss-2015b-no-X11.eb

[nathanhaigh]

Trying to install this (a Python dependency) and I get errors from make like this:

In file included from /mnt/bioinf-7/easybuild/build/Tk/8.6.4/foss-2015b-no-X11/tk8.6.4/unix/../generic/tkPort.h:21:0,
                 from /mnt/bioinf-7/easybuild/build/Tk/8.6.4/foss-2015b-no-X11/tk8.6.4/unix/../generic/tkInt.h:19,
                 from /mnt/bioinf-7/easybuild/build/Tk/8.6.4/foss-2015b-no-X11/tk8.6.4/unix/../generic/tkStubLib.c:14:
/mnt/bioinf-7/easybuild/build/Tk/8.6.4/foss-2015b-no-X11/tk8.6.4/unix/../generic/tk.h:96:25: fatal error: X11/Xlib.h: No such file or directory
 #   include <X11/Xlib.h>
                         ^
compilation terminated.
make: *** [tkStubLib.o] Error 1
make: *** Waiting for unfinished jobs....
In file included from /mnt/bioinf-7/easybuild/build/Tk/8.6.4/foss-2015b-no-X11/tk8.6.4/unix/../generic/tkPort.h:21:0,
                 from /mnt/bioinf-7/easybuild/build/Tk/8.6.4/foss-2015b-no-X11/tk8.6.4/unix/../generic/tkInt.h:19,
                 from /mnt/bioinf-7/easybuild/build/Tk/8.6.4/foss-2015b-no-X11/tk8.6.4/unix/../generic/tk3d.c:14:
/mnt/bioinf-7/easybuild/build/Tk/8.6.4/foss-2015b-no-X11/tk8.6.4/unix/../generic/tk.h:96:25: fatal error: X11/Xlib.h: No such file or directory
 #   include <X11/Xlib.h>
                         ^

I assumed that since this is for no-X11 then then I should get an error-free build. Am I missing something? For someone who know this stuff better than me, the following link may help: http://wiki.tcl.tk/1843.

Does it require a dependency adding for supplying these headers or should the ones supplied by Tk in the xlib/X11/ subdirectory.

[boegel]

The intention is indeed that this Tk build doesn't require X11 headers, which is why we specify --without-x as a configure option, but it apparently still those.

This is a known issue (to me), and I thought there was an open issue for this already, but I couldn't find it... I think @verdurin ran into this too?

[boegel]

@nathanhaigh: it looks like including libX11 as a build dependency for Tk may work, it's basically the same as option 2 suggested at http://wiki.tcl.tk/1843. That sounds easier than it is though, because the recent libX11 easyconfigs include Python as a dependency.. :-)

I'm puzzled why the X11 headers are required at all, when Tk is being configured using --without-x...

One option there is to contact http://wiki.tcl.tk/82 (i.e. CL linked from the other page), and ask him why this happens.

[nathanhaigh]

@boegel I was in touch with some Tk folks on irc. No one really seemed to know what --without-x was supposed to do other than potentially mess things up! I'll get in touch with CL via the page you linked to.

I tried a couple of things:

1. point ./configure to %(builddir)s/%(namelower)s%(version)s/xlib.
   • This picked up the X11/Xlib.h but then other header files were required and not provided by Tk
   • In addition, Tk states that these file should not be used for these purposes. They are meant for non-*UNIX systems.
2. Add libX11 as a dependency
   • This forms a circular dependency which EB gets caught up in: Tk -> libX11 -> Python -> Tk
3. Installing my OS's libx11-dev to get the X11 header files.
   • This worked 😃

Although I got Tk installed by using my OS's libx11-dev, what is still not clear is what effect, if any the --without-x has on the build.

[nathanhaigh]

Just done some investigation of builds using --without-x and --with-x on my system which has libx11-dev package installed.

There is no difference (via md5 checksums) in the files residing under EB's software directory. So it doesn't appear to have any effect anyway.

[rjeschmi]

It does feel like we need to fix the base python to remove Tk support and somehow remove this circular unresolvable dep.

For the libX11 PR it still depends on Python which sends us into this hole.

[rjeschmi]

I resolved this by removing the Tk dep from Python. I don't think it is useful without X11 anyway and we can probably build it as a separate extension if it is needed

[hajgato]

@rjeschmi I am working on a Pythonless libX11.... See #2549

[hajgato]

@rjeschmi ignore my comment ;) its too morning for me...