Cmake error when trying to build gromacs-2022.1

User discussions
1

GROMACS version:2022.1
GROMACS modification: No
cmake version: 3.16.3

I am trying to build gromacs on wsl2 (Ubuntu-20.4 5.10.102.1-microsoft-standard-WSL2)
I have tried with gcc version 10 & 8 and get the same error:
CMake Warning (dev) in CMakeLists.txt:
No project() command is present. The top-level CMakeLists.txt file must
contain a literal, direct call to the project() command. Add a line of
code such as

project(ProjectName)

near the top of the file, but after cmake_minimum_required().

CMake is pretending there is a “project(Project)” command on the first
line.
This warning is for project developers. Use -Wno-dev to suppress it.

– The C compiler identification is GNU 8.4.0
– The CXX compiler identification is GNU 8.4.0
– Check for working C compiler: /usr/bin/cc
– Check for working C compiler: /usr/bin/cc – works
– Detecting C compiler ABI info
– Detecting C compiler ABI info - done
– Detecting C compile features
– Detecting C compile features - done
– Check for working CXX compiler: /usr/bin/c++
– Check for working CXX compiler: /usr/bin/c++ – works
– Detecting CXX compiler ABI info
– Detecting CXX compiler ABI info - done
– Detecting CXX compile features
– Detecting CXX compile features - done
CMake Error at gromacs/ewald/CMakeLists.txt:202 (gmx_set_custom_target_output):
Unknown CMake command “gmx_set_custom_target_output”.

I would appreciate it if anyone could help with this problem.

Thanks,
Peter

2

Hello Peter.

Judging by No project() command is present, it looks like you’re running CMake from a wrong directory. You should pass the very top-level directory to CMake (the one with INSTALL and README files), not the src directory.

3

That was indeed the problem and an oversight on my part since the Gromacs installation instructions clearly state that. Thanks a lot for your help. I really appreciate it.