Trouble installing on Mac OS Big Sur 11.0.1 "fatal error: 'al.h' file not found"

[ngulya]

Some trouble with installation on new Mac OS version
python3 -m pip install --upgrade pocketsphinx
and get:
........
deps/sphinxbase/src/libsphinxad/ad_openal.c:43:10: fatal error: 'al.h' file not found
#include <al.h>
^~~~~~
1 error generated.
error: command 'gcc' failed with exit status 1

and if install from GitHub directly (Install with distutils) with changing al.h to OpenAL/al.h (and same for alc) get this
........
gcc -bundle -undefined dynamic_lookup -arch x86_64 -g build/temp.macosx-10.9-x86_64-3.7/swig/sphinxbase/ad_openal_wrap.o build/temp.macosx-10.9-x86_64-3.7/deps/sphinxbase/src/libsphinxad/ad_openal.o /System/Library/Frameworks/OpenAL.framework/Versions/A/OpenAL -o build/lib.macosx-10.9-x86_64-3.7/sphinxbase/_ad_openal.cpython-37m-darwin.so
clang: error: no such file or directory: '/System/Library/Frameworks/OpenAL.framework/Versions/A/OpenAL'
error: command 'gcc' failed with exit status 1

[ShivanshRakesh]

Hey, I'm facing the same issue. I'm running MacOS 11.0.1 (Darwin 20.1.0). I tried the fix mentioned at #28 (comment) but it didn't help.

Apparently, there is no file/directory: /System/Library/Frameworks/OpenAL.framework/Versions/A/OpenAL.

---

[EDIT] I fixed the issue by making these changes:

Followed the steps mentioned at #28 (comment).

Made the following changes in <project_root>/setup.py:

• Changed line 235: sb_include_dirs.append('/System/Library/Frameworks/OpenAL.framework/Versions/A/Headers') to

sb_include_dirs.append('/Applications/Xcode.app/Contents/Developer/Platforms/MacOSX.platform/Developer/SDKs/MacOSX.sdk/System/Library/Frameworks/OpenAL.framework/Versions/A/Headers')

• Changed line 242: extra_objects=['/System/Library/Frameworks/OpenAL.framework/Versions/A/OpenAL'], to

extra_objects=['/Applications/Xcode.app/Contents/Developer/Platforms/MacOSX.platform/Developer/SDKs/MacOSX.sdk/System/Library/Frameworks/OpenAL.framework/Versions/A/OpenAL.tbd'],

[ddogfoodd]

@ShivanshRakesh Thank you, this finally did the trick for me!

[xrisk]

For anyone who isn’t using Xcode but only the CLT, the appropriate path to use is: /Library/Developer/CommandLineTools/SDKs/MacOSX.sdk/System/Library/Frameworks/OpenAL.framework/Versions/A

(Tested on macOS 11.1, CLT version 12.3.0.0.1.1607026830)

[ddogfoodd]

@xrisk That didn't work for me. How did you install OpenAL?

[xrisk]

@jalemann what I meant is that you have to modify the paths in @ShivanshRakesh's comment in case you don't have the entire Xcode (but only the CLT). In addition, you have to implement the changes in #28, there are two modifications to be made in the source code. (Specifically in pocketsphinx-python/deps/sphinxbase/src/libsphinxad/ad_openal.c <al.h> and <alc.h> to <OpenAL/al.h. and <OpenAL/alc.h>)

As for, the CLT itself -- you can get it from https://developer.apple.com/downloads/index.action (please note: you don't need this if you have Xcode installed).

[ddogfoodd]

@xrisk Nvm did something wrong on the first attempt, did work now (same macOS and CLT versions). Thank you.

[victorC97]

Hi everyone,

I'm on Big Sur and of course I encounter some issues while using pocketsphinx with Python... I followed your previous advices (changing al.h to OpenAL/al.h and Xcode trick to have Headers and openAL.tbd) and manage to install the package.

However I have while executing a really simple program :
ImportError: dlopen(/usr/local/lib/python3.9/site-packages/sphinxbase/_ad_openal.cpython-39-darwin.so, 2): Symbol not found: _alcCaptureCloseDevice Referenced from: /usr/local/lib/python3.9/site-packages/sphinxbase/_ad_openal.cpython-39-darwin.so Expected in: flat namespace in /usr/local/lib/python3.9/site-packages/sphinxbase/_ad_openal.cpython-39-darwin.so

I don't know what is it refering to, probably a library link ?

Can someone help me with this please ? Thank you.

---

EDIT :

My problem was fixed by using this post https://github.com/bambocher/pocketsphinx-python/issues/28#issuecomment-849265015 (comment from Im-Fran)

[TirtharajPramanik]

Hey, I'm facing the same issue. I'm running MacOS 11.0.1 (Darwin 20.1.0). I tried the fix mentioned at #28 (comment) but it didn't help.

Apparently, there is no file/directory: /System/Library/Frameworks/OpenAL.framework/Versions/A/OpenAL.

[EDIT] I fixed the issue by making these changes:

Followed the steps mentioned at #28 (comment).

Made the following changes in <project_root>/setup.py:

• Changed line 235: sb_include_dirs.append('/System/Library/Frameworks/OpenAL.framework/Versions/A/Headers') to

sb_include_dirs.append('/Applications/Xcode.app/Contents/Developer/Platforms/MacOSX.platform/Developer/SDKs/MacOSX.sdk/System/Library/Frameworks/OpenAL.framework/Versions/A/Headers')

• Changed line 242: extra_objects=['/System/Library/Frameworks/OpenAL.framework/Versions/A/OpenAL'], to

extra_objects=['/Applications/Xcode.app/Contents/Developer/Platforms/MacOSX.platform/Developer/SDKs/MacOSX.sdk/System/Library/Frameworks/OpenAL.framework/Versions/A/OpenAL.tbd'],

Thank you so much bro.
I was scratching my head for hours.

[jonahpearl]

For anyone who isn’t using Xcode but only the CLT, the appropriate path to use is: /Library/Developer/CommandLineTools/SDKs/MacOSX.sdk/System/Library/Frameworks/OpenAL.framework/Versions/A

(Tested on macOS 11.1, CLT version 12.3.0.0.1.1607026830)

Worked on macOS 12.0.1, thank you!

[LOTEAT]

Very useful, thank you very much!

[huanmit]

Hey, I'm facing the same issue. I'm running MacOS 11.0.1 (Darwin 20.1.0). I tried the fix mentioned at #28 (comment) but it didn't help.

Apparently, there is no file/directory: /System/Library/Frameworks/OpenAL.framework/Versions/A/OpenAL.

[EDIT] I fixed the issue by making these changes:

Followed the steps mentioned at #28 (comment).

Made the following changes in <project_root>/setup.py:

• Changed line 235: sb_include_dirs.append('/System/Library/Frameworks/OpenAL.framework/Versions/A/Headers') to

sb_include_dirs.append('/Applications/Xcode.app/Contents/Developer/Platforms/MacOSX.platform/Developer/SDKs/MacOSX.sdk/System/Library/Frameworks/OpenAL.framework/Versions/A/Headers')

• Changed line 242: extra_objects=['/System/Library/Frameworks/OpenAL.framework/Versions/A/OpenAL'], to

extra_objects=['/Applications/Xcode.app/Contents/Developer/Platforms/MacOSX.platform/Developer/SDKs/MacOSX.sdk/System/Library/Frameworks/OpenAL.framework/Versions/A/OpenAL.tbd'],

OMG this worked! Thank you a lot!!!