fatal error: 'CoreServices/CoreServices.h' file not found OS X Catalina

[serhiip]

I am facing an above issue when running cabal install hfsevents. This is very similar to #3

Error message I get:

Resolving dependencies...
Build profile: -w ghc-8.10.1 -O1
In order, the following will be built (use -v for more details):
 - hfsevents-0.1.6 (lib) (requires build)
Starting     hfsevents-0.1.6 (lib)
Building     hfsevents-0.1.6 (lib)

Failed to build hfsevents-0.1.6.
Build log ( /Users/serhiip/.cabal/logs/ghc-8.10.1/hfsvnts-0.1.6-e6f8b654.log
):
Configuring library for hfsevents-0.1.6..
Preprocessing library for hfsevents-0.1.6..
Building library for hfsevents-0.1.6..
[1 of 1] Compiling System.OSX.FSEvents ( System/OSX/FSEvents.hs, dist/build/System/OSX/FSEvents.o, dist/build/System/OSX/FSEvents.dyn_o )

cbits/c_fsevents.m:1:10: error:
     fatal error: 'CoreServices/CoreServices.h' file not found
  |
1 | #include <CoreServices/CoreServices.h>
  |          ^
#include <CoreServices/CoreServices.h>
         ^~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1 error generated.
`cc' failed in phase `C Compiler'. (Exit code: 1)
cabal: Failed to build hfsevents-0.1.6. See the build log above for details.

I have Xcode freshly installed and I am able to locate header file at /Applications/Xcode.app/Contents/Developer/Platforms/MacOSX.platform/Developer/SDKs/MacOSX.sdk/System/Library/Frameworks/CoreServices.framework/Versions/A/Headers/CoreServices.h

but defining this env var (in my .zshrc) like this doesn't help

export CFLAGS="-isysroot /Applications/Xcode.app/Contents/Developer/Platforms/MacOSX.platform/Developer/SDKs/MacOSX.sdk/System/Library/Frameworks/CoreServices.framework/Versions/A/Headers/"

UPD: log of cabal install with -v3 https://pastebin.com/FDygnfQB

[georgefst]

I got there with: nix-shell -p darwin.apple_sdk.frameworks.CoreServices -p darwin.objc4.all -p darwin.apple_sdk.frameworks.Cocoa

Apologies for this being a Nix-only solution, but it should give you some idea.

[luite]

Does anyone still see this problem? I've never encountered it (I get my GHC installs from GHCup usually).

[maurges]

I still see this, but I don't only see this in haskell, but in other languages for similar packages too, so I think it's an environment problem. And the solution with nix shell works for me still.

[luite]

I'm still interested in learning how to reproduce this, since I don't see it here with my ghcup based install.

[maurges]

I believe this is related to the fact that I never installed xcode. When looking for similar errors online, they all are resolved by installing xcode/command line tools or running xcode-select. Examples:

1. Failed to install it on macOS Mojave rjeczalik/notify#165 (comment)
2. Failure to install on macOS 10.14 Mojave with R 3.5.1 r-lib/fs#150 (comment)
3. Mac OS Build Failed - v1.8.17 ethereum/go-ethereum#17940
4. https://discuss.ocaml.org/t/build-dune-doesnt-work/13326/10
5. https://elixirforum.com/t/problem-using-devbox-with-phoenix-error-cant-find-executable-mac-listener/59835 - solved with nix for a change, ha
6. Surprisingly, this same issue we're in was on the first page of search

[HeinrichApfelmus]

I have the same error on macOS Sonoma 14.6.1.

I'm using nix flakes. Following the tips above, I have solved my problem by putting the following in my flake.nix:

        devShells.default = pkgs.mkShell {
          buildInputs = [
            pkgs.ghc
          ] ++ lib.optionals pkgs.stdenv.isDarwin ([
            pkgs.darwin.apple_sdk.frameworks.Cocoa
            pkgs.darwin.apple_sdk.frameworks.CoreServices
            pkgs.darwin.objc4.all
          ]);
        };

Here, pkgs is bound to nixpkgs with overlays as usual. The key point is to specify the required frameworks, Cocoa and CoreServices, explicitly.

I'm still interested in learning how to reproduce this, since I don't see it here with my ghcup based install.

That's alright — I think that the problem has to do with the installation of the MacOS SDKs. When starting XCode 15 for the first time, you'll get a question whether you want to install additional tools. If you answer "yes", and select "MacOS", then you'll eventually end up with the latest version of the SDKs installed here: /Applications/Xcode.app/Contents/Developer/Platforms/MacOSX.platform/Developer/SDKs/MacOSX.sdk. This needs to be connected to the Cabal frameworks: stanza somehow, and this is where things fail.