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zig 0.16.0 translate-c fails when given -target #32133

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opened 2026年04月30日 03:38:44 +02:00 by miller6 · 4 comments

#31559

Zig Version

0.16.0

Summary

Running 'zig build -Dtarget=...adds a-target=...` switch to translate-c which always fails reporting unable to find libraries. However, merely running zig build works fine.

In my case I am translating header files only; it's a judgement call whether it needs a specific target. I can work probably around this by using some default target.

I'm loving Zig and it has great potential for use in kernel by-pass NIC/HPC work (RDMA, RoCE, ibverbs, dpdk etc.). So it'd be cool to get this tech'd out.

Steps to Reproduce and Observed Behavior

(1) After running zig init make a single line header file on any C library. Here I use NUMA (apt install numa):

// file: numa.h
#include <numa.h>

(2) In build.zig provide:

const numa_c = b.addTranslateC(.{
.root_source_file = b.path("./numa.h"),
.target = target,
.optimize = optimize,
});
numa_c.linkSystemLibrary("numa", .{});

(3) Running zig build suceeds.

(4) Running zig build -Dtarget=x86_64-linux-gnu fails in translate-c.

error: error: unable to find dynamic|static system library 'numa' using strategy 'paths_first'. searched paths: none

The only difference between (3) and (4) is adding -Dtarget to zig build telescopes into translate-c

zig translate-c ... -target x86_64-linux-gnu ... numa.h --listen=-

Simply removing the -target switch on translate-c works.

(5) I tried to work around this problem by manually adding known/correct paths.

const includeDir = std.Build.LazyPath{.cwd_relative = "/usr/include"};
const libDir = std.Build.LazyPath{.cwd_relative = "/usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu"};

const numa_c = b.addTranslateC(.{
.root_source_file = b.path("./numa.h"),
.target = target,
.optimize = optimize,
});

numa_c.addIncludePath(includeDir);
numa_c.addFrameworkPath(libDir);
numa_c.addSystemFrameworkPath(libDir);
numa_c.linkSystemLibrary("numa", .{});

These calls modifies step fields:

include_dirs: std.array_list.Managed(std.Build.Module.IncludeDir),
system_libs: std.ArrayList(std.Build.Module.SystemLib),

These calls do indeed add additional arguments to the translate-c invocation, but still runs into the same ultimate error.

### Related Ticket https://codeberg.org/ziglang/zig/issues/31559 ### Zig Version 0.16.0 ### Summary Running 'zig build -Dtarget=...` adds a `-target=...` switch to translate-c which always fails reporting unable to find libraries. However, merely running zig build works fine. In my case I am translating header files only; it's a judgement call whether it **needs** a specific target. I can work probably around this by using some default target. I'm loving Zig and it has great potential for use in kernel by-pass NIC/HPC work (RDMA, RoCE, ibverbs, dpdk etc.). So it'd be cool to get this tech'd out. ### Steps to Reproduce and Observed Behavior (1) After running zig init make a single line header file on any C library. Here I use NUMA (apt install numa): // file: numa.h #include <numa.h> (2) In build.zig provide: const numa_c = b.addTranslateC(.{ .root_source_file = b.path("./numa.h"), .target = target, .optimize = optimize, }); numa_c.linkSystemLibrary("numa", .{}); (3) Running zig build suceeds. (4) Running zig build -Dtarget=x86_64-linux-gnu **fails in translate-c**. error: error: unable to find dynamic|static system library 'numa' using strategy 'paths_first'. searched paths: none The only difference between (3) and (4) is adding -Dtarget to zig build telescopes into translate-c zig translate-c ... -target x86_64-linux-gnu ... numa.h --listen=- Simply removing the -target switch on translate-c works. (5) I tried to work around this problem by manually adding known/correct paths. const includeDir = std.Build.LazyPath{.cwd_relative = "/usr/include"}; const libDir = std.Build.LazyPath{.cwd_relative = "/usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu"}; const numa_c = b.addTranslateC(.{ .root_source_file = b.path("./numa.h"), .target = target, .optimize = optimize, }); numa_c.addIncludePath(includeDir); numa_c.addFrameworkPath(libDir); numa_c.addSystemFrameworkPath(libDir); numa_c.linkSystemLibrary("numa", .{}); These calls modifies step fields: include_dirs: std.array_list.Managed(std.Build.Module.IncludeDir), system_libs: std.ArrayList(std.Build.Module.SystemLib), These calls do indeed add additional arguments to the translate-c invocation, but still runs into the same ultimate error.
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If it helps see the code and README here:

https://github.com/gshanemiller/zig-experiments/tree/main/ccode

If it helps see the code and README here: https://github.com/gshanemiller/zig-experiments/tree/main/ccode

EDIT: Ah, I missed the "related issue" linked above.
So maybe translate-c with external library paths is currently broken, in which case this response isn't really relevant.
EDIT2: Wait, no, you only need the include path, no library path, since only the header is relevant to translate-c. Maybe try that combination?

Here's what I suggested anyway: .

Changing build.zig to specify additional directories as a work around does not work either

I assume those directories contain the numa.h file you expect to be found and used? I don't think the standard zig download includes this header (I couldn't find it in my zig download).

I think without -target the compiler looks for headers based on your current system. When specifying -target, it is in cross-compiling mode, which is supposed to be reproducible, so it aborts if you didn't specify everything required, since other people cross-compiling from their systems also would be missing the same files.

Also, the output shows:

error: unable to find dynamic system library 'numa' using strategy 'paths_first'. searched paths: none

This makes me think that the std.Build.Step.TranslateC step did not look at the directories you specified.
You might have to configure them on specifically that step. From a glance at the source code (<zig>/lib/std/Build/Step/TranslateC.zig) I see 2 fields include_dirs and system_libs which I would assume to be relevant.

It seems like those are supposed to be filled by method calls which are in this issue description, but commented out in your linked repository:

// numa_c.addIncludePath(includeDir);// numa_c.addFrameworkPath(libDir);// numa_c.addSystemFrameworkPath(libDir);

I'm not sure whether you received the error you posted in the issue with or without those lines.
If they are included, I'd expect the searched paths: message to include paths.
(But maybe I'm wrong and something else is going on.)

EDIT: Ah, I missed the "related issue" linked above. So maybe `translate-c` with external library paths is currently broken, in which case this response isn't really relevant. EDIT2: Wait, no, you only need the include path, no library path, since only the header is relevant to `translate-c`. Maybe try that combination? <details><summary>Here's what I suggested anyway:</summary> . > Changing build.zig to specify additional directories as a work around does not work either I assume those directories contain the `numa.h` file you expect to be found and used? I don't think the standard zig download includes this header (I couldn't find it in my zig download). I think without `-target` the compiler looks for headers based on your current system. When specifying `-target`, it is in cross-compiling mode, which is supposed to be reproducible, so it aborts if you didn't specify everything required, since other people cross-compiling from their systems also would be missing the same files. Also, the output shows: > error: unable to find dynamic system library 'numa' using strategy 'paths_first'. searched paths: none This makes me think that the `std.Build.Step.TranslateC` step did not look at the directories you specified. You might have to configure them *on specifically that step*. From a glance at the source code (`<zig>/lib/std/Build/Step/TranslateC.zig`) I see 2 fields `include_dirs` and `system_libs` which I would assume to be relevant. It seems like those are supposed to be filled by method calls which are in this issue description, but commented out in your linked repository: ```zig // numa_c.addIncludePath(includeDir); // numa_c.addFrameworkPath(libDir); // numa_c.addSystemFrameworkPath(libDir); ``` I'm not sure whether you received the error you posted in the issue with or without those lines. If they are included, I'd expect the `searched paths:` message to include paths. (But maybe I'm wrong and something else is going on.) </details>
Contributor
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I'm not sure... why does translate-c support -l? How does it affect the translation output?

I'm not sure... why does translate-c support `-l`? How does it affect the translation output?
Contributor
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it's what linkSystemLibrary maps to; so for translate-c it's relevant because it adds system headers to the include path

it's what `linkSystemLibrary` maps to; so for translate-c it's relevant because it adds system headers to the include path
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