# Cmake Cuda Compiling Error (Cuda Compiler Idenfitication Is Unknown)

**URL:** https://discourse.cmake.org/t/cmake-cuda-compiling-error-cuda-compiler-idenfitication-is-unknown/9694
**Category:** Usage
**Tags:** os:linux, lang:cuda
**Created:** [December 21, 2023, 8:36pm UTC](https://discourse.cmake.org/t/cmake-cuda-compiling-error-cuda-compiler-idenfitication-is-unknown/9694 "2023-12-21T20:36:22Z")
**Posts on this page:** 3
**Page:** 1

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### Author: ![ugurortac](https://discourse.cmake.org/user_avatar/discourse.cmake.org/ugurortac/32/4105_2.png) [@ugurortac](https://discourse.cmake.org/u/ugurortac)
#### Post date: [December 21, 2023, 8:36pm UTC](https://discourse.cmake.org/t/cmake-cuda-compiling-error-cuda-compiler-idenfitication-is-unknown/9694/1 "2023-12-21T20:36:22Z")

</div>

Hello,  
I’m getting an error while compiling the cmake project I created. I think this error is caused by the internal structure of cmake.

Cmake Version : 3.27.8 (Clion Embedded Compiler)  
Cuda Version: 12.3  
Nvidia Driver: 545.23.08  
OS: Ubuntu 22.04

Can you help me. Thanks.

```auto
cmake_minimum_required(VERSION 3.27.8)
project(XProject C CXX)
set(CMAKE_CXX_STANDARD 23)

# Find CUDA package
set(CMAKE_CUDA_ARCHITECTURES 80 86) # For: Ampere and Ada Lovelace
set(CMAKE_CUDA_COMPILER "/usr/local/cuda/bin")
enable_language(CUDA)

```

```auto
cmake/linux/x64/bin/cmake -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Debug -DCMAKE_MAKE_PROGRAM=linux/x64/ninja -G Ninja
-- The CUDA compiler identification is unknown
-- Check for working CUDA compiler: /usr/local/cuda/bin
CMake Error: Error required internal CMake variable not set, cmake may not be built correctly.
Missing variable is:
_CMAKE_CUDA_WHOLE_FLAG
CMake Error at /snap/clion/261/bin/cmake/linux/x64/share/cmake-3.27/Modules/CMakeTestCUDACompiler.cmake:89 (try_compile):
  Failed to generate test project build system.
Call Stack (most recent call first):
  CMakeLists.txt:30 (enable_language)

```

 ![Screenshot from 2023-12-21 23-26-38](https://discourse.cmake.org/uploads/default/original/2X/8/8158aa2ed067431985222e1f4437eaabdf8eb464.png)

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<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![craig.scott](https://discourse.cmake.org/user_avatar/discourse.cmake.org/craig.scott/32/20_2.png) [@craig.scott](https://discourse.cmake.org/u/craig.scott)
#### Post date: [December 21, 2023, 8:55pm UTC](https://discourse.cmake.org/t/cmake-cuda-compiling-error-cuda-compiler-idenfitication-is-unknown/9694/2 "2023-12-21T20:55:10Z")

</div>

> [@ugurortac](#):
>
> `set(CMAKE_CUDA_COMPILER "/usr/local/cuda/bin")`

This looks like the directory the compiler is in, not the actual compiler.

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<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![ugurortac](https://discourse.cmake.org/user_avatar/discourse.cmake.org/ugurortac/32/4105_2.png) [@ugurortac](https://discourse.cmake.org/u/ugurortac)
#### Post date: [December 21, 2023, 10:12pm UTC](https://discourse.cmake.org/t/cmake-cuda-compiling-error-cuda-compiler-idenfitication-is-unknown/9694/3 "2023-12-21T22:12:26Z")

</div>

Hello again,

Yes, as you said, it worked when I edited it as follows.

```auto
set(CMAKE_CUDA_COMPILER "/usr/local/cuda/bin/nvcc")

```

Thanks.