# CMake doesn't recognize the TI ARM Clang toolchain

**URL:** https://discourse.cmake.org/t/cmake-doesnt-recognize-the-ti-arm-clang-toolchain/7714
**Category:** Usage
**Tags:** os:windows, gen:ninja
**Created:** [March 20, 2023, 12:44am UTC](https://discourse.cmake.org/t/cmake-doesnt-recognize-the-ti-arm-clang-toolchain/7714 "2023-03-20T00:44:21Z")
**Posts on this page:** 4
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![Dr-Itachi](https://discourse.cmake.org/user_avatar/discourse.cmake.org/dr-itachi/32/2899_2.png) [@Dr-Itachi](https://discourse.cmake.org/u/Dr-Itachi)
#### Post date: [March 20, 2023, 12:44am UTC](https://discourse.cmake.org/t/cmake-doesnt-recognize-the-ti-arm-clang-toolchain/7714/1 "2023-03-20T00:44:21Z")

</div>

Hi. I’m trying to use the Texas instruments Arm Clang (tiarmclang) toolchain for cross-compiling for an ARM device. The problem is that Cmake doesn’t recognize the toolchain and output an error even when i set the compiler ID to TI or ARMClang. I dont know what to try next. Here are the configurations and outputs  
toolchain.cmake

```auto
file(GLOB TOOLCHAIN_DIRECTORIES
    "$ENV{TI_TOOLCHAIN_PATH}"
    "/opt/GNU Arm Embedded Toolchain/12.2-rel1/bin"
    "/Applications/GNU Arm Embedded Toolchain/12.2-rel1/bin"
)

# Count the available toolchains
list(LENGTH TOOLCHAIN_DIRECTORIES TOOLCHAIN_DIRECTORIES_COUNT)

if(TOOLCHAIN_DIRECTORIES_COUNT LESS 1)
    message(FATAL_ERROR "Could not find an ARM toolchain installation. Please install a toolchain.")
else()
    list(GET TOOLCHAIN_DIRECTORIES 0 TOOLCHAIN_DIRECTORY)
endif()

# Set the suffix of executables if on Windows
if(WIN32)
    set(TOOLCHAIN_SUFFIX ".exe")
endif()

set(CMAKE_SYSTEM_NAME Generic)
set(CMAKE_SYSTEM_PROCESSOR ARM)

if(TOOLCHAIN_DIRECTORY PATH_EQUAL "$ENV{TI_TOOLCHAIN_PATH}")
    set(TOOLCHAIN_PREFIX "tiarm")
elseif(TOOLCHAIN_DIRECTORY PATH_EQUAL "$ENV{GNU_TOOLCHAIN_PATH}")
    set(TOOLCHAIN_PREFIX "arm-none-eabi-")
endif()

if(DEFINED TOOLCHAIN_DIRECTORY)
    set(TOOLCHAIN_PREFIX "${TOOLCHAIN_DIRECTORY}/${TOOLCHAIN_PREFIX}")
endif()

# Set the target architecture for cross-compiling when using LLVM/Clang
#set(CMAKE_C_COMPILER_TARGET armv7em-none-eabi)
#set(CMAKE_ASM_COMPILER_TARGET armv7em-none-eabi)
#set(CMAKE_CXX_COMPILER_TARGET armv7em-none-eabi)

if(TOOLCHAIN_DIRECTORY PATH_EQUAL "$ENV{TI_TOOLCHAIN_PATH}")
    set(CPP_OPTIONS "-fno-rtti -fno-exceptions")
elseif(TOOLCHAIN_DIRECTORY PATH_EQUAL "$ENV{GNU_TOOLCHAIN_PATH}")
    set(CPP_OPTIONS "-fno-rtti -fno-exceptions -fno-threadsafe-statics")
endif()

set(ASM_OPTIONS "-x assembler-with-cpp")
set(CPP_OPTIONS "-fno-rtti -fno-exceptions -fno-threadsafe-statics")

if(TOOLCHAIN_DIRECTORY PATH_EQUAL "$ENV{TI_TOOLCHAIN_PATH}")
    set(CMAKE_C_COMPILER ${TOOLCHAIN_PREFIX}clang${TOOLCHAIN_SUFFIX} -march=thumbv7em)
    set(CMAKE_ASM_COMPILER ${TOOLCHAIN_PREFIX}clang${TOOLCHAIN_SUFFIX} ${ASM_OPTIONS})
    set(CMAKE_CXX_COMPILER ${TOOLCHAIN_PREFIX}clang${TOOLCHAIN_SUFFIX} ${CPP_OPTIONS})
elseif(TOOLCHAIN_DIRECTORY PATH_EQUAL "$ENV{GNU_TOOLCHAIN_PATH}")
    set(CMAKE_C_COMPILER ${TOOLCHAIN_PREFIX}gcc${TOOLCHAIN_SUFFIX})
    set(CMAKE_ASM_COMPILER ${TOOLCHAIN_PREFIX}gcc${TOOLCHAIN_SUFFIX} ${ASM_OPTIONS})
    set(CMAKE_CXX_COMPILER ${TOOLCHAIN_PREFIX}g++${TOOLCHAIN_SUFFIX} ${CPP_OPTIONS})
endif()

set(CMAKE_OBJCOPY ${TOOLCHAIN_PREFIX}objcopy${TOOLCHAIN_SUFFIX})
set(CMAKE_SIZE ${TOOLCHAIN_PREFIX}size${TOOLCHAIN_SUFFIX})
set(CMAKE_READELF ${TOOLCHAIN_PREFIX}readelf${TOOLCHAIN_SUFFIX})

set(CMAKE_EXECUTABLE_SUFFIX_ASM ".elf")
set(CMAKE_EXECUTABLE_SUFFIX_C ".elf")
set(CMAKE_EXECUTABLE_SUFFIX_CXX ".elf")

set(CMAKE_TRY_COMPILE_TARGET_TYPE STATIC_LIBRARY)

set(CMAKE_FIND_ROOT_PATH ${TOOLCHAIN_DIRECTORY})
set(CMAKE_FIND_ROOT_PATH_MODE_PROGRAM NEVER)
set(CMAKE_FIND_ROOT_PATH_MODE_LIBRARY ONLY)
set(CMAKE_FIND_ROOT_PATH_MODE_INCLUDE ONLY)

```

output error:

```auto
[cmake] -- The C compiler identification is Clang 15.0.7
[cmake] -- The CXX compiler identification is Clang 15.0.7
[cmake] -- The ASM compiler identification is unknown
[cmake] -- Found assembler: C:/TI_LLVM_Arm_Embedded_Toolchain/bin/tiarmclang.exe
[cmake] -- Detecting C compiler ABI info
[cmake] -- Detecting C compiler ABI info - failed
[cmake] -- Check for working C compiler: C:/TI_LLVM_Arm_Embedded_Toolchain/bin/tiarmclang.exe
[cmake] -- Check for working C compiler: C:/TI_LLVM_Arm_Embedded_Toolchain/bin/tiarmclang.exe - broken
[cmake] CMake Error at C:/Program Files/CMake/share/cmake-3.25/Modules/CMakeTestCCompiler.cmake:70 (message):
[cmake] The C compiler
[cmake] 
[cmake] "C:/TI_LLVM_Arm_Embedded_Toolchain/bin/tiarmclang.exe"
[cmake] 
[cmake] is not able to compile a simple test program.
[cmake] 
[cmake] It fails with the following output:
[cmake] 
[cmake] Change Dir: C:/Users/herma/Bureau/Hermann/EBIKE/Codes/Firmware/build/debug/CMakeFiles/CMakeScratch/TryCompile-ggbdib
[cmake]     
[cmake] Run Build Command(s):C:/PROGRA~1/Ninja/ninja.exe cmTC_3f819 && [1/2] Building C object CMakeFiles/cmTC_3f819.dir/testCCompiler.c.obj
[cmake] [2/2] Linking C static library libcmTC_3f819.a
[cmake] FAILED: libcmTC_3f819.a 
[cmake] cmd.exe /C "cd . && "C:\Program Files\CMake\bin\cmake.exe" -E rm -f libcmTC_3f819.a && C:\cygwin64\bin\llvm-ar.exe qc libcmTC_3f819.a CMakeFiles/cmTC_3f819.dir/testCCompiler.c.obj && C:\cygwin64\bin\llvm-ranlib libcmTC_3f819.a && cd ."
[cmake] ninja: build stopped: subcommand failed.
[cmake]     
[cmake]     
[cmake] 
[cmake]   
[cmake] 
[cmake] CMake will not be able to correctly generate this project.
[cmake] Call Stack (most recent call first):
[cmake] CMakeLists.txt:13 (project)
[cmake] 
[cmake] 
[cmake] -- Configuring incomplete, errors occurred!
[cmake] See also "C:/Users/herma/Bureau/Hermann/EBIKE/Codes/Firmware/build/debug/CMakeFiles/CMakeOutput.log".
[cmake] See also "C:/Users/herma/Bureau/Hermann/EBIKE/Codes/Firmware/build/debug/CMakeFiles/CMakeError.log".
[proc] The command: "C:\Program Files\CMake\bin\cmake.EXE" -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Debug "-DCMAKE_C_FLAGS_DEBUG=-g -g3 -O0 -ggdb" "-DCMAKE_ASM_FLAGS_DEBUG=-g -g3 -O0 -ggdb" "-DCMAKE_CXX_FLAGS_DEBUG=-g -g3 -O0 -ggdb" -DCMAKE_TOOLCHAIN_FILE:FILEPATH=C:/Users/herma/Bureau/Hermann/EBIKE/Codes/Firmware/cmake/arm-none-eabi.cmake -DCMAKE_EXPORT_COMPILE_COMMANDS:BOOL=TRUE -DCMAKE_RUNTIME_OUTPUT_DIRECTORY:FILEPATH=C:/Users/herma/Bureau/Hermann/EBIKE/Codes/Firmware/bin/debug -DCMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX=C:/Users/herma/Bureau/Hermann/EBIKE/Codes/Firmware/build/install/debug -SC:/Users/herma/Bureau/Hermann/EBIKE/Codes/Firmware -BC:/Users/herma/Bureau/Hermann/EBIKE/Codes/Firmware/build/debug -G Ninja exited with code: 1

```

---

<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![ben.boeckel](https://discourse.cmake.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/b/ea5d25/32.png) [@ben.boeckel](https://discourse.cmake.org/u/ben.boeckel)
#### Post date: [March 20, 2023, 4:38pm UTC](https://discourse.cmake.org/t/cmake-doesnt-recognize-the-ti-arm-clang-toolchain/7714/2 "2023-03-20T16:38:33Z")

</div>

I don’t think that the compiler has been taught to CMake yet. AFAICT, all TI references seem to be about their older, non-Clang toolchains.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![Dr-Itachi](https://discourse.cmake.org/user_avatar/discourse.cmake.org/dr-itachi/32/2899_2.png) [@Dr-Itachi](https://discourse.cmake.org/u/Dr-Itachi)
#### Post date: [March 20, 2023, 5:07pm UTC](https://discourse.cmake.org/t/cmake-doesnt-recognize-the-ti-arm-clang-toolchain/7714/3 "2023-03-20T17:07:30Z")

</div>

I thinks too. by the way when I bypass the compiler check with these 2 commands the compilation success. I don’t know the drawback

```auto
set(CMAKE_C_COMPILER_WORKS 1)
set(CMAKE_CXX_COMPILER_WORKS 1)

```

---

<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![evodius96](https://discourse.cmake.org/user_avatar/discourse.cmake.org/evodius96/32/4424_2.png) [@evodius96](https://discourse.cmake.org/u/evodius96)
#### Post date: [March 21, 2024, 2:29am UTC](https://discourse.cmake.org/t/cmake-doesnt-recognize-the-ti-arm-clang-toolchain/7714/4 "2024-03-21T02:29:57Z")

</div>

Hello! I wanted to update this thread; support for tiarmclang was added to CMake 3.29.

[Reference issue](https://gitlab.kitware.com/cmake/cmake/-/issues/24619) addressed by commit [9ba0a545](https://gitlab.kitware.com/cmake/cmake/-/commit/9ba0a54554c15fe28ea0612c6e166ad114c87cda)

Thanks!