Having issues with getting Palace on M1 Macbook

[MeghajBUD]

While getting to step 5/6 I am running into issues with the Fortran build breaking while running the C make commands. I tried to follow the suggestion trying not to mix clang and GCC trying both I ran into issues while writing the make commands before even building. I am not sure what is entirely breaking.

[shanto268]

@MeghajBUD Could you please share me the snippet of your history that it relevant to this installation issue?

[MeghajBUD]

This sinppet here is where the installation fails. I tired to use only GCC and Clang but I ended up with the same error as seen below.

[shanto268]

Hi

This is not quite what I was looking for. Please run the command history on your terminal and upload a .txt file with all the commands that have been run that is relevant to this palace installation.

[MeghajBUD]

255 export CMAKE_PREFIX_PATH=$(brew --prefix openblas)
256 export CMAKE_PREFIX_PATH=$(brew --prefix openblas)
257 git clone https://github.com/awslabs/palace.git
258 cd palace
259 mkdir build && cd build
260 cd ..
261 ;s
262 ls
263 cd build/
264 ls
265 clear
266 cmake -DCMAKE_C_COMPILER=clang -DCMAKE_CXX_COMPILER=clang++ -DCMAKE_Fortran_COMPILER=$(brew --prefix gcc)/bin/gfortran -DCMAKE_PREFIX_PATH=$CMAKE_PREFIX_PATH ..
267 make -j $(sysctl -n hw.ncpu)
268 ls
269 cd ..
270 cd ..
271 xcode-select --install
272 brew install cmake
273 make clean
274 clear
275 cd palace
276 cd build/
277 make VERBOSE=1
278 cd ..
279 cd ..
280 cd ..
281 ls
282 cd Users
283 cd mamtasomani/
284 brew install gcc
285 brew reinstall gcc
286 ls
287 cd palace/
288 cd ..
289 mv palace/ qdws_workshop/
290 ls
291 cd qdws_workshop/
292 ls
293 cd palace/
294 cmake -DCMAKE_C_COMPILER=$(brew --prefix gcc)/bin/gcc-14 -
295 cmake -DCMAKE_C_COMPILER=$(brew --prefix gcc)/bin/gcc-14
296 cmake -DCMAKE_C_COMPILER=$(brew --prefix gcc)/bin/gcc-14 -DCMAKE_CXX_COMPILER=$(brew --prefix gcc)/bin/g++-14 -DCMAKE_Fortran_COMPILER=$(brew --prefix gcc)/bin/gfortran-14
297 clear
298 -DCMAKE_C_COMPILER=clang -DCMAKE_CXX_COMPILER=clang++ -DCMAKE_Fortran_COMPILER=$(brew --prefix gcc)/bin/gfortran -DCMAKE_PREFIX_PATH=$CMAKE_PREFIX_PATH \clear
299 clear
300 cmake -DCMAKE_C_COMPILER=$(brew --prefix gcc)/bin/gcc-14 -DCMAKE_CXX_COMPILER=$(brew --prefix gcc)/bin/g++-14 -DCMAKE_Fortran_COMPILER=$(brew --prefix gcc)/bin/gfortran-14
301 cd build/
302 cmake -DCMAKE_C_COMPILER=$(brew --prefix gcc)/bin/gcc-14 -DCMAKE_CXX_COMPILER=$(brew --prefix gcc)/bin/g++-14 -DCMAKE_Fortran_COMPILER=$(brew --prefix gcc)/bin/gfortran-14
303 clear
304 cmake -DCMAKE_C_COMPILER=$(brew --prefix gcc)/bin/gcc-14 -DCMAKE_CXX_COMPILER=$(brew --prefix gcc)/bin/g++-14 -DCMAKE_Fortran_COMPILER=$(brew --prefix gcc)/bin/gfortran-14
305 cmake -DCMAKE_C_COMPILER=$(brew --prefix gcc)/bin/gcc-14 -DCMAKE_CXX_COMPILER=$(brew --prefix gcc)/bin/g++-14 -DCMAKE_Fortran_COMPILER=$(brew --prefix gcc)/bin/gfortran-14 ..
306 cmake -DCMAKE_C_COMPILER=$(brew --prefix gcc)/bin/gcc-14 -DCMAKE_CXX_COMPILER=$(brew --prefix gcc)/bin/g++-14 -DCMAKE_Fortran_COMPILER=$(brew --prefix gcc)/bin/gfortran-14 ..
307 ls
308 cmake -DCMAKE_C_COMPILER=$(brew --prefix gcc)/bin/gcc-14 -DCMAKE_CXX_COMPILER=$(brew --prefix gcc)/bin/g++-14 -DCMAKE_Fortran_COMPILER=$(brew --prefix gcc)/bin/gfortran-14 ..
309 cd ..
310 rm -rf build/
311 ls
312 cd palace/
313 ls
314 cd ..
315 ls
316 mkdir build
317 cd build
318 cmake -DCMAKE_C_COMPILER=$(brew --prefix gcc)/bin/gcc-14 -DCMAKE_CXX_COMPILER=$(brew --prefix gcc)/bin/g++-14 -DCMAKE_Fortran_COMPILER=$(brew --prefix gcc)/bin/gfortran-14 ..
319 find . -name CMakeLists.txt
320 find . -name CMakeLists.txt
321 find . -name CMakeLists.txt
322 cmake -DCMAKE_C_COMPILER=$(brew --prefix gcc)/bin/gcc-14 -DCMAKE_CXX_COMPILER=$(brew --prefix gcc)/bin/g++-14 -DCMAKE_Fortran_COMPILER=$(brew --prefix gcc)/bin/gfortran-14 ..
323 rm ../CMakeCache.txt
324 cmake -DCMAKE_C_COMPILER=$(brew --prefix gcc)/bin/gcc-14 -DCMAKE_CXX_COMPILER=$(brew --prefix gcc)/bin/g++-14 -DCMAKE_Fortran_COMPILER=$(brew --prefix gcc)/bin/gfortran-14 ..
325 rm ../CMakeCache.txt
326 cmake -DCMAKE_C_COMPILER=$(brew --prefix gcc)/bin/gcc-14 -DCMAKE_CXX_COMPILER=$(brew --prefix gcc)/bin/g++-14 -DCMAKE_Fortran_COMPILER=$(brew --prefix gcc)/bin/gfortran-14 ..
327 cd ..
328 cd ..
329 rm -rf palace
330 ls
331 brew update
332 brew install cmake gcc open-mpi openblas git
333 export CMAKE_PREFIX_PATH=$(brew --prefix openblas)
334 git clone https://github.com/awslabs/palace.git
335 cd palace/
336 mkdir build && cd build
337 cmake -DCMAKE_C_COMPILER=clang -DCMAKE_CXX_COMPILER=clang++ -DCMAKE_Fortran_COMPILER=$(brew --prefix gcc)/bin/gfortran -DCMAKE_PREFIX_PATH=$CMAKE_PREFIX_PATH ..
338 make -j $(sysctl -n hw.ncpu)
339 cmake -DCMAKE_C_COMPILER=$(brew --prefix gcc)/bin/gcc-14 -DCMAKE_CXX_COMPILER=$(brew --prefix gcc)/bin/g++-14 -DCMAKE_Fortran_COMPILER=$(brew --prefix gcc)/bin/gfortran-14 ..
340 brew update gcc
341 brew upgrade gcc
342 brew uninstall gcc
343 clear
344 cd ..
345 cd ..
346 rm -rf palace
347 ls
348 git clone https://github.com/awslabs/palace.git
349 cd palace/
350 mkdir build && cd build
351 cmake -DCMAKE_C_COMPILER=$(brew --prefix gcc)/bin/gcc-14\ -DCMAKE_CXX_COMPILER=$(brew --prefix gcc)/bin/g++-14\ -DCMAKE_Fortran_COMPILER=$(brew --prefix gcc)/bin/gfortran-14\ DCMAKE_PREFIX_PATH=$CMAKE_PREFIX_PATH\ ..
352 cmake -DCMAKE_C_COMPILER=clang -DCMAKE_CXX_COMPILER=clang++ -DCMAKE_Fortran_COMPILER=$(brew --prefix gcc)/bin/gfortran -DCMAKE_PREFIX_PATH=$CMAKE_PREFIX_PATH ..
353 clear
354 cmake -DCMAKE_C_COMPILER=clang -DCMAKE_CXX_COMPILER=clang++ -DCMAKE_Fortran_COMPILER=$(brew --prefix clang)/bin/gfortran -DCMAKE_PREFIX_PATH=$CMAKE_PREFIX_PATH ..
355 cmake -DCMAKE_C_COMPILER=clang -DCMAKE_CXX_COMPILER=clang++ -DCMAKE_Fortran_COMPILER=$(brew --prefix clangql)/bin/gfortran -DCMAKE_PREFIX_PATH=$CMAKE_PREFIX_PATH ..
356 make -j $(sysctl -n hw.ncpu)
357 conda activate qdws
358 conda install -c conda-forge fortran-compiler compilers
359 ls
360 cd ..
361 rm -rf build
362 mkdir build
363 cd build
364 cmake -DCMAKE_C_COMPILER=clang\ -DCMAKE_CXX_COMPILER=clang++\ -DCMAKE_Fortran_COMPILER=$(brew --prefix clangql)/bin/gfortran\ -DCMAKE_PREFIX_PATH=$CMAKE_PREFIX_PATH\ ..
365 conda install -c conda-forge gcc_linux-64 gxx_linux-64 gfortran_linux-64 sysroot_linux-64
366 conda activate qdws
367 ls
368 cd qdws_workshop/
369 ls
370 softwareupdate --install-rosetta
371 curl -O https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Qiskit/qiskit-metal/main/environment.yml
372 conda env update -n qdws -f environment.yml
373 python -c "import qiskit_metal; print('Qiskit Metal version:', qiskit_metal.version)"
374 python -c "import qiskit_metal; print('Qiskit Metal version:', qiskit_metal.version)";
375 pip install SQuADDS
376 python -c "import squadds; print('SQuADDS version:', squadds.version)";
377 python -c "import SQDMetal; print('SQDMetal installed successfully')";
378 python
379 clear
380 conda activate qdws
381 ls
382 cd palace/
383 cd build/
384 cd ..
385 cd ..
386 rm -rf palace/
387 brew install cmake gcc open-mpi openblas git
388 brew reinstall cmake
389 brew reinstall gcc
390 brew reinstall open-mpi
391 brew reinstall openblas
392 brew reinstall git
393 clear
394 export CMAKE_PREFIX_PATH=$(brew --prefix openblas)
395 git clone https://github.com/awslabs/palace/blob/main/spack/local/packages/palace/package.py
396 git clone https://github.com/awslabs/palace.git
397 cd palace
398 ls
399 cd spack
400 ls
401 cd locla
402 cd local
403 ls
404 cd ..
405 cd ..
406 clear
407 spack install palace +openmp
408 mkdir build && cd build
409 cmake -DCMAKE_C_COMPILER=clang -DCMAKE_CXX_COMPILER=clang++ -DCMAKE_Fortran_COMPILER=$(brew --prefix gcc)/bin/gfortran -DCMAKE_PREFIX_PATH=$CMAKE_PREFIX_PATH ..
410 cmake -DCMAKE_C_COMPILER=gcc\ -DCMAKE_CXX_COMPILER=g++\ -DCMAKE_Fortran_COMPILER=$(brew --prefix gcc)/bin/gfortran\ -DCMAKE_PREFIX_PATH=$CMAKE_PREFIX_PATH\ ..
411 cmake -DCMAKE_C_COMPILER=$(brew --prefix gcc)/bin/gcc-14 -DCMAKE_CXX_COMPILER=$(brew --prefix gcc)/bin/g++-14 -DCMAKE_Fortran_COMPILER=$(brew --prefix gcc)/bin/gfortran-14 ..
412 conda create -n abcd_workshop python=3.13
413 conda activate abcd_worshop
414 conda activate abcd_workshop
415 pip install -r requirements.txt
416 /Users/mamtasomani/Desktop/SQDEW_ABCD_workshop/.venv/bin/python -m pip install -r requirements.txt
417 /Users/mamtasomani/Desktop/SQDEW_ABCD_workshop/.venv/bin/python -m pip install -r requirements.txt
418 conda install numpy
419 conda install svgwrite
420 pip install -r requirements.txt
421 pip install --upgrade pip
422 pip install -r requirements.txt
423 /usr/bin/python3 /Users/mamtasomani/.vscode/extensions/ms-python.python-2025.6.1-darwin-arm64/python_files/printEnvVariablesToFile.py /Users/mamtasomani/.vscode/extensions/ms-python.python-2025.6.1-darwin-arm64/python_files/deactivate/bash/envVars.txt
424 /usr/bin/python3 /Users/mamtasomani/.vscode/extensions/ms-python.python-2025.6.1-darwin-arm64/python_files/printEnvVariablesToFile.py /Users/mamtasomani/.vscode/extensions/ms-python.python-2025.6.1-darwin-arm64/python_files/deactivate/bash/envVars.txt
425 ls
426 rm -rf requirements.txt
427 pip install -r requirements.txt
428 /usr/bin/python3 /Users/mamtasomani/.vscode/extensions/ms-python.python-2025.6.1-darwin-arm64/python_files/printEnvVariablesToFile.py /Users/mamtasomani/.vscode/extensions/ms-python.python-2025.6.1-darwin-arm64/python_files/deactivate/bash/envVars.txt
429 pip install -r requirements.txt
430 pip install svgwrite
431 conda activate abcd_workshop
432 pip install -r requirements.txt
433 conda - clean all
434 conda clean -all
435 ls
436 conda clean -all
437 conda activate abcd_workshop
438 conda clean -all
439 pip install requirements.txt
440 pip install requirements.txt
441 ls
442 pip install requirements.txt
443 pip install -r requirements.txt
444 clear
445 pip install ipykernel
446 pip install numpy
447 pip install matplotlib
448 pip update matplotlib
449 pip install lmfit
450 pip install svgwrite
451 clear
452 conda clean -all
453 pip install -r requirements.txt
454 conda install python 3.11
455 conda deactivate SQDEW_ABCD_workshop
456 conda exit SQDEW_ABCD_workshop
457 clear
458 conda activate abcd_workshop
459 pip install -r requirements.txt
460 /Users/mamtasomani/Desktop/SQDEW_ABCD_workshop/.venv/bin/python -m pip install -r requirements.txt
461 conda remove --name abcd_workspace -all
462 conda remove --name abcd_workspace
463 conda remove --h abcd_workspace
464 conda remove abcd_workspace
465 conda activate abcd_workshop
466 exit
467 ls
468 cs qdws_workshop/
469 cd qdws_workshop/
470 conda activate qdws_workspace
471 conda info --envs
472 conda activate qdws
473 ls
474 cd ..
475 cd git clone -c feature.manyFiles=true --depth=2 https://github.com/spack/spack.git
476 cd qdws_workshop/
477 git clone -c feature.manyFiles=true --depth=2 https://github.com/spack/spack.git
478 . spack/share/spack/setup-env.sh
479 ls
480 spack install palace +openmp
481 xcode-select --install
482 spack install palace +openmp
483 xcode-select -p
484 echo 'int main() { return 0; }' > test.c
485 clang test.c -o test
486 ./test
487 spack compiler find
488 spack config edit compilers
489 conda activate qdws

[shanto268]

The error you're hitting:

ld: library 'System' not found
collect2: error: ld returned 1 exit status

happens because Homebrew's gfortran doesn’t link correctly against macOS system libraries when used alongside Clang (which is the default C/C++ compiler on macOS). This is a known issue due to the mismatch between the toolchains.

To fix this, you need to use Homebrew’s entire GCC toolchain consistently—i.e., gcc, g++, and gfortran from the same version:

brew install gcc openblas

export CC=$(brew --prefix gcc)/bin/gcc-14
export CXX=$(brew --prefix gcc)/bin/g++-14
export FC=$(brew --prefix gcc)/bin/gfortran-14
export CMAKE_PREFIX_PATH=$(brew --prefix openblas)

Replace 14 with the actual GCC version installed if it differs.

Then reconfigure the build from scratch:

rm -rf build && mkdir build && cd build

cmake .. \
  -DCMAKE_C_COMPILER=$CC \
  -DCMAKE_CXX_COMPILER=$CXX \
  -DCMAKE_Fortran_COMPILER=$FC \
  -DCMAKE_PREFIX_PATH=$CMAKE_PREFIX_PATH

make -j$(sysctl -n hw.ncpu)

Also make sure you’re not inside a Conda environment that may be overriding compilers—some conda-forge environments silently add their own incompatible gfortran or sysroots that conflict with macOS.

Let me know if this doesn’t resolve it and I can help debug further 🙏🏽

[MeghajBUD]

I have an error while trying the cmake inside of build : (base) Meghajs-MacBook-Pro-4:~ mamtasomani$ cd qdws_workshop/
(base) Meghajs-MacBook-Pro-4:qdws_workshop mamtasomani$ ls
environment.yml SQDMetal
Miniconda3-latest-MacOSX-arm64.sh test
palace test.c
spack Transmon Resonator.ipynb
(base) Meghajs-MacBook-Pro-4:qdws_workshop mamtasomani$ brew install gcc openblas
==> Downloading https://formulae.brew.sh/api/formula.jws.json
==> Downloading https://formulae.brew.sh/api/cask.jws.json
Warning: gcc 14.2.0_1 is already installed and up-to-date.
To reinstall 14.2.0_1, run:
brew reinstall gcc
Warning: openblas 0.3.29 is already installed and up-to-date.
To reinstall 0.3.29, run:
brew reinstall openblas
(base) Meghajs-MacBook-Pro-4:qdws_workshop mamtasomani$ bre reinstall openblas
-bash: bre: command not found
(base) Meghajs-MacBook-Pro-4:qdws_workshop mamtasomani$ brew reinstall openblas
==> Downloading https://ghcr.io/v2/homebrew/core/openblas/manifests/0.3.29
Already downloaded: /Users/mamtasomani/Library/Caches/Homebrew/downloads/e49d4b76081bbbcc490fb738d6766a0327f329345609797ec5b2ec2e9761c07e--openblas-0.3.29.bottle_manifest.json
==> Fetching openblas
==> Downloading https://ghcr.io/v2/homebrew/core/openblas/blobs/sha256:0cef0ab52
Already downloaded: /Users/mamtasomani/Library/Caches/Homebrew/downloads/e584d5486388f114c1b591282e0e6944bc65d187393ce6e7ae1dfcda802c7d82--openblas--0.3.29.arm64_sequoia.bottle.tar.gz
==> Reinstalling openblas
==> Pouring openblas--0.3.29.arm64_sequoia.bottle.tar.gz
==> Caveats
openblas is keg-only, which means it was not symlinked into /opt/homebrew,
because macOS provides BLAS in Accelerate.framework.

For compilers to find openblas you may need to set:
export LDFLAGS="-L/opt/homebrew/opt/openblas/lib"
export CPPFLAGS="-I/opt/homebrew/opt/openblas/include"

For pkg-config to find openblas you may need to set:
export PKG_CONFIG_PATH="/opt/homebrew/opt/openblas/lib/pkgconfig"
==> Summary
🍺 /opt/homebrew/Cellar/openblas/0.3.29: 24 files, 49MB
==> Running brew cleanup openblas...
Disable this behaviour by setting HOMEBREW_NO_INSTALL_CLEANUP.
Hide these hints with HOMEBREW_NO_ENV_HINTS (see man brew).
(base) Meghajs-MacBook-Pro-4:qdws_workshop mamtasomani$ export CC=$(brew --prefix gcc)/bin/gcc-14
(base) Meghajs-MacBook-Pro-4:qdws_workshop mamtasomani$ export CXX=$(brew --prefix gcc)/bin/g++-14
(base) Meghajs-MacBook-Pro-4:qdws_workshop mamtasomani$ export FC=$(brew --prefix gcc)/bin/gfortran-14
(base) Meghajs-MacBook-Pro-4:qdws_workshop mamtasomani$ export CMAKE_PREFIX_PATH=$(brew --prefix openblas)
(base) Meghajs-MacBook-Pro-4:qdws_workshop mamtasomani$ rm -rf build && mkdir build && cd build
(base) Meghajs-MacBook-Pro-4:build mamtasomani$ ls
(base) Meghajs-MacBook-Pro-4:build mamtasomani$ cd ..
(base) Meghajs-MacBook-Pro-4:palace mamtasomani$ cd build/
(base) Meghajs-MacBook-Pro-4:build mamtasomani$ cmake .. \

-DCMAKE_C_COMPILER=$CC
-DCMAKE_CXX_COMPILER=$CXX
-DCMAKE_Fortran_COMPILER=$FC
-DCMAKE_PREFIX_PATH=$CMAKE_PREFIX_PATH
-- The CXX compiler identification is GNU 14.2.0
-- The C compiler identification is GNU 14.2.0
-- Checking whether CXX compiler has -isysroot
-- Checking whether CXX compiler has -isysroot - yes
-- Checking whether CXX compiler supports OSX deployment target flag
-- Checking whether CXX compiler supports OSX deployment target flag - yes
-- Detecting CXX compiler ABI info
-- Detecting CXX compiler ABI info - failed
-- Check for working CXX compiler: /opt/homebrew/opt/gcc/bin/g++-14
-- Check for working CXX compiler: /opt/homebrew/opt/gcc/bin/g++-14 - broken
CMake Error at /opt/homebrew/share/cmake/Modules/CMakeTestCXXCompiler.cmake:73 (message):
The C++ compiler

"/opt/homebrew/opt/gcc/bin/g++-14"

is not able to compile a simple test program.

It fails with the following output:

Change Dir: '/Users/mamtasomani/qdws_workshop/palace/build/CMakeFiles/CMakeScratch/TryCompile-jfaLbj'

Run Build Command(s): /opt/homebrew/bin/cmake -E env VERBOSE=1 /usr/bin/make -f Makefile cmTC_ecfeb/fast
/Applications/Xcode.app/Contents/Developer/usr/bin/make  -f CMakeFiles/cmTC_ecfeb.dir/build.make CMakeFiles/cmTC_ecfeb.dir/build
Building CXX object CMakeFiles/cmTC_ecfeb.dir/testCXXCompiler.cxx.o
/opt/homebrew/opt/gcc/bin/g++-14   -arch arm64 -o CMakeFiles/cmTC_ecfeb.dir/testCXXCompiler.cxx.o -c /Users/mamtasomani/qdws_workshop/palace/build/CMakeFiles/CMakeScratch/TryCompile-jfaLbj/testCXXCompiler.cxx
Linking CXX executable cmTC_ecfeb
/opt/homebrew/bin/cmake -E cmake_link_script CMakeFiles/cmTC_ecfeb.dir/link.txt --verbose=1
ld: library 'System' not found
collect2: error: ld returned 1 exit status
/opt/homebrew/opt/gcc/bin/g++-14  -arch arm64 -Wl,-search_paths_first -Wl,-headerpad_max_install_names CMakeFiles/cmTC_ecfeb.dir/testCXXCompiler.cxx.o -o cmTC_ecfeb
make[1]: *** [cmTC_ecfeb] Error 1
make: *** [cmTC_ecfeb/fast] Error 2

CMake will not be able to correctly generate this project.
Call Stack (most recent call first):
CMakeLists.txt:19 (project)

-- Configuring incomplete, errors occurred!
(base) Meghajs-MacBook-Pro-4:build mamtasomani$

[MeghajBUD]

Above was outside of conda enviornment