Unable to install Erlang/OTP 27.1 and 26.2.5.3 on Apple Silicon macOS and Xcode 16.0

[zacky1972]

Hi,

I tried to build Erlang/OTP 27.1 on Apple Silicon macOS Sonoma and Sequoia, but got the following error:

In file included from sys/unix/erl_unix_sys.h:65:
/Library/Developer/CommandLineTools/SDKs/MacOSX.sdk/usr/include/unistd.h:525:10: fatal error: cannot open file 'aarch64-apple-darwin24.0.0/opt/jit/_ctermid.h': Too many open files
  525 | #include <_ctermid.h>
      |          ^
1 error generated.
make[4]: *** [obj/aarch64-apple-darwin24.0.0/opt/jit/beam_asm_module.o] Error 1
make[4]: *** Waiting for unfinished jobs....
make[3]: *** [opt] Error 2
make[2]: *** [opt] Error 2
make[1]: *** [jit] Error 2
make: *** [emulator] Error 2

[zacky1972]

The new Xcode (16.0) on Apple Silicon may be the culprit, because building Erlang/OTP 26.2.5.3 on Apple Silicon Sequoia also failed.

[mlooney]

similar issue here, but with different error:

In file included from aarch64-apple-darwin24.0.0/opt/jit/asmjit/./core/../core/../core/../core/globals.h:9:
aarch64-apple-darwin24.0.0/opt/jit/asmjit/./core/../core/../core/../core/../core/api-config.h:45:10: fatal error: 'initializer_list' file not found
   45 | #include <initializer_list>
      |          ^~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1 error generated.
make[4]: *** [aarch64-apple-darwin24.0.0/opt/jit/asmjit/asmjit.hpp.gch] Error 1
make[3]: *** [opt] Error 2
make[2]: *** [opt] Error 2
make[1]: *** [jit] Error 2
make: *** [emulator] Error 2

The header file on my system is found in the llvm & gcc flavors:

 find /opt -name initializer_list\*
/opt/homebrew/Cellar/llvm/18.1.8/include/c++/v1/initializer_list
/opt/homebrew/Cellar/llvm/18.1.8/share/libc++/v1/std/initializer_list.inc
/opt/homebrew/Cellar/gcc/14.2.0/include/c++/14/initializer_list
/opt/homebrew/Cellar/gcc/13.2.0/include/c++/13/initializer_list

Also fails for otp-26 builds, complaining about a different header file

In file included from aarch64-apple-darwin24.0.0/opt/jit/asmjit/./core/../core/../core/../core/globals.h:9:
aarch64-apple-darwin24.0.0/opt/jit/asmjit/./core/../core/../core/../core/../core/api-config.h:42:10: fatal error: 'iterator' file not found
   42 | #include <iterator>
        |          ^~~~~~~~~~
1 error generated.
make[4]: *** [aarch64-apple-darwin24.0.0/opt/jit/asmjit/asmjit.hpp.gch] Error 1
make[3]: *** [opt] Error 2
make[2]: *** [opt] Error 2
make[1]: *** [jit] Error 2
make: *** [emulator] Error 2

I assume the Xcode tool update is the culprit as well.

[mlooney]

fatal error: cannot open file 'aarch64-apple-darwin24.0.0/opt/jit/_ctermid.h': Too many open files

@zacky1972 this seems to be your issue, which is different than mine. make sure your system isn't running out of file handles (you may need to tweak your kernel, or shut down some processes etc)

[BlueHotDog]

hello folks, anyone managed to overcome this?

[chulkilee]

Hitting similar error:

/Applications/Xcode.app/Contents/Developer/Platforms/MacOSX.platform/Developer/SDKs/MacOSX.sdk/usr/include/unistd.h:525:10: fatal error: cannot open file 'aarch64-apple-darwin24.0.0/opt/jit/_ctermid.h': Too many open files
  525 | #include <_ctermid.h>
      |          ^
1 error generated.
make[4]: *** [obj/aarch64-apple-darwin24.0.0/opt/jit/beam_asm_module.o] Error 1

Environment info:

$ which gcc
/usr/bin/gcc

$ gcc --version
Apple clang version 16.0.0 (clang-1600.0.26.3)
Target: arm64-apple-darwin24.0.0
Thread model: posix
InstalledDir: /Applications/Xcode.app/Contents/Developer/Toolchains/XcodeDefault.xctoolchain/usr/bin

$ clang --version
Apple clang version 16.0.0 (clang-1600.0.26.3)
Target: arm64-apple-darwin24.0.0
Thread model: posix
InstalledDir: /Applications/Xcode.app/Contents/Developer/Toolchains/XcodeDefault.xctoolchain/usr/bin

[zacky1972]

@mlooney No, its' not my issue, because I tried to build it just after rebooting my Mac, but I couldn't build it with similar messages:

% asdf install erlang latest
asdf_27.1 is not a kerl-managed Erlang/OTP installation
The asdf_27.1 build has been deleted
Extracting source code
Building Erlang/OTP 27.1 (asdf_27.1), please wait...
APPLICATIONS DISABLED (See: /Users/zacky/.asdf/plugins/erlang/kerl-home/builds/asdf_27.1/otp_build_27.1.log)
 * odbc           : ODBC library - link check failed

Build failed.
/Library/Developer/CommandLineTools/SDKs/MacOSX.sdk/usr/include/unistd.h:525:10: fatal error: cannot open file 'aarch64-apple-darwin24.0.0/opt/jit/_ctermid.h': Too many open files
  525 | #include <_ctermid.h>
      |          ^
1 error generated.
make[4]: *** [obj/aarch64-apple-darwin24.0.0/opt/jit/beam_asm_module.o] Error 1
make[4]: *** Waiting for unfinished jobs....
make[3]: *** [opt] Error 2
make[2]: *** [opt] Error 2
make[1]: *** [jit] Error 2
make: *** [emulator] Error 2

Please see /Users/zacky/.asdf/plugins/erlang/kerl-home/builds/asdf_27.1/otp_build_27.1.log for full details.
Removing all artifacts except the logfile
(Use KERL_AUTOCLEAN=0 to keep build on failure, if desired)
Cleaning up compilation products for asdf_27.1
Cleaned up compilation products for asdf_27.1 under /Users/zacky/.asdf/plugins/erlang/kerl-home/builds

[obieewan]

Hello, I encountered the same problem. I resolved it by doing these steps.

I uninstalled xcode by following these commands:
https://mac.install.guide/commandlinetools/6

After that I ran these commands cleaning up my environment.
asdf uninstall erlang <version>
asdf uninstall elixir <version>
rm -rf .asdf/
brew uninstall asdf

Then, I tried to re-install asdf with homebrew but it requires me to reinstall xcode so I reinstall xcode again by running this command: xcode-select --install

After installation
I installed asdf with homebrew: brew install asdf

Installed plugin Elixir: asdf plugin-add elixir https://github.com/asdf-vm/asdf-elixir.git
Installed plugin Erlang: asdf plugin-add erlang https://github.com/asdf-vm/asdf-erlang.git

Installed erlang: asdf install erlang 27.1
Installed elixir: asdf install elixir 1.17.3-otp-27
set global erlang: asdf global erlang 1.17.3-otp-27
set global elixir : asdf global elixir 1.17.3-otp-27

Then I go to my project directory and run mix assets.deploy and mix phx.server and it worked. Hope this helps.

[haavars]

I encountered the same issue on Apple Silicon with Xcode 16.0. A temporary fix that worked for me was adjusting the ulimit to increase the number of allowed open files. Here’s what I did:

1. Open terminal.
2. Run ulimit -n 65536 to increase the limit.
3. Retry the installation.

This is a temporary solution, and if needed, the change can be made permanent by modifying system configuration files.

Hope this helps!

[zacky1972]

@haavars Thanks! I did install according to your approach!!!

[redac]

I'm getting a different error on Apple Silicon with Xcode 16.0, any ideas?

Extracting source code
Building Erlang/OTP 27.1 (asdf_27.1), please wait...
APPLICATIONS DISABLED (See: /Users/redacted/.asdf/plugins/erlang/kerl-home/builds/asdf_27.1/otp_build_27.1.log)
 * jinterface     : No Java compiler found
 * odbc           : ODBC library - link check failed

APPLICATIONS INFORMATION (See: /Users/redacted/.asdf/plugins/erlang/kerl-home/builds/asdf_27.1/otp_build_27.1.log)
 * wx             : wxWidgets was not compiled with --enable-webview or wxWebView developer package is not installed, wxWebView will NOT be available
 * wxWidgets was not compiled with --enable-compat30, wx will NOT be useable
 * wxWidgets don't have gl support, wx will NOT be useable
 * Can not link wx program are all developer packages installed?

Build failed.
In file included from aarch64-apple-darwin24.0.0/opt/jit/asmjit/./core/../core/../core/../core/globals.h:9:
aarch64-apple-darwin24.0.0/opt/jit/asmjit/./core/../core/../core/../core/../core/api-config.h:45:10: fatal error: 'initializer_list' file not found
   45 | #include <initializer_list>
      |          ^~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1 error generated.
make[4]: *** [aarch64-apple-darwin24.0.0/opt/jit/asmjit/asmjit.hpp.gch] Error 1
make[3]: *** [opt] Error 2
make[2]: *** [opt] Error 2
make[1]: *** [jit] Error 2
make: *** [emulator] Error 2

[obieewan]

I'm getting a different error on Apple Silicon with Xcode 16.0, any ideas?

Extracting source code
Building Erlang/OTP 27.1 (asdf_27.1), please wait...
APPLICATIONS DISABLED (See: /Users/redacted/.asdf/plugins/erlang/kerl-home/builds/asdf_27.1/otp_build_27.1.log)
 * jinterface     : No Java compiler found
 * odbc           : ODBC library - link check failed

APPLICATIONS INFORMATION (See: /Users/redacted/.asdf/plugins/erlang/kerl-home/builds/asdf_27.1/otp_build_27.1.log)
 * wx             : wxWidgets was not compiled with --enable-webview or wxWebView developer package is not installed, wxWebView will NOT be available
 * wxWidgets was not compiled with --enable-compat30, wx will NOT be useable
 * wxWidgets don't have gl support, wx will NOT be useable
 * Can not link wx program are all developer packages installed?

Build failed.
In file included from aarch64-apple-darwin24.0.0/opt/jit/asmjit/./core/../core/../core/../core/globals.h:9:
aarch64-apple-darwin24.0.0/opt/jit/asmjit/./core/../core/../core/../core/../core/api-config.h:45:10: fatal error: 'initializer_list' file not found
   45 | #include <initializer_list>
      |          ^~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1 error generated.
make[4]: *** [aarch64-apple-darwin24.0.0/opt/jit/asmjit/asmjit.hpp.gch] Error 1
make[3]: *** [opt] Error 2
make[2]: *** [opt] Error 2
make[1]: *** [jit] Error 2
make: *** [emulator] Error 2

If running ulimit -n 65536 didn't worked. You can try this #319 (comment). Don't update your xcode until issue is resolved.

[jdsampayo]

@redac I encountered the same issue ('initializer_list' file not found). I can confirm that reinstalling Xcode Command Line Tools resolved it. I followed these instructions to uninstall and then reinstall.

[m13m]

reinstalling xcode fixed the issue for me i have M1 Pro

[ansd]

Same for me.

On Apple M2 Pro, Sonoma 14.7, kerl 4.3.0 (without using any asdf)

kerl build-install 27.1.1

resulted in:

In file included from aarch64-apple-darwin23.6.0/opt/jit/asmjit/asmjit.hpp:27:
In file included from aarch64-apple-darwin23.6.0/opt/jit/asmjit/./core.h:1932:
In file included from aarch64-apple-darwin23.6.0/opt/jit/asmjit/./core/archtraits.h:9:
In file included from aarch64-apple-darwin23.6.0/opt/jit/asmjit/./core/../core/operand.h:9:
In file included from aarch64-apple-darwin23.6.0/opt/jit/asmjit/./core/../core/../core/archcommons.h:13:
In file included from aarch64-apple-darwin23.6.0/opt/jit/asmjit/./core/../core/../core/../core/globals.h:9:
aarch64-apple-darwin23.6.0/opt/jit/asmjit/./core/../core/../core/../core/../core/api-config.h:45:10: fatal error: 'initializer_list' file not found
   45 | #include <initializer_list>
      |          ^~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1 error generated.
gmake[4]: *** [aarch64-apple-darwin23.6.0/Makefile:958: aarch64-apple-darwin23.6.0/opt/jit/asmjit/asmjit.hpp.gch] Error 1
gmake[4]: Leaving directory '/Users/dansari/.kerl/builds/27.1.1/otp_src_27.1.1/erts/emulator'
gmake[3]: *** [/Users/dansari/.kerl/builds/27.1.1/otp_src_27.1.1/make/run_make.mk:35: opt] Error 2
gmake[3]: Leaving directory '/Users/dansari/.kerl/builds/27.1.1/otp_src_27.1.1/erts/emulator'
gmake[2]: *** [Makefile:45: opt] Error 2
gmake[2]: Leaving directory '/Users/dansari/.kerl/builds/27.1.1/otp_src_27.1.1/erts'
gmake[1]: *** [Makefile:60: jit] Error 2
gmake[1]: Leaving directory '/Users/dansari/.kerl/builds/27.1.1/otp_src_27.1.1/erts'
gmake: *** [Makefile:483: emulator] Error 2

Re-installing xcode fixed this issue.