zsh command not found cmake

3 min read 07-03-2025

The error "zsh: command not found: cmake" arises when your Z shell (zsh) cannot locate the CMake build system. This usually means CMake isn't installed or isn't correctly configured in your system's PATH environment variable. This guide provides a step-by-step solution to resolve this common issue.

Understanding the Error

Before diving into solutions, let's clarify why this error occurs. CMake is a cross-platform build system used to manage the build process of software projects. When you type cmake into your terminal, zsh searches for the cmake executable in the directories listed in your PATH variable. If it's not found, you get the "command not found" error.

How to Fix "zsh: command not found: cmake"

The solution depends on whether CMake is already installed on your system.

1. Check if CMake is Installed

First, let's verify if CMake is actually installed. Open your terminal and run these commands:

which cmake
whereis cmake

If either command returns a path to a cmake executable, CMake is installed. The problem lies in your system's PATH configuration (covered in the next section). If both commands return nothing, CMake needs to be installed.

2. Installing CMake

The installation method varies based on your operating system:

macOS

The easiest way is using Homebrew:

brew install cmake

If you don't have Homebrew, install it first by following the instructions on their website: https://brew.sh/

Alternatively, you can download the CMake binary from the official website: https://cmake.org/download/ Follow the installation instructions provided.

Linux (Ubuntu/Debian)

Use your distribution's package manager:

sudo apt update
sudo apt install cmake

Other Linux distributions will have similar package managers (e.g., yum for Fedora, dnf for CentOS/RHEL, pacman for Arch Linux). Consult your distribution's documentation for specific instructions.

Windows

Download the Windows installer from the official CMake website: https://cmake.org/download/ Run the installer and follow the on-screen instructions. Ensure you add CMake to your system's PATH during installation.

3. Adding CMake to your PATH (If CMake is already installed)

If CMake is installed but still not found, the cmake executable path isn't included in your zsh's PATH environment variable. This tells your shell where to look for executable commands. Here's how to fix it:

Method 1: Temporary Solution (for the current session)

This modifies your PATH only for the current terminal session.

export PATH="$PATH:/path/to/cmake/bin"

Replace /path/to/cmake/bin with the actual path to the CMake binaries. For example, if CMake is installed in /usr/local/bin, the command would be:

export PATH="$PATH:/usr/local/bin"

Method 2: Permanent Solution (for all future sessions)

This makes the change persistent across terminal restarts.

Using ~/.zshrc (Recommended): Add the following line to your ~/.zshrc file, replacing /path/to/cmake/bin with the correct path:

export PATH="$PATH:/path/to/cmake/bin"

Then, source the file to apply the changes:

source ~/.zshrc

Using chsh (Advanced Users): This method modifies your default shell configuration. It's generally not recommended unless you're very comfortable with your system's configuration.

After making these changes, try typing cmake --version in your terminal. If everything is set up correctly, you should see the CMake version information.

Troubleshooting Further Issues

If you've followed these steps and still encounter the error, consider these points:

Incorrect PATH: Double-check the path to your CMake binaries. A typo in the path will prevent CMake from being found.
Multiple Zsh Installations: If you have multiple Zsh installations, make sure you're modifying the PATH for the correct one.
Permissions: Ensure you have the necessary permissions to access the CMake directory and execute the cmake binary.
Restart your terminal: After making changes to your ~/.zshrc file, restart your terminal to ensure the changes are applied.

By following these instructions, you should successfully resolve the "zsh: command not found: cmake" error and be able to use CMake in your projects. Remember to consult your operating system's documentation if you encounter further issues.