Assimp Compilation Error Using CMake: GCC Cannot Compile Test Program - gcc

Question

I am trying to compile Assimp 5.0.1 for Windows 10 using CMake. The C/C++ compilers I have through MinGW are GCC and G++. If I understand the problem correctly, there is an issue with the MakeFile's whitespace somewhere. The /CMakeTmp/ directory is empty, and I am sure the answer is right in front of me somewhere:
Console Output:
-- The C compiler identification is GNU 9.2.0
-- The CXX compiler identification is GNU 9.2.0
-- Detecting C compiler ABI info
-- Detecting C compiler ABI info - failed
-- Check for working C compiler: C:/MinGW/bin/gcc.exe
-- Check for working C compiler: C:/MinGW/bin/gcc.exe - broken
CMake Error at C:/Program Files (x86)/CMake/share/cmake-3.20/Modules/CMakeTestCCompiler.cmake:66 (message):
The C compiler
"C:/MinGW/bin/gcc.exe"
is not able to compile a simple test program.
It fails with the following output:
Change Dir: Q:/programming/westy/src/lib/assimp-5.0.1/build/CMakeFiles/CMakeTmp
Run Build Command(s):make -f Makefile /nologo cmTC_a4ec5\fast && Makefile:37: *** missing separator. Stop.
CMake will not be able to correctly generate this project.
Call Stack (most recent call first):
CMakeLists.txt:54 (PROJECT)
-- Configuring incomplete, errors occurred!
See also "Q:/programming/westy/src/lib/assimp-5.0.1/build/CMakeFiles/CMakeOutput.log".
See also "Q:/programming/westy/src/lib/assimp-5.0.1/build/CMakeFiles/CMakeError.log".
CMakeError.log:
Detecting C compiler ABI info failed to compile with the following output:
Change Dir: Q:/programming/westy/src/lib/assimp-5.0.1/build/CMakeFiles/CMakeTmp
Run Build Command(s):make -f Makefile /nologo cmTC_165dc\fast && Makefile:37: *** missing separator. Stop.
CMakeOutput.log:
Compiling the C compiler identification source file "CMakeCCompilerId.c" succeeded.
Compiler: C:/MinGW/bin/gcc.exe
Build flags:
Id flags:
The output was:
0
Compilation of the C compiler identification source "CMakeCCompilerId.c" produced "a.exe"
The C compiler identification is GNU, found in "Q:/programming/westy/src/lib/assimp-5.0.1/build/CMakeFiles/3.20.2/CompilerIdC/a.exe"
Compiling the CXX compiler identification source file "CMakeCXXCompilerId.cpp" succeeded.
Compiler: C:/MinGW/bin/g++.exe
Build flags:
Id flags:
The output was:
0
Compilation of the CXX compiler identification source "CMakeCXXCompilerId.cpp" produced "a.exe"
The CXX compiler identification is GNU, found in "Q:/programming/westy/src/lib/assimp-5.0.1/build/CMakeFiles/3.20.2/CompilerIdCXX/a.exe"

Answer 1

Which -G option did you use for cmake?
The /nologo parameter for make doesn't seem right, that looks like a Microsoft/MSVC parameter. If you didn't specify -G then CMake defaults to -G"NMake Makefiles" on Windows.
Make sure to use cmake flag -G"MinGW Makefiles" for mingw32-make or -G"MSYS Makefiles" if you use MSYS' make.
But to avoid all those make issues and improve speed -GNinja is the best solution, provided you have Ninja available (see https://ninja-build.org/).
Finally, you're still on MinGW GCC 9.2.0. Newer versions are available, see http://winlibs.com/ for standalone builds which also come with newer mingw32-make.