Generate a makefile without a main function from Qmake - "undefined reference to `main' "

[NikoBir]

Hello everyone !

I'm currently trying to generate protobuf files with qmake.
But when I execute the makefile, I have :

• My correctly generated protobuf files (yes !).
• An error : "undefined reference to `main' "

I don't want to have a main function, I just want to generate some files. So, I don't need to have a main function .... But Qmake really want it....
How can I explain him that it's just fine and cool ?

I tested to change my TEMPLATE in my .pro but it changes nothing ...

These files are in the same folder :

My .pro :

QT -= gui
TEMPLATE += lib
INCLUDEPATH += /usr/include/
LIBS += /usr/lib/libprotobuf.so
PROTOS = comGRPC.proto
include(protobuf.pri)

My .pri :

PROTOPATH += .
PROTOPATH += ../Protocol
PROTOPATHS =
for(p, PROTOPATH):PROTOPATHS += --proto_path=$${p}

protobuf_decl.name = protobuf header
protobuf_decl.input = PROTOS
protobuf_decl.output = ${QMAKE_FILE_BASE}.pb.h
protobuf_decl.commands = /usr/bin/protoc --cpp_out="." $${PROTOPATHS} ${QMAKE_FILE_NAME}
protobuf_decl.variable_out = GENERATED_FILES
QMAKE_EXTRA_COMPILERS += protobuf_decl

protobuf_impl.name = protobuf implementation
protobuf_impl.input = PROTOS
protobuf_impl.output = ${QMAKE_FILE_BASE}.pb.cc
protobuf_impl.depends = ${QMAKE_FILE_BASE}.pb.h
protobuf_impl.commands = $$escape_expand(\n)
protobuf_impl.variable_out = GENERATED_SOURCES
QMAKE_EXTRA_COMPILERS += protobuf_impl

[jsulm]

@NikoBir said in Generate a makefile without a main function from Qmake - "undefined reference to `main' ":

How can I explain him that it's just fine and cool ?

What exact pro file do you build?
If it is My.pro then it should work as it is a library pro file.
Also, did you change TEMPLATE to lib or was it always a lib?

[NikoBir]

Thanks for your answer, yes it's my pro file that I want to build.
I added TEMPLATE += lib because I read that I need to use this variable if I want to build without a main function.

[jsulm]

@NikoBir said in Generate a makefile without a main function from Qmake - "undefined reference to `main' ":

I added TEMPLATE += lib because I read that I need to use this variable if I want to build without a main function

That is clear. My question is whether you had something else there and then changed to lib. If that's the case then delete everything in build folder, run qmake and build.

[NikoBir]

Ah ! I misunderstood ! Yes, I had nothing before. I even didn't had a TEMPLATE variable.
Like you said I removed everything in the build folder, ran qmake and built but I have the same issue.

[jsulm]

@NikoBir said in Generate a makefile without a main function from Qmake - "undefined reference to `main' ":

LIBS += /usr/lib/libprotobuf.so

This line is wrong please seee here how to do it properly: https://doc.qt.io/qt-6/qmake-variable-reference.html#libs), but not the cause for your issue I think.
Can you provide a minimal reproducible project, so others can try?

[NikoBir]

Thank you, yes I can !
I created this repository with my zipped project. I added the includes and libs.

https://github.com/QtForumHelp/undefined_reference_to_main_Qmake-Protobuf

[jsulm]

@NikoBir I will check (it does not build for me). But your LIBS is still wrong...

[NikoBir]

Ok I will correct it !

[SGaist]

Hi,

@jsulm said in Generate a makefile without a main function from Qmake - "undefined reference to `main' ":

@NikoBir said in Generate a makefile without a main function from Qmake - "undefined reference to `main' ":

I added TEMPLATE += lib because I read that I need to use this variable if I want to build without a main function

That is clear. My question is whether you had something else there and then changed to lib. If that's the case then delete everything in build folder, run qmake and build.

In addition to what @jsulm, TEMPLATE should contain a single value. Here you likely have something else. So just in case, replace it with TEMPLATE = lib.

[Paul Colby]

@SGaist wrote:

TEMPLATE should contain a single value. Here you likely something else. So just in case, replace it with TEMPLATE = lib.

Indeed, as per the docs, TEMPLATE defaults to app. So by using += the TEMPLATE ends up being app lib, which is not what you want :)

So, as @SGaist indicated, drop the + from that line so:

TEMPLATE = lib

Cheers.

[NikoBir]

Thank you all ! It worked !!!!!

Yes the solution was TEMPLATE = lib !