whisper-cpp headers missing #6400

slhck · 2025-09-09T07:53:54Z

slhck
Sep 9, 2025

Output of `brew config`

N/A

Output of `brew doctor`

N/A

Description of issue

We maintain https://github.com/homebrew-ffmpeg/homebrew-ffmpeg and have now added support for ffmpeg to include whisper-cpp. The problem is that ffmpeg's configure script looks for whisper's header files, but the whisper-cpp.rb formula explicitly does not ship them:

https://github.com/Homebrew/homebrew-core/blob/a762004cef24c363072d9034c060323a48f80800/Formula/w/whisper-cpp.rb#L45-L46

➜ cat /opt/homebrew/opt/whisper-cpp/lib/pkgconfig/whisper.pc
prefix=/opt/homebrew/Cellar/whisper-cpp/1.7.6
exec_prefix=${prefix}
libdir=${exec_prefix}/lib
includedir=${prefix}/include

Name: whisper
Description: Port of OpenAI's Whisper model in C/C++
Version: 1.7.6
Libs: -L${libdir} -lggml  -lggml-base -lwhisper
Cflags: -I${includedir}

This leads to ffmpeg installation failing with:

$ brew install whisper-cpp
$ brew install homebrew-ffmpeg/ffmpeg/ffmpeg --with-whisper-cpp

... 
ERROR: whisper >= 1.7.5 not found using pkg-config

What could be done to ship these headers nonetheless?

Answered by cho-m

Sep 10, 2025

Try to reinstall again. We moved files around in follow up PR. For now, headers and libs are moved to libexec but the pkgconfig file should expose them:

Homebrew/homebrew-core#236749

Due to how libwhisper/whisper.h needs libggml/ggml.h, it won't be possible to put them in linked path until ggml becomes stable to avoid conflict with llama.cpp

View full answer

daeho-ro · 2025-09-09T11:40:25Z

daeho-ro
Sep 9, 2025
Collaborator Sponsor

Here is a PR

whisper-cpp: add header homebrew-core#236697

It was removed whole headers to avoid conflicting files between llama.cpp and whisper.cpp

Target /opt/homebrew/include/ggml-alloc.h
is a symlink belonging to llama.cpp. You can unlink it:
  brew unlink llama.cpp

To force the link and overwrite all conflicting files:
  brew link --overwrite whisper-cpp

To list all files that would be deleted:
  brew link --overwrite whisper-cpp --dry-run

5 replies

slhck Sep 9, 2025
Author

Thanks for addressing this so quickly!

slhck Sep 10, 2025
Author

This does not seem to work. I reinstalled the whisper-cpp formula and confirm the header is there:

➜ ls -l /opt/homebrew/Cellar/whisper-cpp/1.7.6/include
total 72
-rw-r--r--@ 1 werner  admin  34961 Jun 25 15:47 whisper.h

Still ffmpeg fails with:

ERROR: whisper >= 1.7.5 not found using pkg-config

The .pc file has:

# /opt/homebrew/opt/whisper-cpp/lib/pkgconfig/whisper.pc
prefix=/opt/homebrew/Cellar/whisper-cpp/1.7.6
exec_prefix=${prefix}
libdir=${exec_prefix}/lib
includedir=${prefix}/include

Name: whisper
Description: Port of OpenAI's Whisper model in C/C++
Version: 1.7.6
Libs: -L${libdir} -lggml  -lggml-base -lwhisper
Cflags: -I${includedir}

But the library files are not in /lib, instead in /libinternal:

/opt/homebrew/Cellar/whisper-cpp/1.7.6/
├── AUTHORS
├── bin
│   ├── vad-speech-segments
│   ├── whisper-bench
│   ├── whisper-cli
│   ├── whisper-command
│   ├── whisper-cpp
│   ├── whisper-server
│   └── whisper-stream
├── include
│   └── whisper.h
├── INSTALL_RECEIPT.json
├── lib
│   └── pkgconfig
│       └── whisper.pc
├── libinternal
│   ├── cmake
│   │   ├── ggml
│   │   │   ├── ggml-config.cmake
│   │   │   └── ggml-version.cmake
│   │   └── whisper
│   │       ├── whisper-config.cmake
│   │       └── whisper-version.cmake
│   ├── libggml-base.dylib
│   ├── libggml-blas.dylib
│   ├── libggml-cpu.dylib
│   ├── libggml-metal.dylib
│   ├── libggml.dylib
│   ├── libwhisper.1.7.6.dylib
│   ├── libwhisper.1.dylib -> libwhisper.1.7.6.dylib
│   └── libwhisper.dylib -> libwhisper.1.dylib
├── LICENSE
├── README.md
├── sbom.spdx.json
└── share
    └── whisper-cpp
        ├── for-tests-ggml-tiny.bin
        └── jfk.wav

So… should the .pc file be corrected?

FFmpeg's configure log:

2025-09-10 06:37:38 +0000

./configure
--prefix=/opt/homebrew/Cellar/ffmpeg/HEAD-de25cb4
--enable-shared
--cc=clang
--host-cflags=
--host-ldflags=
--enable-gpl
--enable-libaom
--enable-libdav1d
--enable-libharfbuzz
--enable-libmp3lame
--enable-libopus
--enable-libsnappy
--enable-libtheora
--enable-libvorbis
--enable-libvpx
--enable-libx264
--enable-libx265
--enable-libfontconfig
--enable-libfreetype
--enable-frei0r
--enable-libass
--enable-demuxer=dash
--enable-neon
--enable-opencl
--enable-audiotoolbox
--enable-videotoolbox
--disable-htmlpages
--enable-whisper

ERROR: whisper >= 1.7.5 not found using pkg-config

If you think configure made a mistake, make sure you are using the latest
version from Git.  If the latest version fails, report the problem to the
[email protected] mailing list or IRC #ffmpeg on irc.libera.chat.
Include the log file "ffbuild/config.log" produced by configure as this will help
solve the problem.

HOMEBREW_VERSION: 4.6.10-18-g80f9e67
ORIGIN: https://github.com/Homebrew/brew
HEAD: 80f9e6714f5b6cea1552ca743769693231d48eb1
Last commit: 26 hours ago
Branch: main
Core tap HEAD: fdbd8841e39031cf9aeefe8d0e5f8d79bc76f82b
Core tap last commit: 5 days ago
Core tap JSON: 09 Sep 15:51 UTC
Core cask tap HEAD: 543e0d61b399106a6267ca1fa34a183e43bcf095
Core cask tap last commit: 5 days ago
Core cask tap JSON: 09 Sep 15:51 UTC
HOMEBREW_PREFIX: /opt/homebrew
HOMEBREW_CASK_OPTS: []
HOMEBREW_DISPLAY: /private/tmp/com.apple.launchd.MnOy7I4j6N/org.xquartz:0
HOMEBREW_EDITOR: vim
HOMEBREW_MAKE_JOBS: 8
HOMEBREW_NO_BOOTSNAP: set
HOMEBREW_SORBET_RUNTIME: set
Homebrew Ruby: 3.4.5 => /opt/homebrew/Library/Homebrew/vendor/portable-ruby/3.4.5/bin/ruby
CPU: octa-core 64-bit arm_firestorm_icestorm
Clang: 17.0.0 build 1700
Git: 2.51.0 => /opt/homebrew/bin/git
Curl: 8.7.1 => /usr/bin/curl
macOS: 15.6.1-arm64
CLT: 16.4.0.0.1.1747106510
Xcode: 16.4
Rosetta 2: false

HOMEBREW_CC: clang
HOMEBREW_CXX: clang++
MAKEFLAGS: -j8
CMAKE_PREFIX_PATH: /opt/homebrew/opt/icu4c@77:/opt/homebrew/opt/libarchive:/opt/homebrew
CMAKE_INCLUDE_PATH: /Library/Developer/CommandLineTools/SDKs/MacOSX15.sdk/System/Library/Frameworks/OpenGL.framework/Versions/Current/Headers
CMAKE_LIBRARY_PATH: /Library/Developer/CommandLineTools/SDKs/MacOSX15.sdk/System/Library/Frameworks/OpenGL.framework/Versions/Current/Libraries
PKG_CONFIG_PATH: /opt/homebrew/opt/whisper-cpp/lib/pkgconfig:/opt/homebrew/opt/pkgconf/lib/pkgconfig:/opt/homebrew/opt/brotli/lib/pkgconfig:/opt/homebrew/opt/highway/lib/pkgconfig:/opt/homebrew/opt/imath/lib/pkgconfig:/opt/homebrew/opt/jpeg-turbo/lib/pkgconfig:/opt/homebrew/opt/libpng/lib/pkgconfig:/opt/homebrew/opt/xz/lib/pkgconfig:/opt/homebrew/opt/lz4/lib/pkgconfig:/opt/homebrew/opt/zstd/lib/pkgconfig:/opt/homebrew/opt/libtiff/lib/pkgconfig:/opt/homebrew/opt/little-cms2/lib/pkgconfig:/opt/homebrew/opt/libdeflate/lib/pkgconfig:/opt/homebrew/opt/openjph/lib/pkgconfig:/opt/homebrew/opt/openexr/lib/pkgconfig:/opt/homebrew/opt/webp/lib/pkgconfig:/opt/homebrew/opt/jpeg-xl/lib/pkgconfig:/opt/homebrew/opt/libvmaf/lib/pkgconfig:/opt/homebrew/opt/aom/lib/pkgconfig:/opt/homebrew/opt/dav1d/lib/pkgconfig:/opt/homebrew/opt/freetype/lib/pkgconfig:/opt/homebrew/opt/fontconfig/lib/pkgconfig:/opt/homebrew/opt/frei0r/lib/pkgconfig:/opt/homebrew/opt/pcre2/lib/pkgconfig:/opt/homebrew/opt/glib/lib/pkgconfig:/opt/homebrew/opt/libxau/lib/pkgconfig:/opt/homebrew/opt/libxdmcp/lib/pkgconfig:/opt/homebrew/opt/libxcb/lib/pkgconfig:/opt/homebrew/opt/libx11/lib/pkgconfig:/opt/homebrew/opt/libxext/lib/pkgconfig:/opt/homebrew/opt/libxrender/lib/pkgconfig:/opt/homebrew/opt/lzo/lib/pkgconfig:/opt/homebrew/opt/pixman/lib/pkgconfig:/opt/homebrew/opt/cairo/lib/pkgconfig:/opt/homebrew/opt/graphite2/lib/pkgconfig:/opt/homebrew/opt/icu4c@77/lib/pkgconfig:/opt/homebrew/opt/harfbuzz/lib/pkgconfig:/opt/homebrew/opt/fribidi/lib/pkgconfig:/opt/homebrew/opt/libunibreak/lib/pkgconfig:/opt/homebrew/opt/libass/lib/pkgconfig:/opt/homebrew/opt/libogg/lib/pkgconfig:/opt/homebrew/opt/libvorbis/lib/pkgconfig:/opt/homebrew/opt/libvpx/lib/pkgconfig:/opt/homebrew/opt/opus/lib/pkgconfig:/opt/homebrew/opt/sdl2/lib/pkgconfig:/opt/homebrew/opt/theora/lib/pkgconfig:/opt/homebrew/opt/x264/lib/pkgconfig:/opt/homebrew/opt/x265/lib/pkgconfig:/opt/homebrew/opt/libb2/lib/pkgconfig:/opt/homebrew/opt/libarchive/lib/pkgconfig:/opt/homebrew/opt/libsamplerate/lib/pkgconfig:/opt/homebrew/opt/xorgproto/share/pkgconfig
PKG_CONFIG_LIBDIR: /usr/lib/pkgconfig:/opt/homebrew/Library/Homebrew/os/mac/pkgconfig/15
HOMEBREW_MAKE_JOBS: 8
HOMEBREW_GIT: git
HOMEBREW_SDKROOT: /Library/Developer/CommandLineTools/SDKs/MacOSX15.sdk
ACLOCAL_PATH: /opt/homebrew/share/aclocal
PATH: /opt/homebrew/Library/Homebrew/shims/mac/super:/opt/homebrew/opt/pkgconf/bin:/opt/homebrew/opt/brotli/bin:/opt/homebrew/opt/giflib/bin:/opt/homebrew/opt/jpeg-turbo/bin:/opt/homebrew/opt/libpng/bin:/opt/homebrew/opt/xz/bin:/opt/homebrew/opt/lz4/bin:/opt/homebrew/opt/zstd/bin:/opt/homebrew/opt/libtiff/bin:/opt/homebrew/opt/little-cms2/bin:/opt/homebrew/opt/libdeflate/bin:/opt/homebrew/opt/openjph/bin:/opt/homebrew/opt/openexr/bin:/opt/homebrew/opt/webp/bin:/opt/homebrew/opt/jpeg-xl/bin:/opt/homebrew/opt/libvmaf/bin:/opt/homebrew/opt/aom/bin:/opt/homebrew/opt/dav1d/bin:/opt/homebrew/opt/freetype/bin:/opt/homebrew/opt/gettext/bin:/opt/homebrew/opt/fontconfig/bin:/opt/homebrew/opt/pcre2/bin:/opt/homebrew/opt/glib/bin:/opt/homebrew/opt/cairo/bin:/opt/homebrew/opt/graphite2/bin:/opt/homebrew/opt/icu4c@77/bin:/opt/homebrew/opt/harfbuzz/bin:/opt/homebrew/opt/lame/bin:/opt/homebrew/opt/fribidi/bin:/opt/homebrew/opt/sdl2/bin:/opt/homebrew/opt/x264/bin:/opt/homebrew/opt/x265/bin:/opt/homebrew/opt/whisper-cpp/bin:/opt/homebrew/opt/libarchive/bin:/usr/bin:/bin:/usr/sbin:/sbin

daeho-ro Sep 10, 2025
Collaborator Sponsor

Oh... then maybe we should install them to /lib but let me check why this happen.

cho-m Sep 10, 2025
Collaborator

Try to reinstall again. We moved files around in follow up PR. For now, headers and libs are moved to libexec but the pkgconfig file should expose them:

whisper-cpp: install into libexec for usable libs homebrew-core#236749

Due to how libwhisper/whisper.h needs libggml/ggml.h, it won't be possible to put them in linked path until ggml becomes stable to avoid conflict with llama.cpp

Answer selected by slhck

slhck Sep 10, 2025
Author

Yes, now it works, thanks!

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Homebrew

whisper-cpp headers missing #6400

Uh oh!

slhck Sep 9, 2025

Output of brew config

Output of brew doctor

Description of issue

Replies: 1 comment · 5 replies

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daeho-ro Sep 9, 2025 Collaborator Sponsor

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slhck Sep 9, 2025 Author

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slhck Sep 10, 2025 Author

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daeho-ro Sep 10, 2025 Collaborator Sponsor

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cho-m Sep 10, 2025 Collaborator

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slhck Sep 10, 2025 Author

slhck
Sep 9, 2025

Output of `brew config`

Output of `brew doctor`

Replies: 1 comment 5 replies

daeho-ro
Sep 9, 2025
Collaborator Sponsor

slhck Sep 9, 2025
Author

slhck Sep 10, 2025
Author

daeho-ro Sep 10, 2025
Collaborator Sponsor

cho-m Sep 10, 2025
Collaborator

slhck Sep 10, 2025
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