Building gRPC and openssl as dependency with cmake for msys2/mingw64 fails with undefined references

Question

I'm trying to build the grpc helloworld example with changed file tree structure and my own CMakeLists.txt with msys2/mingw64. I want to build grpc from sources as a static library using add_subdirectory and build grpc's dependencies recursevily from sources as well.

Doing that I was getting linking errors with undefined references. After some research it seems that boringssl has problems with building in msys2/mingw64 or at least the way boringssl is included in grpc's repo isn't compatible with msys2/mingw64.

Since the grpc package in msys2 is built using openssl as dependency I decided to build openssl from sources during the build and let grpc statically link to that. I hope it is enough to just clone grpc without the boringssl submodule.

I was able to succesfully link and run the example when openssl was linked dynamically to libssl.dll.a. However when I try to link to static openssl build I'm getting undefined references errors again.`grpc_test2_server.exe

This are the linking errors I'm getting:

cmd.exe /C "cd . && C:\msys64\mingw64\bin\c++.exe -g  @CMakeFiles\grpc_test2_server.rsp -o grpc_test2_server.exe -Wl,--out-implib,libgrpc_test2_server.dll.a -Wl,--major-image-version,0,--minor-image-version,0  && cd ."
C:/msys64/mingw64/bin/../lib/gcc/x86_64-w64-mingw32/12.2.0/../../../../x86_64-w64-mingw32/bin/ld.exe: third-party/openssl/lib/libcrypto.a(b_addr.o): in function `addr_strings':    
C:\Users\PatVax\Workspace\cpp\grpc_test2\build-debug\third-party\openssl_build/../../../third-party/openssl/crypto/bio/b_addr.c:208: undefined reference to `__imp_getnameinfo'     
C:/msys64/mingw64/bin/../lib/gcc/x86_64-w64-mingw32/12.2.0/../../../../x86_64-w64-mingw32/bin/ld.exe: C:\Users\PatVax\Workspace\cpp\grpc_test2\build-debug\third-party\openssl_build/../../../third-party/openssl/crypto/bio/b_addr.c:220: undefined reference to `gai_strerrorW'
C:/msys64/mingw64/bin/../lib/gcc/x86_64-w64-mingw32/12.2.0/../../../../x86_64-w64-mingw32/bin/ld.exe: third-party/openssl/lib/libcrypto.a(b_addr.o): in function `BIO_lookup_ex':   
C:\Users\PatVax\Workspace\cpp\grpc_test2\build-debug\third-party\openssl_build/../../../third-party/openssl/crypto/bio/b_addr.c:731: undefined reference to `gai_strerrorW'
C:/msys64/mingw64/bin/../lib/gcc/x86_64-w64-mingw32/12.2.0/../../../../x86_64-w64-mingw32/bin/ld.exe: third-party/openssl/lib/libcrypto.a(b_sock.o): in function `BIO_sock_error':  
C:\Users\PatVax\Workspace\cpp\grpc_test2\build-debug\third-party\openssl_build/../../../third-party/openssl/crypto/bio/b_sock.c:99: undefined reference to `__imp_getsockopt'       
C:/msys64/mingw64/bin/../lib/gcc/x86_64-w64-mingw32/12.2.0/../../../../x86_64-w64-mingw32/bin/ld.exe: third-party/openssl/lib/libcrypto.a(b_sock.o): in function `BIO_gethostbyname':
C:\Users\PatVax\Workspace\cpp\grpc_test2\build-debug\third-party\openssl_build/../../../third-party/openssl/crypto/bio/b_sock.c:113: undefined reference to `__imp_gethostbyname'   
C:/msys64/mingw64/bin/../lib/gcc/x86_64-w64-mingw32/12.2.0/../../../../x86_64-w64-mingw32/bin/ld.exe: third-party/openssl/lib/libcrypto.a(b_sock2.o): in function `BIO_listen':     
C:\Users\PatVax\Workspace\cpp\grpc_test2\build-debug\third-party\openssl_build/../../../third-party/openssl/crypto/bio/b_sock2.c:217: undefined reference to `__imp_getsockopt'     
C:/msys64/mingw64/bin/../lib/gcc/x86_64-w64-mingw32/12.2.0/../../../../x86_64-w64-mingw32/bin/ld.exe: third-party/openssl/lib/libcrypto.a(b_sock2.o): in function `BIO_accept_ex':  
C:\Users\PatVax\Workspace\cpp\grpc_test2\build-debug\third-party\openssl_build/../../../third-party/openssl/crypto/bio/b_sock2.c:290: undefined reference to `__imp_accept'
C:/msys64/mingw64/bin/../lib/gcc/x86_64-w64-mingw32/12.2.0/../../../../x86_64-w64-mingw32/bin/ld.exe: third-party/openssl/lib/libcrypto.a(e_capi.o): in function `capi_get_prov_info':
C:\Users\PatVax\Workspace\cpp\grpc_test2\build-debug\third-party\openssl_build/../../../third-party/openssl/engines/e_capi.c:1281: undefined reference to `__imp_CertGetCertificateContextProperty'
C:/msys64/mingw64/bin/../lib/gcc/x86_64-w64-mingw32/12.2.0/../../../../x86_64-w64-mingw32/bin/ld.exe: C:\Users\PatVax\Workspace\cpp\grpc_test2\build-debug\third-party\openssl_build/../../../third-party/openssl/engines/e_capi.c:1289: undefined reference to `__imp_CertGetCertificateContextProperty'
C:/msys64/mingw64/bin/../lib/gcc/x86_64-w64-mingw32/12.2.0/../../../../x86_64-w64-mingw32/bin/ld.exe: third-party/openssl/lib/libcrypto.a(e_capi.o): in function `capi_cert_get_fname':
C:\Users\PatVax\Workspace\cpp\grpc_test2\build-debug\third-party\openssl_build/../../../third-party/openssl/engines/e_capi.c:1329: undefined reference to `__imp_CertGetCertificateContextProperty'
C:/msys64/mingw64/bin/../lib/gcc/x86_64-w64-mingw32/12.2.0/../../../../x86_64-w64-mingw32/bin/ld.exe: C:\Users\PatVax\Workspace\cpp\grpc_test2\build-debug\third-party\openssl_build/../../../third-party/openssl/engines/e_capi.c:1335: undefined reference to `__imp_CertGetCertificateContextProperty'
C:/msys64/mingw64/bin/../lib/gcc/x86_64-w64-mingw32/12.2.0/../../../../x86_64-w64-mingw32/bin/ld.exe: third-party/openssl/lib/libcrypto.a(e_capi.o): in function `capi_open_store': 
C:\Users\PatVax\Workspace\cpp\grpc_test2\build-debug\third-party\openssl_build/../../../third-party/openssl/engines/e_capi.c:1400: undefined reference to `__imp_CertOpenStore'     
C:/msys64/mingw64/bin/../lib/gcc/x86_64-w64-mingw32/12.2.0/../../../../x86_64-w64-mingw32/bin/ld.exe: third-party/openssl/lib/libcrypto.a(e_capi.o): in function `capi_list_certs': 
C:\Users\PatVax\Workspace\cpp\grpc_test2\build-debug\third-party\openssl_build/../../../third-party/openssl/engines/e_capi.c:1432: undefined reference to `__imp_CertFreeCertificateContext'
C:/msys64/mingw64/bin/../lib/gcc/x86_64-w64-mingw32/12.2.0/../../../../x86_64-w64-mingw32/bin/ld.exe: C:\Users\PatVax\Workspace\cpp\grpc_test2\build-debug\third-party\openssl_build/../../../third-party/openssl/engines/e_capi.c:1435: undefined reference to `__imp_CertEnumCertificatesInStore'
C:/msys64/mingw64/bin/../lib/gcc/x86_64-w64-mingw32/12.2.0/../../../../x86_64-w64-mingw32/bin/ld.exe: C:\Users\PatVax\Workspace\cpp\grpc_test2\build-debug\third-party\openssl_build/../../../third-party/openssl/engines/e_capi.c:1443: undefined reference to `__imp_CertCloseStore'
C:/msys64/mingw64/bin/../lib/gcc/x86_64-w64-mingw32/12.2.0/../../../../x86_64-w64-mingw32/bin/ld.exe: third-party/openssl/lib/libcrypto.a(e_capi.o): in function `capi_find_cert':  
C:\Users\PatVax\Workspace\cpp\grpc_test2\build-debug\third-party\openssl_build/../../../third-party/openssl/engines/e_capi.c:1455: undefined reference to `__imp_CertFindCertificateInStore'
C:/msys64/mingw64/bin/../lib/gcc/x86_64-w64-mingw32/12.2.0/../../../../x86_64-w64-mingw32/bin/ld.exe: C:\Users\PatVax\Workspace\cpp\grpc_test2\build-debug\third-party\openssl_build/../../../third-party/openssl/engines/e_capi.c:1459: undefined reference to `__imp_CertEnumCertificatesInStore'
C:/msys64/mingw64/bin/../lib/gcc/x86_64-w64-mingw32/12.2.0/../../../../x86_64-w64-mingw32/bin/ld.exe: third-party/openssl/lib/libcrypto.a(e_capi.o): in function `capi_find_key':   
C:\Users\PatVax\Workspace\cpp\grpc_test2\build-debug\third-party\openssl_build/../../../third-party/openssl/engines/e_capi.c:1559: undefined reference to `__imp_CertFreeCertificateContext'
C:/msys64/mingw64/bin/../lib/gcc/x86_64-w64-mingw32/12.2.0/../../../../x86_64-w64-mingw32/bin/ld.exe: C:\Users\PatVax\Workspace\cpp\grpc_test2\build-debug\third-party\openssl_build/../../../third-party/openssl/engines/e_capi.c:1561: undefined reference to `__imp_CertCloseStore'
C:\Users\PatVax\Workspace\cpp\grpc_test2\build-debug\third-party\openssl_build/../../../third-party/openssl/engines/e_capi.c:1593: undefined reference to `__imp_CertFreeCertificateC:/msys64/mingw64/bin/../lib/gcc/x86_64-w64-mingw32/12.2.0/../../../../x86_64-w64-mingw32/bin/ld.exe: third-party/openssl/lib/libcrypto.a(e_capi.o): in function `capi_load_ssl_client_cert':
C:\Users\PatVax\Workspace\cpp\grpc_test2\build-debug\third-party\openssl_build/../../../third-party/openssl/engines/e_capi.c:1720: undefined reference to `__imp_CertEnumCertificatesInStore'
C:/msys64/mingw64/bin/../lib/gcc/x86_64-w64-mingw32/12.2.0/../../../../x86_64-w64-mingw32/bin/ld.exe: C:\Users\PatVax\Workspace\cpp\grpc_test2\build-debug\third-party\openssl_build/../../../third-party/openssl/engines/e_capi.c:1740: undefined reference to `__imp_CertDuplicateCertificateContext'
C:/msys64/mingw64/bin/../lib/gcc/x86_64-w64-mingw32/12.2.0/../../../../x86_64-w64-mingw32/bin/ld.exe: C:\Users\PatVax\Workspace\cpp\grpc_test2\build-debug\third-party\openssl_build/../../../third-party/openssl/engines/e_capi.c:1754: undefined reference to `__imp_CertFreeCertificateContext'
C:/msys64/mingw64/bin/../lib/gcc/x86_64-w64-mingw32/12.2.0/../../../../x86_64-w64-mingw32/bin/ld.exe: C:\Users\PatVax\Workspace\cpp\grpc_test2\build-debug\third-party\openssl_build/../../../third-party/openssl/engines/e_capi.c:1756: undefined reference to `__imp_CertCloseStore'
collect2.exe: error: ld returned 1 exit status
ninja: build stopped: subcommand failed.`

And this is my CMakeLists.txt that I'm currently using:

cmake_minimum_required(VERSION 3.24)
project(grpc_test2 C CXX)
set(CMAKE_CXX_STANDARD 20)
set(CMAKE_C_STANDARD 17)

set(BUILD_SHARED_LIBS OFF)
set(gRPC_BUILD_SHARED_LIBS OFF)

set(gRPC_BUILD_GRPC_CSHARP_EXT OFF)
set(gRPC_BUILD_GRPC_PHP_EXT OFF)
set(gRPC_BUILD_GRPC_PYTHON_EXT OFF)
set(gRPC_BUILD_GRPC_NODE_EXT OFF)
set(gRPC_BUILD_GRPC_RUBY_EXT OFF)
set(gRPC_BUILD_GRPC_OBJC_EXT OFF)
set(gRPC_BUILD_GRPC_OBJC_PLUGIN OFF)

set(_gRPC_BASELIB_LIBRARIES libws2_32 libcrypt32)

include(ProcessorCount)
ProcessorCount(N)

set(OPENSSL_SOURCE_DIR ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/third-party/openssl)
set(OPENSSL_BINARY_DIR ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/third-party/openssl_build)
set(OPENSSL_INSTALL_DIR ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/third-party/openssl)
set(OPENSSL_INCLUDE_DIR ${OPENSSL_INSTALL_DIR}/include)
set(MSYS_SHELL ${MSYS2_ROOT}/msys2_shell.cmd)
if(CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE STREQUAL "Release")
  set(OPENSSL_CONFIGURE_COMMAND ${MSYS_SHELL} -mingw64 -no-start -here -defterm -c 
    "${OPENSSL_SOURCE_DIR}/Configure --prefix=${OPENSSL_INSTALL_DIR} --openssldir=${OPENSSL_INSTALL_DIR} --release -static no-shared mingw64")
elseif(CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE STREQUAL "Debug")
  set(OPENSSL_CONFIGURE_COMMAND ${MSYS_SHELL} -mingw64 -no-start -here -defterm -c 
    "${OPENSSL_SOURCE_DIR}/Configure --prefix=${OPENSSL_INSTALL_DIR} --openssldir=${OPENSSL_INSTALL_DIR} --debug -static no-shared mingw64")
else()
  set(OPENSSL_CONFIGURE_COMMAND ${MSYS_SHELL} -mingw64 -no-start -here -defterm -c 
    "${OPENSSL_SOURCE_DIR}/Configure --prefix=${OPENSSL_INSTALL_DIR} --openssldir=${OPENSSL_INSTALL_DIR} -static no-shared mingw64")
endif()

add_custom_target(OpenSSL_Configured
  COMMAND ${OPENSSL_CONFIGURE_COMMAND}
  WORKING_DIRECTORY ${OPENSSL_BINARY_DIR}
  BYPRODUCTS ${OPENSSL_BINARY_DIR}/Makefile
  DEPENDS ${OPENSSL_SOURCE_DIR}/Configure
  COMMENT "OpenSSL is configuring")

add_custom_target(OpenSSL_Built
  COMMAND ${MSYS_SHELL} -mingw64 -no-start -here -defterm -c "make -j${N}"
  WORKING_DIRECTORY ${OPENSSL_BINARY_DIR}
  BYPRODUCTS ${OPENSSL_BINARY_DIR}/libssl.a ${OPENSSL_BINARY_DIR}/libcrypto.a
  DEPENDS OpenSSL_Configured
  COMMENT "OpenSSL is building")

add_custom_target(OpenSSL_Installed
  COMMAND ${MSYS_SHELL} -mingw64 -no-start -here -defterm -c "make install"
  WORKING_DIRECTORY ${OPENSSL_BINARY_DIR}
  BYPRODUCTS ${OPENSSL_INSTALL_DIR}/lib/libssl.a ${OPENSSL_INSTALL_DIR}/lib/libcrypto.a ${OPENSSL_INSTALL_DIR}/lib/libssl.dll.a ${OPENSSL_INSTALL_DIR}/lib/libcrypto.dll.a ${OPENSSL_INSTALL_DIR}/lib/libssl.dll ${OPENSSL_INSTALL_DIR}/lib/libcrypto.dll
  DEPENDS OpenSSL_Built
  COMMENT "OpenSSL is installing")

add_custom_target(OpenSSL DEPENDS OpenSSL_Installed COMMENT "OpenSSL is ready")

file(MAKE_DIRECTORY ${OPENSSL_INCLUDE_DIR})

add_library(OpenSSL::SSL STATIC IMPORTED GLOBAL)
set_property(TARGET OpenSSL::SSL PROPERTY IMPORTED_LOCATION ${OPENSSL_INSTALL_DIR}/lib/libssl.a)
set_property(TARGET OpenSSL::SSL PROPERTY INTERFACE_INCLUDE_DIRECTORIES ${OPENSSL_INCLUDE_DIR})
add_dependencies(OpenSSL::SSL OpenSSL)

add_library(OpenSSL::Crypto STATIC IMPORTED GLOBAL)
set_property(TARGET OpenSSL::Crypto PROPERTY IMPORTED_LOCATION ${OPENSSL_INSTALL_DIR}/lib/libcrypto.a)
set_property(TARGET OpenSSL::Crypto PROPERTY INTERFACE_INCLUDE_DIRECTORIES ${OPENSSL_INCLUDE_DIR})
add_dependencies(OpenSSL::Crypto OpenSSL)

add_library(ssl STATIC IMPORTED GLOBAL)
set_property(TARGET ssl PROPERTY IMPORTED_LOCATION ${OPENSSL_INSTALL_DIR}/lib/libssl.a)
set_property(TARGET ssl PROPERTY INTERFACE_INCLUDE_DIRECTORIES ${OPENSSL_INCLUDE_DIR})
add_dependencies(ssl OpenSSL)

add_library(crypto STATIC IMPORTED GLOBAL)
set_property(TARGET crypto PROPERTY IMPORTED_LOCATION ${OPENSSL_INSTALL_DIR}/lib/libcrypto.a)
set_property(TARGET crypto PROPERTY INTERFACE_INCLUDE_DIRECTORIES ${OPENSSL_INCLUDE_DIR})
add_dependencies(crypto OpenSSL)

set(_gRPC_SSL_LIBRARIES ssl crypto)
set(_gRPC_SSL_INCLUDE_DIR ${OPENSSL_INCLUDE_DIR})

add_subdirectory(third-party/grpc ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/third-party/grpc)

get_filename_component(hw_proto "${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/protobufs/helloworld.proto" ABSOLUTE)
get_filename_component(hw_proto_path "${hw_proto}" PATH)

find_program(_GRPC_CPP_PLUGIN_EXECUTABLE grpc_cpp_plugin)

set(hw_proto_srcs "${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/helloworld.pb.cc")
set(hw_proto_hdrs "${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/helloworld.pb.h")
set(hw_grpc_srcs "${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/helloworld.grpc.pb.cc")
set(hw_grpc_hdrs "${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/helloworld.grpc.pb.h")
add_custom_command(
      OUTPUT "${hw_proto_srcs}" "${hw_proto_hdrs}" "${hw_grpc_srcs}" "${hw_grpc_hdrs}"
      COMMAND protobuf::protoc
      ARGS --grpc_out "${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}"
        --cpp_out "${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}"
        -I "${hw_proto_path}"
        --plugin=protoc-gen-grpc="${_GRPC_CPP_PLUGIN_EXECUTABLE}"
        "${hw_proto}"
      DEPENDS "${hw_proto}")

include_directories("${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}")

add_library(hw_grpc_proto
  ${hw_grpc_srcs}
  ${hw_grpc_hdrs}
  ${hw_proto_srcs}
  ${hw_proto_hdrs})
target_link_libraries(hw_grpc_proto grpc++ grpc++_reflection libprotobuf)

add_executable(${CMAKE_PROJECT_NAME}_server server.cpp)
add_executable(${CMAKE_PROJECT_NAME}_client client.cpp)
target_link_libraries(${CMAKE_PROJECT_NAME}_server grpc++ grpc++_reflection libprotobuf hw_grpc_proto)
target_link_libraries(${CMAKE_PROJECT_NAME}_client grpc++ grpc++_reflection libprotobuf hw_grpc_proto)

My directory structure looks like the following:

• grpc is cloned with all submodules without boringssl
• openssl is cloned with all submodules
• protobufs contains the .proto files that are being compiled during the build process
• Contents of the .cpp files are identical to those in the helloworld example in the grpc repo

What could be the reason of my problems? Am I missing something? Thanks in advance.

Answer 1

EDIT3: I've actually realized a big blunder here. You can't link against the ws2_32.lib as it was built with MSVC and not MinGW. However the issue to your problem stems from here.

I feel like a donkey, but apparently newer versions of MSYS2/MinGW should be able to link against these static libraries. So the following solution is worth a try.

---

EDIT: After some digging in I think I found the reason why MSVC is supported and mingw is not. The reason why you're having issues is because they are most likely using #pragma to link their libraries (this is a MSVC specific feature).

Try additionaly linking to this library: ws2_32 (maybe the 64 bit version is called ws2_64) - (more precisely you want to link against winsock2 64 bit version)

EDIT2: They are all named ws2_32 and the #pragma picks the right one for you, i.e. the only thing different is the path to the correct SDK

---

Based on this official github issue. The GRPC team does not support MinGW for Windows builds.

They describe the same issue that you are describing and they also have a suggestion on how to fix boringssl to work i.e.

• By applying this patch and
• by building boringssl with the following define OPENSSL_NO_ASM.

Long story short, I would switch to MSVC on Windows if I were you - I don't see a reason why not to use it if your target platform is Windows anyway.

EDIT: However if you are still persistent on using MinGW then maybe to maybe get you closer to how to fix your issue I would maybe point out that gai_strerrorW is a function defined in ws2tcpip.h