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Compile Aseprite from source code for Windows 11/10 x64
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compile-aseprite-win.md

Prerequisites

Download and Set Up Visual Studio Community 2022

Get The Source Code

Download and Set Up CMake

  • Get CMake cmake-3.xx.x-windows-x86_64.msi

  • Choose the option Add CMake To The System PATH For All Users

Download and Set Up Ninja

  • Download Ninja Build System.

  • Extract ninja-win.zip and copy ninja.exe to C:\Program Files\CMake\bin.

Download Skia

  • Download Skia Skia-Windows-Release-x64.zip.

  • In the C:\ directory, create a folder named deps.

  • Inside the deps directory, create another folder named skia.

  • Extract the contents of Skia-Windows-Release-x64.zip into the skia folder.

Compiling

  • In the C:\ directory, create a folder named aseprite.

  • Extract the contents of Aseprite-v1.x-Source.zip into the aseprite folder.

  • Search Command Prompt

  • Execute the following commands:

call "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio\2022\Community\Common7\Tools\VsDevCmd.bat" -arch=x64
cd C:\aseprite
mkdir build
cd build
cmake -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=RelWithDebInfo -DLAF_BACKEND=skia -DSKIA_DIR=C:\deps\skia -DSKIA_LIBRARY_DIR=C:\deps\skia\out\Release-x64 -DSKIA_LIBRARY=C:\deps\skia\out\Release-x64\skia.lib -G Ninja ..
ninja aseprite
  • The executable will be located at C:\aseprite\build\bin\aseprite.exe.

Tested With Aseprite v1.3.6

Please remember to support the creators of Aseprite. Only use this method to try the program or if you don't have access to funds or a credit card :)

@VermeilChan
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VermeilChan commented Feb 18, 2024 •
edited

Hey I just tried to do this I reviewed the steps but I'm getting this

C:\deps\skia\out\Release-x64 -DSKIA_LIBRARY=C:\deps\skia\out\Release-x64\skia.lib -G Ninja CMake Warning: No source or binary directory provided. Both will be assumed to be the same as the current working directory, but note that this warning will become a fatal error in future CMake releases.

this is in the Dev prompt for VS 2022 how do I fix this? Thanks.

  • Go to C:\aseprite\build directory.
cd C:\aseprite\build
  • Run the CMake.
cmake -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=RelWithDebInfo -DLAF_BACKEND=skia -DSKIA_DIR=C:\deps\skia -DSKIA_LIBRARY_DIR=C:\deps\skia\out\Release-x64 -DSKIA_LIBRARY=C:\deps\skia\out\Release-x64\skia.lib -G Ninja ..
  • Build Aseprite
ninja aseprite

@SargentToaster
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im sorry im still confused, did i miss a step

`C:\aseprite\build>cmake -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=RelWithDebInfo -DLAF_BACKEND=skia -DSKIA_DIR=C:\deps\skia -DSKIA_LIBRARY_DIR=C:\deps\skia\out\Release-x64 -DSKIA_LIBRARY=C:\deps\skia\out\Release-x64\skia.lib -G Ninja ..
CMake Warning:
Ignoring extra path from command line:

".."

CMake Error: The source directory "C:/aseprite" does not appear to contain CMakeLists.txt.
Specify --help for usage, or press the help button on the CMake GUI.`

@KilkankB
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This is something I got after using the below statement
cmake -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=RelWithDebInfo -DLAF_BACKEND=skia -DSKIA_DIR=C:\deps\skia -DSKIA_LIBRARY_DIR=C:\deps\skia\out\Release-x64 -DSKIA_LIBRARY=C:\deps\skia\out\Release-x64\skia.lib -G Ninja ..
This is what i got
`-- Could NOT find CCache (missing: CCache_EXECUTABLE)
CMake Deprecation Warning at third_party/zlib/CMakeLists.txt:1 (cmake_minimum_required):
Compatibility with CMake < 3.5 will be removed from a future version of
CMake.

Update the VERSION argument value or use a ... suffix to tell
CMake that the project does not need compatibility with older versions.

CMake Deprecation Warning at third_party/libpng/CMakeLists.txt:33 (cmake_minimum_required):
Compatibility with CMake < 3.5 will be removed from a future version of
CMake.

Update the VERSION argument value or use a ... suffix to tell
CMake that the project does not need compatibility with older versions.

CMake Deprecation Warning at third_party/libpng/CMakeLists.txt:34 (cmake_policy):
Compatibility with CMake < 3.5 will be removed from a future version of
CMake.

Update the VERSION argument value or use a ... suffix to tell
CMake that the project does not need compatibility with older versions.

-- curl version=[7.79.1-DEV]
-- Could NOT find Perl (missing: PERL_EXECUTABLE)
-- Enabled features: SSL IPv6 unixsockets libz AsynchDNS Largefile SSPI alt-svc HSTS SPNEGO Kerberos NTLM
-- Enabled protocols: DICT FILE FTP FTPS GOPHER GOPHERS HTTP HTTPS IMAP IMAPS LDAP MQTT POP3 POP3S RTSP SMB SMBS SMTP SMTPS TELNET TFTP
-- Enabled SSL backends: Schannel
-- Version: 10.0.0
-- Build type: RelWithDebInfo
CMake Deprecation Warning at third_party/cmark/CMakeLists.txt:1 (cmake_minimum_required):
Compatibility with CMake < 3.5 will be removed from a future version of
CMake.

Update the VERSION argument value or use a ... suffix to tell
CMake that the project does not need compatibility with older versions.

CMake Deprecation Warning at third_party/json11/CMakeLists.txt:1 (cmake_minimum_required):
Compatibility with CMake < 3.5 will be removed from a future version of
CMake.

Update the VERSION argument value or use a ... suffix to tell
CMake that the project does not need compatibility with older versions.

CMake Deprecation Warning at third_party/libarchive/CMakeLists.txt:2 (CMAKE_MINIMUM_REQUIRED):
Compatibility with CMake < 3.5 will be removed from a future version of
CMake.

Update the VERSION argument value or use a ... suffix to tell
CMake that the project does not need compatibility with older versions.

-- Could NOT find OpenSSL, try to set the path to OpenSSL root folder in the system variable OPENSSL_ROOT_DIR (missing: OPENSSL_CRYPTO_LIBRARY OPENSSL_INCLUDE_DIR)
CMake Warning (dev) at C:/Program Files/CMake/share/cmake-3.29/Modules/FindPackageHandleStandardArgs.cmake:438 (message):
The package name passed to find_package_handle_standard_args (LIBGCC)
does not match the name of the calling package (LibGCC). This can lead to
problems in calling code that expects find_package result variables
(e.g., _FOUND) to follow a certain pattern.
Call Stack (most recent call first):
third_party/libarchive/build/cmake/FindLibGCC.cmake:17 (FIND_PACKAGE_HANDLE_STANDARD_ARGS)
third_party/libarchive/CMakeLists.txt:1258 (FIND_PACKAGE)
This warning is for project developers. Use -Wno-dev to suppress it.

-- Could NOT find LIBGCC (missing: LIBGCC_LIBRARY)
-- Could NOT find PCREPOSIX (missing: PCREPOSIX_LIBRARY PCRE_INCLUDE_DIR)
CMake Warning (dev) at C:/Program Files/CMake/share/cmake-3.29/Modules/FindPackageHandleStandardArgs.cmake:438 (message):
The package name passed to find_package_handle_standard_args (PCRE) does
not match the name of the calling package (PCREPOSIX). This can lead to
problems in calling code that expects find_package result variables
(e.g., _FOUND) to follow a certain pattern.
Call Stack (most recent call first):
third_party/libarchive/build/cmake/FindPCREPOSIX.cmake:23 (FIND_PACKAGE_HANDLE_STANDARD_ARGS)
third_party/libarchive/CMakeLists.txt:1263 (FIND_PACKAGE)
This warning is for project developers. Use -Wno-dev to suppress it.

-- Could NOT find PCRE (missing: PCRE_LIBRARY)
-- Extended attributes support: none
-- ACL support: none
-- laf backend: skia
-- laf zlib: zlibstatic
-- laf pixman: pixman
-- laf freetype: FREETYPE_LIBRARY-NOTFOUND
-- laf harfbuzz: HARFBUZZ_LIBRARY-NOTFOUND
-- skia dir: C:/deps/skia
-- skia library: C:/deps/skia/out/Release-x64/skia.lib
-- skia library dir: C:/deps/skia/out/Release-x64
-- aseprite libwebp: WEBP_LIBRARIES-NOTFOUND
CMake Deprecation Warning at src/observable/CMakeLists.txt:4 (cmake_minimum_required):
Compatibility with CMake < 3.5 will be removed from a future version of
CMake.

Update the VERSION argument value or use a ... suffix to tell
CMake that the project does not need compatibility with older versions.

CMake Deprecation Warning at src/clip/CMakeLists.txt:4 (cmake_minimum_required):
Compatibility with CMake < 3.5 will be removed from a future version of
CMake.

Update the VERSION argument value or use a ... suffix to tell
CMake that the project does not need compatibility with older versions.

CMake Deprecation Warning at src/undo/CMakeLists.txt:4 (cmake_minimum_required):
Compatibility with CMake < 3.5 will be removed from a future version of
CMake.

Update the VERSION argument value or use a ... suffix to tell
CMake that the project does not need compatibility with older versions.

-- Configuring done (4.1s)
CMake Error: The following variables are used in this project, but they are set to NOTFOUND.
Please set them or make sure they are set and tested correctly in the CMake files:
WEBP_LIBRARIES
linked by target "app-lib" in directory C:/aseprite/src/app

-- Generating done (0.4s)
CMake Generate step failed. Build files cannot be regenerated correctly.`

@Azertyyys
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after i run ninja aseprite
ninja: error: 'src/clone_strings', needed by 'src/CMakeFiles/copy_data', missing and no known rule to make it

@Azertyyys
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after i run ninja aseprite ninja: error: 'src/clone_strings', needed by 'src/CMakeFiles/copy_data', missing and no known rule to make it

I downgraded from aseprite 1.3.4 to 1.3.3 and it worked
i also downgraded cmake to 3.28.3 though im not sure if thats required

@VermeilChan
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after i run ninja aseprite ninja: error: 'src/clone_strings', needed by 'src/CMakeFiles/copy_data', missing and no known rule to make it

I downgraded from aseprite 1.3.4 to 1.3.3 and it worked i also downgraded cmake to 3.28.3 though im not sure if thats required

i tested it with both aseprite 1.3.4 to 1.3.3 and both of them work with cmake 3.29.0-rc2

@Dcyyr
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Dcyyr commented Mar 1, 2024

1
Why am i got this,I've never used CMake.

@StarFang208
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StarFang208 commented Mar 11, 2024 •
edited

I'm getting errors when I follow the instructions.
C:\aseprite\build>cmake -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=RelWithDebInfo -DLAF_BACKEND=skia -DSKIA_DIR=C:\deps\skia -DSKIA_LIBRARY_DIR=C:\deps\skia\out\Release-x64 -DSKIA_LIBRARY=C:\deps\skia\out\Release-x64\skia.lib -G Ninja ..
CMake Error at C:/Program Files/CMake/share/cmake-3.28/Modules/CMakeDetermineCXXCompiler.cmake:48 (message):
Could not find compiler set in environment variable CXX:

set(CMAKE_CXX_COMPILER "C:/Program Files/Microsoft Visual
Studio/2022/Community/VC/Tools/MSVC/14.30.30705/bin/Hostx64/x64/cl.exe").

Call Stack (most recent call first):
CMakeLists.txt:23 (project)

CMake Error: CMAKE_CXX_COMPILER not set, after EnableLanguage
-- Configuring incomplete, errors occurred!

How can I fix it?

I'm on Win 10 anyway.

@mrstakan1
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Hi. Im getting this error with any compiler im trying to use. Maybe you can help me. I`m on Windows 11.

C:\aseprite\build>cmake -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=RelWithDebInfo -DLAF_BACKEND=skia -DSKIA_DIR=C:\deps\skia -DSKIA_LIBRARY_DIR=C:\deps\skia\out\Release-x64 -DSKIA_LIBRARY=C:\deps\skia\out\Release-x64\skia.lib -G Ninja ..
-- The C compiler identification is unknown
-- The CXX compiler identification is unknown
-- Detecting C compiler ABI info
-- Detecting C compiler ABI info - failed
-- Check for working C compiler: C:/Program Files/Microsoft Visual Studio/2022/Community/VC/Tools/MSVC/14.39.33519/bin/Hostx64/x64/cl.exe
-- Check for working C compiler: C:/Program Files/Microsoft Visual Studio/2022/Community/VC/Tools/MSVC/14.39.33519/bin/Hostx64/x64/cl.exe - broken
CMake Error at C:/Program Files/CMake/share/cmake-3.29/Modules/CMakeTestCCompiler.cmake:67 (message):
The C compiler

"C:/Program Files/Microsoft Visual Studio/2022/Community/VC/Tools/MSVC/14.39.33519/bin/Hostx64/x64/cl.exe"

is not able to compile a simple test program.

It fails with the following output:

Change Dir: 'C:/aseprite/build/CMakeFiles/CMakeScratch/TryCompile-7uvaq3'

Run Build Command(s): C:/PROGRA~1/MIB055~1/2022/COMMUN~1/Common7/IDE/COMMON~1/MICROS~1/CMake/Ninja/ninja.exe -v cmTC_7395d
[1/2] C:\PROGRA~1\MIB055~1\2022\COMMUN~1\VC\Tools\MSVC\1439~1.335\bin\Hostx64\x64\cl.exe    -o CMakeFiles\cmTC_7395d.dir\testCCompiler.c.obj -c C:\aseprite\build\CMakeFiles\CMakeScratch\TryCompile-7uvaq3\testCCompiler.c
FAILED: CMakeFiles/cmTC_7395d.dir/testCCompiler.c.obj
C:\PROGRA~1\MIB055~1\2022\COMMUN~1\VC\Tools\MSVC\1439~1.335\bin\Hostx64\x64\cl.exe    -o CMakeFiles\cmTC_7395d.dir\testCCompiler.c.obj -c C:\aseprite\build\CMakeFiles\CMakeScratch\TryCompile-7uvaq3\testCCompiler.c
ninja: build stopped: subcommand failed.

CMake will not be able to correctly generate this project.
Call Stack (most recent call first):
CMakeLists.txt:23 (project)

-- Configuring incomplete, errors occurred!

@YagamiD3v
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Thanks !

@thekaz
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thekaz commented Apr 7, 2024

This might be a dumb or obvious prereq, but I think this process also requires git to be installed. Otherwise the error "error: could not find git for clone..." appears. If this is someone's first time trying to compile something, or if they're a starving artist with no dev experience, they may not know how to parse the error message.

@thekaz
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thekaz commented Apr 7, 2024

@KilkankB I figured out how to fix your error if you're still having it. From https://community.aseprite.org/t/cmake-error-webp-libraries-notfound/17305, double check your skia install directory, and where it is in your filesystem matches -DSKIA_DIR=C:\deps\skia. If it doesn't, either move the directory or update the flag to match where it actually is

@VermeilChan
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sorry guys if i dont reply to ur problems
im not that smart 😭

@Dotsz-Vic-FLP
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Appreciate this guide. This is way easier to understand than the install.md included. Thank you for this.

@VermeilChan
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Appreciate this guide. This is way easier to understand than the install.md included. Thank you for this.

thank you :)

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