How to Fix <bits/stdc++.h> File not Found in MacOS?

The majority of the standard C++ headers can be easily included in your code with the #include<bits/stdc++.h> directive. It is not, however, a standard header file, and its availability on all systems or with all compilers is not assured. Mainly used on Unix-like platforms, such as macOS, it is supported by the GNU Compiler Collection (GCC) and comparable compilers like Clang.

If you're using VSCode on macOS and seeing an error about #include<bits/stdc++.h>, the compiler is probably having trouble finding the file.

In this article, we will learn how to resolve <bits/stdc++.h> header in your C++ program.

<bits/stdc++.h>: No Such File or Directory Error in C++ MacOS.

The bits/stdc++.h is a GCC-specific header file and is not available by default on MacOS, which uses Clang. To fix the “file not found” error, you can create your own stdc++.h file and place it in a directory where Clang can find it.

We can fix this errors by using different methods. Methods to fix <bits/stdc++.h> No Such File or Directory Error in MacOS are give below:

Installing the <bits/stdc++.h> Manually

1. Make sure you have installed the required compilers. Xcode Command Line Tools is a popular option for macOS. Using xcode-select --install in your terminal will allow you to install it.
2. Modify the VSCode configuration:
   • Get the VSCode workspace open.
   • To access Settings, press Cmd +, (Command + Comma).
   • Use the search field to look up "C++ Include Path".
   • In the "C++: Include Path" section, select "Edit in settings.json".
   • To your C++ Standard Library, add the path. This might be /usr/include/c++/X.Y.Z, where X.Y.Z is the installed version of the C++ Standard Library.
3. Download the bits/stdc++.h file from this repository and move it in the desired directory.

Note: The C++ Standard Library is required by the bits/stdc++.h header. Make sure the Standard Library is fully installed on your system. This ought to be pre-installed with the Xcode Command Line Tools for macOS.

Taking Different Approach for Program

You can consider explicitly adding the necessary headers in your code, rather than depending on bits/stdc++.h. In the long term, this can result in better portable and intelligible code, even though it can require more work up front.

For Example, consider the below program

// C++ Program to illustrate the bits/stdc++.h header
#include <bits/stdc++.h>
using namespace std;

int main()
{
    vector<int> v = { 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 };

    for (auto i : v) {
        cout << i << " ";
    }
    return 0;
}

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The above program can also be written as:

// C++ Program to illustrate the bits/stdc++.h header
#include <iostream>
#include <vector>
using namespace std;

int main()
{
    vector<int> v = { 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 };

    for (auto i : v) {
        cout << i << " ";
    }
    return 0;
}

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Install GCC Compiler

The <bits/stdc++.h> is a non-standard header file of GCC compiler. So if we install GCC in MacOS and compile the source code using GCC compiler, then there will be no error file not found.

Conclusion

By following these steps, you should be able to resolve the "fatal error: 'bits/stdc++.h' file not found" issue on macOS. Whether you choose to manually add the header file, use standard headers, or switch to GCC, each method has its benefits depending on your project's requirements.

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Article Tags :

• C++

Practice Tags :

• CPP