Software⏱️ 3 min read📅 2026-06-15

How to Fix: Openssl installation using HomeBrew fails giving a make error

Homebrew openssl installation error fix for Mountain Lion.

Quick Answer: Try running the command with the --verbose flag to get more detailed output, and then check if zlib is installed correctly by running brew install zlib.

📋 Table of Contents

  1. 🔍 Why This Happens
  2. 🚀 How to Resolve This Issue
  3. 🎯 Final Words

The error 'openssl did not build' is encountered when trying to install OpenSSLusing HomeBrew on Mountain Lion. This issue affects users who have installed HomeBrew and are attempting to install OpenSSL, but are unable to complete the installation due to a make error.

This error can be frustrating for developers and system administrators who rely on OpenSSL for various tasks. However, by following the steps outlined in this troubleshooting guide, you should be able to overcome this issue and successfully install OpenSSL using HomeBrew.

🔍 Why This Happens

  • The primary reason for this error is due to a mismatch between the architecture of the OpenSSL source code and the target system architecture. Specifically, the openssl-1.0.1c.tar.gz file may not contain 64-bit binaries for Mountain Lion, which can cause issues when trying to build and install OpenSSL.
  • An alternative cause could be related to missing dependencies or compiler flags that are required by the OpenSSL build process.

🚀 How to Resolve This Issue

Resolving Architecture Mismatch

  1. Step 1: Step 1: Identify the target system architecture. On Mountain Lion, the default architecture is x86_64 (64-bit). Verify this using the command 'arch -x' in the terminal.
  2. Step 2: Step 2: Specify the correct architecture flag when running the HomeBrew installation command. Use the '- architectures=x86_64' flag to ensure that OpenSSL builds for the correct architecture.
  3. Step 3: Step 3: Attempt to install OpenSSL again, and verify that it completes successfully.

Resolving Missing Dependencies

  1. Step 1: Step 1: Check if all required dependencies are installed. Use the command 'brew install --dependencies openssl' to ensure that all necessary dependencies are available for installation.
  2. Step 2: Step 2: Verify that the OpenSSL build process has access to the correct compiler flags and libraries. Run the command 'brew link openssl --force' to update the link, and then attempt to install OpenSSL again.

🎯 Final Words

By following these steps, you should be able to resolve the 'openssl did not build' error and successfully install OpenSSL using HomeBrew on Mountain Lion. If you encounter further issues, consider reaching out to the HomeBrew community or seeking assistance from a system administrator or developer with experience in installing OpenSSL.

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