<p>I'm assuming you actually want to <em>build</em> Cura, rather than simply install Cura. If you instead want to install Cura, you can try <code>sudo apt-get install cura-engine</code></p>

<p><em>The following instructions were tested on my own Debian 8 (Jessie) distribution; they should be mostly, if not entirely, the same, for Ubuntu. Note that I <strong>did not follow the exact steps</strong> as described on the github/Ultimaker/CuraEngine README.</em></p>

<p>Before we begin, let's make a build directory and do everything in there.</p>

<pre><code>mkdir ~/Downloads/curabuild
cd ~/Downloads/curabuild
</code></pre>

<p>The instructions will be broken into </p>

<h1>1. Install dependencies</h1>

<p>Some or all of these may already be installed on your computer. To be sure, we install them anyways:</p>

<pre><code>sudo apt-get install git curl libtool dh-autoreconf cmake python3-setuptools python3-dev python3-sip sip-dev
</code></pre>

<h1>2. Install protobuf</h1>

<ol>
<li><p>Clone and enter the protobuf git repository:</p>

<pre><code>git clone https://github.com/google/protobuf
cd protobuf
</code></pre></li>
<li><p>Build and install for C++:</p>

<pre><code>./autogen.sh
./configure
make # this will take some time
sudo make install
</code></pre></li>
<li><p>Install for Python 3:</p>

<pre><code>cd python
sudo python3 setup.py install
</code></pre></li>
</ol>

<h1>3. Install libArcus</h1>

<ol>
<li><p>Clone and enter the libArcus repository:</p>

<pre><code>cd ../..
git clone https://github.com/Ultimaker/libArcus
cd libArcus
</code></pre></li>
<li><p>Build and install</p>

<pre><code>cmake .
make
sudo make install
</code></pre></li>
</ol>

<h1>4. Install CuraEngine</h1>

<ol>
<li><p>Clone and enter repository:</p>

<pre><code>cd ..
git clone https://github.com/Ultimaker/CuraEngine
cd CuraEngine
</code></pre></li>
<li><p>Build and install</p>

<pre><code>cmake .
make # grab a cup of coffee
sudo make install
</code></pre></li>
</ol>

<h1>5. Celebrate!</h1>

<p>If all went well, you're done! You can now use the Cura engine via <code>CuraEngine</code>. Enjoy.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-06-13T04:56:03.433Z
I found I also needed `sudo apt-get install python3-sip-dev` otherwise libArcus would fail on the cmake step.
Brian Stormont
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-06-21T03:12:25.017Z
The objective is to build cura engine which runs from the terminal so I can run it from command line, will this end up on installing it without the GUI? That is the objective.
Jorge Cuevas
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-06-21T03:44:21.850Z
This will not install the GUI. I believe `sudo apt-get install cura-engine` will not install the GUI either.
Kye W Shi
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-06-21T02:55:25.110Z
2016-06-21T02:55:25.110Z
Kye W Shi
<p>I've been trying to build <a href="https://github.com/Ultimaker/CuraEngine" rel="noreferrer">CuraEngine</a> on Ubuntu following the Github instructions.</p>

<p>The problem is that it lists some requirements:</p>

<ul>
<li><p>Clone the CuraEngine repository;</p></li>
<li><p>Install Protobuf (see below);</p></li>
<li><p>Install <a href="https://github.com/Ultimaker/libArcus" rel="noreferrer">libArcus</a>.</p></li>
</ul>

<p>I'm not sure where should I install Protobuf and libArcus. After several tries and locations I've received several errors during the build process.</p>

<p>Does anyone have a more detailed guide on how to build this engine?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-06-12T01:24:47.763Z
This is not a direct answer, but a somewhat large workaround.

Have you considered using OctoPrint? Most installations including Ubuntu, which I use, come with cura-engine installed. If not, it can be easily installed from the plugins menu in OctoPrint settings. OctoPrint is a really nice alternative to native software for various printers.

I had the same struggle with Protobuf and libArcus and OctoPrint worked great.
khaverim
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-06-15T14:33:31.363Z
Have you tried installing using `sudo make install` in the protobuf and libArcus (after running cmake) directories?
nanofarad
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-06-15T20:38:26.520Z
I've tried, but the build does not complete so it is impossible to run the install command.
Jorge Cuevas
<software><slicing><ultimaker-cura>
How to build CuraEngine?
Jorge Cuevas
# How to build CuraEngine?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2016-06-10)

I've been trying to build [CuraEngine](https://github.com/Ultimaker/CuraEngine) on Ubuntu following the Github instructions.

The problem is that it lists some requirements:

* Clone the CuraEngine repository;
* Install Protobuf (see below);
* Install [libArcus](https://github.com/Ultimaker/libArcus).

I'm not sure where should I install Protobuf and libArcus. After several tries and locations I've received several errors during the build process.

Does anyone have a more detailed guide on how to build this engine?

**Tags:** software, slicing, ultimaker-cura

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: This is not a direct answer, but a somewhat large workaround.  Have you considered using OctoPrint? Most installations including Ubuntu, which I use, come with cura-engine installed. If not, it can be easily installed from the plugins menu in OctoPrint settings. OctoPrint is a really nice alternative to native software for various printers.  I had the same struggle with Protobuf and libArcus and OctoPrint worked great.  
> **username_2**: Have you tried installing using `sudo make install` in the protobuf and libArcus (after running cmake) directories?  
> **username_0**: I've tried, but the build does not complete so it is impossible to run the install command.  

---

## 1 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2016-06-21. Score: 11 | Accepted answer

I'm assuming you actually want to *build* Cura, rather than simply install Cura. If you instead want to install Cura, you can try `sudo apt-get install cura-engine`

*The following instructions were tested on my own Debian 8 (Jessie) distribution; they should be mostly, if not entirely, the same, for Ubuntu. Note that I **did not follow the exact steps** as described on the github/Ultimaker/CuraEngine README.*

Before we begin, let's make a build directory and do everything in there.

```
mkdir ~/Downloads/curabuild
cd ~/Downloads/curabuild

```

The instructions will be broken into

# 1. Install dependencies

Some or all of these may already be installed on your computer. To be sure, we install them anyways:

```
sudo apt-get install git curl libtool dh-autoreconf cmake python3-setuptools python3-dev python3-sip sip-dev

```

# 2. Install protobuf

1. Clone and enter the protobuf git repository:

   ```
   git clone https://github.com/google/protobuf
   cd protobuf

   ```
2. Build and install for C++:

   ```
   ./autogen.sh
   ./configure
   make # this will take some time
   sudo make install

   ```
3. Install for Python 3:

   ```
   cd python
   sudo python3 setup.py install

   ```

# 3. Install libArcus

1. Clone and enter the libArcus repository:

   ```
   cd ../..
   git clone https://github.com/Ultimaker/libArcus
   cd libArcus

   ```
2. Build and install

   ```
   cmake .
   make
   sudo make install

   ```

# 4. Install CuraEngine

1. Clone and enter repository:

   ```
   cd ..
   git clone https://github.com/Ultimaker/CuraEngine
   cd CuraEngine

   ```
2. Build and install

   ```
   cmake .
   make # grab a cup of coffee
   sudo make install

   ```

# 5. Celebrate!

If all went well, you're done! You can now use the Cura engine via `CuraEngine`. Enjoy.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: The objective is to build cura engine which runs from the terminal so I can run it from command line, will this end up on installing it without the GUI? That is the objective.  
> **username_3**: This will not install the GUI. I believe `sudo apt-get install cura-engine` will not install the GUI either.  
> **username_4**: I found I also needed `sudo apt-get install python3-sip-dev` otherwise libArcus would fail on the cmake step.  

---

