gcc and clang under msys2 cannot resolve includes with absolute paths - c++

Question

I try to get tests generated by the cxxtest framework working under a MinGW environment managed by mysys2. The tool generates C++ files with absolute paths. However, gcc seems to be unable to resolve this absolute paths.
Here is a minimal example to demonstrate the problem:
// file1.h
#include <iostream>
inline void hallo() { std::cout << "Hallo\n"; }
// main.cpp
#include "/home/phil/example/file1.h"
int main()
{
hallo();
return 0;
}
The file exists (at least the msys2 shell resolves the path):
$ ls /home/phil/example/file1.h
/home/phil/example/file1.h
... but calling g++ results in this error:
$ g++ main.cpp
main.cpp:1:38: fatal error: /home/phil/example/file1.h: No such file or directory
#include "/home/phil/example/file1.h"
^
compilation terminated.
Same error with clang.
Under a full Linux environment, the example works. It also works if I replace the absolute path by a relative one (#include "file1.h").
So, I assume the problem lies in the layer over Windows that is responsible to resolve paths. Not sure whether I should report it as a bug to the msys2 project, or whether it is a known problem. If it is a known problem, are there any workarounds (like setting -I options)?
(If possible, I would like to avoid replace the absolute paths, as they are in generated code by the cxxtest framework. Technically, running a postprocessing step on the generated files would be possible but seems like a hack in the long run.)

Answer 1

Since you are running compilers that use MinGW-w64 as their runtime environment, they don't recognize POSIX-style paths like that. I think they actually interpret the root directory "/" to be "C:\". Other than that, they would only recognize native Windows-style paths.
I recommend that you pass the argument -I/home/phil/example to your compiler from some program running in the msys-2.0.dll POSIX emulation runtime environment (e.g. /usr/bin/bash or /usr/bin/make). The msys-2.0.dll runtime will then convert that argument to use a native Windows path so the compiler can understand it, and statements like #include <file1.h> will work. Alternatively, you might try putting a Windows-style path in your source code, e.g. the path should start with C:\.
Note however that having absolute paths in source code or build scripts is a bad idea since it makes it harder to build the code on a different computer. You could consider using environment variables or relative paths.

Answer 2

Try using the MinGW compiler that Cygwin provides as a package. (In other words, forget the MSYS environment; work under Cygwin, but build the code as before, in the MinGW style.)
Then you should be able to have include references /home/phil; it will just resolve to C:\Cygwin\home\phil or wherever your Cygwin root is.
Actually, it might be possible under MSYS also (which, after all, is just the descendant of an old for of Cygwin). You just have to figure out what /home/phil is referring to, create that tree and work under there.