How To Fix "Makeinfo: Command Not Found" Error?

Published August 2, 2024

Problem: "Makeinfo: Command Not Found" Error

The "Makeinfo: Command Not Found" error appears when you try to run the makeinfo command in a terminal or command prompt. This error shows that your system can't find the makeinfo program, which is used to process texinfo files into different output formats.

Causes of the "Makeinfo: Command Not Found" Error

The "Makeinfo: Command Not Found" error usually happens for two reasons:

Missing Texinfo package: The Texinfo package is not installed on your system. Texinfo is a documentation system that uses one source file to create different output formats, like HTML, PDF, and info files. The makeinfo command is part of this package, so if it's not installed, you'll see this error.
Incorrect PATH setup: The Texinfo package might be installed, but your system can't find the makeinfo command. This happens when the folder with the makeinfo program is not in your system's PATH environment variable. The PATH variable tells your system where to look for programs when you run a command.

To fix this error, you need to either install the Texinfo package or change your PATH setup, depending on what's causing the problem in your case.

Tip: Check Texinfo Installation

To check if Texinfo is installed on your system, you can use the following command in the terminal:

which makeinfo

If Texinfo is installed and in your PATH, this command will return the location of the makeinfo program. If it returns nothing, then Texinfo is either not installed or not in your PATH.

Solution: Installing Texinfo Package

For Ubuntu and Debian-based Systems

To install Texinfo on Ubuntu and Debian-based systems, use the apt-get package manager:

Open a terminal window.
Run this command:

sudo apt-get install texinfo

Enter your password when asked.
Wait for the installation to finish.

To check the installation, type:

makeinfo --version

This command will show the version of makeinfo installed on your system.

Tip: Updating Package Lists

Before installing Texinfo, it's a good practice to update your package lists. Run the following command:

sudo apt-get update

This ensures you're installing the latest version of Texinfo available in the repositories.

For Red Hat and CentOS Systems

For Red Hat and CentOS systems, use the yum package manager:

Open a terminal window.
Run this command:

sudo yum install texinfo

Enter your password when asked.
Confirm the installation when prompted.
Wait for the installation to finish.

To check the installation, use:

makeinfo --version

This command will show the version of makeinfo installed on your system.

For macOS

On macOS, you can use Homebrew to install Texinfo:

If you don't have Homebrew, install it first by following the instructions on the Homebrew website.
Open a terminal window.
Run this command:

brew install texinfo

Wait for the installation to finish.