building the code

[y2keeth]

tools/build/openq4_devcmd.cmd
says file not found what am i doing wrong?

[Kxrma47]

That file is in the source repository. First run Test-Path .\tools\build\openq4_devcmd.cmd from the openQ4 repo root; if it says False, you are in the wrong directory or do not have that source checkout.

You do not need to run the .cmd separately. In PowerShell, from the repo root, use the documented wrapper (it sets up MSVC):

powershell -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File .\tools\build\meson_setup.ps1 setup builddir . --backend ninja --buildtype=release --wrap-mode=forcefallback
powershell -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File .\tools\build\meson_setup.ps1 compile -C builddir

You also need the documented build tools and openQ4-game checked out alongside openQ4. If Test-Path is True but it still fails, please paste the exact command and full error.

Reference: Windows build instructions.

[y2keeth]

why the hell is this closed I still cant build the engine?

[y2keeth]

The error is now specific: Meson is not installed in that Python environment. Run this command first:

python -m pip install "meson>=1.6" ninja
python -c "import mesonbuild.mesonmain; print('Meson OK')"

Only after it prints Meson OK, run meson_setup.ps1 setup, then compile. If the pip install command fails, paste its complete output.

Reference: https://github.com/themuffinator/openQ4/blob/main/BUILDING.md#build-tools

PS K:\Users\bheadr\Documents\openq4\openQ4> powershell -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File .\tools\build\meson_setup.ps1 compile -C builddir
python.exe : Traceback (most recent call last):
At K:\Users\bheadr\Documents\openq4\openQ4\tools\build\meson_setup.ps1:88 char:9

•     & $pythonCommand.Source -c "import mesonbuild.mesonmain" *> $ ...
  

•     ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
  

  • CategoryInfo : NotSpecified: (Traceback (most recent call last)::String) [], RemoteException
  • FullyQualifiedErrorId : NativeCommandError

PS K:\Users\bheadr\Documents\openq4\openQ4>
PS K:\Users\bheadr\Documents\openq4\openQ4> python -m pip install "meson>=1.6" ninja
Collecting meson>=1.6
Downloading meson-1.12.0-py3-none-any.whl.metadata (1.7 kB)
Collecting ninja
Downloading ninja-1.13.2-py3-none-win_amd64.whl.metadata (5.4 kB)
Downloading meson-1.12.0-py3-none-any.whl (1.1 MB)
---------------------------------------- 1.1/1.1 MB 2.0 MB/s 0:00:00
Downloading ninja-1.13.2-py3-none-win_amd64.whl (311 kB)
Installing collected packages: ninja, meson
-------------------- ------------------- 1/2 [meson] WARNING: The script meson.exe is installed in 'C:\Users\bheadr\AppData\Local\Python\pythoncore-3.14-64\Scripts' which is not on PATH.
Consider adding this directory to PATH or, if you prefer to suppress this warning, use --no-warn-script-location.
Successfully installed meson-1.12.0 ninja-1.13.2
PS K:\Users\bheadr\Documents\openq4\openQ4> python -c "import mesonbuild.mesonmain; print('Meson OK')"
Meson OK
PS K:\Users\bheadr\Documents\openq4\openQ4>
PS K:\Users\bheadr\Documents\openq4\openQ4> powershell -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File .\tools\build\meson_setup.ps1 setup builddir . --backend ninja --buildtype=release --wrap-mode=forcefallback
icon sync complete: generated_png=0, png_source=assets/icons/quake4_1024.png
The Meson build system
Version: 1.12.0
Source dir: K:\Users\bheadr\Documents\openq4\openQ4
Build dir: K:\Users\bheadr\Documents\openq4\openQ4\builddir
Build type: native build
Project name: openQ4
Project version: 0.11.0
C compiler for the host machine: cl (msvc 19.51.36257 "Microsoft (R) C/C++ Optimizing Compiler Version 19.51.36257 for x64")
C linker for the host machine: link link 14.51.36257.0
C++ compiler for the host machine: cl (msvc 19.51.36257 "Microsoft (R) C/C++ Optimizing Compiler Version 19.51.36257 for x64")
C++ linker for the host machine: link link 14.51.36257.0
Host machine cpu family: x86_64
Host machine cpu: x86_64
Program python found: YES (C:\Users\bheadr\AppData\Local\Python\bin\python.exe)
Program windres found: YES
Windows resource compiler: Microsoft (R) Windows (R) Resource Compiler Version 10.0.10011.16384
Looking for a fallback subproject for the dependency glew because:
Use of fallback dependencies is forced.

Executing subproject glew for machine: host

glew| Project name: glew
glew| Project version: undefined
glew| C compiler for the host machine: cl (msvc 19.51.36257 "Microsoft (R) C/C++ Optimizing Compiler Version 19.51.36257 for x64")
glew| C linker for the host machine: link link 14.51.36257.0
glew| Build targets in project: 10
glew| Subproject glew finished.

Dependency glew for host machine from subproject subprojects/glew found: YES undefined
Looking for a fallback subproject for the dependency stb_vorbis because:
Use of fallback dependencies is forced.

Executing subproject stb_vorbis for machine: host

stb_vorbis| Project name: stb_vorbis
stb_vorbis| Project version: undefined
stb_vorbis| C compiler for the host machine: cl (msvc 19.51.36257 "Microsoft (R) C/C++ Optimizing Compiler Version 19.51.36257 for x64")
stb_vorbis| C linker for the host machine: link link 14.51.36257.0
stb_vorbis| Build targets in project: 11
stb_vorbis| Subproject stb_vorbis finished.

Dependency stb_vorbis for host machine from subproject subprojects/stb_vorbis found: YES undefined
Looking for a fallback subproject for the dependency openal because:
Use of fallback dependencies is forced.

Executing subproject openal-soft-prebuilt for machine: host

openal-soft-prebuilt| Project name: openal-soft-prebuilt
openal-soft-prebuilt| Project version: undefined
openal-soft-prebuilt| C compiler for the host machine: cl (msvc 19.51.36257 "Microsoft (R) C/C++ Optimizing Compiler Version 19.51.36257 for x64")
openal-soft-prebuilt| C linker for the host machine: link link 14.51.36257.0
openal-soft-prebuilt| Program lib found: YES (C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio\18\Community\VC\Tools\MSVC\14.51.36231\bin\HostX64\x64\lib.exe)
openal-soft-prebuilt| Library OpenAL32 found: YES
openal-soft-prebuilt| Build targets in project: 11
openal-soft-prebuilt| Subproject openal-soft-prebuilt finished.

Dependency openal for host machine from subproject subprojects/openal-soft-prebuilt found: YES undefined
Looking for a fallback subproject for the dependency sdl3 because:
Use of fallback dependencies is forced.
Downloading sdl3 source from https://github.com/libsdl-org/SDL/releases/download/release-3.4.16/SDL3-3.4.16.tar.gz
Download size: 15640667
Downloading: ..........

Executing subproject sdl3 for machine: host

sdl3| Project name: sdl3
sdl3| Project version: 3.4.16
sdl3| C compiler for the host machine: cl (msvc 19.51.36257 "Microsoft (R) C/C++ Optimizing Compiler Version 19.51.36257 for x64")
sdl3| C linker for the host machine: link link 14.51.36257.0
sdl3| Run-time dependency threads found: YES
sdl3| Run-time dependency dl found: NO (tried builtin and system)
sdl3| Library m found: NO
sdl3| Has header "float.h" : YES
sdl3| Has header "stdarg.h" : YES
sdl3| Has header "stddef.h" : YES
sdl3| Has header "stdint.h" : YES
sdl3| Has header "iconv.h" : NO
sdl3| Has header "inttypes.h" : YES
sdl3| Has header "limits.h" : YES
sdl3| Has header "malloc.h" : YES
sdl3| Has header "math.h" : YES
sdl3| Has header "memory.h" : YES
sdl3| Has header "signal.h" : YES
sdl3| Has header "stdio.h" : YES
sdl3| Has header "stdlib.h" : YES
sdl3| Has header "strings.h" : NO
sdl3| Has header "string.h" : YES
sdl3| Has header "sys/types.h" : YES
sdl3| Has header "wchar.h" : YES
sdl3| Has header "pthread_np.h" : NO
sdl3| Has header "linux/input.h" : NO
sdl3| Has header "ddraw.h" : YES
sdl3| Has header "dsound.h" : YES
sdl3| Has header "dinput.h" : YES
sdl3| Has header "signal.h" : YES (cached)
sdl3| Checking for function "dlopen" with dependencies threads, dl, -lm: NO
sdl3| Checking for function "malloc" with dependencies threads, dl, -lm: YES
sdl3| Checking for function "fdatasync" with dependencies threads, dl, -lm: NO
sdl3| Checking for function "getenv" with dependencies threads, dl, -lm: YES
sdl3| Checking for function "setenv" with dependencies threads, dl, -lm: NO
sdl3| Checking for function "putenv" with dependencies threads, dl, -lm: YES
sdl3| Checking for function "unsetenv" with dependencies threads, dl, -lm: NO
sdl3| Checking for function "abs" with dependencies threads, dl, -lm: YES
sdl3| Checking for function "bcopy" with dependencies threads, dl, -lm: NO
sdl3| Checking for function "memset" with dependencies threads, dl, -lm: YES
sdl3| Checking for function "memcpy" with dependencies threads, dl, -lm: YES
sdl3| Checking for function "memmove" with dependencies threads, dl, -lm: YES
sdl3| Checking for function "memcmp" with dependencies threads, dl, -lm: YES
sdl3| Checking for function "strlen" with dependencies threads, dl, -lm: YES
sdl3| Checking for function "strnlen" with dependencies threads, dl, -lm: YES
sdl3| Checking for function "strlcpy" with dependencies threads, dl, -lm: NO
sdl3| Checking for function "strlcat" with dependencies threads, dl, -lm: NO
sdl3| Checking for function "_strrev" with dependencies threads, dl, -lm: YES
sdl3| Checking for function "index" with dependencies threads, dl, -lm: NO
sdl3| Checking for function "rindex" with dependencies threads, dl, -lm: NO
sdl3| Checking for function "strchr" with dependencies threads, dl, -lm: YES
sdl3| Checking for function "strrchr" with dependencies threads, dl, -lm: YES
sdl3| Checking for function "strstr" with dependencies threads, dl, -lm: YES
sdl3| Checking for function "strtok_r" with dependencies threads, dl, -lm: NO
sdl3| Checking for function "strtol" with dependencies threads, dl, -lm: YES
sdl3| Checking for function "strtoul" with dependencies threads, dl, -lm: YES
sdl3| Checking for function "strtoll" with dependencies threads, dl, -lm: YES
sdl3| Checking for function "strtoull" with dependencies threads, dl, -lm: YES
sdl3| Checking for function "strtod" with dependencies threads, dl, -lm: YES
sdl3| Checking for function "atoi" with dependencies threads, dl, -lm: YES
sdl3| Checking for function "atof" with dependencies threads, dl, -lm: YES
sdl3| Checking for function "strcmp" with dependencies threads, dl, -lm: YES
sdl3| Checking for function "strncmp" with dependencies threads, dl, -lm: YES
sdl3| Checking for function "vsscanf" with dependencies threads, dl, -lm: YES
sdl3| Checking for function "vsnprintf" with dependencies threads, dl, -lm: YES
sdl3| Checking for function "acos" with dependencies threads, dl, -lm: YES
sdl3| Checking for function "acosf" with dependencies threads, dl, -lm: YES
sdl3| Checking for function "asin" with dependencies threads, dl, -lm: YES
sdl3| Checking for function "asinf" with dependencies threads, dl, -lm: YES
sdl3| Checking for function "atan" with dependencies threads, dl, -lm: YES
sdl3| Checking for function "atanf" with dependencies threads, dl, -lm: YES
sdl3| Checking for function "atan2" with dependencies threads, dl, -lm: YES
sdl3| Checking for function "atan2f" with dependencies threads, dl, -lm: YES
sdl3| Checking for function "ceil" with dependencies threads, dl, -lm: YES
sdl3| Checking for function "ceilf" with dependencies threads, dl, -lm: YES
sdl3| Checking for function "copysign" with dependencies threads, dl, -lm: YES
sdl3| Checking for function "copysignf" with dependencies threads, dl, -lm: YES
sdl3| Checking for function "cos" with dependencies threads, dl, -lm: YES
sdl3| Checking for function "cosf" with dependencies threads, dl, -lm: YES
sdl3| Checking for function "exp" with dependencies threads, dl, -lm: YES
sdl3| Checking for function "expf" with dependencies threads, dl, -lm: YES
sdl3| Checking for function "fabs" with dependencies threads, dl, -lm: YES
sdl3| Checking for function "fabsf" with dependencies threads, dl, -lm: YES
sdl3| Checking for function "floor" with dependencies threads, dl, -lm: YES
sdl3| Checking for function "floorf" with dependencies threads, dl, -lm: YES
sdl3| Checking for function "fmod" with dependencies threads, dl, -lm: YES
sdl3| Checking for function "fmodf" with dependencies threads, dl, -lm: YES
sdl3| Checking for function "isinf" with dependencies threads, dl, -lm: NO
sdl3| Checking for function "isinff" with dependencies threads, dl, -lm: NO
sdl3| Checking for function "isnan" with dependencies threads, dl, -lm: NO
sdl3| Checking for function "isnanf" with dependencies threads, dl, -lm: NO
sdl3| Checking for function "log" with dependencies threads, dl, -lm: YES
sdl3| Checking for function "logf" with dependencies threads, dl, -lm: YES
sdl3| Checking for function "log10" with dependencies threads, dl, -lm: YES
sdl3| Checking for function "log10f" with dependencies threads, dl, -lm: YES
sdl3| Checking for function "pow" with dependencies threads, dl, -lm: YES
sdl3| Checking for function "round" with dependencies threads, dl, -lm: YES
sdl3| Checking for function "scalbn" with dependencies threads, dl, -lm: YES
sdl3| Checking for function "sin" with dependencies threads, dl, -lm: YES
sdl3| Checking for function "sinf" with dependencies threads, dl, -lm: YES
sdl3| Checking for function "sqrt" with dependencies threads, dl, -lm: YES
sdl3| Checking for function "sqrtf" with dependencies threads, dl, -lm: YES
sdl3| Checking for function "fseeko" with dependencies threads, dl, -lm: NO
sdl3| Checking for function "fseeko64" with dependencies threads, dl, -lm: NO
sdl3| Checking for function "sigaction" with dependencies threads, dl, -lm: NO
sdl3| Checking for function "setjmp" with dependencies threads, dl, -lm: NO
sdl3| Checking for function "nanosleep" with dependencies threads, dl, -lm: NO
sdl3| Checking for function "gmtime_r" with dependencies threads, dl, -lm: NO
sdl3| Checking for function "sysconf" with dependencies threads, dl, -lm: NO
sdl3| Checking for function "sysctlbyname" with dependencies threads, dl, -lm: NO
sdl3| Checking for function "clock_gettime" with dependencies threads, dl, -lm: NO
sdl3| Checking for function "getpagesize" with dependencies threads, dl, -lm: NO
sdl3| Checking for function "pthread_setname_np" with dependencies threads, dl, -lm: NO
sdl3| Checking for function "pthread_set_name_np" with dependencies threads, dl, -lm: NO
sdl3| Checking for function "sem_timedwait" with dependencies threads, dl, -lm: NO
sdl3| Checking for function "poll" with dependencies threads, dl, -lm: NO
sdl3| Checking for function "inotify_init1" with dependencies threads, dl, -lm: NO
sdl3| Checking if "have XInput support" compiles: YES
sdl3| Checking if "have Windows Gaming Input support" compiles: YES
sdl3| Checking if "have GameInput support" compiles: YES
sdl3| C++ compiler for the host machine: cl (msvc 19.51.36257 "Microsoft (R) C/C++ Optimizing Compiler Version 19.51.36257 for x64")
sdl3| C++ linker for the host machine: link link 14.51.36257.0
sdl3| Library version found: YES
sdl3| Library imm32 found: YES
sdl3| Library setupapi found: YES
sdl3| Library winmm found: YES
sdl3| Configuring SDL_build_config.h using configuration
sdl3| Build targets in project: 12
sdl3| Subproject sdl3 finished.

Dependency sdl3 for host machine found: YES 3.4.16 (overridden)
Library shell32 found: YES
Library ole32 found: YES
Library opengl32 found: YES
Library Dbghelp found: YES
Library bcrypt found: YES
Library Iphlpapi found: YES
Library Winmm found: YES
Library ws2_32 found: YES
Library Dbghelp found: YES
Library bcrypt found: YES
Library Iphlpapi found: YES
Library Winmm found: YES
Library ws2_32 found: YES
Library Dbghelp found: YES
Library bcrypt found: YES
Library Iphlpapi found: YES
Library Winmm found: YES
Library ws2_32 found: YES
Library opengl32 found: YES
Configuring mod.json using configuration
Build targets in project: 27

openQ4 0.11.0

Build Features
Host system : windows
Host cpu family : x86_64
Version track : dev
Version iteration : none
Version base : 0.13.2
Version short : 0.13.2-dev
Version full : 0.13.2-dev+gb37b1456
Version tag : 0.13.2-dev-gb37b1456
Version date : 2026-09-18
Version resource : 0.13.2.903
Git short SHA : b37b145
Git dirty : 0
Git commit count : 903
MSVC toolchain : YES
MSVC version : 19.51.36257
MSVC 2026 baseline enforced : NO
C++ standard : c++20
Platform backend requested : sdl3
Platform backend : sdl3
macOS graphics bridge : opengl
macOS OpenAL provider : apple_framework
OpenAL override root : bundled/default
Build engine : YES
engine client binary : openQ4-client_x64
engine dedicated binary : openQ4-ded_x64
Integrated BSE in client : YES
Integrated BSE source dir : K:/Users/bheadr/Documents/openq4/openQ4/src/bse
Build games : YES
GameLibs source repo : K:/Users/bheadr/Documents/openq4/openQ4-game
Build game_sp : YES
Build game_mp : YES
game_sp binary : game-sp_x64
game_mp binary : game-mp_x64
Build Vulkan renderer module : YES
Vulkan renderer binary : renderer-vk_x64
Resource compiler : YES
SDL3 : YES
Linux X11 helpers : NO
Linux executable PIE : NO
GLEW : YES
OpenAL : YES
stb_vorbis : YES
Precompiled headers : YES
Dedicated server target : YES
Linux dedicated headless link split: NO
Install root : K:/Users/bheadr/Documents/openq4/openQ4/.install

Subprojects (for host machine)
glew : YES
openal-soft-prebuilt : YES
sdl3 : YES
stb_vorbis : YES

User defined options
b_vscrt : static_from_buildtype
backend : ninja
buildtype : release
wrap_mode : forcefallback

Found ninja-1.12.1 at "C:\Program Files\Meson\ninja.exe"
PS K:\Users\bheadr\Documents\openq4\openQ4> powershell -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File .\tools\build\meson_setup.ps1 compile -C builddir
icon sync complete: generated_png=0, png_source=assets/icons/quake4_1024.png
INFO: autodetecting backend as ninja
INFO: calculating backend command to run: "C:\Program Files\Meson\ninja.exe" -C K:/Users/bheadr/Documents/openq4/openQ4/builddir
ninja: Entering directory `K:/Users/bheadr/Documents/openq4/openQ4/builddir'
[2/1519] Generating openq4_pak0_source_manifest with a custom command
wrote pak0.pk4 source manifest: K:\Users\bheadr\Documents\openq4\openQ4\builddir\pak0.sources
[23/1519] Generating openq4_version_generated with a custom command
base_version=0.13.2
track=dev
iteration=
version_short=0.13.2-dev
version=0.13.2-dev+gb37b1456
version_tag=0.13.2-dev-gb37b1456
version_date=2026-09-18
product_version=openQ4 0.13.2-dev
product_version_full=openQ4 0.13.2-dev+gb37b1456
version_major=0
version_minor=13
version_patch=2
resource_build=903
resource_commas=0, 13, 2, 903
resource_dotted=0.13.2.903
git_sha=b37b1456
git_dirty=0
commit_count=903
[42/1519] Generating openq4_pak1_source_manifest with a custom command
wrote pak1.pk4 source manifest: K:\Users\bheadr\Documents\openq4\openQ4\builddir\pak1.sources
[167/1519] Generating openq4_pak0 with a custom command
built pak0.pk4: md5=bde0d2392870b3575fcda7a7d0c41a59 size=5934780 files=264
[916/1519] Compiling Windows resource src_sys_win32_rc_openQ4Version.rc
openQ4Version.rc
openQ4Version.rc
[1058/1519] Linking target renderer-gl_x64.dll
Creating library renderer-gl_x64.lib and object renderer-gl_x64.exp
[1061/1519] Linking target content/baseoq4/game-sp_x64.dll
Creating library content/baseoq4\game-sp_x64.lib and object content/baseoq4\game-sp_x64.exp
[1062/1519] Linking target content/baseoq4/game-mp_x64.dll
Creating library content/baseoq4\game-mp_x64.lib and object content/baseoq4\game-mp_x64.exp
[1063/1519] Generating content/baseoq4/openq4_stage_mod_manifest_direct_run with a custom command
direct-run runtime file updated: K:\Users\bheadr\Documents\openq4\openQ4\builddir\baseoq4\mod.json
[1070/1519] Linking target renderer-vk_x64.dll
Creating library renderer-vk_x64.lib and object renderer-vk_x64.exp
[1071/1519] Generating openq4_pak1 with a custom command
built pak1.pk4: md5=e89553f676a0521e6e177cf920ca86f5 size=800258569 files=6726
[1072/1519] Generating openq4_paks_generated_header with a custom command
generated openq4_paks_generated.h: pak0=bde0d2392870b3575fcda7a7d0c41a59 pak1=e89553f676a0521e6e177cf920ca86f5
[1516/1519] Linking target openQ4-client_x64.exe
Creating library openQ4-client_x64.lib and object openQ4-client_x64.exp
[1519/1519] Linking target openQ4-ded_x64.exe
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "K:\Users\bheadr\Documents\openq4\openQ4\tools\build\stage_windows_runtime.py", line 44, in
raise SystemExit(main(sys.argv))
~~~~^^^^^^^^^^
File "K:\Users\bheadr\Documents\openq4\openQ4\tools\build\stage_windows_runtime.py", line 38, in main
result = stage_runtime_payloads(source_root, build_dir, targets)
File "K:\Users\bheadr\Documents\openq4\openQ4\tools\build\windows_runtime.py", line 531, in stage_runtime_payloads
raise RuntimeError(
...<2 lines>...
)
RuntimeError: OpenAL32.dll runtime not found for Windows x64. Set OPENQ4_OPENAL_ROOT to a prepared OpenAL Soft package or add the bundled runtime.
PS K:\Users\bheadr\Documents\openq4\openQ4>

[y2keeth]

I think it built thanks Kxrma47

[y2keeth]

but not working
"Loading renderer module: api='gl' path='J:\gog\Quake 4\renderer-gl_x64.dll'
WARNING: renderer module 'J:\gog\Quake 4\renderer-gl_x64.dll' openQ4 OpenGL renderer module cannot become the active renderer: module render API version mismatch; falling back to OpenGL. Use rendererVkProbe to inspect it.

---

FATAL: no renderer path could be activated (requested 'gl'): module render API version mismatch

---

jobsShutdown PASS v1 initialized=0 queued=0 running=0
--------------- BSE Shutdown ----------------

no renderer path could be activated (requested 'gl'): module render API version mismatch

[y2keeth]

fixed it it works now thanks again

[y2keeth]

ok thanks. I think i get it lol