groff @1.22.4_3 Build error, fails with 'command execution failed'

[docgawnz]

Fresh Macports 2.6.3 installation on OSX 10.15.3, groff fails to install with 'command execution failed'. Log excerpt attached.

Originally happened while attempting to install gnuradio.

Already tried:

• installing texinfo (texinfo install attempts to also build groff; fails
• cleaning groff and attempting install again (same result)
• consulted previous groff-related tickets

bash-3.2# port clean groff
--->  Cleaning groff
bash-3.2# port install groff
--->  Computing dependencies for groff
--->  Fetching archive for groff
--->  Attempting to fetch groff-1.22.4_3.darwin_19.x86_64.tbz2 from https://packages.macports.org/groff
--->  Attempting to fetch groff-1.22.4_3.darwin_19.x86_64.tbz2 from https://ywg.ca.packages.macports.org/mirror/macports/packages/groff/groff
--->  Attempting to fetch groff-1.22.4_3.darwin_19.x86_64.tbz2 from https://kmq.jp.packages.macports.org/groff
--->  Fetching distfiles for groff
--->  Verifying checksums for groff
--->  Extracting groff
--->  Applying patches to groff
--->  Configuring groff
--->  Building groff
Error: Failed to build groff: command execution failed
Error: See /opt/local/var/macports/logs/_opt_local_var_macports_sources_rsync.macports.org_release_tarballs_ports_sysutils_groff/groff/main.log for details.
Error: Follow https://guide.macports.org/#project.tickets to report a bug.
Error: Processing of port groff failed

[docgawnz]

Relevant portion of log

[kencu (Ken)]

info:build /opt/local/bin/ranlib: object: libdriver.a(input.o) malformed object (unknown load command 1)

please show us the result of

port -v installed cctools

thanks

[docgawnz]

Here's the output of port -v installed cctools

The following ports are currently installed:
  cctools @855_1+llvm34 platform='darwin 13' archs='x86_64' date='2014-06-25T02:38:01-0700'
  cctools @862_1+llvm34 platform='darwin 14' archs='x86_64' date='2015-04-01T22:56:45-0700'
  cctools @895_4+llvm39 (active) platform='darwin 16' archs='x86_64' date='2017-01-07T06:40:56-0800'

[kencu (Ken)]

thanks. The immediate reason for your error is that your cctools are too old for the objects your compiler is producing.

The underlying issue is that your MacPorts installed ports are mostly for an older operating system version. You'll have nothing but headaches unless you follow these migration instructions, which you should find are pretty quick and simple <​https://trac.macports.org/wiki/Migration>.

Please report back once you have success!

[docgawnz]

Ah, I apologize for wasting your time. I will follow the instruction there which seems relatively clear. As a note to others in the future, it would appear that MacPorts installs are preserved when migrating OS versions with Time Machine backups across four different machines in six years. Didn't figure they would be ;)

[kencu (Ken)]

glad to hear. I'll close this ticket, then -- please reopen if you run into troubles.