webkit2-gtk @2.28.2+minibrowser+x11: error: a template argument list is expected after a name prefixed by the template keyword [-Wmissing-template-arg-list-after-template-kw]

[dmerget]

Building webkit2-gtk (a dependency of "meld") on Tahoe 26.0, Xcode 26.0.1, x86-64

Got multiple errors involving template keyword, such as:

:info:build /opt/local/var/macports/build/webkit2-gtk-613a20d1/work/webkitgtk-2.28.2/Source/JavaScriptCore/runtime/JSCast.h:150:33: error: a template argument list is expected after a name prefixed by the template keyword [-Wmissing-template-arg-list-after-template-kw]
:info:build   150 |     return Dispatcher::template inherits(vm, from);
:info:build       |                                 ^

[maxrudolph (Max Rudolph)]

Build log on my system M2 macbook air running 26.0.1 with XCode 26.0.1

[ryandesign (Ryan Carsten Schmidt)]

Has duplicate #73233.

[daviddrysdale (David Drysdale)]

Potential workaround/fix is to edit the port file (sudo port edit webkit2-gtk) to disable the warning:

--- Portfile.orig	2025-12-15 18:20:50
+++ Portfile	2025-12-15 18:24:34
@@ -127,6 +127,7 @@
 
 # Reduce compilation warnings
 configure.cppflags-append \
+    -Wno-missing-template-arg-list-after-template-kw \
     -Wno-deprecated-declarations
 
 # it is preferred to use the WebKit built in bmalloc if it builds on a given os.

[kwolcott]

Mac mini, M5, Tahoe 26.2

[dmerget]

Replying to daviddrysdale:

Potential workaround/fix is to edit the port file (sudo port edit webkit2-gtk) to disable the warning:

 configure.cppflags-append \
+    -Wno-missing-template-arg-list-after-template-kw \

I submitted this bug, and daviddrysdale's procedure works on my system. I was able to successfully compile webkit2-gtk (and meld) after applying this workaround. Thanks!

Do y'all think we should update the official portfile with this workaround, or would it be better for the owners of webkit2-gtk to change their code so that it no longer generates the warning? (Or both: daviddrysdale's WAR for the short term, and webkit2-gtk for the long term?)

[luigli]

Replying to daviddrysdale:

Potential workaround/fix is to edit the port file (sudo port edit webkit2-gtk) to disable the warning:

--- Portfile.orig	2025-12-15 18:20:50
+++ Portfile	2025-12-15 18:24:34
@@ -127,6 +127,7 @@
 
 # Reduce compilation warnings
 configure.cppflags-append \
+    -Wno-missing-template-arg-list-after-template-kw \
     -Wno-deprecated-declarations
 
 # it is preferred to use the WebKit built in bmalloc if it builds on a given os.

It works on Mac Mini M4, Tahoe 26.2

Nice tip. Thanks!

[ryandesign (Ryan Carsten Schmidt)]

Usually, bugs should be reported to developers so they can be fixed. We can apply workarounds in our port but we don't want to be the sole keepers of fixes for other people's software.

However, our webkit2-gtk port is years out of date, so they probably don't want bug reports about something that old.

I was able to find that ​they fixed this problem two years ago. While that commit won't apply to our old version, the commit message explains the problem and how we can fix the code, if we want to fix our old version. Or we can ignore the warning for now, but warnings have a way of being promoted to errors in new compiler versions and ignoring them may have other consequences.

[qwertychouskie (QwertyChouskie)]

Given how difficult updating the port seems to be as per the linked ticket, I don't think it makes sense to wait on a hypothetical update of the webkit2-gtk port. Just disabling the compiler warning will un-break the port (and the many ports that depend on it, directly or not) for now, so that seems like it should probably be done.

[drkp (Dan Ports)]

In a91e6f6697c396a88ec12edd6e9eef35c83e7c4d/macports-ports (master):

webkit2-gtk: disable compilation warning to fix build

See #73070

[drkp (Dan Ports)]

I applied that patch to disable the compilation warnings and fix the build for now. We may well want to update the port anyway, but there's no point in leaving it broken in the meantime.

(Feel free to reopen if you want to use this ticket to track subsequent updates or fixes.