Error in make install: "cannot copy file"

Question

I am trying to install CLHEP 2.3.4.4 and I am stuck, getting an error in make install:

[ 99%] Built target exctest3 
[ 99%] Built target exctestNothrow
[100%] Built target testzmex
Install the project...
-- Install configuration: "RelWithDebInfo"
-- Installing: /usr/local/bin/clhep-config
CMake Error at cmake_install.cmake:36 (file):
  file INSTALL cannot copy file
  "/home/ivan/CLHEP/2.3.4.4/CLHEP/2.3.4.4-build/clhep-config" to
  "/usr/local/bin/clhep-config".
Makefile:105: recipe for target 'install' failed
make: *** [install] Error 1

What can I do to fix this?

User Rebo · Answer

If want to install without root / sudo try DCMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX option:
mkdir -p $HOME/opt
cmake -DCMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX=$HOME/opt .
make
make install

Consider adding folder to PATH, in order to use it by name only
export PATH="$HOME/opt/bin:$PATH" # for binaries
export LD_LIBRARY_PATH="$HOME/opt/lib:$LD_LIBRARY_PATH" # for libs
export CPATH="$HOME/opt/include:$CPATH" # for includes

Byte Commander · Answer

Try sudo make install.

To access the /usr directory of your installation to store system-wide files there, the installer needs root privileges. Therefore you can not just run plain make install as your normal user account but need to use sudo to elevate privileges.

Error in make install: "cannot copy file"

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