Installing west error (FATAL ERROR: command exited with status 128: git init /var/ncs/.west/manifest-tmp)

[Anthony Harrison]

I am manually installing the nRF Connect SDK using these instructions https://developer.nordicsemi.com/nRF_Connect_SDK/doc/latest/nrf/gs_installing.html and in paragraph 4 of Cloning the Repositories it becomes unstuck for me.

Specifically, when going:

west init -m github.com/.../sdk-nrf --mr v1.5.0

I get the error:

developer@ubuntu:/var/ncs$ west init -m github.com/.../sdk-nrf --mr v1.5.0

=== Initializing in /var/ncs

--- Cloning manifest repository from github.com/.../sdk-nrf, rev. v1.5.0

fatal: cannot mkdir /var/ncs/.west/manifest-tmp: Permission denied

FATAL ERROR: command exited with status 128: git init /var/ncs/.west/manifest-tmp

I have seet somone resolved the issue here (devzone.nordicsemi.com/.../west-init-fails-due-to-failed-mkdir), however this did not work for me (I am on Ubuntu).

Some of my settings are as follows:

1. git version 2.25.1
2. Distributor ID: Ubuntu, Description: Ubuntu 20.04.2 LTS, Release: 20.04, Codename: focal

I'd appreciate some guidance, if known.

Kind regards!

[Albrecht Markus Schellenberger]

Hello Anthony,

it is probably not a good idea to install the NCS in /var, since superuser rights for write actions always are required. This is why you get the error message, west is not allowed to create the desired folder.

I recommend you create a ncs folder in your $HOME directory instead and run west init from there.

Let me know if you have any more questions.

Cheers!

Markus

[Anthony Harrison]

Bravo, thanks Markus!