# Plots.jl and (Cairo)Makie not compatible?

**URL:** <https://discourse.julialang.org/t/plots-jl-and-cairo-makie-not-compatible/102509>\
**Category:** General Usage\
**Tags:** plotting\
**Created:** [August 4, 2023, 11:43pm UTC](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/plots-jl-and-cairo-makie-not-compatible/102509 "2023-08-04T23:43:11Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![arinbasu](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/julialang/user_avatar/discourse.julialang.org/arinbasu/32/581_2.png) [@arinbasu](https://discourse.julialang.org/u/arinbasu)\
**Post date:** [August 4, 2023, 11:43pm UTC](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/plots-jl-and-cairo-makie-not-compatible/102509/1 "2023-08-04T23:43:11Z")

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It seems I cannot have both Plots.jl and CairoMakie.jl or Makie.jl at the same time, or install them. I installed CairoMakie.jl with libfreetype 2.13 and it installed with no issues. Then when I tried to install Plots.jl, it raised a problem that `libfreetype.6.dylib` did not provide a version (although `/usr/lib/`) did provide the correct version.

So, if I activate an empty project say “OnlyPlots” and add Plots, it just works without any issue. Then in the same project, if I issue `using CairoMakie`, precompiling CairoMakie fails.  
But otherwise, CairoMakie just works as is.

Is there a workaround so that I can have BOTH Plots and CairoMakie in the same project?

Best,  
Arindam Basu

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**Author:** ![giordano](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/julialang/user_avatar/discourse.julialang.org/giordano/32/2166_2.png) [@giordano](https://discourse.julialang.org/u/giordano)\
**Post date:** [August 5, 2023, 3:09am UTC](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/plots-jl-and-cairo-makie-not-compatible/102509/2 "2023-08-05T03:09:01Z")

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As I mentioned in [Error in precompiling FFMPEG and Cairo and CairoMakie - #2 by giordano](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/error-in-precompiling-ffmpeg-and-cairo-and-cairomakie/102461/2), I think you’re facing [libGR issue preventing compilation · Issue #525 · jheinen/GR.jl · GitHub](https://github.com/jheinen/GR.jl/issues/525). I’m waiting for @jheinen there to find a resolution. Also in this case the solution for you should be to install

```julia
]add FreeType2_jll@v2.13.1 

```

I haven’t tried it as I can’t reproduce your error on a different version of macOS

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**Author:** ![jheinen](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/julialang/user_avatar/discourse.julialang.org/jheinen/32/2787_2.png) [@jheinen](https://discourse.julialang.org/u/jheinen)\
**Post date:** [August 5, 2023, 5:32am UTC](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/plots-jl-and-cairo-makie-not-compatible/102509/3 "2023-08-05T05:32:38Z")

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To be honest, I have no idea how to fix it on the GR side, as installing `Cairo Makie` seems to downgrade `FreeType2_jll` (`v2.13.1+0 ⇒ v2.10.4+0` ). I locally tested GR with FreeType 2.10 - 2.13.1 static libraries.

@arinbasu: Also I’m wondering, what `...although /usr/lib/) did provide the correct version.` means. Where should this version come from?

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**Author:** ![giordano](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/julialang/user_avatar/discourse.julialang.org/giordano/32/2166_2.png) [@giordano](https://discourse.julialang.org/u/giordano)\
**Post date:** [August 5, 2023, 2:56pm UTC](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/plots-jl-and-cairo-makie-not-compatible/102509/4 "2023-08-05T14:56:06Z")

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@arinbasu can you please update your packages and try again? You should get `GR_jll@0.72.9+1`, from [[GR] Add explicit dependency on `FreeType2_jll` by giordano · Pull Request #7170 · JuliaPackaging/Yggdrasil · GitHub](https://github.com/JuliaPackaging/Yggdrasil/pull/7170), which I believe fixes your problem.