Can't import scikit_build_core_build

[bobarker]

I saw this error posted once before and I tried the download linked there but had no luck. Tried to run in and out of a virtual environment and pip installed scikit-build-core. No luck with that either.

E:\AI\RuinedFooocus_main_2.0.0.win64>.\python_embeded\python.exe -s RuinedFooocus\entry_with_update.py
You have the latest version
Python 3.10.9 (tags/v3.10.9:1dd9be6, Dec 6 2022, 20:01:21) [MSC v.1934 64 bit (AMD64)]
RuinedFooocus version: 25.07.28
Check pip
Check pre-requirements
Check for old modules
Torch platform: Windows: cu128

['E:\AI\RuinedFooocus_main_2.0.0.win64\python_embeded\python.exe', '-m', 'pip', 'install', 'torch', 'torchaudio', 'torchvision', '--index-url', 'https://download.pytorch.org/whl/cu128']
Looking in indexes: https://download.pytorch.org/whl/cu128
Requirement already satisfied: torch in e:\ai\ruinedfooocus_main_2.0.0.win64\python_embeded\lib\site-packages (2.8.0+cu128)
Requirement already satisfied: torchaudio in e:\ai\ruinedfooocus_main_2.0.0.win64\python_embeded\lib\site-packages (2.8.0+cu128)
Requirement already satisfied: torchvision in e:\ai\ruinedfooocus_main_2.0.0.win64\python_embeded\lib\site-packages (0.23.0+cu128)
Requirement already satisfied: filelock in e:\ai\ruinedfooocus_main_2.0.0.win64\python_embeded\lib\site-packages (from torch) (3.13.1)
Requirement already satisfied: typing-extensions>=4.10.0 in e:\ai\ruinedfooocus_main_2.0.0.win64\python_embeded\lib\site-packages (from torch) (4.12.2)
Requirement already satisfied: sympy>=1.13.3 in e:\ai\ruinedfooocus_main_2.0.0.win64\python_embeded\lib\site-packages (from torch) (1.13.3)
Requirement already satisfied: networkx in e:\ai\ruinedfooocus_main_2.0.0.win64\python_embeded\lib\site-packages (from torch) (3.3)
Requirement already satisfied: jinja2 in e:\ai\ruinedfooocus_main_2.0.0.win64\python_embeded\lib\site-packages (from torch) (3.1.4)
Requirement already satisfied: fsspec in e:\ai\ruinedfooocus_main_2.0.0.win64\python_embeded\lib\site-packages (from torch) (2024.6.1)
Requirement already satisfied: numpy in e:\ai\ruinedfooocus_main_2.0.0.win64\python_embeded\lib\site-packages (from torchvision) (2.1.2)
Requirement already satisfied: pillow!=8.3.*,>=5.3.0 in e:\ai\ruinedfooocus_main_2.0.0.win64\python_embeded\lib\site-packages (from torchvision) (11.0.0)
Requirement already satisfied: mpmath<1.4,>=1.1.0 in e:\ai\ruinedfooocus_main_2.0.0.win64\python_embeded\lib\site-packages (from sympy>=1.13.3->torch) (1.3.0)
Requirement already satisfied: MarkupSafe>=2.0 in e:\ai\ruinedfooocus_main_2.0.0.win64\python_embeded\lib\site-packages (from jinja2->torch) (2.1.5)
This next step may take a while
Installing required modules
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "E:\AI\RuinedFooocus_main_2.0.0.win64\RuinedFooocus\entry_with_update.py", line 54, in
from launch import *
File "E:\AI\RuinedFooocus_main_2.0.0.win64\RuinedFooocus\launch.py", line 194, in
prepare_environment(offline)
File "E:\AI\RuinedFooocus_main_2.0.0.win64\RuinedFooocus\launch.py", line 124, in prepare_environment
run_pip(f'install -r "{modules_file}"', "required modules")
File "E:\AI\RuinedFooocus_main_2.0.0.win64\RuinedFooocus\modules\launch_util.py", line 97, in run_pip
return run(
File "E:\AI\RuinedFooocus_main_2.0.0.win64\RuinedFooocus\modules\launch_util.py", line 90, in run
raise RuntimeError("\n".join(error_bits))
RuntimeError: Couldn't install required modules.
Command: "E:\AI\RuinedFooocus_main_2.0.0.win64\python_embeded\python.exe" -m pip install -r "pip/modules.txt" --prefer-binary
Error code: 2
stdout: Collecting torchsde==0.2.6 (from -r pip/modules.txt (line 1))
Using cached torchsde-0.2.6-py3-none-any.whl.metadata (5.3 kB)
Collecting einops==0.8.0 (from -r pip/modules.txt (line 2))
Using cached einops-0.8.0-py3-none-any.whl.metadata (12 kB)
Collecting accelerate==1.1.0 (from -r pip/modules.txt (line 3))
Using cached accelerate-1.1.0-py3-none-any.whl.metadata (19 kB)
Collecting pyyaml==6.0.2 (from -r pip/modules.txt (line 4))
Using cached PyYAML-6.0.2-cp310-cp310-win_amd64.whl.metadata (2.1 kB)
Collecting tqdm==4.66.6 (from -r pip/modules.txt (line 5))
Using cached tqdm-4.66.6-py3-none-any.whl.metadata (57 kB)
Collecting psutil==6.1.0 (from -r pip/modules.txt (line 6))
Using cached psutil-6.1.0-cp37-abi3-win_amd64.whl.metadata (23 kB)
Collecting pytorch_lightning==1.9.4 (from -r pip/modules.txt (line 7))
Using cached pytorch_lightning-1.9.4-py3-none-any.whl.metadata (22 kB)
Collecting gradio==5.35.0 (from -r pip/modules.txt (line 8))
Using cached gradio-5.35.0-py3-none-any.whl.metadata (16 kB)
Collecting diffusers==0.32.1 (from -r pip/modules.txt (line 10))
Using cached diffusers-0.32.1-py3-none-any.whl.metadata (18 kB)
Collecting imageio-ffmpeg==0.5.1 (from -r pip/modules.txt (line 11))
Using cached imageio_ffmpeg-0.5.1-py3-none-win_amd64.whl.metadata (1.6 kB)
Collecting ftfy==6.1.1 (from -r pip/modules.txt (line 12))
Using cached ftfy-6.1.1-py3-none-any.whl.metadata (6.1 kB)
Collecting clip_interrogator==0.6.0 (from -r pip/modules.txt (line 13))
Using cached clip_interrogator-0.6.0-py3-none-any.whl.metadata (4.9 kB)
Collecting numpy==1.26.4 (from -r pip/modules.txt (line 14))
Using cached numpy-1.26.4-cp310-cp310-win_amd64.whl.metadata (61 kB)
Collecting opencv-python-headless==4.11.0.86 (from -r pip/modules.txt (line 15))
Using cached opencv_python_headless-4.11.0.86-cp37-abi3-win_amd64.whl.metadata (20 kB)
Collecting kornia==0.7.3 (from -r pip/modules.txt (line 16))
Using cached kornia-0.7.3-py2.py3-none-any.whl.metadata (7.7 kB)
Collecting sentencepiece==0.2.0 (from -r pip/modules.txt (line 17))
Using cached sentencepiece-0.2.0-cp310-cp310-win_amd64.whl.metadata (8.3 kB)
Collecting spandrel==0.3.4 (from -r pip/modules.txt (line 18))
Using cached spandrel-0.3.4-py3-none-any.whl.metadata (14 kB)
Collecting imageio==2.34.1 (from imageio[pyav]==2.34.1->-r pip/modules.txt (line 19))
Using cached imageio-2.34.1-py3-none-any.whl.metadata (4.9 kB)
Collecting beautifulsoup4==4.12.3 (from -r pip/modules.txt (line 20))
Using cached beautifulsoup4-4.12.3-py3-none-any.whl.metadata (3.8 kB)
Collecting protobuf==4.25.4 (from -r pip/modules.txt (line 21))
Using cached protobuf-4.25.4-cp310-abi3-win_amd64.whl.metadata (541 bytes)
Collecting rembg==2.0.58 (from -r pip/modules.txt (line 22))
Using cached rembg-2.0.58-py3-none-any.whl.metadata (16 kB)
Collecting gguf==0.14.0 (from -r pip/modules.txt (line 23))
Using cached gguf-0.14.0-py3-none-any.whl.metadata (3.7 kB)
Collecting diskcache==5.6.3 (from -r pip/modules.txt (line 24))
Using cached diskcache-5.6.3-py3-none-any.whl.metadata (20 kB)
Collecting txtai==8.5.0 (from -r pip/modules.txt (line 25))
Using cached txtai-8.5.0-py3-none-any.whl.metadata (31 kB)
Collecting onnxruntime==1.20.1 (from -r pip/modules.txt (line 26))
Using cached onnxruntime-1.20.1-cp310-cp310-win_amd64.whl.metadata (4.7 kB)
Collecting onnx==1.17.0 (from -r pip/modules.txt (line 27))
Using cached onnx-1.17.0-cp310-cp310-win_amd64.whl.metadata (16 kB)
Collecting pydantic==2.11.4 (from -r pip/modules.txt (line 28))
Using cached pydantic-2.11.4-py3-none-any.whl.metadata (66 kB)
Collecting pydantic_core==2.33.2 (from -r pip/modules.txt (line 29))
Using cached pydantic_core-2.33.2-cp310-cp310-win_amd64.whl.metadata (6.9 kB)
Collecting timm==1.0.15 (from -r pip/modules.txt (line 30))
Using cached timm-1.0.15-py3-none-any.whl.metadata (52 kB)
Collecting transformers==4.52.3 (from -r pip/modules.txt (line 31))
Using cached transformers-4.52.3-py3-none-any.whl.metadata (40 kB)
Collecting xmltodict==0.14.2 (from -r pip/modules.txt (line 32))
Using cached xmltodict-0.14.2-py2.py3-none-any.whl.metadata (8.0 kB)
Collecting nexaai==0.1.1.0 (from -r pip/modules.txt (line 33))
Using cached nexaai-0.1.1.0.tar.gz (86.0 MB)
Installing build dependencies: started
Installing build dependencies: finished with status 'done'
Getting requirements to build wheel: started
Getting requirements to build wheel: finished with status 'done'

stderr: ERROR: Exception:
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "E:\AI\RuinedFooocus_main_2.0.0.win64\python_embeded\lib\site-packages\pip_internal\cli\base_command.py", line 107, in _run_wrapper
status = _inner_run()
File "E:\AI\RuinedFooocus_main_2.0.0.win64\python_embeded\lib\site-packages\pip_internal\cli\base_command.py", line 98, in _inner_run
return self.run(options, args)
File "E:\AI\RuinedFooocus_main_2.0.0.win64\python_embeded\lib\site-packages\pip_internal\cli\req_command.py", line 71, in wrapper
return func(self, options, args)
File "E:\AI\RuinedFooocus_main_2.0.0.win64\python_embeded\lib\site-packages\pip_internal\commands\install.py", line 393, in run
requirement_set = resolver.resolve(
File "E:\AI\RuinedFooocus_main_2.0.0.win64\python_embeded\lib\site-packages\pip_internal\resolution\resolvelib\resolver.py", line 98, in resolve
result = self._result = resolver.resolve(
File "E:\AI\RuinedFooocus_main_2.0.0.win64\python_embeded\lib\site-packages\pip_vendor\resolvelib\resolvers\resolution.py", line 596, in resolve
state = resolution.resolve(requirements, max_rounds=max_rounds)
File "E:\AI\RuinedFooocus_main_2.0.0.win64\python_embeded\lib\site-packages\pip_vendor\resolvelib\resolvers\resolution.py", line 429, in resolve
self._add_to_criteria(self.state.criteria, r, parent=None)
File "E:\AI\RuinedFooocus_main_2.0.0.win64\python_embeded\lib\site-packages\pip_vendor\resolvelib\resolvers\resolution.py", line 150, in _add_to_criteria
if not criterion.candidates:
File "E:\AI\RuinedFooocus_main_2.0.0.win64\python_embeded\lib\site-packages\pip_vendor\resolvelib\structs.py", line 194, in bool
return bool(self._sequence)
File "E:\AI\RuinedFooocus_main_2.0.0.win64\python_embeded\lib\site-packages\pip_internal\resolution\resolvelib\found_candidates.py", line 165, in bool
self._bool = any(self)
File "E:\AI\RuinedFooocus_main_2.0.0.win64\python_embeded\lib\site-packages\pip_internal\resolution\resolvelib\found_candidates.py", line 149, in
return (c for c in iterator if id(c) not in self._incompatible_ids)
File "E:\AI\RuinedFooocus_main_2.0.0.win64\python_embeded\lib\site-packages\pip_internal\resolution\resolvelib\found_candidates.py", line 39, in _iter_built
candidate = func()
File "E:\AI\RuinedFooocus_main_2.0.0.win64\python_embeded\lib\site-packages\pip_internal\resolution\resolvelib\factory.py", line 180, in _make_candidate_from_link
base: BaseCandidate | None = self._make_base_candidate_from_link(
File "E:\AI\RuinedFooocus_main_2.0.0.win64\python_embeded\lib\site-packages\pip_internal\resolution\resolvelib\factory.py", line 226, in _make_base_candidate_from_link
self._link_candidate_cache[link] = LinkCandidate(
File "E:\AI\RuinedFooocus_main_2.0.0.win64\python_embeded\lib\site-packages\pip_internal\resolution\resolvelib\candidates.py", line 309, in init
super().init(
File "E:\AI\RuinedFooocus_main_2.0.0.win64\python_embeded\lib\site-packages\pip_internal\resolution\resolvelib\candidates.py", line 162, in init
self.dist = self._prepare()
File "E:\AI\RuinedFooocus_main_2.0.0.win64\python_embeded\lib\site-packages\pip_internal\resolution\resolvelib\candidates.py", line 239, in _prepare
dist = self._prepare_distribution()
File "E:\AI\RuinedFooocus_main_2.0.0.win64\python_embeded\lib\site-packages\pip_internal\resolution\resolvelib\candidates.py", line 320, in _prepare_distribution
return preparer.prepare_linked_requirement(self._ireq, parallel_builds=True)
File "E:\AI\RuinedFooocus_main_2.0.0.win64\python_embeded\lib\site-packages\pip_internal\operations\prepare.py", line 537, in prepare_linked_requirement
return self._prepare_linked_requirement(req, parallel_builds)
File "E:\AI\RuinedFooocus_main_2.0.0.win64\python_embeded\lib\site-packages\pip_internal\operations\prepare.py", line 652, in _prepare_linked_requirement
dist = _get_prepared_distribution(
File "E:\AI\RuinedFooocus_main_2.0.0.win64\python_embeded\lib\site-packages\pip_internal\operations\prepare.py", line 77, in _get_prepared_distribution
abstract_dist.prepare_distribution_metadata(
File "E:\AI\RuinedFooocus_main_2.0.0.win64\python_embeded\lib\site-packages\pip_internal\distributions\sdist.py", line 59, in prepare_distribution_metadata
self._install_build_reqs(build_env_installer)
File "E:\AI\RuinedFooocus_main_2.0.0.win64\python_embeded\lib\site-packages\pip_internal\distributions\sdist.py", line 133, in _install_build_reqs
build_reqs = self._get_build_requires_wheel()
File "E:\AI\RuinedFooocus_main_2.0.0.win64\python_embeded\lib\site-packages\pip_internal\distributions\sdist.py", line 108, in _get_build_requires_wheel
return backend.get_requires_for_build_wheel()
File "E:\AI\RuinedFooocus_main_2.0.0.win64\python_embeded\lib\site-packages\pip_internal\utils\misc.py", line 694, in get_requires_for_build_wheel
return super().get_requires_for_build_wheel(config_settings=cs)
File "E:\AI\RuinedFooocus_main_2.0.0.win64\python_embeded\lib\site-packages\pip_vendor\pyproject_hooks_impl.py", line 196, in get_requires_for_build_wheel
return self._call_hook(
File "E:\AI\RuinedFooocus_main_2.0.0.win64\python_embeded\lib\site-packages\pip_vendor\pyproject_hooks_impl.py", line 402, in _call_hook
raise BackendUnavailable(
pip._vendor.pyproject_hooks._impl.BackendUnavailable: Cannot import 'scikit_build_core.build'

E:\AI\RuinedFooocus_main_2.0.0.win64>pause
Press any key to continue . . .

[MojoOne1]

Can confirm this issue on Windows 10 machine with Python 3.10.9. Exact same behavior.

[pietracz]

You need to install the free C++ Build Tools from Microsoft.

1. Download the Visual Studio Build Tools:

Go to the official Visual Studio downloads page: https://visualstudio.microsoft.com/downloads/

Scroll down until you find "Tools for Visual Studio" and click the download button - I did install the 2019 Version, but maybe the 2022 Version will work too.

2. Run the Installer and Select the Correct Workload:

Run the downloaded file (vs_BuildTools.exe).

After a small initial setup, a window with a "Workloads" tab will appear. This is the most important step.

You must check the box for "Desktop development with C++".

You don't need to select any other individual components; the defaults for this workload are fine. The download size will be several gigabytes.

Click "Install" in the bottom right corner.

3. Restart Your Computer:

After the installation is complete, it is very important that you restart your computer. This ensures that the system's environment variables are updated so the command prompt can find the newly installed compilers.

Note: I didn't come up with it on my own, I used Gemini to debug but installing the C++ package did solve issues in another case for me too.

[Etxtra]

You need to install the free C++ Build Tools from Microsoft.

1. Download the Visual Studio Build Tools:

Go to the official Visual Studio downloads page: https://visualstudio.microsoft.com/downloads/

Scroll down until you find "Tools for Visual Studio" and click the download button - I did install the 2019 Version, but maybe the 2022 Version will work too.

2. Run the Installer and Select the Correct Workload:

Run the downloaded file (vs_BuildTools.exe).

After a small initial setup, a window with a "Workloads" tab will appear. This is the most important step.

You must check the box for "Desktop development with C++".

You don't need to select any other individual components; the defaults for this workload are fine. The download size will be several gigabytes.

Click "Install" in the bottom right corner.

3. Restart Your Computer:

After the installation is complete, it is very important that you restart your computer. This ensures that the system's environment variables are updated so the command prompt can find the newly installed compilers.

Note: I didn't come up with it on my own, I used Gemini to debug but installing the C++ package did solve issues in another case for me too.

Hey @pietracz thanks for the resolve. However, when I followed the link you gave, I scrolled down to tools for visual studio and did not get any single button download option. There is a list of tools with each having their own download button. I'm adding a screenshot of the same for better reference.

What should I do?

[Etxtra]

Hey @pietracz I asked around and downloaded the "Build tools for Visual Studio 2022" file from the link and followed your guide step by step in letter, however the issue still persists. I did everything as you said. Now I don't know what to do. I have no clue as to what I'm doing wrong. If it worked for you, IG it should've worked for me too, but no, it didn't. I'll be waiting for a solution from you.

AFTERVSTOOLSRuinedFooocus_main_2.0.0.win64Ru.log

[pietracz]

Hey @pietracz I asked around and downloaded the "Build tools for Visual Studio 2022" file from the link and followed your guide step by step in letter, however the issue still persists. I did everything as you said. Now I don't know what to do. I have no clue as to what I'm doing wrong. If it worked for you, IG it should've worked for me too, but no, it didn't. I'll be waiting for a solution from you.

AFTERVSTOOLSRuinedFooocus_main_2.0.0.win64Ru.log

I forgot to mention that you have to make sure, you did this for windows:
Go into the directory, click on the folder path so that everything is marked, type "cmd" press enter and use python_embeded\python.exe -m pip install scikit-build-core

Then try to run the run.bat file again.

Just so you know how it was for me:
I had the error, I used python_embeded\python.exe -m pip install scikit-build-core as explained above, I got a CMake error instead after starting the run.bat, I deleted the unziped directory to have a clean start, I installed the c++ workload, I unziped the downloaded archiv again, used the run.bat and the installation process was successful. However python_embeded\python.exe -m pip install scikit-build-core fixed the "Cannot import 'scikit_build_core.build" bug for me in the first place.

[Etxtra]

Okay. So I did run the cmd command through path and it fixed the previous error as you quoted and then when it said successfully installed, I ran the .bat file and got the same CMake error. So now switching to your second method, just for clarity, did you reinstall the C++ workload?

[pietracz]

Okay. So I did run the cmd command through path and it fixed the previous error as you quoted and then when it said successfully installed, I ran the .bat file and got the same CMake error. So now switching to your second method, just for clarity, did you reinstall the C++ workload?

No, I just installed the Visual Studio, opened it and there you have a few option you can select from, but you have to make sure that you're installing the "Desktop development with C++" - it should be 6GB in size or maybe more. To verify just open the "Visual Studio installer", there you should have your "Visual Studio Community 2022", click on "Change" and there you have to check the "Desktop development with C++". If it's not installed you'll see the size it will take and a button with the admin permission icon.

I hope this helps.

[Necrow51]

Or you can install RuinedFocus with StabilityMatrix, which will install all the necessary components beforehand.

[Etxtra]

#Update
My dear brethren, I got it fixed by running a fresh installation as @pietracz suggested. But this time I did somethings differently, so as to avoid getting the errors. Here's how it went:

The first thing I did was I added a path to Scripts in the environment variables of my PC and ran the CMD command given by @pietracz above in the folder where I have stored the RF zip file, before running the .bat file.
I had "Build tools" already installed, however, I still got the same CMake error.
Then I asked Gemini and it suggested that I install the latest version Cmake by downloading it directly from their website.
Downloaded it -> installed it -> restarted the PC -> ran the .bat file again and
Voila! it worked.

Here is a link (for Windows) for the CMake file, if you wanna download it directly.
OR you can browse and select a suitable file as per your requirements here

I'm grateful to all who helped me solve this issue.