pkgconfig

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pkgconfig

# Introduction

pkg-config (http://pkgconfig.freedesktop.org/wiki/) is a helper tool used when compiling applications and libraries. It helps you insert the correct compiler options on the command line based on installed software, instead of hard-coded values.

# Usage

Using pkg-config it is as simple as:

    # compile:
    gcc -c -o main.o main.c `pkg-config --cflags PKGNAME`

    # link:
    gcc -o my_application main.o `pkg-config --libs PKGNAME`

    # compile + link in a single step:
    gcc -o my_application main.c `pkg-config --cflags --libs PKGNAME`

Where PKGNAME is your module, such as eina, eet, evas, ecore, ecore-x, eio and so on.

One can do some queries such as the module version, other variables:

    pkg-config --modversion PKGNAME
    pkg-config --variable=prefix PKGNAME

# Troubleshooting

Make sure `pkg-config` command is in your `$PATH`, otherwise you'll end with:

    pkg-config: command not found

The PKGNAME it searched using pkg-config's build location, usually `/usr/lib/pkgconfig`. This can be overwritten with `$PKG_CONFIG_LIBDIR` (usually for cross compile) or extended with `$PKG_CONFIG_PATH`. If you installed EFL to `/opt/efl`, then use:

    export PKG_CONFIG_PATH="$PKG_CONFIG_PATH:/opt/efl/lib/pkgconfig"
    pkg-config --cflags --libs PKGNAME

Otherwise you'll end with:

    Package PKGNAME was not found in the pkg-config search path.
    Perhaps you should add the directory containing `PKGNAME.pc'
    to the PKG_CONFIG_PATH environment variable
    No package 'PKGNAME' found