PCAP-CONFIG(1) General Commands Manual PCAP-CONFIG(1)

# [NAME](#NAME)

pcap-config - write libpcap compiler and linker flags to standard output

# [SYNOPSIS](#SYNOPSIS)

**pcap-config** \[ **--help** ] \[ **--version** ] \[ **--cflags** ] \[ **--libs** | **--additional-libs** ] \[ **--static** | **--static-pcap-only** ]

# [DESCRIPTION](#DESCRIPTION)

*pcap-config* writes to the standard output various compiler and linker flags required to build a user program with libpcap. By default, it writes flags appropriate for building with a dynamically-linked version of libpcap; see below for static linking. Depending on the manner of libpcap installation, some options or their combinations may produce empty output - this is by design.

# [OPTIONS](#OPTIONS)

[**--help**](#help)

Produce a help message and exit.

[**--version**](#version)

Produce libpcap version and exit. The version is the contents of *VERSION* file in libpcap source tree rather than the result of [**pcap\_lib\_version**(3PCAP)](/man/os/libpcap/pcap_lib_version.3PCAP).

[**--cflags**](#cflags)

Produce the **-I** compiler flag required to include libpcap's header files.

[**--libs**](#libs)

Produce the **-L** and **-l** linker flags required to link with libpcap, including **-l** flags for libraries required by libpcap.

[**--additional-libs**](#additional)

Produce the **-L** and **-l** linker flags for libraries required by libpcap, but not the **-l** flag to link with libpcap itself.

[**--static**](#static)

This option causes **--libs** and **--additional-libs** to produce linker flags appropriate for static linking with libpcap.

**--static-pcap-only**

This option causes **--libs** and **--additional-libs** to produce linker flags appropriate for static linking with libpcap and dynamic linking with all other libraries, including libraries required by libpcap.

# [EXIT STATUS](#EXIT_STATUS)

*pcap-config* exits with a non-zero status when invoked with an invalid command-line option, and with status 0 otherwise.

# [BACKWARD COMPATIBILITY](#BACKWARD_COMPATIBILITY)

The **--version** flag became available in libpcap release 1.10.3.

Before libpcap release 1.10.2 *pcap-config* did not treat invalid command-line options as an error. The **--static-pcap-only** flag became available in libpcap release 1.10.2.

The **--static** flag became available in libpcap release 1.1.0.

# [SEE ALSO](#SEE_ALSO)

[**pkg-config**(1)](/man/os/libpcap/pkg-config.1), [**pcap**(3PCAP)](/man/os/libpcap/pcap.3PCAP)

22 December 2024

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Document: pcap-config(1) from libpcap 1.11.0-r0 (Chainguard OS)
Source: https://github.com/the-tcpdump-group/libpcap.git