VALA-GEN-INTROSPECT(1) User Commands VALA-GEN-INTROSPECT(1)

# [NAME](#NAME)

vala-gen-introspect - generate a GI file for GObject and glib based packages

# [SYNOPSIS](#SYNOPSIS)

**vala-gen-introspect *PKGNAME* *PKGBASE***

# [DESCRIPTION](#DESCRIPTION)

**vala-gen-introspect** is a utility which generates GI files from GObject and glib based packages. It can be used in combination with [vapigen(1)](/man/os/vala/vapigen.1) to generate an API for Vala, and allow its usage in Vala for compiling to native code. *PKGNAME* is the pkg-config name of the library and *PKGBASE* specifies the base directory for that package.

## [Usage:](#Usage:)

gen-introspect \[OPTION???]

## [Help Options:](#Help_Options:)

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

Show help options

## [Application Options:](#Application_Options:)

[**-v**, **--verbose**](#v)

Be verbose

[**-o**, **--output**=*FILE*](#o)

write output here instead of stdout

[**-n**, **--namespace**=*NAMESPACE*](#n)

Namespace of the module, like 'Gtk'

[**--shared-library**=*FILE*](#shared)

Shared library which contains the symbols

[**--include-idl**=*IDL*](#include)

Other gidls to include

# [BUGS](#BUGS)

https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/vala/issues

# [HOMEPAGE OR CONTACT](#HOMEPAGE_OR_CONTACT)

https://vala.dev

# [AUTHORS](#AUTHORS)

J??rg Billeter, Raffaele Sandrini.

# [EXAMPLES](#EXAMPLES)

After compilation, the following command generates a GI for pango: **vala-gen-introspect pango packages/pango**

[This can then be converted to a Vala API as follows:](#This)

**vapigen --pkg cairo --vapidir . --library pango packages/pango/pango.gi**

# [SEE ALSO](#SEE_ALSO)

[vapigen (1)](/man/os/vala/vapigen.1)

March 2026 gen-introspect 0.56.19

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Document: vala-gen-introspect-0.56(1) from vala 0.56.19-r2 (Chainguard OS)
Source: https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/vala