VAPIGEN(1) User Commands VAPIGEN(1)

# [NAME](#NAME)

vapigen - generate a Vala API

# [SYNOPSIS](#SYNOPSIS)

**vapigen *SOURCE* *PKGBASE*** \[*OPTION*]... \[*FILE*]...

# [DESCRIPTION](#DESCRIPTION)

**vapigen** is a utility which generates Vala API (VAPI) files from GI files, which may be generated using the [vala-gen-introspect(1)](/man/os/vala/vala-gen-introspect.1) utility.

## [Usage:](#Usage:)

vapigen \[OPTION???] FILE... - Vala API Generator

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

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

Show help options

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

[**--vapidir**=*DIRECTORY*...](#vapidir)

Look for package bindings in DIRECTORY

[**--girdir**=*DIRECTORY*...](#girdir)

Look for GIR bindings in DIRECTORY

[**--metadatadir**=*DIRECTORY*...](#metadatadir)

Look for GIR .metadata files in DIRECTORY

[**--nostdpkg**](#nostdpkg)

Do not include standard packages

[**--pkg**=*PACKAGE*...](#pkg)

Include binding for PACKAGE

[**--library**=*NAME*](#library)

Library name

[**-d**, **--directory**=*DIRECTORY*](#d)

Output directory

[**--disable-warnings**](#disable)

Disable warnings

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

Display version number

[**-q**, **--quiet**](#q)

Do not print messages to the console

# [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)

[vala-gen-introspect (1)](/man/os/vala/vala-gen-introspect.1)

March 2026 Vala API Generator 0.56.19

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