Resolve Dependencies During Compilation on Ubuntu

Simplifying Software Compilation on Ubuntu

One of the most challenging aspects of building software from source code on Linux systems is identifying and installing the necessary dependencies. Fortunately, Ubuntu streamlines this process considerably.

The apt package management system, native to Ubuntu, is designed to automatically detect, locate, and install these required dependencies.

Ubuntu's Automated Dependency Resolution

This automation significantly reduces the complexity typically associated with software compilation.

Rather than manually searching for and installing each dependency, Ubuntu’s apt commands handle the task efficiently.

This functionality is particularly beneficial for users who are new to compiling software or prefer a more hands-off approach.

Further Learning

A foundational understanding of compiling software from source on Ubuntu is recommended before diving into dependency management.

For those seeking introductory guidance, our previous article provides a comprehensive overview of the basics.

We recently published a guide covering the fundamental steps involved in compiling software from source on Ubuntu; it can be found here.

Auto-Apt: Automated Dependency Resolution

Auto-apt is a utility designed to monitor and intervene during the execution of the ./configure command. Specifically, it detects missing files required by the configuration process.

When ./configure attempts to access a non-existent file, auto-apt temporarily pauses the process. It then proceeds to install the necessary package, allowing ./configure to resume seamlessly.

Installation

The initial step involves installing auto-apt using the following command in your terminal:

sudo apt-get install auto-apt

Updating File Lists

Following installation, it’s crucial to download the file lists that auto-apt requires for operation. This process may require several minutes to complete.

sudo auto-apt update

Database Updates

Once the initial update is finished, further commands are needed to update auto-apt’s databases. These updates also take a few minutes to finalize.

sudo auto-apt updatedb && sudo auto-apt update-local

Running Configure with Auto-Apt

With auto-apt’s databases fully constructed, you can initiate the ./configure process. The following command will execute the configuration while leveraging auto-apt’s dependency resolution capabilities:

sudo auto-apt run ./configure

Apt-File: Locating Package Ownership of Files

When encountering a missing file error, determining the necessary package for installation can be challenging. Apt-file provides a streamlined solution, enabling users to identify the packages containing a specific file through a single command.

The initial step involves installing the apt-file utility itself.

sudo apt-get install apt-file

Following installation, the file lists from your configured APT repositories must be downloaded. This process may require several minutes due to the substantial size of these lists.

sudo apt-file update

To determine the package providing a particular file, execute the following command. Replace "example.pc" with the actual filename you are searching for.

apt-file search file example.pc

The output will reveal the package that needs to be installed to obtain the desired file.

Subsequently, install the identified package using the standard apt-get install command:

sudo apt-get install package

Alternative: Ubuntu Package Search

An alternative method for locating file ownership is through the Ubuntu Package Search website. This web-based tool offers a "Search the contents of packages" feature.

This feature allows you to search for a specific file directly within the packages available in the repositories.

The results provided by the Ubuntu Package Search are consistent with those obtained from apt-file.

Importantly, utilizing the website eliminates the need to download any file lists locally.

Utilizing Apt-Get Build-Dep for Dependency Resolution

The functionality of apt-get build-dep was previously discussed. When a program you intend to install exists in Ubuntu’s package repositories, even in an older version, the system is already aware of its necessary dependencies.

To install these required dependencies, execute the following command, substituting “package” with the actual package name:

sudo apt-get build-dep package

The system will then prompt you to confirm the installation of all identified dependencies.