Re: Missing file "config.h"

[Pádraig Brady]

On 05/07/2024 09:51, Björn Försterling via GNU coreutils General Discussion 
wrote:
> Hello,
>
> I cloned the repository https://github.com/coreutils/coreutils.git and
> tried to compile some of the programs it contains.
>
> But the files include a file called "config.h".
>
> $ gcc -Wall hostname.c
> hostname.c:19:10: fatal error: config.h: No such file or directory
> 19 | #include <config.h>
> | ^~~~~~~~~~
> compilation terminated.
>
> How can I get this file? Is it included in some package? Or do I have
> to run a specific tool or script first?

The process for building from the git repo is detailed at:
https://github.com/coreutils/coreutils/blob/master/README-hacking

For a bit less involved method (with less developer oriented dependencies)
you may prefer to build from a tarball, like for example:

  wget https://ftp.gnu.org/gnu/coreutils/coreutils-9.5.tar.xz
  tar -xf coreutils-9.5.tar.xz
  cd coretuils-9.5
  ./configure --quiet && make

The configure process generates the required config.h
Note `hostname` isn't built by default,
but you can then do so manually with:

  make V=1 src/hostname

If you wanted to persist the building of `hostname` in a build system,
the best way to do that would be with the '--enable-install-program=hostname'
configure option.


cheers,
Pádraig