How can I specify library path when using Meson?

Question

I'm trying to build a c++ project with Meson.

The thing is, I have some libraries under /opt/conda but can't figure out how to link the project when running meson build. It seems to be only searching through /usr/lib directory.

As far as I understood, meson uses cmake and pkg-config to look for libraries. Then would setting something like CMAKE_PREFIX_PATH be a feasible solution? and if so, how can I do that?

Thanks in advance.

Answer 1

I see two possible approaches to solve your problem.

• the first solution uses LIBRARY_PATH, which is different from LD_LIBRARY_PATH as explained later.

• the second solution uses a modified meson file to directly pass options to the linker. Optionally, it also uses rpath that eliminates the need to modify LD_LIBRARY_PATH afterward.

  1. First solution

When building your project the linker use LIBRARY_PATH (and not LD_LIBRARY_PATH)

LIBRARY_PATH is used by gcc before compilation to search directories containing static and shared libraries that need to be linked to your program.

LD_LIBRARY_PATH is used by your program to search directories containing shared libraries after it has been successfully compiled and linked.

further details: LD_LIBRARY_PATH vs LIBRARY_PATH

Maybe you can try

export LIBRARY_PATH=/opt/conda/:$LIBRARY_PATH

before running meson to build your project.

2. Second solution

Modifying your meson file and use rpath (optional)

An alternative to the previous first solution is to directly modify your Meson file to pass some options to the linker.

Here is something I used in the past you can easily adapt to your problem:

#
# blaspp
#
blaspp_lib = 'blaspp'
blaspp_lib_dir = '/opt/slate/lib'
blaspp_header_dir = '/opt/slate/include'

blaspp_dep = declare_dependency(
    link_args : ['-L' + blaspp_lib_dir, '-l' + blaspp_lib],
    include_directories : include_directories(blaspp_header_dir))

executable('test_blaspp',
       'test_blaspp.cpp',
       build_rpath : blaspp_lib_dir,
       install_rpath : blaspp_lib_dir,
       dependencies : [blaspp_dep])

• declare_dependency(...) defines options to pass to the linker (this replaces the need to define LIBRARY_PATH in the first solution)

• executable(...) defines rpath. This is an optional step that embeds the extra library path information directly into the executable. If you use this, you will not have to modify the LD_LIBRARY_PATH when running your executable.

Further details: https://amir.rachum.com/blog/2016/09/17/shared-libraries/ (have a look at the "rpath and runpath" section) and see wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rpath

Answer 2

If I understand the documentation correctly, you could use different / others build system as subproject, and it doesn't seem basing on cmake. You should be able to define CMAKE_PREFIX_PATH in a CMakeList.txt of a cmake project, and access the generated library within meson context: in your cmake subproject:

add_library(cm_lib SHARED ${SOURCES})

in your meson:

cmake = import('cmake')

# Configure the CMake project
sub_proj = cmake.subproject('libsimple_cmake')

# Fetch the dependency object
cm_lib = sub_proj.dependency('cm_lib')

executable(exe1, ['sources'], dependencies: [cm_lib])

if you only want to propagate any specific library to meson, than it looks like you'll need to bundle those third party library, or using built-in options.

But first of all: Have you check, either /opt/conda is in your LD_LIBRARY_PATH ?

Answer 3

Surprised no one mentioned it but this is how it is done from within meson.

CXX = meson.get_compiler('cpp')
libs_you_need_to_link = ['lib_a', 'lib_b', 'lib_c']
deps = []
foreach lib_name : libs_you_need_to_link 
    deps += CXX.find_library(lib_name, dirs : ['/opt/conda', '/other/path'])
endforeach