how to see which libraries a binary program needs

r00tb33r · 02-22-2008, 06:10 PM

Here is a typical message when a certain dependency is unmet:

Code:

root:# Eterm
Eterm: error while loading shared libraries: libast.so.1: cannot open shared object file: No such file or directory

I recall there was a command that lists all the libraries(and the locations where the binary expects them) that a certain binary needs.
I don't remember the command and the terms I use in Google return everything but what I need.
Thanks in advance.

rayfordj · 02-22-2008, 06:22 PM

I believe you are after 'ldd'.

Code:

 ldd $(which xterm)

r00tb33r · 02-22-2008, 06:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rayfordj

I believe you are after 'ldd'.

Code:

 ldd $(which xterm)

That must be it.
Thanks alot!

ComputerGreek · 02-22-2008, 06:36 PM

You can also try objdump

more explicitly:

objdump -p $executable | grep NEEDED | awk '{print $2}'

This gives you only those libraries needed by the executable.

So, it is more precise.

ComputerGreek · 02-23-2008, 05:22 AM

By the way: objdump comes in the binutils-2.18.tar.gz package from:

http://ftp.gnu.org/gnu/binutils/binutils-2.18.tar.gz