How to find the files and directories that related to an executable file?

Jason.nix · 05-20-2023, 11:27 PM

Hello,
With "whereis" command, I can find the location of the binary, but how can I find the files and directories that related to that file? For example:

Code:

$ whereis firefox
firefox: /usr/bin/firefox

But, where are the files and directories that related to the Firefox?

Thank you.

RandomTroll · 05-20-2023, 11:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jason.nix

Where are the files and directories that related to the Firefox?

I'd look in /var/lib/pkgtools/packages/mozilla-firefox-113.0.1-x86_64-1 . I use Slackware. Your distribution may have this information elsewhere.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jason.nix

Thank you.

You're welcome.

Racho · 05-21-2023, 03:53 AM

Your package manager can help you.

For example:

Code:

$ apt content firefox

for other package managers just read the man page.

The configuration files with your personal preferences should be in your home folder.
For example: ~/.thunderbird or ~./.mozilla/firefox

The configuration files for systemwide preferences in /etc/. For example /etc/firefox

I think that's it... but not really sure

Hope it helps anyway!

fatmac · 05-21-2023, 04:19 AM

Possibly ldd at the command line.

Code:

ldd /bin/grep
	linux-vdso.so.1 (0x00007fff1dd83000)
	libpcre.so.3 => /lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/libpcre.so.3 (0x00007fbbf50cc000)
	libdl.so.2 => /lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/libdl.so.2 (0x00007fbbf50c6000)
	libc.so.6 => /lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/libc.so.6 (0x00007fbbf4ef1000)
	libpthread.so.0 => /lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/libpthread.so.0 (0x00007fbbf4ecf000)
	/lib64/ld-linux-x86-64.so.2 (0x00007fbbf5197000)

Code:

ldd /usr/bin/firefox-esr
	linux-vdso.so.1 (0x00007ffc967f7000)
	libpthread.so.0 => /lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/libpthread.so.0 (0x00007f5527fb1000)
	libdl.so.2 => /lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/libdl.so.2 (0x00007f5527fab000)
	libstdc++.so.6 => /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/libstdc++.so.6 (0x00007f5527dde000)
	libgcc_s.so.1 => /lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/libgcc_s.so.1 (0x00007f5527dc4000)
	libc.so.6 => /lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/libc.so.6 (0x00007f5527bef000)
	/lib64/ld-linux-x86-64.so.2 (0x00007f552808c000)
	libm.so.6 => /lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/libm.so.6 (0x00007f5527aab000)

boughtonp · 05-21-2023, 08:55 AM

Files come from packages.

On Debian-based systems, you can identify the package owning a file with "dpkg-query --search FILENAME" and then the other files provided by that package with "dpkg-query --listfiles PACKAGENAME"

For other systems, you might find the equivalent commands at: https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Pacman/Rosetta

The ldd command shows you shared objects an executable uses - these will not always be in the same package, but may be in a dependent package.

pan64 · 05-21-2023, 09:56 AM

more or less
1. you can find the package and you will see what files belong to that package (and most probably used by that app).2
2. ldd will show you the libraries used by the app (which are required to run it). But this list can be incomplete and changing (depending on the page you use).
3. lsof may show you the [currently] opened files, but this may also change over time
4. apps may have personal files somewhere inside your home
5. there can be a cache too.

Jason.nix · 06-12-2023, 08:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Racho

Your package manager can help you.

For example:

Code:

$ apt content firefox

for other package managers just read the man page.

The configuration files with your personal preferences should be in your home folder.
For example: ~/.thunderbird or ~./.mozilla/firefox

The configuration files for systemwide preferences in /etc/. For example /etc/firefox

I think that's it... but not really sure

Hope it helps anyway!

Hello,
The command show me:

Code:

E: Invalid operation content

frankbell · 06-12-2023, 08:11 PM

See man locate.