Re: ldconfig-symlink-missing-for-shlib error

[skaller <skaller@users.sourceforge.net>]

On Thu, 2005-07-14 at 01:53 -0400, kamaraju kusumanchi wrote:

> section 8.1 of debian-policy states that
> 
> [sic]The run-time library package should include the symbolic link that 
> |ldconfig| would create for the shared libraries. [sic]
> 
> Does not this mean that ldconfig creates the symbolic link for the 
> shared libraries? 

Yes. But consider these two scenarios:

(A) You supply the library not the link

Install: 
  * library installed by package
  * link create by postinst script running ldconfig

Removal:
  * library removed by package manager

NOTE: the link is not removed!

(B) You supply the library AND the link

Install:
  * library installed by package
  * link installed by package

Removal:
  * library removed by package manager
  * link removed by package manager

NOTE: the library AND the link are removed this way

So this is the reason for the Policy: to ensure the library
AND the link are removed when the package is.

* ldconfig creates links, but doesn't remove them
* ldconfig is still run in the postinst script for
  a different reason: to update the dynamic loaders
  cache immediately after the package is installed

  The cache makes it faster to find shared libraries.