1 This document contains instructions on how to build the FreeType
2 library on Unix systems. This also works for emulations like Cygwin
6 1. Ensure that you are using GNU Make
7 -------------------------------------
9 The FreeType build system _exclusively_ works with GNU Make. You
10 will not be able to compile the library with the instructions
11 below using any other alternative (including BSD Make).
13 Check that you have GNU make by running the command:
17 This should dump some text that begins with:
19 GNU Make <version number>
20 Copyright (C) <year> Free Software Foundation Inc.
22 Note that version 3.80 or higher is *required* or the build will
25 It is also fine to have GNU Make under another name (e.g. 'gmake')
26 if you use the MAKE variable as described below.
28 As a special exception, 'makepp' can also be used to build
29 FreeType 2. See the file docs/MAKEPP for details.
32 2. Regenerate the configure script if needed
33 --------------------------------------------
35 This only applies if you are building a git snapshot or checkout,
36 *not* if you grabbed the sources of an official release.
38 You need to invoke the `autogen.sh' script in the top-level
39 directory in order to create the `configure' script for your
40 platform. Normally, this simply means typing:
44 In case of problems, you may need to install or upgrade Automake,
45 Autoconf or Libtool. See README.git in the top-level directory
49 3. Build and install the library
50 --------------------------------
52 The following should work on all Unix systems where the `make'
53 command invokes GNU Make:
57 make install (as root)
59 The default installation path is `/usr/local'. It can be changed
60 with the `--prefix=<path>' option. Example:
62 ./configure --prefix=/usr
64 When using a different command to invoke GNU Make, use the MAKE
65 variable. For example, if `gmake' is the command to use on your
66 system, do something like:
68 MAKE=gmake ./configure [options]
70 gmake install (as root)
72 If this still doesn't work, there must be a problem with your
73 system (e.g., you are using a very old version of GNU Make).
75 It is possible to compile FreeType in a different directory.
76 Assuming the FreeType source files in directory `/src/freetype' a
77 compilation in directory `foo' works as follows:
80 /src/freetype/configure [options]
85 3.1 Interdependency with HarfBuzz
86 .................................
88 Note that there is a chicken-and-egg problem currently since the
89 HarfBuzz library (used by the auto-hinter to improve support of
90 OpenType fonts) depends on FreeType, which can be solved as
91 follows in case HarfBuzz is not yet installed on your system.
93 1. Call FreeType's `configure' script with option
94 `--without-harfbuzz', then compile and install FreeType.
96 2. Compile and install HarfBuzz.
98 3. Call FreeType's `configure' script without option
99 `--without-harfbuzz' (after executing `make distclean'), then
100 compile and install FreeType again.
103 ----------------------------------------------------------------------
105 Copyright 2003-2007, 2013, 2014 by
106 David Turner, Robert Wilhelm, and Werner Lemberg.
108 This file is part of the FreeType project, and may only be used,
109 modified, and distributed under the terms of the FreeType project
110 license, LICENSE.TXT. By continuing to use, modify, or distribute
111 this file you indicate that you have read the license and understand
115 --- end of INSTALL.UNIX ---