---
name: "cups-config"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "cups"
version: "2:2.4.20-1"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux", "macos"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/cups-config"
---

# cups-config(1)

get cups api, compiler, directory, and link information (deprecated).

## NAME

cups-config - get cups api, compiler, directory, and link information (deprecated).

## SYNOPSIS

**cups-config** *--api-version*\
 **cups-config** *--build*\
 **cups-config** *--cflags*\
 **cups-config** *--datadir*\
 **cups-config** *--help*\
 **cups-config** *--ldflags*\
 **cups-config** \[ *--image* \] \[ *--static* \] *--libs*\
 **cups-config** *--serverbin*\
 **cups-config** *--serverroot*\
 **cups-config** *--version*\

## DESCRIPTION

The **cups-config** command allows application developers to determine the necessary command-line options for the compiler and linker, as well as the installation directories for filters, configuration files, and drivers. All values are reported to the standard output. **Note:** This command is deprecated and will be removed in a future version of CUPS. The [**pkg-config**(1)](/pkg-config/1.md) command should be used instead.

## OPTIONS

The **cups-config** command accepts the following command-line options:

- **--api-version**

  Reports the current API version (major.minor).

- **--build**

  Reports a system-specific build number.

- **--cflags**

  Reports the necessary compiler options.

- **--datadir**

  Reports the default CUPS data directory.

- **--help**

  Reports the program usage message.

- **--ldflags**

  Reports the necessary linker options.

- **--libs**

  Reports the necessary libraries to link to.

- **--serverbin**

  Reports the default CUPS binary directory, where filters and backends are stored.

- **--serverroot**

  Reports the default CUPS configuration file directory.

- **--static**

  When used with *--libs*, reports the static libraries instead of the default (shared) libraries.

- **--version**

  Reports the full version number of the CUPS installation (major.minor.patch).

## EXAMPLES

Show the currently installed version of CUPS:

```
    cups-config --version
```

Compile a simple one-file CUPS filter:

```
    cc `cups-config --cflags --ldflags` -o filter filter.c \
        `cups-config --libs`
```

## DEPRECATED OPTIONS

The following options are deprecated but continue to work for backwards compatibility:

- **--image**

  Formerly used to add the CUPS imaging library to the list of libraries.

## SEE ALSO

[**cups**(1)](/cups/1.md), [**pkg-config**(1)](/pkg-config/1.md), CUPS Online Help (http://localhost:631/help)

## COPYRIGHT

Copyright © 2020-2024 by OpenPrinting.