---
name: "dh_auto_configure"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "debhelper"
version: "13.24.2"
release: "Debian 13 (Trixie)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/dh_auto_configure"
---

# dh\_auto\_configure(1)

automatically configure a package prior to building

## NAME

dh\_auto\_configure - automatically configure a package prior to building

## SYNOPSIS

**dh\_auto\_configure** \[*build system options*\] \[*debhelper options*\] \[**--** *params*\]

## DESCRIPTION

**dh\_auto\_configure** is a debhelper program that tries to automatically configure a package prior to building. It does so by running the appropriate command for the build system it detects the package uses. For example, it looks for and runs a *./configure* script, *Makefile.PL*, *Build.PL*, or *cmake*. A standard set of parameters is determined and passed to the program that is run. Some build systems, such as make, do not need a configure step; for these **dh\_auto\_configure** will exit without doing anything.

This is intended to work for about 90% of packages. If it doesn't work, you're encouraged to skip using **dh\_auto\_configure** at all, and just run *./configure* or its equivalent manually.

## OPTIONS

See "**BUILD SYSTEM OPTIONS**" in [**debhelper**(7)](/debhelper/7.md) for a list of common build system selection and control options.

- **--** *params*

  Pass *params* to the program that is run, after the parameters that **dh\_auto\_configure** usually passes. For example:

  ```
    dh_auto_configure -- --with-foo --enable-bar
  ```

## SEE ALSO

[**debhelper**(7)](/debhelper/7.md)

This program is a part of debhelper.

## AUTHOR

Joey Hess \<joeyh@debian.org\>