---
name: "libtool"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "libtool"
version: "2.6.2-5"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/libtool"
---

# libtool(1)

Provide generalized library-building support services

## NAME

libtool - Provide generalized library-building support services

## SYNOPSIS

**libtool** \[*OPTION*\]... \[*MODE-ARG*\]...

## DESCRIPTION

Provide generalized library-building support services.

## OPTIONS

- **--config**

  show all configuration variables

- **--debug**

  enable verbose shell tracing

- **-n**, **--dry-run**

  display commands without modifying any files

- **--features**

  display basic configuration information

- **--finish**

  use operation '--mode=finish'

- **--mode**=*MODE*

  use operation mode MODE

- **--no-finish**

  don't update shared library cache

- **--no-quiet**, **--no-silent**

  print default informational messages

- **--no-warnings**

  equivalent to '-Wnone'

- **--preserve-dup-deps**

  don't remove duplicate dependency libraries

- **--quiet**, **--silent**

  don't print informational messages

- **--reorder-cache**=*DIRS*

  reorder shared library cache for preferred DIRS

- **--tag**=*TAG*

  use configuration variables from tag TAG

- **-v**, **--verbose**

  print more informational messages than default

- **--version**

  print version information

- **-W**, **--warnings**=*CATEGORY*

  report the warnings falling in CATEGORY \[all\]

- **-h**, **--help**, **--help-all**

  print short, long, or detailed help message

### Warning categories include:

- 'all'

  show all warnings

- 'none'

  turn off all the warnings

- 'error'

  warnings are treated as fatal errors

If a TAG is supplied, it must use one of the tag names below:

- Tag Name

  Language Name

- CC

  C

- CXX

  C++

- OBJC

  Objective-C

- OBJCXX

  Objective-C++

- GCJ

  Java

- F77

  Fortran 77

- FC

  Fortran

- GO

  Go

- RC

  Windows Resource

If you do not see a tag name associated with your programming language, then you are using a compiler that libtool does not support.

MODE must be one of the following:

- clean

  remove files from the build directory

- compile

  compile a source file into a libtool object

- execute

  automatically set library path, then run a program

- finish

  complete the installation of libtool libraries

- install

  install libraries or executables

- link

  create a library or an executable

- uninstall

  remove libraries from an installed directory

MODE-ARGS vary depending on the MODE.  When passed as first option, '--mode=MODE' may be abbreviated as 'MODE' or a unique abbreviation of that.

GNU libtool home page: \<https://www.gnu.org/s/libtool/\>.

When reporting a bug, please describe a test case to reproduce it and include the following information:

- host-triplet:

  x86\_64-pc-linux-gnu

- shell:

  */bin/sh*

- compiler:

  gcc

- compiler flags: **-march**=*x86-64* **-mtune**=*generic* **-O2** **-pipe** **-fno-plt** **-fexceptions**

  **-Wp**,-D\_FORTIFY\_SOURCE=3 **-Wformat** **-Werror**=*format-security*         **-fstack-clash-protection** **-fcf-protection**         **-fno-omit-frame-pointer** **-mno-omit-leaf-frame-pointer** **-g** **-ffile-prefix-map=**/build/libtool/src=/usr/src/debug/libtool **-flto**=*auto*

- linker:

  */usr/bin/ld* **-m** elf\_x86\_64 (gnu? yes)

- version:

  libtool (GNU libtool) 2.6.2

- automake:

  automake (GNU automake) 1.18.1

- autoconf:

  autoconf (GNU Autoconf) 2.73

## REPORTING BUGS

Report bugs to \<bug-libtool@gnu.org\>.

## COPYRIGHT

Copyright © 2026 Free Software Foundation, Inc. License GPLv2+: GNU GPL version 2 or later \<https://gnu.org/licenses/gpl.html\>\
 This is free software: you are free to change and redistribute it. There is NO WARRANTY, to the extent permitted by law.

Originally written by Gordon Matzigkeit, 1996 (See AUTHORS for complete contributor listing)

## SEE ALSO

The full documentation for **libtool** is maintained as a Texinfo manual.  If the **info** and **libtool** programs are properly installed at your site, the command

-

  **info libtool**

should give you access to the complete manual.