--- name: "root-config" section: "1" platform: "linux" package: "root" version: "6.40.04-1" release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01" platforms: ["linux"] url: "https://new.carta.tech/root-config" --- # root-config(1) ROOT utility for your Makefiles ## NAME root-config - ROOT utility for your Makefiles ## SYNOPSIS **root-config** *\[options\]* ## DESCRIPTION *root-config* is a tool that is used to configure and determine the compiler and linker flags that should be used to compile and link programs that use *ROOT*. ``` CPPFLAGS += $(shell root-config --cflags) LDLIBS += $(shell root-config --libs) LDFLAGS += $(shell root-config --ldflags) %Cint.cxx:Include.h LinkDef.h rootcint -f $@ -c $^ ``` in your Makefile to use the built-in rules of GNU make. For GUIs, replace *--libs* by *--glibs*. You may also find the [*automake*(1)](/automake/1.md), [*autoconf*(1)](/autoconf/1.md), and [*libtool*(1)](/libtool/1.md) macro file */usr/share/aclocal/root.m4* useful. If that macro file isn't installed where *aclocal* will find it, copy the contents to your local *acinclude.m4* file. In the directories you use **ROOT** libraries, have in your *Makefile.am* file: ``` lib_LTLIBRARIES = libFoo.la pkginclude_HEADERS = Foo.h noinst_HEADERS = FooCint.h libFoo_la_SOURCES = Foo.cxx FooCint.cxx libFoo_la_LDFLAGS = -version-info 1:0 -R @ROOTLIBDIR@ libFoo_la_LDADD = -lCore -lCint @ROOTAUXLIBS@ BUILT_SOURCES = FooCint.cxx FooCint.h AM_CPPFLAGS = -I@ROOTINCDIR@ AM_LDFLAGS = -L@ROOTLIBDIR@ CLEANFILES = *Cint.cxx *Cint.h *~ core %Cint.cxx %Cint.h:Include.h LinkDef.h @ROOTCINT@ -f $*Cint.cxx -c $(INCLUDES) $(AM_CPPFLAGS) $^ ``` where you should substitute **Foo** with whatever, and list the appropriate source files in the **\_SOURCES** variable. In you *configure.in* file, put: ``` AC_PROG_CC AC_PROG_CXX ROOT_PATH AM_PROG_LIBTOOL ``` along with any other macros you may need. Note that the **ROOT\_PATH** macro takes three optional arguments: the minimal **ROOT** version to use, action if **ROOT** is found, and action if **ROOT** isn't found. Some examples are ``` ROOT_PATH(3.03/05, , AC_MSG_ERROR(Your ROOT version is too old)) ROOT_PATH(, AC_DEFUN(HAVE_ROOT)) ``` For example, if you want to compile some part of your source tree conditionally on wether **ROOT** is present or not, you can put in your *configure.in* file ``` ROOT_PATH(, [ AC_DEFUN(HAVE_ROOT) have_root=yes ]) AM_CONDITIONAL(GOT_ROOT, test "x$have_root" = "xyes") ``` And then in some *Makefile.am* ``` EXTRA_SOURCES = root_dependent_source.cc if GOT_ROOT LIBFOOXTRA = root_dependent_source.cc else LIBFOOXTRA = endif lib_LTLIBRARIES = libFoo.la libFoo_la_SOURCES = Foo.cc $(LIBFOOXTRA) ``` The full list of substitution variables are: - **ROOTCONF** full path to *root-config* - **ROOTEXEC** full path to *root* - **ROOTCINT** full path to *rootcint* - **ROOTLIBDIR** Where the **ROOT** libraries are - **ROOTINCDIR** Where the **ROOT** headers are - **ROOTCFLAGS** Extra compiler flags - **ROOTLIBS** **ROOT** basic libraries - **ROOTGLIBS** **ROOT** basic + GUI libraries - **ROOTAUXLIBS** Auxiliary libraries and linker flags for **ROOT** - **ROOTAUXCFLAGS** Auxiliary compiler flags - **ROOTRPATH** Same as **ROOTLIBDIR** ## OPTIONS - **--help** Give a short list of options available, and exit - **--version** Report the version number of installed **ROOT**, and exit. - **--prefix***=\* If no arguments are given, reports where **ROOT** is installed. With an argument of =*\*, set the base of the subsequent options to *\*. If **\\--exec-prefix** is passed with an argument, it overrides the argument given to **\\--prefix** for the library path. - **--exec-prefix***=\* If no argument is given, report where the libraries are installed. If an argument is given, use that as the installation base directory for the libraries. This option does not affect the include path. - **--libdir** Print the directory where the ROOT libraries are installed. - **--incdir** Print the directory where the ROOT headers are installed. - **--libs** Output a line suitable for linking a program against the **ROOT** libraries. No graphics libraries are included. - **--glibs** As above, but also output for the graphics (GUI) libraries. - **--evelibs** As above, but also output for the graphics libraries and Eve libraries. - **--cflags** Output a line suitable for compiling a source file against the **ROOT** header (class declararion) files. - **--new** Put the **libNew.so** library in the library lists. This option *must* be given before options **--libs** and **--glibs**. - **--nonew** Compatiblity option, does nothing. - **--auxlibs** Print auxiliary libraries and/or system linker flags. - **--noauxlibs** Do not print auxiliary libraries and/or system linker flags in the output of **--libs** and **--glibs**. **--auxcflags** Print auxiliary compiler flags. - **--noauxcflags** Do not print auxiliary compiler flags in the output of **--cflags**. - **--noldflags** Do not print library path link option in output of **--libs**, **--evelibs** and **--glibs**. - **--ldflags** Print additional linker flags (eg. **-m64**) - **--arch** Print the architecture (compiler/OS) - **--platform** Print the platform (OS) - **--bindir** Print the binary directory of the root installation (location of the root executable) - **--etcdir** Print the configuration directory (place of system.rootrc, mime type, valgrind suppression files and .desktop files) - **--config** Print arguments used for ./configure as used when building root. These cannot be used for ./configure if root was built with CMake. - **--git-revision** Print the ROOT git revision number from which root was built. - **--has-\** Test if \ has been enabled in the build process. - **--features** Print list of all supported features - **--ncpu** Print number of available (hyperthreaded) cores - **--python-version** Print the Python version used by ROOT - **--cc** Print alternative C compiler specified when ROOT was built - **--cxx** Print alternative C++ compiler specified when ROOT was built - **--f77** Print alternative Fortran compiler specified when ROOT was built - **--ld** Print alternative Linker specified when ROOT was built ## SEE ALSO [*root*(1)](/root/1.md), *root-cint*(1) See also the **ROOT** webpages: *http://root.cern* ⟨http://root.cern⟩ ## ORIGINAL AUTHORS The ROOT team (see web page above): **Rene Brun** and **Fons Rademakers** ## COPYRIGHT This library is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public License as published by the Free Software Foundation; either version 2.1 of the License, or (at your option) any later version. This library is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the GNU Lesser General Public License for more details. You should have received a copy of the GNU Lesser General Public License along with this library; if not, write to the Free Software Foundation, Inc., 51 Franklin St, Fifth Floor, Boston, MA 02110-1301 USA ## AUTHOR This manual page was written by Christian Holm Christensen \, for the Debian GNU/Linux system (but may be used by others).