---
name: "sconsign"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "scons"
version: "4.11.1-1"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/sconsign"
---

# sconsign(1)

print SCons signature file information

## NAME

sconsign - print SCons signature file information

## SYNOPSIS

**sconsign** \[*options*...\] \[*file*...\]

## DESCRIPTION

Displays the contents of one or more sconsign files, the signature/dependency database used by the SCons build tool. The database contains all Nodes that are known to the build, either by declaration in the build configuration, produced as side effects, or detected by inspection.

By default, **sconsign** dumps the entire contents of the sconsign file(s). Without options, individual dependency entries are printed in the following format:

```
depfile: content-signature timestamp length
        implicit-dependency-1: content-signature timestamp size
        implicit-dependency-2: content-signature timestamp size
        ...
        build-signature [action-string]
```

**content-signature** (displayed as csig in verbose mode) is the hash of the file's contents. **build-signature** is the hash of the command line or other build action used to build a target. If provided, **action-string** is the unexpanded string action or the function called. **None** is printed in place of any missing timestamp or signature. If the entry has no implicit dependencies, or no build action, the corresponding lines are omitted.

An indicator line is printed for each directory, as directories do not have signatures in the database and so would not otherwise be shown.

By default, **sconsign** assumes that any *file* arguments that end with a .dblite suffix contains signature entries for more than one directory (that is, was specified by the **SConsignFile** SCons function). Any *file* argument that has no suffix is assumed to be an old-style (deprecated) sconsign file containing the signature entries for a single directory. If neither of those is true, **sconsign** attempts to guess the format. If that does not work, an explicit format may be specified using the **-f** or **--format=** options.

If there are no *file* arguments, the name .sconsign.dblite is assumed by default.

*Deprecated since version 4.11.0*: The old-style signature-file-per-directory mode is deprecated.

## OPTIONS

Various options control what information is printed and the format:

- **-a**, **--act**, **--action**

  Prints only the build action information for all entries or the specified entries.

- **-c**, **--csig**

  Prints only the content signature (csig) information for all entries or the specified entries.

- **-d** *DIRECTORY*, **--dir=***DIRECTORY*

  When the signatures are being read from a .dblite file, or the **-f dblite** or **--format=dblite** options are used, prints information about only the signatures for entries in the specified *DIRECTORY*.

- **-e** *ENTRY*, **--entry=***ENTRY*

  Prints information about only the specified *ENTRY*. Multiple **-e** options may be used, in which case information about each *ENTRY* is printed in the order in which the options are specified on the command line.

- **-f** *FORMAT*, **--format=***FORMAT*

  The file(s) to be printed are in the specified *FORMAT*. Legal values are **dblite** (the SCons.dblite format used by default, as well as when the **SConsignFile** function is called, except when a filename argument of **None** is given) and **sconsign** (the format used for an individual .sconsign file in each directory).

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

  Prints a help message and exits.

- **-i**, **--implicit**

  Prints the list of cached implicit dependencies for all entries or for the specified entries.

- **--raw**

  Prints a pretty-printed representation of the raw Python dictionary that holds build information about individual entries (both the entry itself and its implicit dependencies). An entry's build action is still printed in its usual format.

- **-r**, **--readable**

  Prints timestamps in a human-readable string, enclosed in single quotes.

- **-t**, **--timestamp**

  Prints the timestamp information for all entries or the specified entries.

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

  Prints labels identifying each field being printed.

## ENVIRONMENT

**SCONS\_LIB\_DIR**

Specifies the directory that contains the SCons Python module directory (e.g. /home/aroach/scons-src/SCons).

## SEE ALSO

The SCons reference (manpage) at **https://scons.org/doc/production/HTML/scons-man.html**, the SCons User Guide at **https://scons.org/doc/production/HTML/scons-user.html**, the SCons source code **on GitHub**\[1\].

## AUTHORS

Originally: Steven Knight knight@baldmt.com and Anthony Roach aroach@electriceyeball.com.

Since 2010: The SCons Development Team scons-dev@python.org.

## NOTES

- 1\.

  on GitHub

  https://github.com/SCons/scons