---
name: "sysconf-generic"
section: "8"
platform: "freebsd"
package: "base"
version: "16.0-CURRENT-20261027-61c70dc16a79"
release: "FreeBSD 16.0-CURRENT (2026-10-27)"
platforms: ["freebsd"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/sysconf-generic"
---

# sysconf-generic(8)

configure a file of no built-in format

## NAME

**sysconf generic** – configure a file of no built-in format

## SYNOPSIS

**sysconf** **generic** **-f** *file* \[**-ceinNqvx**\] \[**-j** *jail* \| **-R** *dir*\] *name*\[\[+\|-\]=*value*\] *...*

## DESCRIPTION

The **generic** target of [sysconf(8)](/sysconf/8.md) exists for files matching no known format (quote values only when required to round-trip). Having no default files of its own, it always requires **-f**. The format is never inferred from the path; see [sysconf-targets(8)](/sysconf-targets/8.md). Shared options are in [sysconf(8)](/sysconf/8.md).

## EXAMPLES

```
sysconf generic -f /usr/local/etc/myapp.conf loglevel=debug
```

## SEE ALSO

[bsdconf\_format(3)](/bsdconf_format/3.md), [sysconf(8)](/sysconf/8.md), [sysconf-targets(8)](/sysconf-targets/8.md)

## HISTORY

The **sysconf** utility first appeared in FreeBSD 16.0.

## AUTHORS

Devin Teske ⟨*dteske@FreeBSD.org*⟩ Faraz Vahedi ⟨*kfv@FreeBSD.org*⟩