10.32. Readline-6.2

The Readline package is a set of libraries that offers command-line editing and history capabilities.

10.32.1. Installation of Readline

The following patch contains updates from the maintainer. The maintainer of Readline only releases these patches to fix serious issues:

patch -Np1 -i ../readline-6.2-branch_update-3.patch

Prepare Readline for compilation:

./configure --prefix=/usr --libdir=/lib

Compile the package:

make SHLIB_LIBS=-lncurses

This package does not come with a test suite.

Install the package:

make install

Install the documentation:

make install-doc

Now move the static libraries to a more appropriate location:

mv -v /lib/lib{readline,history}.a /usr/lib

Next, remove the .so files in /lib and relink them into /usr/lib.

rm -v /lib/lib{readline,history}.so
ln -svf ../../lib/libreadline.so.6 /usr/lib/libreadline.so
ln -svf ../../lib/libhistory.so.6 /usr/lib/libhistory.so

10.32.2. Contents of Readline

Installed libraries: libhistory.[a,so], and libreadline.[a,so]
Installed directories: /usr/include/readline, /usr/share/readline

Short Descriptions

libhistory

Provides a consistent user interface for recalling lines of history

libreadline

Aids in the consistency of user interface across discrete programs that need to provide a command line interface