@ -1,36 +1,44 @@
Due to our use of `libtool' to generate and install the FreeType 2
libraries on Unix systems, as well as other historical events, it is
generally very difficult to know precisely which release of the font
Due to our use of `libtool' to generate and install the FreeType 2
libraries on Unix systems, as well as other historical events, it is
generally very difficult to know precisely which release of the font
engine is installed on a given system.
This file tries to explain why and to document ways to properly detect
This file tries to explain why and to document ways to properly detect
FreeType on Unix.
1. Version and Release numbers
------------------------------
For each new public release of FreeType 2, there are generally *three*
For each new public release of FreeType 2, there are generally *three*
distinct `version' numbers to consider:
* The official FreeType 2 release number, like 2.3.1 or 2.4.10 .
* The official FreeType 2 release number, like 2.7.0 or 2.10.2 .
* The libtool (and Unix) specific version number, like 13.0.7. This
is what `freetype-config --version' returns.
* The libtool (and Unix) specific version number, like 23.2.17.
This is what
* The platform-specific shared object number, used for example when
the library is installed as `/usr/lib/libfreetype.so.6.7.1'.
pkg-config freetype2 --modversion
The platform-specific number is, unsurprisingly, platform-specific and
varies with the operating system you are using (several variants of
Linux, FreeBSD, Solaris, etc.). You should thus _never_ use it, even
or
freetype-config --version
returns.
* The platform-specific shared object number, used for example when
the library is installed as `/usr/lib/libfreetype.so.6.17.2'.
The platform-specific number is, unsurprisingly, platform-specific and
varies with the operating system you are using (several variants of
Linux, FreeBSD, Solaris, etc.). You should thus _never_ use it, even
for simple tests.
The libtool-specific number does not equal the release number but is
The libtool-specific number does not equal the release number but is
tied to it.
The release number is available at *compile* time through the following
macros defined in FT_FREETYPE_H:
The release number is available at *compile* time through the
following macros defined in FT_FREETYPE_H:
- FREETYPE_MAJOR: major release number
- FREETYPE_MINOR: minor release number
@ -38,20 +46,21 @@ macros defined in FT_FREETYPE_H:
See below for a small autoconf fragment.
The release number is also available at *runtime* through the
The release number is also available at *runtime* through the
`FT_Library_Version' API.
2. History
----------
The following table gives, for all releases since 2.4 .0, the
corresponding libtool number, as well as the shared object number found
on _most_ systems, but not all of them:
The following table gives, for all releases since 2.5 .0, the
corresponding libtool number, as well as the shared object number
found on _most_ systems, but not all of them:
release libtool so
-------------------------------
2.10.2 23.2.17 6.17.2
2.10.1 23.1.17 6.17.1
2.10.0 23.0.17 6.17.0
2.9.1 22.1.16 6.16.1
@ -72,58 +81,48 @@ on _most_ systems, but not all of them:
2.5.2 17.1.11 6.11.1
2.5.1 17.0.11 6.11.0
2.5.0 16.2.10 6.10.2
2.4.12 16.1.10 6.10.1
2.4.11 16.0.10 6.10.0
2.4.10 15.0.9 6.9.0
2.4.9 14.1.8 6.8.1
2.4.8 14.0.8 6.8.0
2.4.7 13.2.7 6.7.2
2.4.6 13.1.7 6.7.1
2.4.5 13.0.7 6.7.0
2.4.4 12.2.6 6.6.2
2.4.3 12.1.6 6.6.1
2.4.2 12.0.6 6.6.0
2.4.1 11.1.5 6.5.1
2.4.0 11.0.5 6.5.0
3. Autoconf Code Fragment
-------------------------
Lars Clausen contributed the following autoconf fragment to detect which
version of FreeType is installed on a system. This one tests for a
version that is at least 2.0.9; you should change it to check against
Lars Clausen contributed the following autoconf fragment to check
which version of FreeType is installed on a system (now updated to use
`pkg-config' instead of `freetype-config'). This one tests for a
version that is at least 2.10.2; you should change it to check against
other release numbers.
AC_MSG_CHECKING([whether FreeType version is 2.0.9 or higher])
AC_MSG_CHECKING([whether FreeType version is 2.10.2 or higher])
old_CPPFLAGS="$CPPFLAGS"
CPPFLAGS=`freetype-config --cflags`
CPPFLAGS=`pkg-config freetype2 --cflags`
AC_TRY_CPP([
#include <ft2build.h>
#include FT_FREETYPE_H
#if (FREETYPE_MAJOR*1000 + FREETYPE_MINOR)*1000 + FREETYPE_PATCH < 2000009
#error FreeType version too low.
#if FREETYPE_MAJOR*10000 + FREETYPE_MINOR*100 + FREETYPE_PATCH < 21002
# error FreeType version too low.
#endif
],
[AC_MSG_RESULT(yes)
FREETYPE_LIBS=`freetype-config --libs`
FREETYPE_LIBS=`pkg-config freetype2 --libs`
AC_SUBST(FREETYPE_LIBS)
AC_DEFINE(HAVE_FREETYPE,1,[Define if you have the FreeType2 library])
CPPFLAGS="$old_CPPFLAGS"],
[AC_MSG_ERROR([Need FreeType library version 2.0.9 or higher])])
[AC_MSG_ERROR([Need FreeType library version 2.10.2 or higher])])
------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Copyright (C) 2002-2020 by
David Turner, Robert Wilhelm, and Werner Lemberg.
This file is part of the FreeType project, and may only be used,
modified, and distributed under the terms of the FreeType project
license, LICENSE.TXT. By continuing to use, modify, or distribute this
file you indicate that you have read the license and understand and
accept it fully.
This file is part of the FreeType project, and may only be used,
modified, and distributed under the terms of the FreeType project
license, LICENSE.TXT. By continuing to use, modify, or distribute
this file you indicate that you have read the license and understand
and a ccept it fully.
--- end of VERSIONS.TXT ---
Werner Lemberg
5 years ago