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// -*- mode:doc; -*-
// vim: set syntax=asciidoc:
=== Gettext integration and interaction with packages
Many packages that support internationalization use the gettext
library. Dependencies for this library are fairly complicated and
therefore, deserve some explanation.
The 'uClibc' C library doesn't implement gettext functionality;
therefore with this C library, a separate gettext must be compiled,
which is provided by the additional +libintl+ library, part of the
+gettext+ package.
On the other hand, the 'glibc' C library does integrate its own
gettext library functions, so it is not necessary to build a separate
+libintl+ library.
However, certain packages need some gettext utilities on the target,
such as the +gettext+ program itself, which allows to retrieve
translated strings, from the command line.
Additionally, some packages (such as +libglib2+) do require gettext
functions unconditionally, while other packages (in general, those who
support +--disable-nls+) only require gettext functions when locale
support is enabled.
Therefore, Buildroot defines two configuration options:
* +BR2_NEEDS_GETTEXT+, which is true as soon as the toolchain doesn't
provide its own gettext implementation
* +BR2_NEEDS_GETTEXT_IF_LOCALE+, which is true if the toolchain
doesn't provide its own gettext implementation and if locale support
is enabled
Packages that need gettext only when locale support is enabled should:
* use +select BR2_PACKAGE_GETTEXT if BR2_NEEDS_GETTEXT_IF_LOCALE+ in the
+Config.in+ file;
* use +$(if $(BR2_NEEDS_GETTEXT_IF_LOCALE),gettext)+ in the package
+DEPENDENCIES+ variable in the +.mk+ file.
Packages that unconditionally need gettext (which should be very rare)
should:
* use +select BR2_PACKAGE_GETTEXT if BR2_NEEDS_GETTEXT+ in the +Config.in+
file;
* use +$(if $(BR2_NEEDS_GETTEXT),gettext)+ in the package
+DEPENDENCIES+ variable in the +.mk+ file.
Packages that need the +gettext+ utilities on the target (should be
rare) should:
* use +select BR2_PACKAGE_GETTEXT+ in their +Config.in+ file,
indicating in a comment above that it's a runtime dependency only.
* not add any +gettext+ dependency in the +DEPENDENCIES+ variable of
their +.mk+ file.