[PostGIS] #5973: pg_config --bindir not being used as documented.

PostGIS trac at osgeo.org
Fri Aug 22 19:25:52 PDT 2025


#5973: pg_config --bindir not being used as documented.
---------------------------+---------------------------
 Reporter:  polobo         |      Owner:  robe
     Type:  defect         |     Status:  new
 Priority:  low            |  Milestone:  PostGIS 3.5.4
Component:  documentation  |    Version:  master
 Keywords:                 |
---------------------------+---------------------------
 (Note: PostgreSQL meson build with custom --prefix)\\
 The README.postgis sayith:\\
   Installation paths will typically be derived by `pg_config`:\\
   ...\\
   Binaries (loader/dumper) in `pg_config --bindir`\\
   ...\\
   Where `[prefix]` above is extracted from `pg_config --configure`.

 The following excerpt from `make install` shows this to be incorrect:\\
 {{{
 make[1]: Entering directory '/home/davidj/postgis/topology'
 mkdir -p '/home/davidj/.local/pgsql-17/pgsql/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu'
 mkdir -p '/home/davidj/.local/pgsql-17/pgsql/share/contrib/postgis-3.6'
 /bin/sh /home/davidj/.local/pgsql-17/pgsql/lib/x86_64-linux-
 gnu/pgxs/src/makefiles/../../config/install-sh -c -m 755
 postgis_topology-3.so '/home/davidj/.local/pgsql-17/pgsql/lib/x86_64
 -linux-gnu/postgis_topology-3.so'
 mkdir -p /usr/local/bin
 /bin/sh ../libtool --mode=install /bin/sh
 /home/davidj/.local/pgsql-17/pgsql/lib/x86_64-linux-
 gnu/pgxs/src/makefiles/../../config/install-sh -c loader/pgtopo_import
 "/usr/local/bin/pgtopo_import"
 libtool: install: /bin/sh /home/davidj/.local/pgsql-17/pgsql/lib/x86_64
 -linux-gnu/pgxs/src/makefiles/../../config/install-sh -c
 loader/pgtopo_import /usr/local/bin/pgtopo_import
 cp: cannot create regular file '/usr/local/bin/_inst.151834_': Permission
 denied
 make[1]: *** [Makefile:189: install-importer] Error 1
 make[1]: Leaving directory '/home/davidj/postgis/topology'
 make: *** [GNUmakefile:36: install] Error 1
 }}}
 If it were looking at `pg_config --bindir` it would be putting
 `pgtopo_import` into `/home/davidj/.local/pgsql-17/pgsql/bin` - as the
 `lib` and `share` locations preceding it indicate.

 Also, I'm pretty sure that `pg_config --configure` is now unreliable since
 meson doesn't seem to populate it.  I think we need to document that if
 one wants to fully use the `--prefix` directory of their PostgreSQL
 installation the same directory needs to be passed as `./configure
 --prefix=/home/davidj/.local/pgsql-17/pgsql`.

 I pondered altering the build to do as the documentation says but that
 seemed overly risky compared to a simple directive to be explicit.  I
 suppose it makes automation a bit more annoying - so I wouldn't mind a
 code solution - but at the moment I can't write that patch.  I'll probably
 give the readme a go if there is agreement as to my observation and
 general way forward.
-- 
Ticket URL: <https://trac.osgeo.org/postgis/ticket/5973>
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