Beyond Linux® From Scratch - Version 7.4

Chapter 17. Networking Libraries

cURL-7.32.0

Introduction to cURL

The cURL package contains an utility and a library used for transferring files with URL syntax to any of the following protocols: FTP, FTPS, HTTP, HTTPS, SCP, SFTP, TFTP, TELNET, DICT, LDAP, LDAPS and FILE. Its ability to both download and upload files can be incorporated into other programs to support functions like streaming media.

This package is known to build and work properly using an LFS-7.4 platform.

Package Information

  • Download (HTTP): http://curl.haxx.se/download/curl-7.32.0.tar.bz2

  • Download MD5 sum: 30d04b0a8c43c6770039d1bf033dfe79

  • Download size: 2.6 MB

  • Estimated disk space required: 29 MB (additional 7 MB for tests)

  • Estimated build time: 0.5 SBU (additional 2.9 SBU for tests)

cURL Dependencies

Recommended

Certificate Authority Certificates and OpenSSL-1.0.1e or GnuTLS-3.2.4

Optional

c-ares, krb4, libidn-1.28, libmetalink, libssh2, MIT Kerberos V5-1.11.3, OpenLDAP-2.4.36 and SPNEGO

Optional for Running the Test Suite

stunnel-4.56 (for the HTTPS and FTPS tests)

User Notes: http://wiki.linuxfromscratch.org/blfs/wiki/curl

Installation of cURL

Install cURL by running the following commands: 

./configure --prefix=/usr              \
            --disable-static           \
            --enable-threaded-resolver \
            --with-ca-path=/etc/ssl/certs &&
make

To test the results, issue: make test.

Now, as the root user: 

make install &&
find docs \( -name "Makefile*" -o -name "*.1" -o -name "*.3" \) -exec rm {} \; &&
install -v -d -m755 /usr/share/doc/curl-7.32.0 &&
cp -v -R docs/*     /usr/share/doc/curl-7.32.0

Command Explanations

--disable-static: This switch prevents installation of static versions of the libraries.

--enable-threaded-resolver: This switch enables cURL's builtin threaded DNS resolver.

--with-ca-path=/etc/ssl/certs: This parameter sets the directory to use as the path to the SSL certificates. If you've not installed OpenSSL-1.0.1e or GnuTLS-3.2.4 and the Certificate Authority Certificates you can remove this option.

--with-gssapi: This parameter adds Kerberos 5 support to libcurl.

--without-ssl --with-gnutls: Use to build with GnuTLS support instead of OpenSSL for SSL/TLS.

find docs \( -name "Makefile*" -o -name "*.1" -o -name "*.3" \) -exec rm {} \;: This command removes Makefiles and man files from the documentation directory that would otherwise be installed by the commands that follow.

Contents

Installed Programs: curl and curl-config
Installed Library: libcurl.so
Installed Directories: /usr/include/curl and /usr/share/doc/curl-7.32.0

Short Descriptions

curl

is a command line tool for transferring files with URL syntax.

curl-config

prints information about the last compile, like libraries linked to and prefix setting.

libcurl.so

provides the API functions required by curl and other programs.

Last updated on 2013-08-20 13:22:42 -0700