Beyond Linux® From Scratch (System V Edition) - Version r12.4-1388

Chapter 10. Graphics and Font Libraries

FreeType-2.14.1

Introduction to FreeType2

The FreeType2 package contains a library which allows applications to properly render TrueType fonts.

[Note]

Note

This version of BLFS may not build or run some packages properly if LFS or dependencies have been updated since the most recent stable version of the System V books.

Package Information

Additional Downloads

Additional Documentation

FreeType2 Dependencies

Recommended

harfBuzz-12.3.2 (runtime), libpng-1.6.55, and Which-2.23

Optional

Brotli-1.2.0 and librsvg-2.61.4

Optional (for documentation)

docwriter

Installation of FreeType2

If you downloaded the additional documentation, unpack it into the source tree using the following command: 

tar -xf ../freetype-doc-2.14.1.tar.xz --strip-components=2 -C docs

Install FreeType2 by running the following commands: 

sed -ri "s:.*(AUX_MODULES.*valid):\1:" modules.cfg &&

sed -r "s:.*(#.*SUBPIXEL_RENDERING) .*:\1:" \
    -i include/freetype/config/ftoption.h  &&

./configure --prefix=/usr            \
            --disable-static         \
            --enable-freetype-config \
            --with-harfbuzz=dynamic &&
make

This package does not come with a test suite.

Now, as the root user: 

make install

If you downloaded the optional documentation, install it as the root user: 

cp -v -R docs -T /usr/share/doc/freetype-2.14.1 &&
rm -v /usr/share/doc/freetype-2.14.1/freetype-config.1

Command Explanations

sed -ri ...: First command enables GX/AAT and OpenType table validation and second command enables Subpixel Rendering. Note that Subpixel Rendering may have patent issues. Be sure to read the 'Other patent issues' part of https://freetype.org/patents.html before enabling this option.

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

--enable-freetype-config: This switch ensures that the man page for freetype-config is installed.

--with-harfbuzz=dynamic: This switch ensures that HarfBuzz is loaded dynamically, skipping the requirement to rebuild this package after HarfBuzz is installed.

--without-harfbuzz: If harfbuzz is installed prior to freetype without freetype support, use this switch to avoid a build failure.

Contents

Installed Program: freetype-config
Installed Library: libfreetype.so
Installed Directories: /usr/include/freetype2 and /usr/share/doc/freetype-2.14.1

Short Descriptions

freetype-config

is used to get FreeType compilation and linking information

libfreetype.so

contains functions for rendering various font types, such as TrueType and Type1