---
id: colcon-pkg-config
version: "0.1.0"
license: Apache License, Version 2.0
license_treatment: permissive
maintenance: dormant
---

# colcon-pkg-config — Extension for colcon adding an environment variable to find pkg-config files.

License: permissive · Maintenance: dormant · Downloads: 195.0K/mo

## What it is and what it does

colcon-pkg-config is a plugin for the colcon build system that adds environment variable configuration to help the build process locate pkg-config files. It integrates into colcon-core as an extension, allowing developers to set up pkg-config search paths without manual environment setup before each build.

The package is minimal and single-purpose: it exists to bridge colcon's build orchestration with pkg-config's file discovery mechanism. It has one runtime dependency (colcon-core) and carries no known vulnerabilities. However, it has been dormant since its first release, with no updates to track changes in colcon or pkg-config tooling.

Use it for:

- Configuring pkg-config search paths automatically when using colcon to build C/C++ projects.
- Simplifying multi-package builds that rely on pkg-config to locate system or custom libraries.
- Setting up colcon workspaces where pkg-config files are in non-standard locations.

## Worth the install?

AI-flagged interpretation of the facts above — verify before relying.

Extends colcon-core to configure environment variables for locating pkg-config files during builds.

Yes, if you are already using colcon for C/C++ builds and need pkg-config file discovery to work out of the box. No, if your colcon setup is recent or if you manage pkg-config paths through other means. The dormant maintenance status means it may not work with newer colcon versions—verify compatibility before committing.

## Install

pip install colcon-pkg-config
uv add colcon-pkg-config
poetry add colcon-pkg-config

## Installing colcon-pkg-config

Before you install: Low install friction as a pure-Python wheel. Maintenance is dormant—no releases since first release and last commit in 2024 suggest the package is stable but not actively developed.

License in practice: Apache License, Version 2.0 (permissive) places no significant restrictions on use or redistribution.

Quickstart:

pip install colcon-pkg-config

from colcon_core.plugin_system import instantiate_extensions
# Extension is loaded automatically by colcon-core when installed

Requires colcon-core to be installed and functional; this is a plugin that operates within colcon's extension system.

Verify before relying:

- Whether the package works with current colcon-core versions (no version constraint specified).
- What specific pkg-config scenarios this extension solves beyond standard environment setup.

## Package facts

- License: Apache License, Version 2.0 (permissive)
- Python support: unspecified
- Install friction: low
- Maintenance: dormant
- Downloads: 195.0K/month (top 15,000 on PyPI)
- Known vulnerabilities: none known

## Tags

colcon pkg-config extension, pkg-config environment variable setup, colcon build tool plugin, pkg-config path configuration, colcon environment extension, colcon-plugin, pkg-config

[View on SkillFed](https://skillfed.io/packages/colcon-pkg-config) · [View on PyPI](https://pypi.org/project/colcon-pkg-config/)