# GNU Libtool

> generic library support script

**Wikidata**: [Q1045215](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1045215)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GNU_Libtool)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/gnu-libtool

## Summary
GNU Libtool is a generic library support script and GNU package that provides portable tools for managing libraries across operating systems. It is part of the GNU build system, maintained by Gordon Matzigkeit and developed by the GNU Project, and is released under the GNU General Public License (version 2.0 or later).

## Key Facts
- GNU Libtool is a "generic library support script" and a GNU package (instance_of: software library, programming tool, GNU package, free software).
- Inception date: 1997-07-09.
- Creator and maintained_by: Gordon Matzigkeit (listed in AUTHORS and maintenance metadata).
- Developed and maintained by the GNU Project and is part of the GNU build system / GNU Project.
- License: GNU General Public License, version 2.0 or later.
- Programming language: implemented as a shell script.
- Runs on / supports Microsoft Windows, macOS, BSD systems, and Unix-like operating systems.
- Official website: https://www.gnu.org/software/libtool/ and user manual at https://www.gnu.org/software/libtool/manual/.
- Source code repository: https://git.savannah.gnu.org/cgit/libtool.git (primary), with Gitweb mirror available.
- Recent stable versions include 2.5.4 (preferred stable, 2024-11-20), 2.5.3 (2024-09-25), 2.4.7 (2022-03-17), and earlier 2.4-series releases; 2.5.0 was released as an alpha on 2024-05-13.

## FAQs
### Q: What is GNU Libtool?
A: GNU Libtool is a generic library support script and GNU package that provides portable tooling for working with libraries and is part of the GNU build system. It is distributed as free software under the GNU GPL (v2 or later).

### Q: Who created and maintains GNU Libtool?
A: The original creator and listed maintainer is Gordon Matzigkeit. The project is developed and maintained by the GNU Project.

### Q: On which platforms does GNU Libtool run?
A: GNU Libtool supports Unix-like operating systems and is available for BSD, macOS, and Microsoft Windows according to its platform metadata and packaging across multiple OS distributions.

## Why It Matters
GNU Libtool matters because it standardizes and centralizes library-related operations across diverse platforms as part of the GNU build system. As a portable, GNU-maintained tooling package written in shell script, it enables consistent handling of libraries within build processes for software that targets Unix-like systems, BSD, macOS, and Windows. Its long-maintained status (inception 1997) and inclusion in many OS packaging ecosystems (Debian, Ubuntu, Fedora, Gentoo, openSUSE, Homebrew, MacPorts, NetBSD, FreeBSD, OpenBSD, Arch Linux, Guix) reflect its role in enabling cross-platform development and distribution. The project is free software under the GNU GPL v2-or-later, has an accessible source repository on GNU Savannah, and provides official documentation and mailing lists for developers and packagers. Recent stable releases through 2024 (with 2.5.4 as the preferred stable release) show active versioning and maintenance, making Libtool a practical choice for projects that require consistent, portable library support across operating systems.

## Notable For
- Being part of the GNU build system and a GNU Project package focused on generic library support.
- Multiple stable releases and active maintenance history, with 2.5.4 marked as the preferred stable release (2024-11-20).
- Wide platform support: metadata and packaging indicate availability on Windows, macOS, BSD, and Unix-like systems.
- Implementation as a shell script, making it a portable tooling solution across POSIX-like environments.
- Broad packaging presence across major distributions and package systems (Debian/Ubuntu, Fedora, Gentoo, openSUSE, Homebrew, MacPorts, BSD ports).

## Body

### Overview
- GNU Libtool is described as a "generic library support script."
- It is a GNU package and part of the GNU build system.
- The project is categorized as a software library, programming tool, GNU package, and free software.

### Origins and Maintenance
- Inception: 1997-07-09.
- Creator: Gordon Matzigkeit (listed in project AUTHORS).
- Developer / Maintainer: GNU Project and Gordon Matzigkeit (metadata lists both).
- Movement: associated with the free software movement.

### Licensing
- License: GNU General Public License, version 2.0 or later.
- Copyright status: copyrighted; copyright holder metadata present.

### Versions and Release History (selected)
- 2.4 — stable released 2010-09-02 (announcement metadata indicates publication 2010-09-24).
- 2.4.2 — stable released 2011-10-18.
- 2.4.3 — stable released 2014-10-27.
- 2.4.4 — stable released 2014-11-29.
- 2.4.5 — stable released 2015-01-19.
- 2.4.6 — stable released 2015-02-15.
- 2.4.7 — stable released 2022-03-17.
- 2.5.0 — alpha released 2024-05-13.
- 2.5.3 — stable released 2024-09-25.
- 2.5.4 — preferred stable released 2024-11-20.

### Platform Support and Packaging
- Listed operating systems: Unix-like operating systems, BSD, macOS, Microsoft Windows.
- Packaging and ports:
  - Debian/Ubuntu: libltdl-dev, libltdl7, libtool, libtool-bin, libtool-doc (Debian stable packages and source package entries).
  - Fedora package: libtool.
  - Gentoo: sys-devel/libtool.
  - openSUSE package: libtool.
  - Homebrew formula: libtool.
  - MacPorts port: libtool.
  - FreeBSD port: devel/libtool.
  - OpenBSD port: devel/libtool.
  - NetBSD packages: devel/libtool-info, devel/libtool-base, devel/libtool-fortran, devel/libtool.
  - Arch Linux package: libtool.
  - Guix variable name: libtool.
  - AUR package name: libtool-git.

### Development Resources
- Official website: https://www.gnu.org/software/libtool/
- User manual: https://www.gnu.org/software/libtool/manual/
- Source code repository (preferred): https://git.savannah.gnu.org/cgit/libtool.git (hosted on GNU Savannah, cgit interface).
- Mailing lists and archives: https://lists.gnu.org/archive/html/libtool/ and bug-libtool archives (links provided in metadata).

### Technical Characteristics
- Programming language: primarily implemented as a shell script.
- Instance types: identified as software library and programming tool.
- Logo available at: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Libtool.jpg
- Project entries and IDs: Open Hub ID "libtool", Savannah project id "libtool", Repology project name "libtool", Freebase id /m/0178fq.

## Schema Markup
```json
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Thing",
  "name": "GNU Libtool",
  "description": "GNU Libtool is a generic library support script and GNU package that provides portable library tooling as part of the GNU build system.",
  "url": "https://www.gnu.org/software/libtool/",
  "sameAs": [
    "https://git.savannah.gnu.org/cgit/libtool.git"
  ],
  "additionalType": "software library"
}

## References

1. Free Software Directory
2. [Source](https://git.savannah.gnu.org/cgit/libtool.git/tree/AUTHORS)
3. [The libtool Open Source Project on Open Hub: Languages Page. Open Hub](https://www.openhub.net/p/libtool/analyses/latest/languages_summary)
4. [GNU Libtool 2.4.2 released. 2011](http://lists.gnu.org/archive/html/info-gnu/2011-10/msg00012.html)
5. [GNU Libtool-2.4.3 released. 2014](http://lists.gnu.org/archive/html/info-gnu/2014-10/msg00015.html)
6. [GNU libtool-2.4.4 released. 2014](https://lists.gnu.org/archive/html/info-gnu/2014-11/msg00011.html)
7. [GNU libtool-2.4.6 released [stable]. 2015](https://savannah.gnu.org/forum/forum.php?forum_id=8210)
8. [libtool-2.4.7 released [stable]. 2022](https://lists.gnu.org/archive/html/autotools-announce/2022-03/msg00000.html)
9. [GNU libtool-2.4.5 released. 2015](https://lists.gnu.org/archive/html/info-gnu/2015-01/msg00008.html)
10. [GNU Libtool 2.4 released. 2010](https://lists.gnu.org/archive/html/info-gnu/2010-09/msg00016.html)
11. [libtool-2.5.0 released [alpha]](https://lists.gnu.org/archive/html/autotools-announce/2024-05/msg00000.html)
12. [libtool-2.5.3 released [stable]. 2024](https://lists.gnu.org/archive/html/autotools-announce/2024-09/msg00000.html)
13. [libtool-2.5.4 released [stable]. 2024](https://lists.gnu.org/archive/html/autotools-announce/2024-11/msg00000.html)
14. [libtool-2.6.0 released [alpha]. 2025](https://lists.gnu.org/archive/html/autotools-announce/2025-09/msg00000.html)
15. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
16. [Source](https://lists.gnu.org/mailman/listinfo/bug-libtool)
17. [Source](https://lists.gnu.org/mailman/listinfo/libtool)