[MacPorts] #68512: cairo @1.17.6_1 installs a pkgconfig file that results in pkg-config @0.29.2: GLib-CRITICAL **: GString *g_string_append(GString *, const gchar *): assertion 'val != NULL' failed

[MacPorts]

#68512: cairo @1.17.6_1 installs a pkgconfig file that results in pkg-config
@0.29.2: GLib-CRITICAL **: GString *g_string_append(GString *, const gchar
*): assertion 'val != NULL' failed
------------------------------+------------------------
  Reporter:  Behinder         |      Owner:  ryandesign
      Type:  defect           |     Status:  assigned
  Priority:  Normal           |  Milestone:
 Component:  ports            |    Version:  2.8.1
Resolution:                   |   Keywords:
      Port:  pkgconfig cairo  |
------------------------------+------------------------

Comment (by mascguy):

 Bear in mind that Meson doesn't presently add `exec_prefix` to pkgconfig
 files, and that's apparently intentional. There is an open issue with
 upstream though, discussing the topic:

 * [https://github.com/mesonbuild/meson/issues/4251 Issue 4251 -
 exec_prefix disappears from .pc files when porting Autotools libraries to
 Meson]

 Similarly, there's an open feature request:

 * [https://github.com/mesonbuild/meson/issues/1398 Issue 1398 - Support
 separate prefix and exec-prefix]

 But in short, it's possible for projects to add `exec_prefix` if desired,
 though they have to explicitly do so. (This is one of the last comments,
 in the first issue linked above.)

 > "The pkg-config module's generate function has the keyword `variables`,
 which allows you to add arbitrary key-value pairs in the pc file."

 And I agree with the earlier comment by @jmroot: This all depends on the
 ports installed on a user's system. And indeed, I don't see the warning
 either, on 10.15.

 So this is arguably not an issue per-se, and certainly not one that
 MacPorts is responsible for fixing. And upstream projects are very
 unlikely to add `exec_prefix` unless absolutely necessary.

 For example, here's an upstream issue filed with Glib, specifically
 related to the topic:

 * [https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/glib/-/issues/1540 Issue 1540 - meson:
 pkg-config .pc files don't define ${exec_prefix} any more]

-- 
Ticket URL: <https://trac.macports.org/ticket/68512#comment:11>
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