libpng-1.5.17-r15 does not create the /usr/lib64/libpng15.so symlink ; it only installs /usr/lib64/libpng15.so.15. $ qlist libpng:1.5 | grep 'libpng15.so$' <nothing> The consequence is that when a package dependends on libpng:1.5, libtool does not find the library. For instance, building gnome-base/libbonoboui fails with : make[1]: Leaving directory `/var/tmp/paludis/gnome-base-libbonoboui-2.24.5/work/libbonoboui-2.24.5' /usr/lib/gcc/x86_64-pc-linux-gnu/4.8.2/../../../../x86_64-pc-linux-gnu/bin/ld: cannot find -lpng15 collect2: error: ld returned 1 exit status make[2]: *** [libbonoboui-2.la] Error 1 Please modify the libpng ebuild to create the symlink. Note : libpng-1.6.6 creates the approriate symlink. : $ qlist libpng:0/16 | grep 'libpng16.so$' /usr/lib64/libpng16.so Reproducible: Always Steps to Reproduce: 1. emerge libpng-1.5.17-r15 2. emerge libbonoboui-2.24.5 3. Actual Results: Missing symlink, emerge libbonoboui fails. Expected Results: Symlink installed.
nope. if that symlink had existed in your case, it would have caused libpng16 headers to be used and then it would have tried to link against older libpng due to broken libtool archives in your system (.la files) which would have made things even worse so no, the symlink is NOT the answer, fixing the broken .la files is *** This bug has been marked as a duplicate of bug 319101 ***
Oh, yes you are right. I had a few broken la files and a few orphaned ones too. I've cleaned up that mess and everything now emerges as expected. Thank you Samuli and sorry for the noise.