title: Gnulib
parent: FAQ
---

# How do I use and update Gnulib?

[Gnulib][gnulib] provides replacement implementations of functions that are
not available on all (Unix-like) operating systems.  In order to sync with the
latest Gnulib code, starting from the directory above your
`monitoring-plugins` repository, do something like:

    $ git clone git://git.savannah.gnu.org/gnulib.git
    $ cd gnulib
    $ GNULIB_HEAD=$(git rev-parse --short HEAD)
    $ cd ../monitoring-plugins
    $ ../gnulib/gnulib-tool --update
    $ find gl -name '*~' -o -name '.gitignore' | xargs rm
    $ git status
    $ git add gl
    $ git commit -m "Sync with the latest Gnulib code ($GNULIB_HEAD)"

In order to make a given function available via Gnulib (on systems which don't
provide that function), the [corresponding module][modules] must be imported
using `gnulib-tool`, e.g. (in order to add the `strcase` module):

    $ cd monitoring-plugins
    $ git log --oneline|grep 'Sync with the latest Gnulib code'|head
    $ (cd ../gnulib; git checkout <REF>) # where <REF> is the most recent hash in the commit messages returned)
    $ ../gnulib/gnulib-tool --no-vc-files --add strcase
    $ find gl -name '*~' | xargs rm
    $ git status
    $ git add gl
    # At this point you can build and add any auto-generated file in gl/ to .gitignore
    $ git add .gitignore
    $ git commit -m 'Add Gnulib module "strcase"'

[gnulib]: http://www.gnu.org/software/gnulib/ "Gnulib"
[modules]: http://www.gnu.org/software/gnulib/MODULES.html "Gnulib Modules"

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