Beyond Linux® From Scratch (System V Edition) - Version r12.2-875

Chapter 15. Networking Programs

NcFTP-3.2.7

Introduction to NcFTP

The NcFTP package contains a powerful and flexible interface to the Internet standard File Transfer Protocol. It is intended to replace or supplement the stock ftp program.

[Note]

Note

Development versions of BLFS may not build or run some packages properly if LFS or dependencies have been updated since the most recent stable versions of the books.

Package Information

Installation of NcFTP

There are two ways to build NcFTP. The first (and optimal) way builds most of the functionality as a shared library and then builds and installs the program linked against this library. The second method simply links all of the functionality into the binary statically. This doesn't make the dynamic library available for linking by other applications. You need to choose which method best suits you. Note that the second method does not create an entirely statically linked binary; only the libncftp parts are statically linked in, in this case. Be aware that building and using the shared library is covered by the Clarified Artistic License; however, developing applications that utilize the shared library is subject to a different license.

First, fix an issue with the configure script introduced by gcc-14: 

sed -i 's/def HAVE_STDLIB_H/ 1/;s/extern select/extern int select/' configure

To install NcFTP using the first (and optimal) method, run the following commands: 

CC=/usr/bin/gcc \
./configure --prefix=/usr --sysconfdir=/etc &&
make -C libncftp shared &&
make

This package does not come with a test suite.

Now, as the root user: 

make -C libncftp soinstall &&
make install

To install NcFTP using the second method (with the libncftp functionality linked in statically) run the following commands: 

./configure --prefix=/usr --sysconfdir=/etc &&
make

This package does not come with a test suite.

Now, as the root user: 

make install

Command Explanations

CC=/usr/bin/gcc. This environment variable ensures that gcc is used if LLVM-19.1.0 is installed. The build procedure is broken if gcc is not used.

make -C ... && make -C ...: These commands make and install the dynamic library libncftp which is then used to link against when compiling the main program.

Contents

Installed Programs: ncftp, ncftpbatch, ncftpbookmarks, ncftpget, ncftpls, ncftpput, and ncftpspooler
Installed Library: libncftp.so
Installed Directories: None

Short Descriptions

ncftp

is a browser program for File Transfer Protocol

ncftpbatch

is an individual batch FTP job processor

ncftpbookmarks

is the NcFTP Bookmark Editor (NCurses-based)

ncftpget

is an internet file transfer program for scripts used to retrieve files

ncftpls

is an internet file transfer program for scripts used to list files

ncftpput

is an internet file transfer program for scripts used to transfer files

ncftpspooler

is a global batch FTP job processor daemon