[PATCH] kconfig: fix static linking of nconf

[PATCH] kconfig: fix static linking of nconf

[Arkadiusz Kozdra]

When running make nconfig with a static linking host toolchain,
the libraries are linked in an incorrect order,
resulting in errors similar to the following:

$ MAKEFLAGS='HOSTCC=cc\ -static' make nconfig
/usr/bin/ld: /usr/lib64/gcc/x86_64-unknown-linux-gnu/14.2.1/../../../../lib64/libpanel.a(p_new.o): in function `new_panel':
(.text+0x13): undefined reference to `_nc_panelhook_sp'
/usr/bin/ld: (.text+0x6c): undefined reference to `_nc_panelhook_sp'

Fixes: 1c5af5cf9308 ("kconfig: refactor ncurses package checks for building mconf and nconf")
Signed-off-by: Arusekk <floss@arusekk.pl>
---
 scripts/kconfig/nconf-cfg.sh | 10 +++++-----
 1 file changed, 5 insertions(+), 5 deletions(-)

diff --git a/scripts/kconfig/nconf-cfg.sh b/scripts/kconfig/nconf-cfg.sh
index a20290b1a37d..fedebbd6b2c8 100755
--- a/scripts/kconfig/nconf-cfg.sh
+++ b/scripts/kconfig/nconf-cfg.sh
@@ -6,8 +6,8 @@ set -eu
 cflags=$1
 libs=$2
 
-PKG="ncursesw menuw panelw"
-PKG2="ncurses menu panel"
+PKG="menuw panelw ncursesw"
+PKG2="menu panel ncurses"
 
 if [ -n "$(command -v ${HOSTPKG_CONFIG})" ]; then
 	if ${HOSTPKG_CONFIG} --exists $PKG; then
@@ -28,19 +28,19 @@ fi
 # find ncurses by pkg-config.)
 if [ -f /usr/include/ncursesw/ncurses.h ]; then
 	echo -D_GNU_SOURCE -I/usr/include/ncursesw > ${cflags}
-	echo -lncursesw -lmenuw -lpanelw > ${libs}
+	echo -lmenuw -lpanelw -lncursesw > ${libs}
 	exit 0
 fi
 
 if [ -f /usr/include/ncurses/ncurses.h ]; then
 	echo -D_GNU_SOURCE -I/usr/include/ncurses > ${cflags}
-	echo -lncurses -lmenu -lpanel > ${libs}
+	echo -lmenu -lpanel -lncurses > ${libs}
 	exit 0
 fi
 
 if [ -f /usr/include/ncurses.h ]; then
 	echo -D_GNU_SOURCE > ${cflags}
-	echo -lncurses -lmenu -lpanel > ${libs}
+	echo -lmenu -lpanel -lncurses > ${libs}
 	exit 0
 fi
 
-- 
2.51.2

Re: [PATCH] kconfig: fix static linking of nconf

[Nathan Chancellor]

On Sat, Jan 10, 2026 at 12:48:08PM +0100, Arkadiusz Kozdra wrote:
> When running make nconfig with a static linking host toolchain,
> the libraries are linked in an incorrect order,
> resulting in errors similar to the following:
> 
> $ MAKEFLAGS='HOSTCC=cc\ -static' make nconfig
> /usr/bin/ld: /usr/lib64/gcc/x86_64-unknown-linux-gnu/14.2.1/../../../../lib64/libpanel.a(p_new.o): in function `new_panel':
> (.text+0x13): undefined reference to `_nc_panelhook_sp'
> /usr/bin/ld: (.text+0x6c): undefined reference to `_nc_panelhook_sp'
> 
> Fixes: 1c5af5cf9308 ("kconfig: refactor ncurses package checks for building mconf and nconf")
> Signed-off-by: Arusekk <floss@arusekk.pl>
> ---
>  scripts/kconfig/nconf-cfg.sh | 10 +++++-----
>  1 file changed, 5 insertions(+), 5 deletions(-)
> 
> diff --git a/scripts/kconfig/nconf-cfg.sh b/scripts/kconfig/nconf-cfg.sh
> index a20290b1a37d..fedebbd6b2c8 100755
> --- a/scripts/kconfig/nconf-cfg.sh
> +++ b/scripts/kconfig/nconf-cfg.sh
> @@ -6,8 +6,8 @@ set -eu
>  cflags=$1
>  libs=$2
>  
> -PKG="ncursesw menuw panelw"
> -PKG2="ncurses menu panel"

Is it worth a comment that the order of these packages is intentional to
support static library builds? I do not mind adding after the fact to
save you from sending a v2. I guess this situation is not too common
since 1c5af5cf9308 is over six years old at this point but if any other
dependencies become necessary in the future, it might help folks place
them in the correct order.

> +PKG="menuw panelw ncursesw"
> +PKG2="menu panel ncurses"
>  
>  if [ -n "$(command -v ${HOSTPKG_CONFIG})" ]; then
>  	if ${HOSTPKG_CONFIG} --exists $PKG; then
> @@ -28,19 +28,19 @@ fi
>  # find ncurses by pkg-config.)
>  if [ -f /usr/include/ncursesw/ncurses.h ]; then
>  	echo -D_GNU_SOURCE -I/usr/include/ncursesw > ${cflags}
> -	echo -lncursesw -lmenuw -lpanelw > ${libs}
> +	echo -lmenuw -lpanelw -lncursesw > ${libs}
>  	exit 0
>  fi
>  
>  if [ -f /usr/include/ncurses/ncurses.h ]; then
>  	echo -D_GNU_SOURCE -I/usr/include/ncurses > ${cflags}
> -	echo -lncurses -lmenu -lpanel > ${libs}
> +	echo -lmenu -lpanel -lncurses > ${libs}
>  	exit 0
>  fi
>  
>  if [ -f /usr/include/ncurses.h ]; then
>  	echo -D_GNU_SOURCE > ${cflags}
> -	echo -lncurses -lmenu -lpanel > ${libs}
> +	echo -lmenu -lpanel -lncurses > ${libs}
>  	exit 0
>  fi
>  
> -- 
> 2.51.2
> 

Re: [PATCH] kconfig: fix static linking of nconf

[Arkadiusz Kozdra]

W dniu 11.01.2026 o 00:20, Nathan Chancellor pisze:
>> -PKG="ncursesw menuw panelw"
>> -PKG2="ncurses menu panel"
> Is it worth a comment that the order of these packages is intentional to
> support static library builds? I do not mind adding after the fact to
> save you from sending a v2. I guess this situation is not too common
> since 1c5af5cf9308 is over six years old at this point but if any other
> dependencies become necessary in the future, it might help folks place
> them in the correct order.

Sure, this is because ld still only visits each archive once, 
left-to-right, by design.
I think a comment about library dependencies and order would do a lot.
Feel free to reword and/or add comments as you please.
Thank you for your help.

- Arusekk

Re: [PATCH] kconfig: fix static linking of nconf

[Nicolas Schier]

On Mon, Jan 12, 2026 at 02:24:42PM +0100, Arkadiusz Kozdra wrote:
> W dniu 11.01.2026 o 00:20, Nathan Chancellor pisze:
> > > -PKG="ncursesw menuw panelw"
> > > -PKG2="ncurses menu panel"
> > Is it worth a comment that the order of these packages is intentional to
> > support static library builds? I do not mind adding after the fact to
> > save you from sending a v2. I guess this situation is not too common
> > since 1c5af5cf9308 is over six years old at this point but if any other
> > dependencies become necessary in the future, it might help folks place
> > them in the correct order.
> 
> Sure, this is because ld still only visits each archive once, left-to-right,
> by design.
> I think a comment about library dependencies and order would do a lot.
> Feel free to reword and/or add comments as you please.
> Thank you for your help.
> 
> - Arusekk
> 

I will add this to kbuild-fixes-for-next with this comment added to
nconf-cfg.sh:

    # Keep library order for static linking (HOSTCC='cc -static')

final inclusion in kbuild-fixes in about a week as long as there are no
regressions or vetos.

Kind regards,
Nicolas