pkg-config not searching /opt/homebrew/lib/pkgconfig on Apple Silicon

[benjaminmordaunt]

pkg-config fails to find libraries installed by Homebrew, so I decided to investigate.

pkg-config --variable pc_path pkg-config gives /opt/local/lib/pkgconfig:/opt/local/share/pkgconfig. I would expect to see the expanded version of $HOMEBREW_PREFIX/lib/pkgconfig in here too, which for my M1 system is /opt/homebrew/lib/pkgconfig. In fact, inspecting pkg-config.rb, it does appear that this should be in pc_path.

At the moment, I am having to add this to my .zshrc:

# Add seemingly missing pkg-config path? Not sure why this is happening...
export PKG_CONFIG_PATH="$HOMEBREW_PREFIX/lib/pkgconfig"

Any idea why this is happening? I have tried reinstalling pkg-config, so please don't suggest that :P

[carlocab]

What's the output of which -a pkg-config?

[benjaminmordaunt]

which -a pkg-config:

/opt/local/bin/pkg-config
/opt/homebrew/bin/pkg-config
/opt/local/bin/pkg-config
/opt/homebrew/bin/pkg-config

which pkg-config:

/opt/local/bin/pkg-config

I guess that's the issue :P How to fix?

[carlocab]

That's your problem, no? You have a different (probably MacPorts) pkg-config in /opt/local/bin, and /opt/local/bin comes earlier in your PATH than /opt/homebrew/bin.

If you want to use Homebrew pkg-config, then you need to either call it as /opt/homebrew/bin/pkg-config or make sure /opt/homebrew/bin comes earlier in your PATH than /opt/local/bin.

[benjaminmordaunt]

Cool, thanks. Forgot I ever used macports on this system and that does seem to be the issue.

[tex0l]

You saved my life