mysql_config supports the following options.

• --cflags

C Compiler flags to find include files and critical compiler flags and defines used when compiling the libmysqlclient library. The options returned are tied to the specific compiler that was used when the library was created and might clash with the settings for your own compiler. Use --include for more portable options that contain only include paths.

• --cxxflags

Like --cflags, but for C++ compiler flags. This option was added in MySQL 5.6.4.

• --include

Compiler options to find MySQL include files.

• --libmysqld-libs, --embedded

Libraries and options required to link with the MySQL embedded server.

• --libs

Libraries and options required to link with the MySQL client library.

• --libs_r

Libraries and options required to link with the thread-safe MySQL client library. In MySQL 5.6, all client libraries are thread-safe, so this option need not be used. The --libs option can be used in all cases.

• --plugindir

The default plugin directory path name, defined when configuring MySQL.

• --port

The default TCP/IP port number, defined when configuring MySQL.

• --socket

The default Unix socket file, defined when configuring MySQL.

• --variable=var_name

Display the value of the named configuration variable. Permitted var_name values are pkgincludedir (the header file directory), pkglibdir (the library directory), and plugindir (the plugin directory).

• --version

Version number for the MySQL distribution.

If you invoke mysql_config with no options, it displays a list of all options that it supports, and their values:

shell> mysql_config
Usage: /usr/local/mysql/bin/mysql_config [options]
Options:
  --cflags         [-I/usr/local/mysql/include/mysql -mcpu=pentiumpro]
  --cxxflags       [-I/usr/local/mysql/include/mysql -mcpu=pentiumpro]
  --include        [-I/usr/local/mysql/include/mysql]
  --libs           [-L/usr/local/mysql/lib/mysql -lmysqlclient
                    -lpthread -lm -lrt -lssl -lcrypto -ldl]
  --libs_r         [-L/usr/local/mysql/lib/mysql -lmysqlclient_r
                    -lpthread -lm -lrt -lssl -lcrypto -ldl]
  --plugindir      [/usr/local/mysql/lib/plugin]
  --socket         [/tmp/mysql.sock]
  --port           [3306]
  --version        [5.6.11]
  --libmysqld-libs [-L/usr/local/mysql/lib/mysql -lmysqld
                    -lpthread -lm -lrt -lssl -lcrypto -ldl -lcrypt]
  --variable=VAR   VAR is one of:
          pkgincludedir [/usr/local/mysql/include]
          pkglibdir     [/usr/local/mysql/lib]
          plugindir     [/usr/local/mysql/lib/plugin]

You can use mysql_config within a command line using backticks to include the output that it produces for particular options. For example, to compile and link a MySQL client program, use mysql_config as follows:

gcc -c `mysql_config --cflags` progname.c
gcc -o progname progname.o `mysql_config --libs`