Error while loading shared libraries, skm global install failed

error while loading shared libraries: libSplashKit.so

This guide addresses the error where libSplashKit.so cannot be found when attempting to run a SplashKit program on Linux. This issue typically occurs when the system cannot locate the SplashKit library path, especially if recent changes were made to bash or zsh profiles.

Problem

When trying to run a SplashKit program, you may see an error indicating that libSplashKit.so cannot be found. This is often due to missing or incorrect paths in the shell profile or system library configuration.

Solutions

Follow these steps to ensure your shell profile and system library paths are configured correctly.

Step 1: Update Your Shell Profile (~/.bashrc or ~/.zshrc)

For Bash Users:

1. Open the ~/.bashrc file:

   nano ~/.bashrc

2. Add the following line near the end of the file to include SplashKit in your PATH:

   export PATH="$PATH:$HOME/.splashkit"

3. Save and close the file, then apply the changes:

   source ~/.bashrc

For Zsh Users:

1. Open the ~/.zshrc file:

   nano ~/.zshrc

2. Add the following line near the end of the file:

   export PATH="$PATH:$HOME/.splashkit"

3. Save and close the file, then update your profile:

   source ~/.zshrc

Step 2: Update the System Library Path

To ensure the system can locate libSplashKit.so, add /usr/local/lib to the system’s library path:

sudo ldconfig /usr/local/lib

This command configures the system to recognize libraries in /usr/local/lib, ensuring that libSplashKit.so is accessible to your applications.

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Following these steps should resolve the libSplashKit.so not found error and allow you to successfully run SplashKit programs on Linux.