Linux package compatibility guides

Why packages break across Linux distributions, and how to fix each error.

• How to fix "version GLIBC_x.xx not found"

  Why a Linux binary fails with version GLIBC not found, how to check which glibc it needs, and how to build it so it runs on older systems.

• Why a binary says "not found" on Alpine Linux

  The file exists but Alpine says not found. Learn why glibc binaries fail on musl, how to confirm it with readelf, and the ways to fix it.

• How to fix "error while loading shared libraries"

  Fix cannot open shared object file errors on Linux: find the missing library with ldd, install it on Ubuntu, Fedora or Alpine, and ship it correctly.

• How to fix "exec format error"

  Exec format error usually means the wrong CPU architecture or a missing shebang. How to check with uname and file, and how to fix it on Linux and Docker.

• How to test your package across Linux distributions

  A practical way to test a package on Ubuntu, Debian, Fedora and Alpine with Docker and GitHub Actions, what it catches, and where containers fall short.