Hi Andrew. Generally, both versions of the library are needed if one needs multi architecture building option (e.g. x86_64 native build and i386 backsupport (cross)build for 32-bit installations).
I am building my i386 and x86_64 application on Ubuntu 12.04.3 LTS using -m32 and -m64 gcc options. But running only 64-bit version of the application locally for the matter. To accomplish this I have done: Firstly installed libxml2-dev (x86_64) sudo apt-get install libxml2-dev Secondly, move problematic xml2-config sudo mv /usr/bin/xml2-config /usr/bin/xml2-config.x86_64 Then install libxml2-dev:i386 sudo apt-get install libxml2-dev:i386 Rename xml2-config for i386 sudo mv /usr/bin/xml2-config /usr/bin/xml2-config.i386 Restore x86_64 xml2-config sudo cp /usr/bin/xml2-config.x86_64 /usr/bin/xml2-config Finally, had to call ldconfig to refresh the library paths and gcc builds my application with -m32 and excplicit -m64 (although not needed). ldconfig reports: $ ldconfig -p | grep xml2 libxml2.so.2 (libc6,x86-64) => /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/libxml2.so.2 libxml2.so.2 (libc6) => /usr/lib/i386-linux-gnu/libxml2.so.2 libxml2.so (libc6,x86-64) => /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/libxml2.so -- You received this bug notification because you are a member of Ubuntu Bugs, which is subscribed to Ubuntu. https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/987502 Title: libxml2-dev: /usr/bin/xml2-config isn't identical across all arch To manage notifications about this bug go to: https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/libxml2/+bug/987502/+subscriptions -- ubuntu-bugs mailing list ubuntu-bugs@lists.ubuntu.com https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-bugs