Question

I need to install the pcre-devel package to compile lighttpd on Ubuntu:

configure: error: pcre-config not found, install the pcre-devel package or build with –without-pcre

Can you please tell me how to do that?

Answer 1

Try using apt-cache search, e.g.,

apt-cache search pcre

For me this turns up a lot so I grep for the keyword dev.

This turns up libpcre3-dev and libpcre++-dev.

lighttpd will use one of those no doubt.

So if your search shows libpcre3-dev, you can install using:
sudo apt install libpcre3-dev

However, is there any reason you’re compiling lighttpd yourself?
Why not install using apt?
Including lighttpd-dev, lighttpd-doc and some related modules.