Here are things installed: $ sudo apt-get install postgresql-server-dev-8.4 libpq5 libpq-dev Here is a past to my config.out: http://pastebin.com/8Nk6pr96 And, here are some hints I got from IRC (names concealed) < foo> it's NOT failing to find libpq. < foo> libpq is present, but not compilable without adding a boatload of other -l flags < foo> and postgis' configure doesn't let you specify that via LIBS < foo> his paste contains the config.out, which shows this The configure dies with this, configure: error: could not find libpq I intend to install postgis for mapfish :)