What utility helps track down missing library files for an application?

The utility that assists in tracking down missing library files for an application is ldd. This command is specifically designed to display the shared library dependencies of a given executable file. When you run ldd on an application, it reveals the paths of the libraries the application needs to run properly, along with indicating if any of those libraries are missing. This is particularly useful for debugging issues related to library dependencies, as it allows system administrators and developers to quickly identify which libraries are required and whether they are present on the system.

Using ldd, you can see which dynamic libraries an executable is linked against and understand the relationships between different files. This information is vital in resolving errors that occur when an application is unable to find the necessary libraries due to missing files or misconfigured paths. The other utilities mentioned, such as find, locate, and which, serve different purposes, such as searching for files on the filesystem or determining the path of executables, but they do not specifically focus on checking shared library dependencies.