linux install fails with No package 'poppler' found

[uliw]

Describe the bug A clear and concise description of what the bug is.

./configure -q --bindir=/home/uliw/.emacs.d/elpa/pdf-tools-20240429.407/ && make clean && make -s
configure: error: Package requirements (poppler) were not met:

No package 'poppler' found

Steps to Reproduce the behaviour update via elpa, run pdf-tools-install

What is the expected behaviour? clean build

Desktop Please complete the following information:

• OS: Linux 6.11.6-2-default
• Emacs Version: 29.4
• Poppler Version: 24.07.0-41

Your pdf-tools install Please complete the following information:

• pdf-tools Version: pdf-tools-20240429.407
• pdf-tools customization / configuration that you use

(pdf-tools-install)
(setq-default pdf-view-display-size 'fit-page)

[uliw]

after a bit of digging, it turns out that this is possibly distro related. /usr/lib/pkgconfig/ exists, but it is empty. Setting export PKG_CONFIG_PATH=/usr/lib64/pkgconfig

solves the issue