This is ../../libtool/doc/libtool.info, produced by makeinfo version4.7 from ../../libtool/doc/libtool.texi.INFO-DIR-SECTION GNU programming toolsSTART-INFO-DIR-ENTRY* Libtool: (libtool). Generic shared library support script.END-INFO-DIR-ENTRYINFO-DIR-SECTION Individual utilitiesSTART-INFO-DIR-ENTRY* libtoolize: (libtool)Invoking libtoolize. Adding libtool support.END-INFO-DIR-ENTRYThis file documents GNU Libtool 1.5.20Copyright (C) 1996-2003, 2005 Free Software Foundation, Inc.Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this documentunder the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.1 orany later version published by the Free Software Foundation; with theno Invariant Sections, with no Front-Cover Texts, and with noBack-Cover Texts. A copy of the license is included in the sectionentitled "GNU Free Documentation License".File: libtool.info, Node: Top, Next: Introduction, Prev: (dir), Up: (dir)Shared library support for GNU******************************This file documents GNU Libtool, a script that allows package developersto provide generic shared library support. This edition documentsversion 1.5.20.*Note Reporting bugs::, for information on how to report problemswith libtool.* Menu:* Introduction:: What the heck is libtool?* Libtool paradigm:: How libtool's view of libraries is different.* Using libtool:: Example of using libtool to build libraries.* Invoking libtool:: Running the `libtool' script.* Integrating libtool:: Using libtool in your own packages.* Versioning:: Using library interface versions.* Library tips:: Tips for library interface design.* Inter-library dependencies:: Libraries that depend on other libraries.* Dlopened modules:: `dlopen'ing libtool-created libraries.* Using libltdl:: Libtool's portable `dlopen' wrapper library.* Other languages:: Using libtool without a C compiler.* Troubleshooting:: When libtool doesn't work as advertised.* Maintaining:: Information used by the libtool maintainer.* GNU Free Documentation License:: License for this manual.* Index:: Full index.Introduction* Motivation:: Why does GNU need a libtool?* Issues:: The problems that need to be addressed.* Other implementations:: How other people have solved these issues.* Postmortem:: Learning from past difficulties.Using libtool* Creating object files:: Compiling object files for libraries.* Linking libraries:: Creating libraries from object files.* Linking executables:: Linking object files against libtool libraries.* Debugging executables:: Running GDB on libtool-generated programs.* Installing libraries:: Making libraries available to users.* Installing executables:: Making programs available to users.* Static libraries:: When shared libraries are not wanted.Invoking `libtool'* Compile mode:: Creating library object files.* Link mode:: Generating executables and libraries.* Execute mode:: Debugging libtool-generated programs.* Install mode:: Making libraries and executables public.* Finish mode:: Completing a library installation.* Uninstall mode:: Removing installed executables and libraries.* Clean mode:: Removing uninstalled executables and libraries.Integrating libtool with your package* Makefile rules:: Writing `Makefile' rules for libtool.* Using Automake:: Automatically supporting libtool.* Configuring:: Configuring libtool for a host system.* Distributing:: What files to distribute with your package.* Static-only libraries:: Sometimes shared libraries are just a pain.Configuring libtool* AC_PROG_LIBTOOL:: Configuring `libtool' in `configure.in'.Including libtool in your package* Invoking libtoolize:: `libtoolize' command line options.* Autoconf .o macros:: Autoconf macros that set object file names.Library interface versions* Interfaces:: What are library interfaces?* Libtool versioning:: Libtool's versioning system.* Updating version info:: Changing version information before releases.* Release numbers:: Breaking binary compatibility for aesthetics.Tips for interface design* C header files:: How to write portable include files.Dlopened modules* Building modules:: Creating dlopenable objects and libraries.* Dlpreopening:: Dlopening that works on static platforms.* Finding the dlname:: Choosing the right file to `dlopen'.* Dlopen issues:: Unresolved problems that need your attention.Using libltdl* Libltdl interface:: How to use libltdl in your programs.* Modules for libltdl:: Creating modules that can be `dlopen'ed.* Thread Safety in libltdl:: Registering callbacks for multi-thread safety.* User defined module data:: Associating data with loaded modules.* Module loaders for libltdl:: Creating user defined module loaders.* Distributing libltdl:: How to distribute libltdl with your package.Using libtool with other languages* C++ libraries::Troubleshooting* Libtool test suite:: Libtool's self-tests.* Reporting bugs:: How to report problems with libtool.The libtool test suite* Test descriptions:: The contents of the test suite.* When tests fail:: What to do when a test fails.Maintenance notes for libtool* New ports:: How to port libtool to new systems.* Tested platforms:: When libtool was last tested.* Platform quirks:: Information about different library systems.* libtool script contents:: Configuration information that libtool uses.* Cheap tricks:: Making libtool maintainership easier.Porting libtool to new systems* Information sources:: Where to find relevant documentation* Porting inter-library dependencies:: Implementation details explainedPlatform quirks* References:: Finding more information.* Compilers:: Creating object files from source files.* Reloadable objects:: Binding object files together.* Multiple dependencies:: Removing duplicate dependent libraries.* Archivers:: Programs that create static archives.File: libtool.info, Node: Introduction, Next: Libtool paradigm, Prev: Top, Up: Top1 Introduction**************In the past, if a source code package developer wanted to take advantageof the power of shared libraries, he needed to write custom support codefor each platform on which his package ran. He also had to design aconfiguration interface so that the package installer could choose whatsort of libraries were built.GNU Libtool simplifies the developer's job by encapsulating both theplatform-specific dependencies, and the user interface, in a singlescript. GNU Libtool is designed so that the complete functionality ofeach host type is available via a generic interface, but nasty quirksare hidden from the programmer.GNU Libtool's consistent interface is reassuring... users don't needto read obscure documentation in order to have their favorite sourcepackage build shared libraries. They just run your package `configure'script (or equivalent), and libtool does all the dirty work.There are several examples throughout this document. All assume thesame environment: we want to build a library, `libhello', in a genericway.`libhello' could be a shared library, a static library, or both...whatever is available on the host system, as long as libtool has beenported to it.This chapter explains the original design philosophy of libtool.Feel free to skip to the next chapter, unless you are interested inhistory, or want to write code to extend libtool in a consistent way.* Menu:* Motivation:: Why does GNU need a libtool?* Issues:: The problems that need to be addressed.* Other implementations:: How other people have solved these issues.* Postmortem:: Learning from past difficulties.File: libtool.info, Node: Motivation, Next: Issues, Up: Introduction1.1 Motivation for writing libtool==================================Since early 1995, several different GNU developers have recognized theimportance of having shared library support for their packages. Theprimary motivation for such a change is to encourage modularity andreuse of code (both conceptually and physically) in GNU programs.Such a demand means that the way libraries are built in GNU packagesneeds to be general, to allow for any library type the package installermight want. The problem is compounded by the absence of a standardprocedure for creating shared libraries on different platforms.The following sections outline the major issues facing shared librarysupport in GNU, and how shared library support could be standardizedwith libtool.The following specifications were used in developing and evaluatingthis system:1. The system must be as elegant as possible.2. The system must be fully integrated with the GNU Autoconf andAutomake utilities, so that it will be easy for GNU maintainers touse. However, the system must not require these tools, so that itcan be used by non-GNU packages.3. Portability to other (non-GNU) architectures and tools isdesirable.File: libtool.info, Node: Issues, Next: Other implementations, Prev: Motivation, Up: Introduction1.2 Implementation issues=========================The following issues need to be addressed in any reusable shared librarysystem, specifically libtool:1. The package installer should be able to control what sort oflibraries are built.2. It can be tricky to run dynamically linked programs whoselibraries have not yet been installed. `LD_LIBRARY_PATH' must beset properly (if it is supported), or programs fail to run.3. The system must operate consistently even on hosts which don'tsupport shared libraries.4. The commands required to build shared libraries may differ wildlyfrom host to host. These need to be determined at configure timein a consistent way.5. It is not always obvious with which suffix a shared library shouldbe installed. This makes it difficult for `Makefile' rules, sincethey generally assume that file names are the same from host tohost.6. The system needs a simple library version number abstraction, sothat shared libraries can be upgraded in place. The programmershould be informed how to design the interfaces to the library tomaximize binary compatibility.7. The install `Makefile' target should warn the package installer toset the proper environment variables (`LD_LIBRARY_PATH' orequivalent), or run `ldconfig'.File: libtool.info, Node: Other implementations, Next: Postmortem, Prev: Issues, Up: Introduction1.3 Other implementations=========================Even before libtool was developed, many free software packages built andinstalled their own shared libraries. At first, these packages wereexamined to avoid reinventing existing features.Now it is clear that none of these packages have documented thedetails of shared library systems that libtool requires. So, otherpackages have been more or less abandoned as influences.File: libtool.info, Node: Postmortem, Prev: Other implementations, Up: Introduction1.4 A postmortem analysis of other implementations==================================================In all fairness, each of the implementations that were examined do thejob that they were intended to do, for a number of different hostsystems. However, none of these solutions seem to function well as ageneralized, reusable component.Most were too complex to use (much less modify) without understandingexactly what the implementation does, and they were generally notdocumented.The main difficulty is that different vendors have different views ofwhat libraries are, and none of the packages which were examined seemedto be confident enough to settle on a single paradigm that just _works_.Ideally, libtool would be a standard that would be implemented asseries of extensions and modifications to existing library systems tomake them work consistently. However, it is not an easy task toconvince operating system developers to mend their evil ways, andpeople want to build shared libraries right now, even on buggy, broken,confused operating systems.For this reason, libtool was designed as an independent shell script.It isolates the problems and inconsistencies in library building thatplague `Makefile' writers by wrapping the compiler suite on differentplatforms with a consistent, powerful interface.With luck, libtool will be useful to and used by the GNU community,and that the lessons that were learned in writing it will be taken up bydesigners of future library systems.File: libtool.info, Node: Libtool paradigm, Next: Using libtool, Prev: Introduction, Up: Top2 The libtool paradigm**********************At first, libtool was designed to support an arbitrary number of libraryobject types. After libtool was ported to more platforms, a newparadigm gradually developed for describing the relationship betweenlibraries and programs.In summary, "libraries are programs with multiple entry points, andmore formally defined interfaces."Version 0.7 of libtool was a complete redesign and rewrite oflibtool to reflect this new paradigm. So far, it has proved to besuccessful: libtool is simpler and more useful than before.The best way to introduce the libtool paradigm is to contrast it withthe paradigm of existing library systems, with examples from each. Itis a new way of thinking, so it may take a little time to absorb, butwhen you understand it, the world becomes simpler.File: libtool.info, Node: Using libtool, Next: Invoking libtool, Prev: Libtool paradigm, Up: Top3 Using libtool***************It makes little sense to talk about using libtool in your own packagesuntil you have seen how it makes your life simpler. The examples inthis chapter introduce the main features of libtool by comparing thestandard library building procedure to libtool's operation on twodifferent platforms:`a23'An Ultrix 4.2 platform with only static libraries.`burger'A NetBSD/i386 1.2 platform with shared libraries.You can follow these examples on your own platform, using thepreconfigured libtool script that was installed with libtool (*noteConfiguring::).Source files for the following examples are taken from the `demo'subdirectory of the libtool distribution. Assume that we are building alibrary, `libhello', out of the files `foo.c' and `hello.c'.Note that the `foo.c' source file uses the `cos' math libraryfunction, which is usually found in the standalone math library, and notthe C library (*note Trigonometric Functions: (libc)Trig Functions.).So, we need to add `-lm' to the end of the link line whenever we link`foo.o' or `foo.lo' into an executable or a library (*noteInter-library dependencies::).The same rule applies whenever you use functions that don't appear inthe standard C library... you need to add the appropriate `-lNAME' flagto the end of the link line when you link against those objects.After we have built that library, we want to create a program bylinking `main.o' against `libhello'.* Menu:* Creating object files:: Compiling object files for libraries.* Linking libraries:: Creating libraries from object files.* Linking executables:: Linking object files against libtool libraries.* Debugging executables:: Running GDB on libtool-generated programs.* Installing libraries:: Making libraries available to users.* Installing executables:: Making programs available to users.* Static libraries:: When shared libraries are not wanted.File: libtool.info, Node: Creating object files, Next: Linking libraries, Up: Using libtool3.1 Creating object files=========================To create an object file from a source file, the compiler is invokedwith the `-c' flag (and any other desired flags):burger$ gcc -g -O -c main.cburger$The above compiler command produces an object file, `main.o', fromthe source file `main.c'.For most library systems, creating object files that become part of astatic library is as simple as creating object files that are linked toform an executable:burger$ gcc -g -O -c foo.cburger$ gcc -g -O -c hello.cburger$Shared libraries, however, may only be built from"position-independent code" (PIC). So, special flags must be passed tothe compiler to tell it to generate PIC rather than the standardposition-dependent code.Since this is a library implementation detail, libtool hides thecomplexity of PIC compiler flags by using separate library object files(which end in `.lo' instead of `.o'). On systems without sharedlibraries (or without special PIC compiler flags), these library objectfiles are identical to "standard" object files.To create library object files for `foo.c' and `hello.c', simplyinvoke libtool with the standard compilation command as arguments(*note Compile mode::):a23$ libtool --mode=compile gcc -g -O -c foo.cgcc -g -O -c foo.cecho timestamp > foo.loa23$ libtool --mode=compile gcc -g -O -c hello.cgcc -g -O -c hello.cecho timestamp > hello.loa23$Note that libtool creates two files for each invocation. The `.lo'file is a library object, which may be built into a shared library, andthe `.o' file is a standard object file. On `a23', the library objectsare just timestamps, because only static libraries are supported.On shared library systems, libtool automatically inserts the PICgeneration flags into the compilation command, so that the libraryobject and the standard object differ:burger$ libtool --mode=compile gcc -g -O -c foo.cgcc -g -O -c -fPIC -DPIC foo.cmv -f foo.o foo.logcc -g -O -c foo.c >/dev/null 2>&1burger$ libtool --mode=compile gcc -g -O -c hello.cgcc -g -O -c -fPIC -DPIC hello.cmv -f hello.o hello.logcc -g -O -c hello.c >/dev/null 2>&1burger$Notice that the second run of GCC has its output discarded. This isdone so that compiler warnings aren't annoyingly duplicated.File: libtool.info, Node: Linking libraries, Next: Linking executables, Prev: Creating object files, Up: Using libtool3.2 Linking libraries=====================Without libtool, the programmer would invoke the `ar' command to createa static library:burger$ ar cru libhello.a hello.o foo.oburger$But of course, that would be too simple, so many systems require thatyou run the `ranlib' command on the resulting library (to give itbetter karma, or something):burger$ ranlib libhello.aburger$It seems more natural to use the C compiler for this task, givenlibtool's "libraries are programs" approach. So, on platforms withoutshared libraries, libtool simply acts as a wrapper for the system `ar'(and possibly `ranlib') commands.Again, the libtool library name differs from the standard name (ithas a `.la' suffix instead of a `.a' suffix). The arguments to libtoolare the same ones you would use to produce an executable named`libhello.la' with your compiler (*note Link mode::):a23$ libtool --mode=link gcc -g -O -o libhello.la foo.o hello.olibtool: cannot build libtool library `libhello.la' from non-libtool \objectsa23$Aha! Libtool caught a common error... trying to build a libraryfrom standard objects instead of library objects. This doesn't matterfor static libraries, but on shared library systems, it is of greatimportance.So, let's try again, this time with the library object files.Remember also that we need to add `-lm' to the link command line because`foo.c' uses the `cos' math library function (*note Using libtool::).Another complication in building shared libraries is that we need tospecify the path to the directory in which they (eventually) will beinstalled (in this case, `/usr/local/lib')(1):a23$ libtool --mode=link gcc -g -O -o libhello.la foo.lo hello.lo \-rpath /usr/local/lib -lmmkdir .libsar cru .libs/libhello.a foo.o hello.oranlib .libs/libhello.acreating libhello.laa23$Now, let's try the same trick on the shared library platform:burger$ libtool --mode=link gcc -g -O -o libhello.la foo.lo hello.lo \-rpath /usr/local/lib -lmmkdir .libsld -Bshareable -o .libs/libhello.so.0.0 foo.lo hello.lo -lmar cru .libs/libhello.a foo.o hello.oranlib .libs/libhello.acreating libhello.laburger$Now that's significantly cooler... libtool just ran an obscure `ld'command to create a shared library, as well as the static library.Note how libtool creates extra files in the `.libs' subdirectory,rather than the current directory. This feature is to make it easierto clean up the build directory, and to help ensure that other programsfail horribly if you accidentally forget to use libtool when you should.---------- Footnotes ----------(1) If you don't specify an `rpath', then libtool builds a libtoolconvenience archive, not a shared library (*note Static libraries::).File: libtool.info, Node: Linking executables, Next: Debugging executables, Prev: Linking libraries, Up: Using libtool3.3 Linking executables=======================If you choose at this point to "install" the library (put it in apermanent location) before linking executables against it, then youdon't need to use libtool to do the linking. Simply use the appropriate`-L' and `-l' flags to specify the library's location.Some system linkers insist on encoding the full directory name ofeach shared library in the resulting executable. Libtool has to workaround this misfeature by special magic to ensure that only permanentdirectory names are put into installed executables.The importance of this bug must not be overlooked: it won't causeprograms to crash in obvious ways. It creates a security hole, andpossibly even worse, if you are modifying the library source code afteryou have installed the package, you will change the behaviour of theinstalled programs!So, if you want to link programs against the library before youinstall it, you must use libtool to do the linking.Here's the old way of linking against an uninstalled library:burger$ gcc -g -O -o hell.old main.o libhello.a -lmburger$Libtool's way is almost the same(1) (*note Link mode::):a23$ libtool --mode=link gcc -g -O -o hell main.o libhello.la -lmgcc -g -O -o hell main.o ./.libs/libhello.a -lma23$That looks too simple to be true. All libtool did was transform`libhello.la' to `./.libs/libhello.a', but remember that `a23' has noshared libraries.On `burger' the situation is different:burger$ libtool --mode=link gcc -g -O -o hell main.o libhello.la -lmgcc -g -O -o .libs/hell main.o -L./.libs -R/usr/local/lib -lhello -lmcreating hellburger$Now assume `libhello.la' had already been installed, and you want tolink a new program with it. You could figure out where it lives byyourself, then run:burger$ gcc -g -O -o test test.o -L/usr/local/lib -lhelloHowever, unless `/usr/local/lib' is in the standard library searchpath, you won't be able to run `test'. However, if you use libtool tolink the already-installed libtool library, it will do The Right Thing(TM) for you:burger$ libtool --mode=link gcc -g -O -o test \test.o /usr/local/lib/libhello.lagcc -g -O -o .libs/test test.o -Wl,--rpath-Wl,/usr/local/lib /usr/local/lib/libhello.a -lmcreating testburger$Note that libtool added the necessary run-time path flag, as well as`-lm', the library libhello.la depended upon. Nice, huh?Since libtool created a wrapper script, you should use libtool toinstall it and debug it too. However, since the program does not dependon any uninstalled libtool library, it is probably usable even withoutthe wrapper script. Libtool could probably be made smarter to avoid thecreation of the wrapper script in this case, but this is left as anexercise for the reader.Notice that the executable, `hell', was actually created in the`.libs' subdirectory. Then, a wrapper script was created in thecurrent directory.On NetBSD 1.2, libtool encodes the installation directory of`libhello', by using the `-R/usr/local/lib' compiler flag. Then, thewrapper script guarantees that the executable finds the correct sharedlibrary (the one in `./.libs') until it is properly installed.Let's compare the two different programs:burger$ time ./hell.oldWelcome to GNU Hell!** This is not GNU Hello. There is no built-in mail reader. **0.21 real 0.02 user 0.08 sysburger$ time ./hellWelcome to GNU Hell!** This is not GNU Hello. There is no built-in mail reader. **0.63 real 0.09 user 0.59 sysburger$The wrapper script takes significantly longer to execute, but atleast the results are correct, even though the shared library hasn'tbeen installed yet.So, what about all the space savings that shared libraries aresupposed to yield?burger$ ls -l hell.old libhello.a-rwxr-xr-x 1 gord gord 15481 Nov 14 12:11 hell.old-rw-r--r-- 1 gord gord 4274 Nov 13 18:02 libhello.aburger$ ls -l .libs/hell .libs/libhello.*-rwxr-xr-x 1 gord gord 11647 Nov 14 12:10 .libs/hell-rw-r--r-- 1 gord gord 4274 Nov 13 18:44 .libs/libhello.a-rwxr-xr-x 1 gord gord 12205 Nov 13 18:44 .libs/libhello.so.0.0burger$Well, that sucks. Maybe I should just scrap this project and take upbasket weaving.Actually, it just proves an important point: shared libraries incuroverhead because of their (relative) complexity. In this situation, theprice of being dynamic is eight kilobytes, and the payoff is about fourkilobytes. So, having a shared `libhello' won't be an advantage untilwe link it against at least a few more programs.---------- Footnotes ----------(1) However, you should avoid using `-L' or `-l' flags to linkagainst an uninstalled libtool library. Just specify the relative pathto the `.la' file, such as `../intl/libintl.la'. This is a designdecision to eliminate any ambiguity when linking against uninstalledshared libraries.File: libtool.info, Node: Debugging executables, Next: Installing libraries, Prev: Linking executables, Up: Using libtool3.4 Debugging executables=========================If `hell' was a complicated program, you would certainly want to testand debug it before installing it on your system. In the abovesection, you saw how the libtool wrapper script makes it possible to runthe program directly, but unfortunately, this mechanism interferes withthe debugger:burger$ gdb hellGDB is free software and you are welcome to distribute copies of itunder certain conditions; type "show copying" to see the conditions.There is no warranty for GDB; type "show warranty" for details.GDB 4.16 (i386-unknown-netbsd), (C) 1996 Free Software Foundation, Inc."hell": not in executable format: File format not recognized(gdb) quitburger$Sad. It doesn't work because GDB doesn't know where the executablelives. So, let's try again, by invoking GDB directly on the executable:burger$ gdb .libs/helltrick:/home/src/libtool/demo$ gdb .libs/hellGDB is free software and you are welcome to distribute copies of itunder certain conditions; type "show copying" to see the conditions.There is no warranty for GDB; type "show warranty" for details.GDB 4.16 (i386-unknown-netbsd), (C) 1996 Free Software Foundation, Inc.(gdb) break mainBreakpoint 1 at 0x8048547: file main.c, line 29.(gdb) runStarting program: /home/src/libtool/demo/.libs/hell/home/src/libtool/demo/.libs/hell: can't load library 'libhello.so.2'Program exited with code 020.(gdb) quitburger$Argh. Now GDB complains because it cannot find the shared librarythat `hell' is linked against. So, we must use libtool in order toproperly set the library path and run the debugger. Fortunately, we canforget all about the `.libs' directory, and just run it on theexecutable wrapper (*note Execute mode::):burger$ libtool --mode=execute gdb hellGDB is free software and you are welcome to distribute copies of itunder certain conditions; type "show copying" to see the conditions.There is no warranty for GDB; type "show warranty" for details.GDB 4.16 (i386-unknown-netbsd), (C) 1996 Free Software Foundation, Inc.(gdb) break mainBreakpoint 1 at 0x8048547: file main.c, line 29.(gdb) runStarting program: /home/src/libtool/demo/.libs/hellBreakpoint 1, main (argc=1, argv=0xbffffc40) at main.c:2929 printf ("Welcome to GNU Hell!\n");(gdb) quitThe program is running. Quit anyway (and kill it)? (y or n) yburger$File: libtool.info, Node: Installing libraries, Next: Installing executables, Prev: Debugging executables, Up: Using libtool3.5 Installing libraries========================Installing libraries on a non-libtool system is quitestraightforward... just copy them into place:(1)burger$ suPassword: ********burger# cp libhello.a /usr/local/lib/libhello.aburger#Oops, don't forget the `ranlib' command:burger# ranlib /usr/local/lib/libhello.aburger#Libtool installation is quite simple, as well. Just use the`install' or `cp' command that you normally would (*note Installmode::):a23# libtool --mode=install cp libhello.la /usr/local/lib/libhello.lacp libhello.la /usr/local/lib/libhello.lacp .libs/libhello.a /usr/local/lib/libhello.aranlib /usr/local/lib/libhello.aa23#Note that the libtool library `libhello.la' is also installed, tohelp libtool with uninstallation (*note Uninstall mode::) and linking(*note Linking executables::) and to help programs with dlopening(*note Dlopened modules::).Here is the shared library example:burger# libtool --mode=install install -c libhello.la \/usr/local/lib/libhello.lainstall -c .libs/libhello.so.0.0 /usr/local/lib/libhello.so.0.0install -c libhello.la /usr/local/lib/libhello.lainstall -c .libs/libhello.a /usr/local/lib/libhello.aranlib /usr/local/lib/libhello.aburger#It is safe to specify the `-s' (strip symbols) flag if you use aBSD-compatible install program when installing libraries. Libtool willeither ignore the `-s' flag, or will run a program that will strip onlydebugging and compiler symbols from the library.Once the libraries have been put in place, there may be someadditional configuration that you need to do before using them. First,you must make sure that where the library is installed actually agreeswith the `-rpath' flag you used to build it.Then, running `libtool -n --mode=finish LIBDIR' can give you furtherhints on what to do (*note Finish mode::):burger# libtool -n --mode=finish /usr/local/libPATH="$PATH:/sbin" ldconfig -m /usr/local/lib-----------------------------------------------------------------Libraries have been installed in:/usr/local/libTo link against installed libraries in a given directory, LIBDIR,you must use the `-LLIBDIR' flag during linking.You will also need to do one of the following:- add LIBDIR to the `LD_LIBRARY_PATH' environment variableduring execution- add LIBDIR to the `LD_RUN_PATH' environment variableduring linking- use the `-RLIBDIR' linker flagSee any operating system documentation about shared libraries formore information, such as the ld and ld.so manual pages.-----------------------------------------------------------------burger#After you have completed these steps, you can go on to begin usingthe installed libraries. You may also install any executables thatdepend on libraries you created.---------- Footnotes ----------(1) Don't accidentally strip the libraries, though, or they will beunusable.File: libtool.info, Node: Installing executables, Next: Static libraries, Prev: Installing libraries, Up: Using libtool3.6 Installing executables==========================If you used libtool to link any executables against uninstalled libtoollibraries (*note Linking executables::), you need to use libtool toinstall the executables after the libraries have been installed (*noteInstalling libraries::).So, for our Ultrix example, we would run:a23# libtool install -c hell /usr/local/bin/hellinstall -c hell /usr/local/bin/hella23#On shared library systems, libtool just ignores the wrapper scriptand installs the correct binary:burger# libtool install -c hell /usr/local/bin/hellinstall -c .libs/hell /usr/local/bin/hellburger#File: libtool.info, Node: Static libraries, Prev: Installing executables, Up: Using libtool3.7 Linking static libraries============================Why return to `ar' and `ranlib' silliness when you've had a taste oflibtool? Well, sometimes it is desirable to create a static archivethat can never be shared. The most frequent case is when you have aset of object files that you use to build several different programs.You can create a "convenience library" out of those objects, and linkprograms with the library, instead of listing all object files forevery program. This technique is often used to overcome GNU automake'slack of support for linking object files built from sources in otherdirectories, because it supports linking with libraries from otherdirectories. This limitation applies to GNU automake up to release1.4; newer releases should support sources in other directories.If you just want to link this convenience library into programs, thenyou could just ignore libtool entirely, and use the old `ar' and`ranlib' commands (or the corresponding GNU automake `_LIBRARIES'rules). You can even install a convenience library (but you probablydon't want to) using libtool:burger$ libtool --mode=install ./install-sh -c libhello.a \/local/lib/libhello.a./install-sh -c libhello.a /local/lib/libhello.aranlib /local/lib/libhello.aburger$Using libtool for static library installation protects your libraryfrom being accidentally stripped (if the installer used the `-s' flag),as well as automatically running the correct `ranlib' command.But libtool libraries are more than just collections of object files:they can also carry library dependency information, which old archivesdo not. If you want to create a libtool static convenience library, youcan omit the `-rpath' flag and use `-static' to indicate that you'reonly interested in a static library. When you link a program with sucha library, libtool will actually link all object files and dependencylibraries into the program.If you omit both `-rpath' and `-static', libtool will create aconvenience library that can be used to create other libtool libraries,even shared ones. Just like in the static case, the library behaves asan alias to a set of object files and dependency libraries, but in thiscase the object files are suitable for inclusion in shared libraries.But be careful not to link a single convenience library, directly orindirectly, into a single program or library, otherwise you may geterrors about symbol redefinitions.When GNU automake is used, you should use `noinst_LTLIBRARIES'instead of `lib_LTLIBRARIES' for convenience libraries, so that the`-rpath' option is not passed when they are linked.As a rule of thumb, link a libtool convenience library into at mostone libtool library, and never into a program, and link libtool staticconvenience libraries only into programs, and only if you need to carrylibrary dependency information to the user of the static conveniencelibrary.Another common situation where static linking is desirable is increating a standalone binary. Use libtool to do the linking and add the`-all-static' flag.File: libtool.info, Node: Invoking libtool, Next: Integrating libtool, Prev: Using libtool, Up: Top4 Invoking `libtool'********************The `libtool' program has the following synopsis:libtool [OPTION]... [MODE-ARG]...and accepts the following options:`--config'Display libtool configuration variables and exit.`--debug'Dump a trace of shell script execution to standard output. Thisproduces a lot of output, so you may wish to pipe it to `less' (or`more') or redirect to a file.`-n'`--dry-run'Don't create, modify, or delete any files, just show what commandswould be executed by libtool.`--features'Display basic configuration options. This provides a way forpackages to determine whether shared or static libraries will bebuilt.`--preserve-dup-deps'Do not remove duplicate dependencies in libraries. When buildingpackages with static libraries, the libraries may dependcircularly on each other (shared libs can too, but for those itdoesn't matter), so there are situations, where -la -lb -la isrequired, and the second -la may not be stripped or the link willfail. In cases where these duplications are required, this optionwill preserve them, only stripping the libraries that libtoolknows it can safely.`--finish'Same as `--mode=finish'.`--help'Display a help message and exit. If `--mode=MODE' is specified,then detailed help for MODE is displayed.`--mode=MODE'Use MODE as the operation mode. If not specified, an attempt ismade to inferr the operation mode from the MODE-ARGS. Notspecifying the MODE is currently deprecated, as there are too manysituations where it is not possible to guess. Future versions ofLibtool will require that MODE be explicity set.MODE must be set to one of the following:`compile'Compile a source file into a libtool object.`execute'Automatically set the library path so that another programcan use uninstalled libtool-generated programs or libraries.`finish'Complete the installation of libtool libraries on the system.`install'Install libraries or executables.`link'Create a library or an executable.`uninstall'Delete installed libraries or executables.`clean'Delete uninstalled libraries or executables.`--version'Print libtool version information and exit.The MODE-ARGS are a variable number of arguments, depending on theselected operation mode. In general, each MODE-ARG is interpreted byprograms libtool invokes, rather than libtool itself.* Menu:* Compile mode:: Creating library object files.* Link mode:: Generating executables and libraries.* Execute mode:: Debugging libtool-generated programs.* Install mode:: Making libraries and executables public.* Finish mode:: Completing a library installation.* Uninstall mode:: Removing installed executables and libraries.* Clean mode:: Removing uninstalled executables and libraries.File: libtool.info, Node: Compile mode, Next: Link mode, Up: Invoking libtool4.1 Compile mode================For "compile" mode, MODE-ARGS is a compiler command to be used increating a `standard' object file. These arguments should begin withthe name of the C compiler, and contain the `-c' compiler flag so thatonly an object file is created.Libtool determines the name of the output file by removing thedirectory component from the source file name, then substituting thesource code suffix (e.g. `.c' for C source code) with the libraryobject suffix, `.lo'.If shared libraries are being built, any necessary PIC generationflags are substituted into the compilation command. You can pass linkspecific flags to the compiler driver using `-XCClinker FLAG' or passlinker flags with `-Wl,FLAG' and `-Xlinker FLAG'. You can also passcompile specific flags using `-Wc,FLAG' and `-Xcompiler FLAG'.If both PIC and non-PIC objects are being built, libtool willnormally supress the compiler output for the PIC object compilation tosave showing very similar, if not identical duplicate output for eachobject. If the `-no-suppress' option is given in compile mode, libtoolwill show the compiler output for both objects.If the `-static' option is given, then a `.o' file is built, even iflibtool was configured with `--disable-static'.Note that the `-o' option is now fully supported. It is emulated onthe platforms that don't support it (by locking and moving theobjects), so it is really easy to use libtool, just with minormodifications to your Makefiles. Typing for examplelibtool gcc -c foo/x.c -o foo/x.lowill do what you expect.Note, however, that, if the compiler does not support `-c' and `-o',it is impossible to compile `foo/x.c' without overwriting an existing`./x.o'. Therefore, if you do have a source file `./x.c', make sureyou introduce dependencies in your `Makefile' to make sure `./x.o' (or`./x.lo') is re-created after any sub-directory's `x.lo':x.o x.lo: foo/x.lo bar/x.loThis will also ensure that make won't try to use a temporarilycorrupted `x.o' to create a program or library. It may cause needlessrecompilation on platforms that support `-c' and `-o' together, butit's the only way to make it safe for those that don't.File: libtool.info, Node: Link mode, Next: Execute mode, Prev: Compile mode, Up: Invoking libtool4.2 Link mode============="Link" mode links together object files (including library objects) toform another library or to create an executable program.MODE-ARGS consist of a command using the C compiler to create anoutput file (with the `-o' flag) from several object files.The following components of MODE-ARGS are treated specially:`-all-static'If OUTPUT-FILE is a program, then do not link it against anyshared libraries at all. If OUTPUT-FILE is a library, then onlycreate a static library.`-avoid-version'Tries to avoid versioning (*note Versioning::) for libraries andmodules, i.e. no version information is stored and no symboliclinks are created. If the platform requires versioning, thisoption has no effect.`-dlopen FILE'Same as `-dlpreopen FILE', if native dlopening is not supported onthe host platform (*note Dlopened modules::) or if the program islinked with `-static' or `-all-static'. Otherwise, no effect. IfFILE is `self' libtool will make sure that the program can`dlopen' itself, either by enabling `-export-dynamic' or byfalling back to `-dlpreopen self'.`-dlpreopen FILE'Link FILE into the output program, and add its symbols toLT_PRELOADED_SYMBOLS (*note Dlpreopening::). If FILE is `self',the symbols of the program itself will be added toLT_PRELOADED_SYMBOLS. If FILE is `force' libtool will make surethat LT_PRELOADED_SYMBOLS is always _defined_, regardless ofwhether it's empty or not.`-export-dynamic'Allow symbols from OUTPUT-FILE to be resolved with `dlsym' (*noteDlopened modules::).`-export-symbols SYMFILE'Tells the linker to export only the symbols listed in SYMFILE.The symbol file should end in `.sym' and must contain the name ofone symbol per line. This option has no effect on some platforms.By default all symbols are exported.`-export-symbols-regex REGEX'Same as `-export-symbols', except that only symbols matching theregular expression REGEX are exported. By default all symbols areexported.`-LLIBDIR'Search LIBDIR for required libraries that have already beeninstalled.`-lNAME'OUTPUT-FILE requires the installed library `libNAME'. This optionis required even when OUTPUT-FILE is not an executable.`-module'Creates a library that can be dlopened (*note Dlopened modules::).This option doesn't work for programs. Module names don't need tobe prefixed with 'lib'. In order to prevent name clashes,however, 'libname' and 'name' must not be used at the same time inyour package.`-no-fast-install'Disable fast-install mode for the executable OUTPUT-FILE. Usefulif the program won't be necessarily installed.`-no-install'Link an executable OUTPUT-FILE that can't be installed andtherefore doesn't need a wrapper script. Useful if the program isonly used in the build tree, e.g., for testing or generating otherfiles.`-no-undefined'Declare that OUTPUT-FILE does not depend on any other libraries.Some platforms cannot create shared libraries that depend on otherlibraries (*note Inter-library dependencies::).`-o OUTPUT-FILE'Create OUTPUT-FILE from the specified objects and libraries.`-objectlist FILE'Use a list of object files found in FILE to specify objects.`-precious-files-regex REGEX'Prevents removal of files from the temporary output directory whosenames match this regular expression. You might specify `\.bbg?$'to keep those files created with `gcc -ftest-coverage' for example.`-release RELEASE'Specify that the library was generated by release RELEASE of yourpackage, so that users can easily tell which versions are newerthan others. Be warned that no two releases of your package willbe binary compatible if you use this flag. If you want binarycompatibility, use the `-version-info' flag instead (*noteVersioning::).`-rpath LIBDIR'If OUTPUT-FILE is a library, it will eventually be installed inLIBDIR. If OUTPUT-FILE is a program, add LIBDIR to the run-timepath of the program.`-shrext SUFFIX'If OUTPUT-FILE is a libtool library, replace the system's standardfile name extension for shared libraries with SUFFIX (most systemsuse `.so' here). This option is helpful in certain cases where anapplication requires that shared libraries (typically modules)have an extension other than the default one. Please note youmust supply the full file name extension including any leading dot.`-R LIBDIR'If OUTPUT-FILE is a program, add LIBDIR to its run-time path. IfOUTPUT-FILE is a library, add -RLIBDIR to its DEPENDENCY_LIBS, sothat, whenever the library is linked into a program, LIBDIR willbe added to its run-time path.`-static'If OUTPUT-FILE is a program, then do not link it against anyuninstalled shared libtool libraries. If OUTPUT-FILE is alibrary, then only create a static library.`-version-info CURRENT[:REVISION[:AGE]]'If OUTPUT-FILE is a libtool library, use interface versioninformation CURRENT, REVISION, and AGE to build it (*noteVersioning::). Do *not* use this flag to specify package releaseinformation, rather see the `-release' flag.`-version-number MAJOR[:MINOR[:REVISION]]'If OUTPUT-FILE is a libtool library, compute interface versioninformation so that the resulting library uses the specifiedmajor, minor and revision numbers. This is designed to permitlibtool to be used with existing projects where identical versionnumbers are already used across operating systems. New projectsshould use the `-version-info' flag instead.`-Wl,FLAG'`-Xlinker FLAG'Pass a linker specific flag directly to the linker.`-XCClinker FLAG'Pass a link specific flag to the compiler driver (CC) duringlinking.If the OUTPUT-FILE ends in `.la', then a libtool library is created,which must be built only from library objects (`.lo' files). The`-rpath' option is required. In the current implementation, libtoollibraries may not depend on other uninstalled libtool libraries (*noteInter-library dependencies::).If the OUTPUT-FILE ends in `.a', then a standard library is createdusing `ar' and possibly `ranlib'.If OUTPUT-FILE ends in `.o' or `.lo', then a reloadable object fileis created from the input files (generally using `ld -r'). This methodis often called "partial linking".Otherwise, an executable program is created.File: libtool.info, Node: Execute mode, Next: Install mode, Prev: Link mode, Up: Invoking libtool4.3 Execute mode================For "execute" mode, the library path is automatically set, then aprogram is executed.The first of the MODE-ARGS is treated as a program name, with therest as arguments to that program.The following components of MODE-ARGS are treated specially:`-dlopen FILE'Add the directory containing FILE to the library path.This mode sets the library path environment variable according to any`-dlopen' flags.If any of the ARGS are libtool executable wrappers, then they aretranslated into the name of their corresponding uninstalled binary, andany of their required library directories are added to the library path.File: libtool.info, Node: Install mode, Next: Finish mode, Prev: Execute mode, Up: Invoking libtool4.4 Install mode================In "install" mode, libtool interprets most of the elements of MODE-ARGSas an installation command beginning with `cp', or a BSD-compatible`install' program.The following components of MODE-ARGS are treated specially:`-inst-prefix INST-PREFIX-DIR'When installing into a temporary staging area, rather than thefinal PREFIX, this argument is used to reflect the temporary path,in much the same way `automake' uses DESTDIR. For instance, ifPREFIX is `/usr/local', but INST-PREFIX-DIR is `/tmp', then theobject will be installed under `/tmp/usr/local/'. If theinstalled object is a libtool library, then the internal fields ofthat library will reflect only PREFIX, not INST-PREFIX-DIR:# Directory that this library needs to be installed in:libdir='/usr/local/lib'not# Directory that this library needs to be installed in:libdir='/tmp/usr/local/lib'`inst-prefix' is also used to insure that if the installed objectmust be relinked upon installation, that it is relinked againstthe libraries in INST-PREFIX-DIR/PREFIX, not PREFIX.In truth, this option is not really intended for use when callinglibtool directly; it is automatically used when `libtool--mode=install' calls `libtool --mode=relink'. Libtool does thisby analyzing the destination path given in the original `libtool--mode=install' command and comparing it to the expectedinstallation path established during `libtool --mode=link'.Thus, end-users need change nothing, and `automake'-style `makeinstall DESTDIR=/tmp' will Just Work(tm).The rest of the MODE-ARGS are interpreted as arguments to the `cp'or `install' command.The command is run, and any necessary unprivileged post-installationcommands are also completed.File: libtool.info, Node: Finish mode, Next: Uninstall mode, Prev: Install mode, Up: Invoking libtool4.5 Finish mode==============="Finish" mode helps system administrators install libtool libraries sothat they can be located and linked into user programs.Each MODE-ARG is interpreted as the name of a library directory.Running this command may require superuser privileges, so the`--dry-run' option may be useful.File: libtool.info, Node: Uninstall mode, Next: Clean mode, Prev: Finish mode, Up: Invoking libtool4.6 Uninstall mode=================="Uninstall" mode deletes installed libraries, executables and objects.The first MODE-ARG is the name of the program to use to delete files(typically `/bin/rm').The remaining MODE-ARGS are either flags for the deletion program(beginning with a `-'), or the names of files to delete.File: libtool.info, Node: Clean mode, Prev: Uninstall mode, Up: Invoking libtool4.7 Clean mode=============="Clean" mode deletes uninstalled libraries, executables, objects andlibtool's temporary files associated with them.The first MODE-ARG is the name of the program to use to delete files(typically `/bin/rm').The remaining MODE-ARGS are either flags for the deletion program(beginning with a `-'), or the names of files to delete.File: libtool.info, Node: Integrating libtool, Next: Versioning, Prev: Invoking libtool, Up: Top5 Integrating libtool with your package***************************************This chapter describes how to integrate libtool with your packages sothat your users can install hassle-free shared libraries.* Menu:* Makefile rules:: Writing `Makefile' rules for libtool.* Using Automake:: Automatically supporting libtool.* Configuring:: Configuring libtool for a host system.* Distributing:: What files to distribute with your package.* Static-only libraries:: Sometimes shared libraries are just a pain.File: libtool.info, Node: Makefile rules, Next: Using Automake, Up: Integrating libtool5.1 Writing `Makefile' rules for libtool========================================Libtool is fully integrated with Automake (*note Introduction:(automake)Top.), starting with Automake version 1.2.If you want to use libtool in a regular `Makefile' (or`Makefile.in'), you are on your own. If you're not using Automake 1.2,and you don't know how to incorporate libtool into your package youneed to do one of the following:1. Download Automake (version 1.2 or later) from your nearest GNUmirror, install it, and start using it.2. Learn how to write `Makefile' rules by hand. They're sometimescomplex, but if you're clever enough to write rules for compilingyour old libraries, then you should be able to figure out newrules for libtool libraries (hint: examine the `Makefile.in' inthe `demo' subdirectory of the libtool distribution... noteespecially that it was automatically generated from the`Makefile.am' by Automake).File: libtool.info, Node: Using Automake, Next: Configuring, Prev: Makefile rules, Up: Integrating libtool5.2 Using Automake with libtool===============================Libtool library support is implemented under the `LTLIBRARIES' primary.Here are some samples from the Automake `Makefile.am' in the libtooldistribution's `demo' subdirectory.First, to link a program against a libtool library, just use the`program_LDADD' variable:bin_PROGRAMS = hell hell.debug# Build hell from main.c and libhello.lahell_SOURCES = main.chell_LDADD = libhello.la# Create an easier-to-debug version of hell.hell_debug_SOURCES = main.chell_debug_LDADD = libhello.lahell_debug_LDFLAGS = -staticThe flags `-dlopen' or `-dlpreopen' (*note Link mode::) would fitbetter in the PROGRAM_LDADD variable. Unfortunately, GNU automake, upto release 1.4, doesn't accept these flags in a PROGRAM_LDADD variable,so you have the following alternatives:* add them to PROGRAM_LDFLAGS, and list the libraries inPROGRAM_DEPENDENCIES, then wait for a release of GNU automake thataccepts these flags where they belong;* surround the flags between quotes, but then you must setPROGRAM_DEPENDENCIES too:program_LDADD = "-dlopen" libfoo.laprogram_DEPENDENCIES = libfoo.la* set and `AC_SUBST' variables DLOPEN and DLPREOPEN in`configure.in' and use `@DLOPEN@' and `@DLPREOPEN@' asreplacements for the explicit flags `-dlopen' and `-dlpreopen' in`program_LDADD'. Automake will discard `AC_SUBST'ed variablesfrom dependencies, so it will behave exactly as we expect it tobehave when it accepts these flags in `program_LDADD'. But hey!,this is ugly!You may use the `program_LDFLAGS' variable to stuff in any flags youwant to pass to libtool while linking `program' (such as `-static' toavoid linking uninstalled shared libtool libraries).Building a libtool library is almost as trivial... note the use of`libhello_la_LDFLAGS' to pass the `-version-info' (*note Versioning::)option to libtool:# Build a libtool library, libhello.la for installation in libdir.lib_LTLIBRARIES = libhello.lalibhello_la_SOURCES = hello.c foo.clibhello_la_LDFLAGS = -version-info 3:12:1The `-rpath' option is passed automatically by Automake (except forlibraries listed as `noinst_LTLIBRARIES'), so you should not specify it.*Note Building a Shared Library: (automake)A Shared Library, formore information.File: libtool.info, Node: Configuring, Next: Distributing, Prev: Using Automake, Up: Integrating libtool5.3 Configuring libtool=======================Libtool requires intimate knowledge of your compiler suite and operatingsystem in order to be able to create shared libraries and link againstthem properly. When you install the libtool distribution, asystem-specific libtool script is installed into your binary directory.However, when you distribute libtool with your own packages (*noteDistributing::), you do not always know which compiler suite andoperating system are used to compile your package.For this reason, libtool must be "configured" before it can be used.This idea should be familiar to anybody who has used a GNU `configure'script. `configure' runs a number of tests for system features, thengenerates the `Makefiles' (and possibly a `config.h' header file),after which you can run `make' and build the package.Libtool adds its own tests to your `configure' script in order togenerate a libtool script for the installer's host machine.* Menu:* AC_PROG_LIBTOOL:: Configuring `libtool' in `configure.in'.File: libtool.info, Node: AC_PROG_LIBTOOL, Up: Configuring5.3.1 The `AC_PROG_LIBTOOL' macro---------------------------------If you are using GNU Autoconf (or Automake), you should add a call to`AC_PROG_LIBTOOL' to your `configure.in' file. This macro adds manynew tests to the `configure' script so that the generated libtoolscript will understand the characteristics of the host:-- Macro: AC_PROG_LIBTOOL-- Macro: AM_PROG_LIBTOOLAdd support for the `--enable-shared' and `--disable-shared'`configure' flags.(1) `AM_PROG_LIBTOOL' was the old name for thismacro, and although supported at the moment is deprecated.By default, this macro turns on shared libraries if they areavailable, and also enables static libraries if they don'tconflict with the shared libraries. You can modify these defaultsby calling either the `AC_DISABLE_SHARED' or `AC_DISABLE_STATIC'macros:# Turn off shared libraries during beta-testing, since they# make the build process take too long.AC_DISABLE_SHAREDAC_PROG_LIBTOOLThe user may specify modified forms of the configure flags`--enable-shared' and `--enable-static' to choose whether sharedor static libraries are built based on the name of the package.For example, to have shared `bfd' and `gdb' libraries built, butnot shared `libg++', you can run all three `configure' scripts asfollows:trick$ ./configure --enable-shared=bfd,gdbIn general, specifying `--enable-shared=PKGS' is the same asconfiguring with `--enable-shared' every package named in thecomma-separated PKGS list, and every other package with`--disable-shared'. The `--enable-static=PKGS' flag behavessimilarly, but it uses `--enable-static' and `--disable-static'.The same applies to the `--enable-fast-install=PKGS' flag, whichuses `--enable-fast-install' and `--disable-fast-install'.The package name `default' matches any packages which have not settheir name in the `PACKAGE' environment variable.This macro also sets the shell variable LIBTOOL_DEPS, that you canuse to automatically update the libtool script if it becomesout-of-date. In order to do that, add to your `configure.in':AC_PROG_LIBTOOLAC_SUBST(LIBTOOL_DEPS)and, to `Makefile.in' or `Makefile.am':LIBTOOL_DEPS = @LIBTOOL_DEPS@libtool: $(LIBTOOL_DEPS)$(SHELL) ./config.status --recheckIf you are using GNU automake, you can omit the assignment, asautomake will take care of it. You'll obviously have to createsome dependency on `libtool'.-- Macro: AC_LIBTOOL_DLOPENEnable checking for dlopen support. This macro should be used ifthe package makes use of the `-dlopen' and `-dlpreopen' flags,otherwise libtool will assume that the system does not supportdlopening. The macro must be called *before* `AC_PROG_LIBTOOL'.-- Macro: AC_LIBTOOL_WIN32_DLLThis macro should be used if the package has been ported to buildclean dlls on win32 platforms. Usually this means that anylibrary data items are exported with `__declspec(dllexport)' andimported with `__declspec(dllimport)'. If this macro is not used,libtool will assume that the package libraries are not dll cleanand will build only static libraries on win32 hosts.This macro must be called *before* `AC_PROG_LIBTOOL', andprovision must be made to pass `-no-undefined' to `libtool' inlink mode from the package `Makefile'. Naturally, if you pass`-no-undefined', you must ensure that all the library symbols*really are* defined at link time!-- Macro: AC_DISABLE_FAST_INSTALLChange the default behaviour for `AC_PROG_LIBTOOL' to disableoptimization for fast installation. The user may still overridethis default, depending on platform support, by specifying`--enable-fast-install'.-- Macro: AC_DISABLE_SHARED-- Macro: AM_DISABLE_SHAREDChange the default behaviour for `AC_PROG_LIBTOOL' to disableshared libraries. The user may still override this default byspecifying `--enable-shared'.-- Macro: AC_DISABLE_STATIC-- Macro: AM_DISABLE_STATICChange the default behaviour for `AC_PROG_LIBTOOL' to disablestatic libraries. The user may still override this default byspecifying `--enable-static'.The tests in `AC_PROG_LIBTOOL' also recognize the followingenvironment variables:-- Variable: CCThe C compiler that will be used by the generated `libtool'. Ifthis is not set, `AC_PROG_LIBTOOL' will look for `gcc' or `cc'.-- Variable: CFLAGSCompiler flags used to generate standard object files. If this isnot set, `AC_PROG_LIBTOOL' will not use any such flags. It affectsonly the way `AC_PROG_LIBTOOL' runs tests, not the produced`libtool'.-- Variable: CPPFLAGSC preprocessor flags. If this is not set, `AC_PROG_LIBTOOL' willnot use any such flags. It affects only the way `AC_PROG_LIBTOOL'runs tests, not the produced `libtool'.-- Variable: LDThe system linker to use (if the generated `libtool' requires one).If this is not set, `AC_PROG_LIBTOOL' will try to find out what isthe linker used by CC.-- Variable: LDFLAGSThe flags to be used by `libtool' when it links a program. Ifthis is not set, `AC_PROG_LIBTOOL' will not use any such flags. Itaffects only the way `AC_PROG_LIBTOOL' runs tests, not the produced`libtool'.-- Variable: LIBSThe libraries to be used by `AC_PROG_LIBTOOL' when it links aprogram. If this is not set, `AC_PROG_LIBTOOL' will not use anysuch flags. It affects only the way `AC_PROG_LIBTOOL' runs tests,not the produced `libtool'.-- Variable: NMProgram to use rather than checking for `nm'.-- Variable: RANLIBProgram to use rather than checking for `ranlib'.-- Variable: LN_SA command that creates a link of a program, a soft-link ifpossible, a hard-link otherwise. `AC_PROG_LIBTOOL' will check fora suitable program if this variable is not set.-- Variable: DLLTOOLProgram to use rather than checking for `dlltool'. Only meaningfulfor Cygwin/MS-Windows.-- Variable: OBJDUMPProgram to use rather than checking for `objdump'. Only meaningfulfor Cygwin/MS-Windows.-- Variable: ASProgram to use rather than checking for `as'. Only used onCygwin/MS-Windows at the moment.When you invoke the `libtoolize' program (*note Invokinglibtoolize::), it will tell you where to find a definition of`AC_PROG_LIBTOOL'. If you use Automake, the `aclocal' program willautomatically add `AC_PROG_LIBTOOL' support to your `configure' script.Nevertheless, it is advisable to include a copy of `libtool.m4' in`acinclude.m4', so that, even if `aclocal.m4' and `configure' arerebuilt for any reason, the appropriate libtool macros will be used.The alternative is to hope the user will have a compatible version of`libtool.m4' installed and accessible for `aclocal'. This may lead toweird errors when versions don't match.---------- Footnotes ----------(1) `AC_PROG_LIBTOOL' requires that you define the `Makefile'variable `top_builddir' in your `Makefile.in'. Automake does thisautomatically, but Autoconf users should set it to the relative path tothe top of your build directory (`../..', for example).File: libtool.info, Node: Distributing, Next: Static-only libraries, Prev: Configuring, Up: Integrating libtool5.4 Including libtool in your package=====================================In order to use libtool, you need to include the following files withyour package:`config.guess'Attempt to guess a canonical system name.`config.sub'Canonical system name validation subroutine script.`install-sh'BSD-compatible `install' replacement script.`ltmain.sh'A generic script implementing basic libtool functionality.Note that the libtool script itself should _not_ be included withyour package. *Note Configuring::.You should use the `libtoolize' program, rather than manuallycopying these files into your package. Note however, that `install-sh'is not copied by `libtoolize'; if you use Automake, it will take careof that, otherwise you may obtain a copy from the package data directoryof the installed Libtool. This may change in a future Libtool version.* Menu:* Invoking libtoolize:: `libtoolize' command line options.* Autoconf .o macros:: Autoconf macros that set object file names.File: libtool.info, Node: Invoking libtoolize, Next: Autoconf .o macros, Up: Distributing5.4.1 Invoking `libtoolize'---------------------------The `libtoolize' program provides a standard way to add libtool supportto your package. In the future, it may implement better usagechecking, or other features to make libtool even easier to use.The `libtoolize' program has the following synopsis:libtoolize [OPTION]...and accepts the following options:`--automake'Work silently, and assume that Automake libtool support is used.`libtoolize --automake' is used by Automake to add libtool files toyour package, when `AC_PROG_LIBTOOL' appears in your`configure.in'.`--copy'`-c'Copy files from the libtool data directory rather than creatingsymlinks.`--debug'Dump a trace of shell script execution to standard output. Thisproduces a lot of output, so you may wish to pipe it to `less' (or`more') or redirect to a file.`--dry-run'`-n'Don't run any commands that modify the file system, just print themout.`--force'`-f'Replace existing libtool files. By default, `libtoolize' won'toverwrite existing files.`--help'Display a help message and exit.`--ltdl'Install libltdl in a subdirectory of your package.`--ltdl-tar'Add the file libltdl.tar.gz to your package.`--version'Print `libtoolize' version information and exit.If `libtoolize' detects an explicit call to `AC_CONFIG_AUX_DIR'(*note The Autoconf Manual: (autoconf)Input.) in your `configure.in', itwill put the files in the specified directory.`libtoolize' displays hints for adding libtool support to yourpackage, as well.File: libtool.info, Node: Autoconf .o macros, Prev: Invoking libtoolize, Up: Distributing5.4.2 Autoconf `.o' macros--------------------------The Autoconf package comes with a few macros that run tests, then set avariable corresponding to the name of an object file. Sometimes it isnecessary to use corresponding names for libtool objects.Here are the names of variables that list libtool objects:-- Variable: LTALLOCASubstituted by `AC_FUNC_ALLOCA' (*note Particular Function Checks:(autoconf)Particular Functions.). Is either empty, or contains`alloca.lo'.-- Variable: LTLIBOBJSSubstituted by `AC_REPLACE_FUNCS' (*note Generic Function Checks:(autoconf)Generic Functions.), and a few other functions.Unfortunately, the stable release of Autoconf (2.13, at the time ofthis writing) does not have any way for libtool to provide support forthese variables. So, if you depend on them, use the following codeimmediately before the call to `AC_OUTPUT' in your `configure.in':LTLIBOBJS=`echo "$LIBOBJS" | sed 's/\.[^.]* /.lo /g;s/\.[^.]*$/.lo/'`AC_SUBST(LTLIBOBJS)LTALLOCA=`echo "$ALLOCA" | sed 's/\.[^.]* /.lo /g;s/\.[^.]*$/.lo/'`AC_SUBST(LTALLOCA)AC_OUTPUT(...)File: libtool.info, Node: Static-only libraries, Prev: Distributing, Up: Integrating libtool5.5 Static-only libraries=========================When you are developing a package, it is often worthwhile to configureyour package with the `--disable-shared' flag, or to override thedefaults for `AC_PROG_LIBTOOL' by using the `AC_DISABLE_SHARED'Autoconf macro (*note The `AC_PROG_LIBTOOL' macro: AC_PROG_LIBTOOL.).This prevents libtool from building shared libraries, which has severaladvantages:* compilation is twice as fast, which can speed up your developmentcycle,* debugging is easier because you don't need to deal with anycomplexities added by shared libraries, and* you can see how libtool behaves on static-only platforms.You may want to put a small note in your package `README' to letother developers know that `--disable-shared' can save them time. Thefollowing example note is taken from the GIMP(1) distribution `README':The GIMP uses GNU Libtool in order to build shared libraries on avariety of systems. While this is very nice for making usablebinaries, it can be a pain when trying to debug a program. For thatreason, compilation of shared libraries can be turned off byspecifying the `--disable-shared' option to `configure'.---------- Footnotes ----------(1) GNU Image Manipulation Program, for those who haven't taken theplunge. See `http://www.gimp.org/'.File: libtool.info, Node: Versioning, Next: Library tips, Prev: Integrating libtool, Up: Top6 Library interface versions****************************The most difficult issue introduced by shared libraries is that ofcreating and resolving runtime dependencies. Dependencies on programsand libraries are often described in terms of a single name, such as`sed'. So, one may say "libtool depends on sed," and that is goodenough for most purposes.However, when an interface changes regularly, we need to be morespecific: "Gnus 5.1 requires Emacs 19.28 or above." Here, thedescription of an interface consists of a name, and a "version number."Even that sort of description is not accurate enough for somepurposes. What if Emacs 20 changes enough to break Gnus 5.1?The same problem exists in shared libraries: we require a formalversion system to describe the sorts of dependencies that programs haveon shared libraries, so that the dynamic linker can guarantee thatprograms are linked only against libraries that provide the interfacethey require.* Menu:* Interfaces:: What are library interfaces?* Libtool versioning:: Libtool's versioning system.* Updating version info:: Changing version information before releases.* Release numbers:: Breaking binary compatibility for aesthetics.File: libtool.info, Node: Interfaces, Next: Libtool versioning, Up: Versioning6.1 What are library interfaces?================================Interfaces for libraries may be any of the following (and more):* global variables: both names and types* global functions: argument types and number, return types, andfunction names* standard input, standard output, standard error, and file formats* sockets, pipes, and other inter-process communication protocolformatsNote that static functions do not count as interfaces, because theyare not directly available to the user of the library.File: libtool.info, Node: Libtool versioning, Next: Updating version info, Prev: Interfaces, Up: Versioning6.2 Libtool's versioning system===============================Libtool has its own formal versioning system. It is not as flexible assome, but it is definitely the simplest of the more powerful versioningsystems.Think of a library as exporting several sets of interfaces,arbitrarily represented by integers. When a program is linked againsta library, it may use any subset of those interfaces.Libtool's description of the interfaces that a program uses issimple: it encodes the least and the greatest interface numbers in theresulting binary (FIRST-INTERFACE, LAST-INTERFACE).The dynamic linker is guaranteed that if a library supports _every_interface number between FIRST-INTERFACE and LAST-INTERFACE, then theprogram can be relinked against that library.Note that this can cause problems because libtool's compatibilityrequirements are actually stricter than is necessary.Say `libhello' supports interfaces 5, 16, 17, 18, and 19, and thatlibtool is used to link `test' against `libhello'.Libtool encodes the numbers 5 and 19 in `test', and the dynamiclinker will only link `test' against libraries that support _every_interface between 5 and 19. So, the dynamic linker refuses to link`test' against `libhello'!In order to eliminate this problem, libtool only allows libraries todeclare consecutive interface numbers. So, `libhello' can declare atmost that it supports interfaces 16 through 19. Then, the dynamiclinker will link `test' against `libhello'.So, libtool library versions are described by three integers:CURRENTThe most recent interface number that this library implements.REVISIONThe implementation number of the CURRENT interface.AGEThe difference between the newest and oldest interfaces that thislibrary implements. In other words, the library implements all theinterface numbers in the range from number `CURRENT - AGE' to`CURRENT'.If two libraries have identical CURRENT and AGE numbers, then thedynamic linker chooses the library with the greater REVISION number.File: libtool.info, Node: Updating version info, Next: Release numbers, Prev: Libtool versioning, Up: Versioning6.3 Updating library version information========================================If you want to use libtool's versioning system, then you must specifythe version information to libtool using the `-version-info' flagduring link mode (*note Link mode::).This flag accepts an argument of the form`CURRENT[:REVISION[:AGE]]'. So, passing `-version-info 3:12:1' setsCURRENT to 3, REVISION to 12, and AGE to 1.If either REVISION or AGE are omitted, they default to 0. Also notethat AGE must be less than or equal to the CURRENT interface number.Here are a set of rules to help you update your library versioninformation:1. Start with version information of `0:0:0' for each libtool library.2. Update the version information only immediately before a publicrelease of your software. More frequent updates are unnecessary,and only guarantee that the current interface number gets largerfaster.3. If the library source code has changed at all since the lastupdate, then increment REVISION (`C:R:A' becomes `C:r+1:A').4. If any interfaces have been added, removed, or changed since thelast update, increment CURRENT, and set REVISION to 0.5. If any interfaces have been added since the last public release,then increment AGE.6. If any interfaces have been removed since the last public release,then set AGE to 0.*_Never_* try to set the interface numbers so that they correspondto the release number of your package. This is an abuse that onlyfosters misunderstanding of the purpose of library versions. Instead,use the `-release' flag (*note Release numbers::), but be warned thatevery release of your package will not be binary compatible with anyother release.File: libtool.info, Node: Release numbers, Prev: Updating version info, Up: Versioning6.4 Managing release information================================Often, people want to encode the name of the package release into theshared library so that it is obvious to the user which package theirprograms are linked against. This convention is used especially onGNU/Linux:trick$ ls /usr/lib/libbfd*/usr/lib/libbfd.a /usr/lib/libbfd.so.2.7.0.2/usr/lib/libbfd.sotrick$On `trick', `/usr/lib/libbfd.so' is a symbolic link to`libbfd.so.2.7.0.2', which was distributed as a part of`binutils-2.7.0.2'.Unfortunately, this convention conflicts directly with libtool'sidea of library interface versions, because the library interfacerarely changes at the same time that the release number does, and thelibrary suffix is never the same across all platforms.So, in order to accommodate both views, you can use the `-release'flag in order to set release information for libraries which you do notwant to use `-version-info'. For the `libbfd' example, the nextrelease which uses libtool should be built with `-release 2.9.0', whichwill produce the following files on GNU/Linux:trick$ ls /usr/lib/libbfd*/usr/lib/libbfd-2.9.0.so /usr/lib/libbfd.a/usr/lib/libbfd.sotrick$In this case, `/usr/lib/libbfd.so' is a symbolic link to`libbfd-2.9.0.so'. This makes it obvious that the user is dealing with`binutils-2.9.0', without compromising libtool's idea of interfaceversions.Note that this option causes a modification of the library name, sodo not use it unless you want to break binary compatibility with anypast library releases. In general, you should only use `-release' forpackage-internal libraries or for ones whose interfaces change veryfrequently.File: libtool.info, Node: Library tips, Next: Inter-library dependencies, Prev: Versioning, Up: Top7 Tips for interface design***************************Writing a good library interface takes a lot of practice and thoroughunderstanding of the problem that the library is intended to solve.If you design a good interface, it won't have to change often, youwon't have to keep updating documentation, and users won't have to keeprelearning how to use the library.Here is a brief list of tips for library interface design, which mayhelp you in your exploits:Plan aheadTry to make every interface truly minimal, so that you won't needto delete entry points very often.Avoid interface changesSome people love redesigning and changing entry points just forthe heck of it (note: _renaming_ a function is considered changingan entry point). Don't be one of those people. If you mustredesign an interface, then try to leave compatibility functionsbehind so that users don't need to rewrite their existing code.Use opaque data typesThe fewer data type definitions a library user has access to, thebetter. If possible, design your functions to accept a genericpointer (which you can cast to an internal data type), and provideaccess functions rather than allowing the library user to directlymanipulate the data. That way, you have the freedom to change thedata structures without changing the interface.This is essentially the same thing as using abstract data types andinheritance in an object-oriented system.Use header filesIf you are careful to document each of your library's globalfunctions and variables in header files, and include them in yourlibrary source files, then the compiler will let you know if youmake any interface changes by accident (*note C header files::).Use the `static' keyword (or equivalent) whenever possibleThe fewer global functions your library has, the more flexibilityyou'll have in changing them. Static functions and variables maychange forms as often as you like... your users cannot accessthem, so they aren't interface changes.Be careful with array dimensionsThe number of elements in a global array is part of an interface,even if the header just declares `extern int foo[];'. This isbecause on i386 and some other SVR4/ELF systems, when anapplication references data in a shared library the size of thatdata (whatever its type) is included in the applicationexecutable. If you might want to change the size of an array orstring then provide a pointer not the actual array.* Menu:* C header files:: How to write portable include files.File: libtool.info, Node: C header files, Up: Library tips7.1 Writing C header files==========================Writing portable C header files can be difficult, since they may be readby different types of compilers:C++ compilersC++ compilers require that functions be declared with fullprototypes, since C++ is more strongly typed than C. C functionsand variables also need to be declared with the `extern "C"'directive, so that the names aren't mangled. *Note C++libraries::, for other issues relevant to using C++ with libtool.ANSI C compilersANSI C compilers are not as strict as C++ compilers, but functionsshould be prototyped to avoid unnecessary warnings when the headerfile is `#include'd.non-ANSI C compilersNon-ANSI compilers will report errors if functions are prototyped.These complications mean that your library interface headers must usesome C preprocessor magic in order to be usable by each of the abovecompilers.`foo.h' in the `demo' subdirectory of the libtool distributionserves as an example for how to write a header file that can be safelyinstalled in a system directory.Here are the relevant portions of that file:/* BEGIN_C_DECLS should be used at the beginning of your declarations,so that C++ compilers don't mangle their names. Use END_C_DECLS atthe end of C declarations. */#undef BEGIN_C_DECLS#undef END_C_DECLS#ifdef __cplusplus# define BEGIN_C_DECLS extern "C" {# define END_C_DECLS }#else# define BEGIN_C_DECLS /* empty */# define END_C_DECLS /* empty */#endif/* PARAMS is a macro used to wrap function prototypes, so thatcompilers that don't understand ANSI C prototypes still work,and ANSI C compilers can issue warnings about type mismatches. */#undef PARAMS#if defined (__STDC__) || defined (_AIX) \|| (defined (__mips) && defined (_SYSTYPE_SVR4)) \|| defined(WIN32) || defined(__cplusplus)# define PARAMS(protos) protos#else# define PARAMS(protos) ()#endifThese macros are used in `foo.h' as follows:#ifndef FOO_H#define FOO_H 1/* The above macro definitions. */#include "..."BEGIN_C_DECLSint foo PARAMS((void));int hello PARAMS((void));END_C_DECLS#endif /* !FOO_H */Note that the `#ifndef FOO_H' prevents the body of `foo.h' frombeing read more than once in a given compilation.Also the only thing that must go outside the`BEGIN_C_DECLS'/`END_C_DECLS' pair are `#include' lines. Strictlyspeaking it is only C symbol names that need to be protected, but yourheader files will be more maintainable if you have a single pair of ofthese macros around the majority of the header contents.You should use these definitions of `PARAMS', `BEGIN_C_DECLS', and`END_C_DECLS' into your own headers. Then, you may use them to createheader files that are valid for C++, ANSI, and non-ANSI compilers(1).Do not be naive about writing portable code. Following the tipsgiven above will help you miss the most obvious problems, but there aredefinitely other subtle portability issues. You may need to cope withsome of the following issues:* Pre-ANSI compilers do not always support the `void *' genericpointer type, and so need to use `char *' in its place.* The `const', `inline' and `signed' keywords are not supported bysome compilers, especially pre-ANSI compilers.* The `long double' type is not supported by many compilers.---------- Footnotes ----------(1) We used to recommend `__P', `__BEGIN_DECLS' and `__END_DECLS'.This was bad advice since symbols (even preprocessor macro names) thatbegin with an underscore are reserved for the use of the compiler.File: libtool.info, Node: Inter-library dependencies, Next: Dlopened modules, Prev: Library tips, Up: Top8 Inter-library dependencies****************************By definition, every shared library system provides a way forexecutables to depend on libraries, so that symbol resolution isdeferred until runtime.An "inter-library dependency" is one in which a library depends onother libraries. For example, if the libtool library `libhello' usesthe `cos' function, then it has an inter-library dependency on `libm',the math library that implements `cos'.Some shared library systems provide this feature in aninternally-consistent way: these systems allow chains of dependencies ofpotentially infinite length.However, most shared library systems are restricted in that they onlyallow a single level of dependencies. In these systems, programs maydepend on shared libraries, but shared libraries may not depend on othershared libraries.In any event, libtool provides a simple mechanism for you to declareinter-library dependencies: for every library `libNAME' that your ownlibrary depends on, simply add a corresponding `-lNAME' option to thelink line when you create your library. To make an example of our`libhello' that depends on `libm':burger$ libtool --mode=link gcc -g -O -o libhello.la foo.lo hello.lo \-rpath /usr/local/lib -lmburger$When you link a program against `libhello', you don't need tospecify the same `-l' options again: libtool will do that for you, inorder to guarantee that all the required libraries are found. Thisrestriction is only necessary to preserve compatibility with staticlibrary systems and simple dynamic library systems.Some platforms, such as AIX, do not even allow you this flexibility.In order to build a shared library, it must be entirely self-contained(that is, have references only to symbols that are found in the `.lo'files or the specified `-l' libraries), and you need to specify the-NO-UNDEFINED flag. By default, libtool builds only static librarieson these kinds of platforms.The simple-minded inter-library dependency tracking code of libtoolreleases prior to 1.2 was disabled because it was not clear when it waspossible to link one library with another, and complex failures wouldoccur. A more complex implementation of this concept was re-introducedbefore release 1.3, but it has not been ported to all platforms thatlibtool supports. The default, conservative behavior is to avoidlinking one library with another, introducing their inter-dependenciesonly when a program is linked with them.File: libtool.info, Node: Dlopened modules, Next: Using libltdl, Prev: Inter-library dependencies, Up: Top9 Dlopened modules******************It can sometimes be confusing to discuss "dynamic linking", because theterm is used to refer to two different concepts:1. Compiling and linking a program against a shared library, which isresolved automatically at run time by the dynamic linker. In thisprocess, dynamic linking is transparent to the application.2. The application calling functions such as `dlopen',(1) which loadarbitrary, user-specified modules at runtime. This type of dynamiclinking is explicitly controlled by the application.To mitigate confusion, this manual refers to the second type ofdynamic linking as "dlopening" a module.The main benefit to dlopening object modules is the ability to accesscompiled object code to extend your program, rather than using aninterpreted language. In fact, dlopen calls are frequently used inlanguage interpreters to provide an efficient way to extend thelanguage.As of version 1.5.20, libtool provides support for dlopened modules.However, you should indicate that your package is willing to use suchsupport, by using the macro `AC_LIBTOOL_DLOPEN' in `configure.in'. Ifthis macro is not used (or it is used _after_ `AC_PROG_LIBTOOL'),libtool will assume no dlopening mechanism is available, and will tryto simulate it.This chapter discusses how you as a dlopen application developermight use libtool to generate dlopen-accessible modules.* Menu:* Building modules:: Creating dlopenable objects and libraries.* Dlpreopening:: Dlopening that works on static platforms.* Finding the dlname:: Choosing the right file to `dlopen'.* Dlopen issues:: Unresolved problems that need your attention.---------- Footnotes ----------(1) HP-UX, to be different, uses a function named `shl_load'.File: libtool.info, Node: Building modules, Next: Dlpreopening, Up: Dlopened modules9.1 Building modules to dlopen==============================On some operating systems, a program symbol must be specially declaredin order to be dynamically resolved with the `dlsym' (or equivalent)function.Libtool provides the `-export-dynamic' and `-module' link flags(*note Link mode::), which do this declaration. You need to use theseflags if you are linking an application program that dlopens othermodules or a libtool library that will also be dlopened.For example, if we wanted to build a shared library, `libhello',that would later be dlopened by an application, we would add `-module'to the other link flags:burger$ libtool --mode=link gcc -module -o libhello.la foo.lo \hello.lo -rpath /usr/local/lib -lmburger$If symbols from your _executable_ are needed to satisfy unresolvedreferences in a library you want to dlopen you will have to use the flag`-export-dynamic'. You should use `-export-dynamic' while linking theexecutable that calls dlopen:burger$ libtool --mode=link gcc -export-dynamic -o hell-dlopener main.oburger$File: libtool.info, Node: Dlpreopening, Next: Finding the dlname, Prev: Building modules, Up: Dlopened modules9.2 Dlpreopening================Libtool provides special support for dlopening libtool object andlibtool library files, so that their symbols can be resolved _even onplatforms without any `dlopen' and `dlsym' functions_.Consider the following alternative ways of loading code into yourprogram, in order of increasing "laziness":1. Linking against object files that become part of the programexecutable, whether or not they are referenced. If an object filecannot be found, then the linker refuses to create the executable.2. Declaring a static library to the linker, so that it is searchedat link time in order to satisfy any undefined references in theabove object files. If the static library cannot be found, thenthe linker refuses to link the executable.3. Declaring a shared library to the runtime linker, so that it issearched at runtime in order to satisfy any undefined referencesin the above files. If the shared library cannot be found, thenthe dynamic linker aborts the program before it runs.4. Dlopening a module, so that the application can resolve its own,dynamically-computed references. If there is an error opening themodule, or the module is not found, then the application canrecover without crashing.Libtool emulates `-dlopen' on static platforms by linking objectsinto the program at compile time, and creating data structures thatrepresent the program's symbol table.In order to use this feature, you must declare the objects you wantyour application to dlopen by using the `-dlopen' or `-dlpreopen' flagswhen you link your program (*note Link mode::).-- Structure: struct lt_dlsymlist { const char *NAME; lt_ptr ADDRESS; }The NAME attribute is a null-terminated character string of thesymbol name, such as `"fprintf"'. The ADDRESS attribute is ageneric pointer to the appropriate object, such as `&fprintf'.-- Variable: const lt_dlsymlist * lt_preloaded_symbolsAn array of LT_SYMBOL structures, representing all the preloadedsymbols linked into the program. For each `-dlpreloaded' filethere is an element with the NAME of the file and a ADDRESS of`0', followed by all symbols exported from this file. For theexecutable itself the special name @PROGRAM@ is used. The lastelement has a NAME and ADDRESS of `0'.Some compilers may allow identifiers which are not valid in ANSI C,such as dollar signs. Libtool only recognizes valid ANSI C symbols (aninitial ASCII letter or underscore, followed by zero or more ASCIIletters, digits, and underscores), so non-ANSI symbols will not appearin LT_PRELOADED_SYMBOLS.File: libtool.info, Node: Finding the dlname, Next: Dlopen issues, Prev: Dlpreopening, Up: Dlopened modules9.3 Finding the correct name to dlopen======================================After a library has been linked with `-module', it can be dlopened.Unfortunately, because of the variation in library names, your packageneeds to determine the correct file to dlopen.The most straightforward and flexible implementation is to determinethe name at runtime, by finding the installed `.la' file, and searchingit for the following lines:# The name that we can `dlopen'.dlname='DLNAME'If DLNAME is empty, then the library cannot be dlopened. Otherwise,it gives the dlname of the library. So, if the library was installedas `/usr/local/lib/libhello.la', and the DLNAME was `libhello.so.3',then `/usr/local/lib/libhello.so.3' should be dlopened.If your program uses this approach, then it should search thedirectories listed in the `LD_LIBRARY_PATH'(1) environment variable, aswell as the directory where libraries will eventually be installed.Searching this variable (or equivalent) will guarantee that yourprogram can find its dlopened modules, even before installation,provided you have linked them using libtool.---------- Footnotes ----------(1) `LIBPATH' on AIX, and `SHLIB_PATH' on HP-UX.File: libtool.info, Node: Dlopen issues, Prev: Finding the dlname, Up: Dlopened modules9.4 Unresolved dlopen issues============================The following problems are not solved by using libtool's dlopen support:* Dlopen functions are generally only available on shared libraryplatforms. If you want your package to be portable to staticplatforms, you have to use either libltdl (*note Using libltdl::)or develop your own alternatives to dlopening dynamic code. Mostreasonable solutions involve writing wrapper functions for the`dlopen' family, which do package-specific tricks when dlopeningis unsupported or not available on a given platform.* There are major differences in implementations of the `dlopen'family of functions. Some platforms do not even use the samefunction names (notably HP-UX, with its `shl_load' family).* The application developer must write a custom search function inorder to discover the correct module filename to supply to`dlopen'.File: libtool.info, Node: Using libltdl, Next: Other languages, Prev: Dlopened modules, Up: Top10 Using libltdl****************Libtool provides a small library, called `libltdl', that aims at hidingthe various difficulties of dlopening libraries from programmers. Itconsists of a header-file and a small C source file that can bedistributed with applications that need dlopening functionality. Onsome platforms, whose dynamic linkers are too limited for a simpleimplementation of `libltdl' services, it requires GNU DLD, or it willonly emulate dynamic linking with libtool's dlpreopening mechanism.libltdl supports currently the following dynamic linking mechanisms:* `dlopen' (Solaris, Linux and various BSD flavors)* `shl_load' (HP-UX)* `LoadLibrary' (Win16 and Win32)* `load_add_on' (BeOS)* GNU DLD (emulates dynamic linking for static libraries)* libtool's dlpreopen (see *note Dlpreopening::)libltdl is licensed under the terms of the GNU Library General PublicLicense, with the following exception:As a special exception to the GNU Lesser General Public License,if you distribute this file as part of a program or library thatis built using GNU libtool, you may include it under the samedistribution terms that you use for the rest of that program.* Menu:* Libltdl interface:: How to use libltdl in your programs.* Modules for libltdl:: Creating modules that can be `dlopen'ed.* Thread Safety in libltdl:: Registering callbacks for multi-thread safety.* User defined module data:: Associating data with loaded modules.* Module loaders for libltdl:: Creating user defined module loaders.* Distributing libltdl:: How to distribute libltdl with your package.File: libtool.info, Node: Libltdl interface, Next: Modules for libltdl, Up: Using libltdl10.1 How to use libltdl in your programs========================================The libltdl API is similar to the dlopen interface of Solaris and Linux,which is very simple but powerful.To use libltdl in your program you have to include the header file`ltdl.h':#include <ltdl.h>The last release of libltdl used some symbols that violated the POSIXnamespace conventions. These symbols are now deprecated, and have beenreplaced by those described here. If you have code that relies on theold deprecated symbol names, defining `LT_NON_POSIX_NAMESPACE' beforeyou include `ltdl.h' provides conversion macros. Whichever set ofsymbols you use, the new api is not binary compatible with the last, soyou will need to recompile your application in order to use thisversion of libltdl.Note that libltdl is not threadsafe, i.e. a multithreaded applicationhas to use a mutex for libltdl. It was reported that GNU/Linux's glibc2.0's `dlopen' with `RTLD_LAZY' (which libltdl uses by default) is notthread-safe, but this problem is supposed to be fixed in glibc 2.1. Onthe other hand, `RTLD_NOW' was reported to introduce problems inmulti-threaded applications on FreeBSD. Working around these problemsis left as an exercise for the reader; contributions are certainlywelcome.The following types are defined in `ltdl.h':-- Type: lt_ptr`lt_ptr' is a generic pointer.-- Type: lt_dlhandle`lt_dlhandle' is a module "handle". Every lt_dlopened module hasa handle associated with it.-- Type: lt_dlsymlist`lt_dlsymlist' is a symbol list for dlpreopened modules. Thisstructure is described in *note Dlpreopening::.libltdl provides the following functions:-- Function: int lt_dlinit (void)Initialize libltdl. This function must be called before usinglibltdl and may be called several times. Return 0 on success,otherwise the number of errors.-- Function: int lt_dlexit (void)Shut down libltdl and close all modules. This function will onlythen shut down libltdl when it was called as many times as`lt_dlinit' has been successfully called. Return 0 on success,otherwise the number of errors.-- Function: lt_dlhandle lt_dlopen (const char *FILENAME)Open the module with the file name FILENAME and return a handlefor it. `lt_dlopen' is able to open libtool dynamic modules,preloaded static modules, the program itself and native dynamiclibraries.Unresolved symbols in the module are resolved using its dependencylibraries (not implemented yet) and previously dlopened modules.If the executable using this module was linked with the`-export-dynamic' flag, then the global symbols in the executablewill also be used to resolve references in the module.If FILENAME is `NULL' and the program was linked with`-export-dynamic' or `-dlopen self', `lt_dlopen' will return ahandle for the program itself, which can be used to access itssymbols.If libltdl cannot find the library and the file name FILENAME doesnot have a directory component it will additionally search in thefollowing search paths for the module (in the order as follows):1. user-defined search path: This search path can be changed bythe program using the functions `lt_dlsetsearchpath',`lt_dladdsearchdir' and `lt_dlinsertsearchdir'.2. libltdl's search path: This search path is the value of theenvironment variable LTDL_LIBRARY_PATH.3. system library search path: The system dependent librarysearch path (e.g. on Linux it is LD_LIBRARY_PATH).Each search path must be a colon-separated list of absolutedirectories, for example, `"/usr/lib/mypkg:/lib/foo"'.If the same module is loaded several times, the same handle isreturned. If `lt_dlopen' fails for any reason, it returns `NULL'.-- Function: lt_dlhandle lt_dlopenext (const char *FILENAME)The same as `lt_dlopen', except that it tries to append differentfile name extensions to the file name. If the file with the filename FILENAME cannot be found libltdl tries to append thefollowing extensions:1. the libtool archive extension `.la'2. the extension used for native dynamic libraries on the hostplatform, e.g., `.so', `.sl', etc.This lookup strategy was designed to allow programs that don'thave knowledge about native dynamic libraries naming conventionsto be able to `dlopen' such libraries as well as libtool modulestransparently.-- Function: int lt_dlclose (lt_dlhandle HANDLE)Decrement the reference count on the module HANDLE. If it dropsto zero and no other module depends on this module, then themodule is unloaded. Return 0 on success.-- Function: lt_ptr lt_dlsym (lt_dlhandle HANDLE, const char *NAME)Return the address in the module HANDLE, where the symbol given bythe null-terminated string NAME is loaded. If the symbol cannotbe found, `NULL' is returned.-- Function: const char * lt_dlerror (void)Return a human readable string describing the most recent errorthat occurred from any of libltdl's functions. Return `NULL' ifno errors have occurred since initialization or since it was lastcalled.-- Function: int lt_dlpreload (const lt_dlsymlist *PRELOADED)Register the list of preloaded modules PRELOADED. If PRELOADED is`NULL', then all previously registered symbol lists, except thelist set by `lt_dlpreload_default', are deleted. Return 0 onsuccess.-- Function: int lt_dlpreload_default (const lt_dlsymlist *PRELOADED)Set the default list of preloaded modules to PRELOADED, whichwon't be deleted by `lt_dlpreload'. Note that this function does_not_ require libltdl to be initialized using `lt_dlinit' and canbe used in the program to register the default preloaded modules.Instead of calling this function directly, most programs will usethe macro `LTDL_SET_PRELOADED_SYMBOLS'.Return 0 on success.-- Macro: LTDL_SET_PRELOADED_SYMBOLSSet the default list of preloaded symbols. Should be used in yourprogram to initialize libltdl's list of preloaded modules.#include <ltdl.h>int main() {/* ... */LTDL_SET_PRELOADED_SYMBOLS();/* ... */}-- Function: int lt_dladdsearchdir (const char *SEARCH_DIR)Append the search directory SEARCH_DIR to the current user-definedlibrary search path. Return 0 on success.-- Function: int lt_dlinsertsearchdir (const char *BEFORE,const char *SEARCH_DIR)Insert the search directory SEARCH_DIR into the user-definedlibrary search path, immediately before the element starting ataddress BEFORE. If BEFORE is `NULL', then SEARCH_DIR is appendingas if `lt_dladdsearchdir' had been called. Return 0 on success.-- Function: int lt_dlsetsearchpath (const char *SEARCH_PATH)Replace the current user-defined library search path withSEARCH_PATH, which must be a colon-separated list of absolutedirectories. Return 0 on success.-- Function: const char * lt_dlgetsearchpath (void)Return the current user-defined library search path.-- Function: int lt_dlforeachfile (const char *SEARCH_PATH,int (*FUNC) (const char *FILENAME, lt_ptr DATA), lt_ptr DATA)In some applications you may not want to load individual moduleswith known names, but rather find all of the modules in a set ofdirectories and load them all during initialisation. With thisfunction you can have libltdl scan the colon delimited directorylist in SEARCH_PATH for candidates, and pass them, along with DATAto your own callback function, FUNC. If SEACH_PATH is `NULL',then search all of the standard locations that `lt_dlopen' wouldexamine. This function will continue to make calls to FUNC foreach file that it discovers in SEARCH_PATH until one of thesecalls returns non-zero, or until the files are exhausted.`lt_dlforeachfile' returns value returned by the last call made toFUNC.For example you could define FUNC to build an ordered "argv"-likevector of files using DATA to hold the address of the start of thevector.-- Function: int lt_dlmakeresident (lt_dlhandle HANDLE)Mark a module so that it cannot be `lt_dlclose'd. This can beuseful if a module implements some core functionality in yourproject, which would cause your code to crash if removed. Return0 on success.If you use `lt_dlopen (NULL)' to get a HANDLE for the runningbinary, that handle will always be marked as resident, andconsequently cannot be successfully `lt_dlclose'd.-- Function: int lt_dlisresident (lt_dlhandle HANDLE)Check whether a particular module has been marked as resident,returning 1 if it has or 0 otherwise. If there is an error whileexecuting this function, return -1 and set an error message forretrieval with `lt_dlerror'.-- Variable: lt_ptr (*) (size_t SIZE) lt_dlmalloc-- Variable: lt_ptr (*) (lt_ptr PTR, size_t SIZE) lt_dlrealloc-- Variable: void (*) (lt_ptr PTR) lt_dlfreeThese variables are set to `malloc', `realloc' and `free' bydefault, but you can set them to any other functions that provideequivalent functionality. If you change any of these functionpointers, you will almost certainly need to change all three topoint into the same malloc library. Strange things will happen ifyou allocate memory from one library, and then pass it to animplementation of `free' that doesn't know what book keeping theallocator used.You must not modify any of their values after calling any libltdlfunction other than `lt_dlpreopen_default' or the macro`LTDL_SET_PRELOADED_SYMBOLS'.File: libtool.info, Node: Modules for libltdl, Next: Thread Safety in libltdl, Prev: Libltdl interface, Up: Using libltdl10.2 Creating modules that can be `dlopen'ed============================================Libtool modules are like normal libtool libraries with a few exceptions:You have to link the module with libtool's `-module' switch, and youshould link any program that is intended to dlopen the module with`-dlopen modulename.la' so that libtool can dlpreopen the module onplatforms which don't support dlopening. If the module depends on anyother libraries, make sure you specify them either when you link themodule or when you link programs that dlopen it. If you want todisable *note Versioning:: for a specific module you should link itwith the `-avoid-version' switch. Note that libtool modules don't needto have a "lib" prefix. However, automake 1.4 or higher is required tobuild such modules.Usually a set of modules provide the same interface, i.e, exportsthe same symbols, so that a program can dlopen them without having toknow more about their internals. In order to avoid symbol conflictsall exported symbols must be prefixed with "modulename_LTX_"(`modulename' is the name of the module). Internal symbols must benamed in such a way that they won't conflict with other modules, forexample, by prefixing them with "_modulename_". Although someplatforms support having the same symbols defined more than once it isgenerally not portable and it makes it impossible to dlpreopen suchmodules. libltdl will automatically cut the prefix off to get the realname of the symbol. Additionally, it supports modules which don't usea prefix so that you can also dlopen non-libtool modules.`foo1.c' gives an example of a portable libtool module. Exportedsymbols are prefixed with "foo1_LTX_", internal symbols with "_foo1_".Aliases are defined at the beginning so that the code is more readable./* aliases for the exported symbols */#define foo foo1_LTX_foo#define bar foo1_LTX_bar/* a global variable definition */int bar = 1;/* a private function */int _foo1_helper() {return bar;}/* an exported function */int foo() {return _foo1_helper();}The `Makefile.am' contains the necessary rules to build the module`foo1.la':...lib_LTLIBRARIES = foo1.lafoo1_la_SOURCES = foo1.cfoo1_la_LDFLAGS = -module...File: libtool.info, Node: Thread Safety in libltdl, Next: User defined module data, Prev: Modules for libltdl, Up: Using libltdl10.3 Using libtldl in a multi threaded environment==================================================Using the `lt_dlmutex_register()' function, and by providing someappropriate callback function definitions, libltdl can be used in amulti-threaded environment.-- Type: void lt_dlmutex_lock (void)This is the type of a function pointer holding the address of afunction which will be called at the start of parts of the libltdlimplementation code which require a mutex lock.Because libltdl is inherantly recursive, it is important that thelocking mechanism employed by these callback functions arereentrant, or else strange problems will occur.-- Type: void lt_dlmutex_unlock (void)The type of a matching unlock function.-- Type: void lt_dlmutex_seterror (const char *ERROR);Many of the functions in the libltdl API have a special returnvalue to indicate to the client that an error has occurred.Normally (in single threaded applications) a string describingthat error can be retrieved from internal storage with`lt_dlerror()'.A function of this type must be registered with the library inorder for it to work in a multi-threaded context. The functionshould store any error message passed in thread local storage.-- Type: const char * lt_dlmutex_geterror (void)The type of a matching callback function to retrieve the laststored error message from thread local storage.When regeistered correctly this function will be used by`lt_dlerror())' from all threads to retrieve error messages for theclient.-- Function: int lt_dlmutex_register (lt_dlmutex_lock *LOCK,lt_dlmutex_unlock *UNLOCK, lt_dlmutex_set_error *SETERROR,lt_dlmutex_geterror *GETERROR)Use this function to register one of each of function ttypesdescribed above in preparation for multi-threaded use of libltdl.All arguments must be valid non-`NULL' function addresses, or elseall `NULL' to return to single threaded operation.File: libtool.info, Node: User defined module data, Next: Module loaders for libltdl, Prev: Thread Safety in libltdl, Up: Using libltdl10.4 Data associated with loaded modules========================================Some of the internal information about each loaded module that ismaintained by libltdl is available to the user, in the form of thisstructure:-- Type: struct lt_dlinfo { char *FILENAME; char *NAME; int REF_COUNT;}`lt_dlinfo' is used to store information about a module. TheFILENAME attribute is a null-terminated character string of thereal module file name. If the module is a libtool module thenNAME is its module name (e.g. `"libfoo"' for `"dir/libfoo.la"'),otherwise it is set to `NULL'. The REF_COUNT attribute is areference counter that describes how often the same module iscurrently loaded.The following function will return a pointer to libltdl's internalcopy of this structure for the given HANDLE:-- Function: const lt_dlinfo * lt_dlgetinfo (lt_dlhandle HANDLE)Return a pointer to a struct that contains some information aboutthe module HANDLE. The contents of the struct must not bemodified. Return `NULL' on failure.Furthermore, in order to save you from having to keep a list of thehandles of all the modules you have loaded, these functions allow you toiterate over libltdl's list of loaded modules:-- Function: int lt_dlforeach(int (*FUNC) (lt_dlhandle HANDLE, lt_ptr DATA), lt_ptr DATA)For each loaded module call the function FUNC. The argumentHANDLE is the handle of one of the loaded modules, DATA is theDATA argument passed to `lt_dlforeach'. As soon as FUNC returns anon-zero value for one of the handles, `lt_dlforeach' will stopcalling FUNC and immediately return 1. Otherwise 0 is returned.-- Function: lt_dlhandle lt_dlhandle_next (lt_dlhandle place)Iterate over the loaded module handles, returning the first handlein the list if PLACE is `NULL', and the next one on subsequentcalls. If PLACE is the last element in the list of loadedmodules, this function returns `NULL'.Of course, you would still need to maintain your own list of loadedmodule handles to parallel the list maintained by libltdl if there areany other data that you need to associate with each handle for thepurposes of your application. However, if you use the following APIcalls to associate your application data with individual module handlesas they are loaded there is actually no need to do that. You mustfirst obtain a unique caller id from libltdl which you subsequently useto retrieve the data you stored earlier. This allows for differentlibraries that each wish to store their own data against loaded modulesto do so without interfering with one another's data.-- Type: lt_dlcaller_idThe opaque type used to hold individual data set keys.-- Function: lt_dlcaller_id lt_dlcaller_register (void)Use this to obtain a unique key to store and retrieve individualsets of per module data.-- Function: lt_ptr lt_dlcaller_set_data (lt_dlcaller_id KEY,lt_dlhandle HANDLE, lt_ptr DATA)Set DATA as the set of data uniquely associated with KEY andHANDLE for later retrieval. This function returns the DATApreviously associated with KEY and HANDLE if any. A result of 0,may indicate that a diagnostic for the last error (if any) isavailable from `lt_dlerror()'.For example, to correctly remove some associated data:lt_ptr stale = lt_dlcaller_set_data (key, handle, 0);if (stale == NULL){char *error_msg = lt_dlerror ();if (error_msg != NULL){my_error_handler (error_msg);return STATUS_FAILED;}}else{free (stale);}-- Function: lt_ptr lt_dlcaller_get_data (lt_dlcaller_id KEY,lt_dlhandle HANDLE)Return the address of the data associated with KEY and HANDLE, orelse `NULL' if there is none.The preceding functions can be combined with `lt_dlforeach' toimplement search and apply operations without the need for yourapplication to track the modules that have been loaded and unloaded:intmy_dlcaller_callback (lt_dlhandle handle, lt_ptr key_ptr){struct my_module_data *my_data;my_data = lt_dlcaller_get_data (handle, (lt_dlcaller_id) *key_ptr);return process (my_data);}intmy_dlcaller_foreach (lt_dlcaller_id key){lt_dlforeach (my_dlcaller_callback, (lt_ptr) &key);}File: libtool.info, Node: Module loaders for libltdl, Next: Distributing libltdl, Prev: User defined module data, Up: Using libltdl10.5 How to create and register new module loaders==================================================Sometimes libltdl's many ways of gaining access to modules are notsufficient for the purposes of a project. You can write your ownloader, and register it with libltdl so that `lt_dlopen' will be ableto use it.Writing a loader involves writing at least three functions which canbe called by `lt_dlopen', `lt_dlsym' and `lt_dlclose'. Optionally,you can provide a finalisation function to perform any cleanupoperations when `lt_dlexit' executes, and a symbol prefix string whichwill be prepended to any symbols passed to `lt_dlsym'. These functionsmust match the function pointer types below, after which they can beallocated to an instance of `lt_user_dlloader' and registered.Registering the loader requires that you choose a name for it, sothat it can be recognised by `lt_dlloader_find' and removed with`lt_dlloader_remove'. The name you choose must be unique, and notalready in use by libltdl's builtin loaders:"dlopen"The system dynamic library loader, if one exists."dld"The GNU dld loader, if `libdld' was installed when libltdl wasbuilt."dlpreload"The loader for `lt_dlopen'ing of preloaded static modules.The prefix "dl" is reserved for loaders supplied with futureversions of libltdl, so you should not use that for your own loadernames.The following types are defined in `ltdl.h':-- Type: lt_module`lt_module' is a dlloader dependent module. The dynamic moduleloader extensions communicate using these low level types.-- Type: lt_dlloader`lt_dlloader' is a handle for module loader types.-- Type: lt_user_data`lt_user_data' is used for specifying loader instance data.-- Type: struct lt_user_dlloader {const char *SYM_PREFIX;lt_module_open *MODULE_OPEN; lt_module_close *MODULE_CLOSE;lt_find_sym *FIND_SYM; lt_dlloader_exit *DLLOADER_EXIT; }If you want to define a new way to open dynamic modules, and havethe `lt_dlopen' API use it, you need to instantiate one of thesestructures and pass it to `lt_dlloader_add'. You can pass whateveryou like in the DLLOADER_DATA field, and it will be passed back asthe value of the first parameter to each of the functionsspecified in the function pointer fields.-- Type: lt_module lt_module_open (const char *FILENAME)The type of the loader function for an `lt_dlloader' moduleloader. The value set in the dlloader_data field of the `structlt_user_dlloader' structure will be passed into this function inthe LOADER_DATA parameter. Implementation of such a functionshould attempt to load the named module, and return an `lt_module'suitable for passing in to the associated `lt_module_close' and`lt_sym_find' function pointers. If the function fails it shouldreturn `NULL', and set the error message with `lt_dlseterror'.-- Type: int lt_module_close (lt_user_data LOADER_DATA,lt_module MODULE)The type of the unloader function for a user defined module loader.Implementatation of such a function should attempt to release anyresources tied up by the MODULE module, and then unload it frommemory. If the function fails for some reason, set the errormessage with `lt_dlseterror' and return non-zero.-- Type: lt_ptr lt_find_sym (lt_module MODULE, const char *SYMBOL)The type of the symbol lookup function for a user defined moduleloader. Implementation of such a function should return theaddress of the named SYMBOL in the module MODULE, or else set theerror message with `lt_dlseterror' and return `NULL' if lookupfails.-- Type: int lt_dlloader_exit (lt_user_data LOADER_DATA)The type of the finalisation function for a user defined moduleloader. Implementation of such a function should free anyresources associated with the loader, including any user specifieddata in the `dlloader_data' field of the `lt_user_dlloader'. Ifnon-`NULL', the function will be called by `lt_dlexit', and`lt_dlloader_remove'.For example:intregister_myloader (void){lt_user_dlloader dlloader;/* User modules are responsible for their own initialisation. */if (myloader_init () != 0)return MYLOADER_INIT_ERROR;dlloader.sym_prefix = NULL;dlloader.module_open = myloader_open;dlloader.module_close = myloader_close;dlloader.find_sym = myloader_find_sym.dlloader.dlloader_exit = myloader_exit;dlloader.dlloader_data = (lt_user_data)myloader_function;/* Add my loader as the default module loader. */if (lt_dlloader_add (lt_dlloader_next (NULL), &dlloader, "myloader") \!= 0)return ERROR;return OK;}Note that if there is any initialisation required for the loader, itmust be performed manually before the loader is registered - libltdldoesn't handle user loader initialisation.Finalisation _is_ handled by libltdl however, and it is important toensure the `dlloader_exit' callback releases any resources claimedduring the initialisation phase.libltdl provides the following functions for writing your own moduleloaders:-- Function: int lt_dlloader_add (lt_dlloader *PLACE,lt_user_dlloader *DLLOADER, const char *LOADER_NAME)Add a new module loader to the list of all loaders, either as thelast loader (if PLACE is `NULL'), else immediately before theloader passed as PLACE. LOADER_NAME will be returned by`lt_dlloader_name' if it is subsequently passed a newly registeredloader. These LOADER_NAMEs must be unique, or`lt_dlloader_remove' and `lt_dlloader_find' cannot work. Returns 0for success.{/* Make myloader be the last one. */if (lt_dlloader_add (NULL, myloader) != 0)perror (lt_dlerror ());}-- Function: int lt_dlloader_remove (const char *LOADER_NAME)Remove the loader identified by the unique name, LOADER_NAME.Before this can succeed, all modules opened by the named loadermust have been closed. Returns 0 for success, otherwise an errormessage can be obtained from `lt_dlerror'.{/* Remove myloader. */if (lt_dlloader_remove ("myloader") != 0)perror (lt_dlerror ());}-- Function: lt_dlloader * lt_dlloader_next (lt_dlloader *PLACE)Iterate over the module loaders, returning the first loader ifPLACE is `NULL', and the next one on subsequent calls. The handleis for use with `lt_dlloader_add'.{/* Make myloader be the first one. */if (lt_dlloader_add (lt_dlloader_next (NULL), myloader) != 0)return ERROR;}-- Function: lt_dlloader * lt_dlloader_find (const char *LOADER_NAME)Return the first loader with a matching LOADER_NAME identifier, orelse `NULL', if the identifier is not found.The identifiers which may be used by libltdl itself, if the hostarchitecture supports them are "dlopen"(1), "dld" and "dlpreload".{/* Add a user loader as the next module loader to be tried ifthe standard dlopen loader were to fail when lt_dlopening. */if (lt_dlloader_add (lt_dlloader_find ("dlopen"), myloader) != 0)return ERROR;}-- Function: const char * lt_dlloader_name (lt_dlloader *PLACE)Return the identifying name of PLACE, as obtained from`lt_dlloader_next' or `lt_dlloader_find'. If this function fails,it will return `NULL' and set an error for retrieval with`lt_dlerror'.-- Function: lt_user_data * lt_dlloader_data (lt_dlloader *PLACE)Return the address of the `dlloader_data' of PLACE, as obtainedfrom `lt_dlloader_next' or `lt_dlloader_find'. If this functionfails, it will return `NULL' and set an error for retrieval with`lt_dlerror'.10.5.1 Error handling within user module loaders-------------------------------------------------- Function: int lt_dladderror (const char *DIAGNOSTIC)This function allows you to integrate your own error messages into`lt_dlerror'. Pass in a suitable diagnostic message for return by`lt_dlerror', and an error identifier for use with `lt_dlseterror'is returned.If the allocation of an identifier fails, this function returns -1.int myerror = lt_dladderror ("Doh!");if (myerror < 0)perror (lt_dlerror ());-- Function: int lt_dlseterror (int ERRORCODE)When writing your own module loaders, you should use this functionto raise errors so that they are propogated through the`lt_dlerror' interface. All of the standard errors used by libltdlare declared in `ltdl.h', or you can add more of your own with`lt_dladderror'. This function returns 0 on success.if (lt_dlseterror (LTDL_ERROR_NO_MEMORY) != 0)perror (lt_dlerror ());---------- Footnotes ----------(1) This is used for the host dependent module loading API -`shl_load' and `LoadLibrary' for exampleFile: libtool.info, Node: Distributing libltdl, Prev: Module loaders for libltdl, Up: Using libltdl10.6 How to distribute libltdl with your package================================================Even though libltdl is installed together with libtool, you may wish toinclude libltdl in the distribution of your package, for the convenienceof users of your package that don't have libtool or libltdl installed.In this case, you must decide whether to manually add the `ltdl'objects to your package, or else which flavor of libltdl you want touse: a convenience library or an installable libtool library.The most simplistic way to add `libltdl' to your package is to copythe source files, `ltdl.c' and `ltdl.h', to a source directory withinyour package and to build and link them along with the rest of yoursources. To help you do this, the m4 macros for autoconf are availablein `ltdl.m4'. You must ensure that they are available in `aclocal.m4'before you run Autoconf - by appending the contents of `ltdl.m4' to`acinclude.m4', if you are using automake, or to `aclocal.m4' if youare not. Having made the macros available, you must add a call to the`AC_LIB_LTDL' macro to your package's `configure.in' to perform theconfigure time checks required to build `ltdl.o' correctly. Thismethod has problems if you then try to link the package binaries withan installed libltdl, or a library which depends on libltdl: you mayhave problems with duplicate symbol definitions.One advantage of the convenience library is that it is notinstalled, so the fact that you use libltdl will not be apparent to theuser, and it will not overwrite a pre-installed version of libltdl auser might have. On the other hand, if you want to upgrade libltdl forany reason (e.g. a bugfix) you'll have to recompile your packageinstead of just replacing an installed version of libltdl. However, ifyour programs or libraries are linked with other libraries that usesuch a pre-installed version of libltdl, you may get linker errors orrun-time crashes. Another problem is that you cannot link theconvenience library into more than one libtool library, then link asingle program with these libraries, because you may get duplicatesymbols. In general you can safely use the convenience library inprograms which don't depend on other libraries that might use libltdltoo. In order to enable this flavor of libltdl, you should add theline `AC_LIBLTDL_CONVENIENCE' to your `configure.in', _before_`AC_PROG_LIBTOOL'.In order to select the installable version of libltdl, you shouldadd a call of the macro `AC_LIBLTDL_INSTALLABLE' to your `configure.in'_before_ `AC_PROG_LIBTOOL'. This macro will check whether libltdl isalready installed and, if not, request the libltdl embedded in yourpackage to be built and installed. Note, however, that no versionchecking is performed. The user may override the test and determinethat the libltdl embedded must be installed, regardless of theexistence of another version, using the configure switch`--enable-ltdl-install'.In order to embed libltdl into your package, just add `--ltdl' tothe `libtoolize' command line. It will copy the libltdl sources to asubdirectory `libltdl' in your package. Both macros accept an optionalargument to specify the location of the `libltdl' directory. By thedefault both macros assume that it is `${top_srcdir}/libltdl'.Whatever macro you use, it is up to you to ensure that your`configure.in' will configure libltdl, using `AC_CONFIG_SUBDIRS', andthat your `Makefile's will start sub-makes within libltdl's directory,using automake's SUBDIRS, for example. Both macros define the shellvariables LIBLTDL, to the link flag that you should use to link withlibltdl, and LTDLINCL, to the preprocessor flag that you should use tocompile with programs that include `ltdl.h'. It is up to you to use`AC_SUBST' to ensure that this variable will be available in`Makefile's, or add them to variables that are `AC_SUBST'ed by default,such as LIBS and CPPFLAGS. Also note that you should not include`libltdl/Makefile' in the list of files to be configured from yourtoplevel `configure.in'; this is done by `libltdl/configure.ac'.If you're using the convenience libltdl, LIBLTDL will be thepathname for the convenience version of libltdl and LTDLINCL will be`-I' followed by the directory that contains libltdl, both startingwith `${top_builddir}/' or `${top_srcdir}/', respectively.If you request an installed version of libltdl and one is found(1),LIBLTDL will be set to `-lltdl' and LTDLINCL will be empty (which isjust a blind assumption that `ltdl.h' is somewhere in the include pathif libltdl is in the library path). If an installable version oflibltdl must be built, its pathname, starting with `${top_builddir}/',will be stored in LIBLTDL, and LTDLINCL will be set just like in thecase of convenience library.So, when you want to link a program with libltdl, be it aconvenience, installed or installable library, just compile with`$(LTDLINCL)' and link it with `$(LIBLTDL)', using libtool.You should probably also add `AC_LIBTOOL_DLOPEN' to your`configure.in' _before_ `AC_PROG_LIBTOOL', otherwise libtool willassume no dlopening mechanism is supported, and revert to dlpreopening,which is probably not what you want.Avoid using the `-static' or `-all-static' switches when linkingprograms with libltdl. This will not work on all platforms, becausethe dlopening functions may not be available for static linking.The following example shows you how to embed the convenience libltdlin your package. In order to use the installable variant just replace`AC_LIBLTDL_CONVENIENCE' with `AC_LIBLTDL_INSTALLABLE'. We assume thatlibltdl was embedded using `libtoolize --ltdl'.configure.in:...dnl Enable building of the convenience librarydnl and set LIBLTDL accordinglyAC_LIBLTDL_CONVENIENCEdnl Check for dlopen supportAC_LIBTOOL_DLOPENdnl Configure libtoolAC_PROG_LIBTOOLdnl Configure libltdlAC_CONFIG_SUBDIRS(libltdl)...Makefile.am:...SUBDIRS = libltdlINCLUDES = $(LTDLINCL)myprog_LDFLAGS = -export-dynamic# The quotes around -dlopen below fool automake <= 1.4 into accepting itmyprog_LDADD = $(LIBLTDL) "-dlopen" self "-dlopen" foo1.lamyprog_DEPENDENCIES = $(LIBLTDL) foo1.la...---------- Footnotes ----------(1) Even if libltdl is installed, `AC_LIBLTDL_INSTALLABLE' may failto detect it, if libltdl depends on symbols provided by libraries otherthan the C library. In this case, it will needlessly build and installlibltdl.File: libtool.info, Node: Other languages, Next: Troubleshooting, Prev: Using libltdl, Up: Top11 Using libtool with other languages*************************************Libtool was first implemented in order to add support for writing sharedlibraries in the C language. However, over time, libtool is beingintegrated with other languages, so that programmers are free to reapthe benefits of shared libraries in their favorite programming language.This chapter describes how libtool interacts with other languages,and what special considerations you need to make if you do not use C.* Menu:* C++ libraries::File: libtool.info, Node: C++ libraries, Up: Other languages11.1 Writing libraries for C++==============================Creating libraries of C++ code should be a fairly straightforwardprocess, because its object files differ from C ones in only three ways:1. Because of name mangling, C++ libraries are only usable by the C++compiler that created them. This decision was made by thedesigners of C++ in order to protect users from conflictingimplementations of features such as constructors, exceptionhandling, and RTTI.2. On some systems, the C++ compiler must take special actions for thedynamic linker to run dynamic (i.e., run-time) initializers. Thismeans that we should not call `ld' directly to link suchlibraries, and we should use the C++ compiler instead.3. C++ compilers will link some Standard C++ library in by default,but libtool does not know which are these libraries, so it cannoteven run the inter-library dependence analyzer to check how tolink it in. Therefore, running `ld' to link a C++ program orlibrary is deemed to fail.Because of these three issues, Libtool has been designed to alwaysuse the C++ compiler to compile and link C++ programs and libraries. Insome instances the `main()' function of a program must also be compiledwith the C++ compiler for static C++ objects to be properly initialized.File: libtool.info, Node: Troubleshooting, Next: Maintaining, Prev: Other languages, Up: Top12 Troubleshooting******************Libtool is under constant development, changing to remain up-to-datewith modern operating systems. If libtool doesn't work the way youthink it should on your platform, you should read this chapter to helpdetermine what the problem is, and how to resolve it.* Menu:* Libtool test suite:: Libtool's self-tests.* Reporting bugs:: How to report problems with libtool.File: libtool.info, Node: Libtool test suite, Next: Reporting bugs, Up: Troubleshooting12.1 The libtool test suite===========================Libtool comes with its own set of programs that test its capabilities,and report obvious bugs in the libtool program. These tests, too, areconstantly evolving, based on past problems with libtool, and knowndeficiencies in other operating systems.As described in the `INSTALL' file, you may run `make check' afteryou have built libtool (possibly before you install it) in order tomake sure that it meets basic functional requirements.* Menu:* Test descriptions:: The contents of the test suite.* When tests fail:: What to do when a test fails.File: libtool.info, Node: Test descriptions, Next: When tests fail, Up: Libtool test suite12.1.1 Description of test suite--------------------------------Here is a list of the current programs in the test suite, and what theytest for:`cdemo-conf.test'`cdemo-exec.test'`cdemo-make.test'`cdemo-static.test'`cdemo-shared.test'These programs check to see that the `cdemo' subdirectory of thelibtool distribution can be configured and built correctly.The `cdemo' subdirectory contains a demonstration of libtoolconvenience libraries, a mechanism that allows build-time staticlibraries to be created, in a way that their components can belater linked into programs or other libraries, even shared ones.The tests `cdemo-make.test' and `cdemo-exec.test' are executedthree times, under three different libtool configurations:`cdemo-conf.test' configures `cdemo/libtool' to build both staticand shared libraries (the default for platforms that supportboth), `cdemo-static.test' builds only static libraries(`--disable-shared'), and `cdemo-shared.test' builds only sharedlibraries (`--disable-static').`demo-conf.test'`demo-exec.test'`demo-inst.test'`demo-make.test'`demo-unst.test'`demo-static.test'`demo-shared.test'`demo-nofast.test'`demo-pic.test'`demo-nopic.test'These programs check to see that the `demo' subdirectory of thelibtool distribution can be configured, built, installed, anduninstalled correctly.The `demo' subdirectory contains a demonstration of a trivialpackage that uses libtool. The tests `demo-make.test',`demo-exec.test', `demo-inst.test' and `demo-unst.test' areexecuted four times, under four different libtool configurations:`demo-conf.test' configures `demo/libtool' to build both staticand shared libraries, `demo-static.test' builds only staticlibraries (`--disable-shared'), and `demo-shared.test' builds onlyshared libraries (`--disable-static'). `demo-nofast.test'configures `demo/libtool' to disable the fast-install mode(`--enable-fast-install=no'). `demo-pic.test' configures`demo/libtool' to prefer building PIC code (`--with-pic'),`demo-nopic.test' to prefer non-PIC code (`--without-pic').`deplibs.test'Many systems cannot link static libraries into shared libraries.libtool uses a `deplibs_check_method' to prevent such cases. Thistests checks whether libtool's `deplibs_check_method' worksproperly.`hardcode.test'On all systems with shared libraries, the location of the librarycan be encoded in executables that are linked against it *noteLinking executables::. This test checks the conditions underwhich your system linker hardcodes the library location, andguarantees that they correspond to libtool's own notion of howyour linker behaves.`build-relink.test'Checks whether variable SHLIBPATH_OVERRIDES_RUNPATH is properlyset. If the test fails and VERBOSE is set, it will indicate whatthe variable should have been set to.`noinst-link.test'Checks whether libtool will not try to link with a previouslyinstalled version of a library when it should be linking with ajust-built one.`depdemo-conf.test'`depdemo-exec.test'`depdemo-inst.test'`depdemo-make.test'`depdemo-unst.test'`depdemo-static.test'`depdemo-shared.test'`depdemo-nofast.test'These programs check to see that the `depdemo' subdirectory of thelibtool distribution can be configured, built, installed, anduninstalled correctly.The `depdemo' subdirectory contains a demonstration ofinter-library dependencies with libtool. The test programs linksome interdependent libraries.The tests `depdemo-make.test', `depdemo-exec.test',`depdemo-inst.test' and `depdemo-unst.test' are executed fourtimes, under four different libtool configurations:`depdemo-conf.test' configures `depdemo/libtool' to build bothstatic and shared libraries, `depdemo-static.test' builds onlystatic libraries (`--disable-shared'), and `depdemo-shared.test'builds only shared libraries (`--disable-static').`depdemo-nofast.test' configures `depdemo/libtool' to disable thefast-install mode (`--enable-fast-install=no'.`mdemo-conf.test'`mdemo-exec.test'`mdemo-inst.test'`mdemo-make.test'`mdemo-unst.test'`mdemo-static.test'`mdemo-shared.test'These programs check to see that the `mdemo' subdirectory of thelibtool distribution can be configured, built, installed, anduninstalled correctly.The `mdemo' subdirectory contains a demonstration of a package thatuses libtool and the system independent dlopen wrapper `libltdl' toload modules. The library `libltdl' provides a dlopen wrapper forvarious platforms (Linux, Solaris, HP/UX etc.) including supportfor dlpreopened modules (*note Dlpreopening::).The tests `mdemo-make.test', `mdemo-exec.test', `mdemo-inst.test'and `mdemo-unst.test' are executed three times, under threedifferent libtool configurations: `mdemo-conf.test' configures`mdemo/libtool' to build both static and shared libraries,`mdemo-static.test' builds only static libraries(`--disable-shared'), and `mdemo-shared.test' builds only sharedlibraries (`--disable-static').`dryrun.test'This test checks whether libtool's `--dry-run' mode works properly.`assign.test'Checks whether we don't put break or continue on the same line asan assignment in the libtool script.`link.test'This test guarantees that linking directly against a non-libtoolstatic library works properly.`link-2.test'This test makes sure that files ending in `.lo' are never linkeddirectly into a program file.`nomode.test'Check whether we can actually get help for libtool.`quote.test'This program checks libtool's metacharacter quoting.`sh.test'Checks whether a `test' command was forgotten in libtool.`suffix.test'When other programming languages are used with libtool (*noteOther languages::), the source files may end in suffixes otherthan `.c'. This test validates that libtool can handle suffixesfor all the file types that it supports, and that it fails whenthe suffix is invalid.File: libtool.info, Node: When tests fail, Prev: Test descriptions, Up: Libtool test suite12.1.2 When tests fail----------------------Each of the above tests are designed to produce no output when they arerun via `make check'. The exit status of each program tells the`Makefile' whether or not the test succeeded.If a test fails, it means that there is either a programming error inlibtool, or in the test program itself.To investigate a particular test, you may run it directly, as youwould a normal program. When the test is invoked in this way, itproduces output which may be useful in determining what the problem is.Another way to have the test programs produce output is to set theVERBOSE environment variable to `yes' before running them. Forexample, `env VERBOSE=yes make check' runs all the tests, and has eachof them display debugging information.File: libtool.info, Node: Reporting bugs, Prev: Libtool test suite, Up: Troubleshooting12.2 Reporting bugs===================If you think you have discovered a bug in libtool, you should thinktwice: the libtool maintainer is notorious for passing the buck (ormaybe that should be "passing the bug"). Libtool was invented to fixknown deficiencies in shared library implementations, so, in a way, mostof the bugs in libtool are actually bugs in other operating systems.However, the libtool maintainer would definitely be happy to add supportfor somebody else's buggy operating system. [I wish there was a goodway to do winking smiley-faces in Texinfo.]Genuine bugs in libtool include problems with shell scriptportability, documentation errors, and failures in the test suite(*note Libtool test suite::).First, check the documentation and help screens to make sure that thebehaviour you think is a problem is not already mentioned as a feature.Then, you should read the Emacs guide to reporting bugs (*noteReporting Bugs: (emacs)Bugs.). Some of the details listed there arespecific to Emacs, but the principle behind them is a general one.Finally, send a bug report to the libtool bug reporting address<bug-libtool@gnu.org> with any appropriate _facts_, such as test suiteoutput (*note When tests fail::), all the details needed to reproducethe bug, and a brief description of why you think the behaviour is abug. Be sure to include the word "libtool" in the subject line, aswell as the version number you are using (which can be found by typing`libtool --version').File: libtool.info, Node: Maintaining, Next: GNU Free Documentation License, Prev: Troubleshooting, Up: Top13 Maintenance notes for libtool********************************This chapter contains information that the libtool maintainer findsimportant. It will be of no use to you unless you are consideringporting libtool to new systems, or writing your own libtool.* Menu:* New ports:: How to port libtool to new systems.* Tested platforms:: When libtool was last tested.* Platform quirks:: Information about different library systems.* libtool script contents:: Configuration information that libtool uses.* Cheap tricks:: Making libtool maintainership easier.File: libtool.info, Node: New ports, Next: Tested platforms, Up: Maintaining13.1 Porting libtool to new systems===================================Before you embark on porting libtool to an unsupported system, it isworthwhile to send e-mail to the libtool mailing list<libtool@gnu.org>, to make sure that you are not duplicating existingwork.If you find that any porting documentation is missing, pleasecomplain! Complaints with patches and improvements to thedocumentation, or to libtool itself, are more than welcome.* Menu:* Information sources:: Where to find relevant documentation* Porting inter-library dependencies:: Implementation details explainedFile: libtool.info, Node: Information sources, Next: Porting inter-library dependencies, Up: New ports13.1.1 Information sources--------------------------Once it is clear that a new port is necessary, you'll generally need thefollowing information:canonical system nameYou need the output of `config.guess' for this system, so that youcan make changes to the libtool configuration process withoutaffecting other systems.man pages for `ld' and `cc'These generally describe what flags are used to generate PIC, tocreate shared libraries, and to link against only staticlibraries. You may need to follow some cross references to findthe information that is required.man pages for `ld.so', `rtld', or equivalentThese are a valuable resource for understanding how sharedlibraries are loaded on the system.man page for `ldconfig', or equivalentThis page usually describes how to install shared libraries.output from `ls -l /lib /usr/lib'This shows the naming convention for shared libraries on thesystem, including which names should be symbolic links.any additional documentationSome systems have special documentation on how to build and installshared libraries.If you know how to program the Bourne shell, then you can completethe port yourself; otherwise, you'll have to find somebody with therelevant skills who will do the work. People on the libtool mailinglist are usually willing to volunteer to help you with new ports, soyou can send the information to them.To do the port yourself, you'll definitely need to modify the`libtool.m4' macros in order to make platform-specific changes to theconfiguration process. You should search that file for the `PORTME'keyword, which will give you some hints on what you'll need to change.In general, all that is involved is modifying the appropriateconfiguration variables (*note libtool script contents::).Your best bet is to find an already-supported system that is similarto yours, and make your changes based on that. In some cases, however,your system will differ significantly from every other supported system,and it may be necessary to add new configuration variables, and modifythe `ltmain.in' script accordingly. Be sure to write to the mailinglist before you make changes to `ltmain.in', since they may have adviceon the most effective way of accomplishing what you want.File: libtool.info, Node: Porting inter-library dependencies, Prev: Information sources, Up: New ports13.1.2 Porting inter-library dependencies support-------------------------------------------------Since version 1.2c, libtool has re-introduced the ability to dointer-library dependency on some platforms, thanks to a patch by ToshioKuratomi <badger@prtr-13.ucsc.edu>. Here's a shortened version of themessage that contained his patch:The basic architecture is this: in `libtool.m4', the person whowrites libtool makes sure `$deplibs' is included in `$archive_cmds'somewhere and also sets the variable `$deplibs_check_method', and maybe`$file_magic_cmd' when `deplibs_check_method' is file_magic.`deplibs_check_method' can be one of five things:`file_magic [REGEX]'looks in the library link path for libraries that have the rightlibname. Then it runs `$file_magic_cmd' on the library and checksfor a match against the extended regular expression REGEX. WhenFILE_MAGIC_TEST_FILE is set by `libtool.m4', it is used as anargument to `$file_magic_cmd' in order to verify whether theregular expression matches its output, and warn the user otherwise.`test_compile'just checks whether it is possible to link a program out of a listof libraries, and checks which of those are listed in the output of`ldd'. It is currently unused, and will probably be dropped in thefuture.`pass_all'will pass everything without any checking. This may work onplatforms in which code is position-independent by default andinter-library dependencies are properly supported by the dynamiclinker, for example, on DEC OSF/1 3 and 4.`none'It causes deplibs to be reassigned deplibs="". That way`archive_cmds' can contain deplibs on all platforms, but not havedeplibs used unless needed.`unknown'is the default for all systems unless overridden in `libtool.m4'.It is the same as `none', but it documents that we really don'tknow what the correct value should be, and we welcome patches thatimprove it.Then in `ltmain.in' we have the real workhorse: a littleinitialization and postprocessing (to setup/release variables for usewith eval echo libname_spec etc.) and a case statement that decideswhich method is being used. This is the real code... I wish I couldcondense it a little more, but I don't think I can without functioncalls. I've mostly optimized it (moved things out of loops, etc) butthere is probably some fat left. I thought I should stop while I wasahead, work on whatever bugs you discover, etc before thinking aboutmore than obvious optimizations.File: libtool.info, Node: Tested platforms, Next: Platform quirks, Prev: New ports, Up: Maintaining13.2 Tested platforms=====================This table describes when libtool was last known to be tested onplatforms where it claims to support shared libraries:-------------------------------------------------------canonical host name compiler libtool results(tools versions) release-------------------------------------------------------alpha-dec-osf5.1 cc 1.3e ok (1.910)alpha-dec-osf4.0f gcc 1.3e ok (1.910)alpha-dec-osf4.0f cc 1.3e ok (1.910)alpha-dec-osf3.2 gcc 0.8 okalpha-dec-osf3.2 cc 0.8 okalpha-dec-osf2.1 gcc 1.2f NSalpha*-unknown-linux-gnu gcc 1.3b ok(egcs-1.1.2, GNU ld 2.9.1.0.23)hppa2.0w-hp-hpux11.00 cc 1.2f okhppa2.0-hp-hpux10.20 cc 1.3.2 okhppa1.1-hp-hpux10.20 gcc 1.2f okhppa1.1-hp-hpux10.20 cc 1.3c ok (1.821)hppa1.1-hp-hpux10.10 gcc 1.2f okhppa1.1-hp-hpux10.10 cc 1.2f okhppa1.1-hp-hpux9.07 gcc 1.2f okhppa1.1-hp-hpux9.07 cc 1.2f okhppa1.1-hp-hpux9.05 gcc 1.2f okhppa1.1-hp-hpux9.05 cc 1.2f okhppa1.1-hp-hpux9.01 gcc 1.2f okhppa1.1-hp-hpux9.01 cc 1.2f oki*86-*-beos gcc 1.2f oki*86-*-bsdi4.0.1 gcc 1.3c ok(gcc-2.7.2.1)i*86-*-bsdi4.0 gcc 1.2f oki*86-*-bsdi3.1 gcc 1.2e NSi*86-*-bsdi3.0 gcc 1.2e NSi*86-*-bsdi2.1 gcc 1.2e NSi*86-pc-cygwin gcc 1.3b NS(egcs-1.1 stock b20.1 compiler)i*86-*-dguxR4.20MU01 gcc 1.2 oki*86-*-freebsd4.3 gcc 1.3e ok (1.912)i*86-*-freebsdelf4.0 gcc 1.3c ok(egcs-1.1.2)i*86-*-freebsdelf3.2 gcc 1.3c ok(gcc-2.7.2.1)i*86-*-freebsdelf3.1 gcc 1.3c ok(gcc-2.7.2.1)i*86-*-freebsdelf3.0 gcc 1.3c oki*86-*-freebsd3.0 gcc 1.2e oki*86-*-freebsd2.2.8 gcc 1.3c ok(gcc-2.7.2.1)i*86-*-freebsd2.2.6 gcc 1.3b ok(egcs-1.1 & gcc-2.7.2.1, native ld)i*86-*-freebsd2.1.5 gcc 0.5 oki*86-*-netbsd1.5 gcc 1.3e ok (1.901)(egcs-1.1.2)i*86-*-netbsd1.4 gcc 1.3c ok(egcs-1.1.1)i*86-*-netbsd1.4.3A gcc 1.3e ok (1.901)i*86-*-netbsd1.3.3 gcc 1.3c ok(gcc-2.7.2.2+myc2)i*86-*-netbsd1.3.2 gcc 1.2e oki*86-*-netbsd1.3I gcc 1.2e ok(egcs 1.1?)i*86-*-netbsd1.2 gcc 0.9g oki*86-*-linux-gnu gcc 1.3e ok (1.901)(Red Hat 7.0, gcc "2.96")i*86-*-linux-gnu gcc 1.3e ok (1.911)(SuSE 7.0, gcc 2.95.2)i*86-*-linux-gnulibc1 gcc 1.2f oki*86-*-openbsd2.5 gcc 1.3c ok(gcc-2.8.1)i*86-*-openbsd2.4 gcc 1.3c ok(gcc-2.8.1)i*86-*-solaris2.7 gcc 1.3b ok(egcs-1.1.2, native ld)i*86-*-solaris2.6 gcc 1.2f oki*86-*-solaris2.5.1 gcc 1.2f oki*86-ncr-sysv4.3.03 gcc 1.2f oki*86-ncr-sysv4.3.03 cc 1.2e ok(cc -Hnocopyr)i*86-pc-sco3.2v5.0.5 cc 1.3c oki*86-pc-sco3.2v5.0.5 gcc 1.3c ok(gcc 95q4c)i*86-pc-sco3.2v5.0.5 gcc 1.3c ok(egcs-1.1.2)i*86-sco-sysv5uw7.1.1 gcc 1.3e ok (1.901)(gcc-2.95.2, SCO linker)i*86-UnixWare7.1.0-sysv5 cc 1.3c oki*86-UnixWare7.1.0-sysv5 gcc 1.3c ok(egcs-1.1.1)m68k-next-nextstep3 gcc 1.2f NSm68k-sun-sunos4.1.1 gcc 1.2f NS(gcc-2.5.7)m88k-dg-dguxR4.12TMU01 gcc 1.2 okm88k-motorola-sysv4 gcc 1.3 ok(egcs-1.1.2)mips-sgi-irix6.5 gcc 1.2f ok(gcc-2.8.1)mips-sgi-irix6.4 gcc 1.2f okmips-sgi-irix6.3 gcc 1.3b ok(egcs-1.1.2, native ld)mips-sgi-irix6.3 cc 1.3b ok(cc 7.0)mips-sgi-irix6.2 gcc 1.2f okmips-sgi-irix6.2 cc 0.9 okmips-sgi-irix5.3 gcc 1.2f ok(egcs-1.1.1)mips-sgi-irix5.3 gcc 1.2f NS(gcc-2.6.3)mips-sgi-irix5.3 cc 0.8 okmips-sgi-irix5.2 gcc 1.3b ok(egcs-1.1.2, native ld)mips-sgi-irix5.2 cc 1.3b ok(cc 3.18)mips-sni-sysv4 cc 1.3.5 ok(Siemens C-compiler)mips-sni-sysv4 gcc 1.3.5 ok(gcc-2.7.2.3, GNU assembler 2.8.1, native ld)mipsel-unknown-openbsd2.1 gcc 1.0 okpowerpc-apple-darwin6.4 gcc 1.5 ok(apple dev tools released 12/2002)powerpc-ibm-aix4.3.1.0 gcc 1.2f ok(egcs-1.1.1)powerpc-ibm-aix4.2.1.0 gcc 1.2f ok(egcs-1.1.1)powerpc-ibm-aix4.1.5.0 gcc 1.2f ok(egcs-1.1.1)powerpc-ibm-aix4.1.5.0 gcc 1.2f NS(gcc-2.8.1)powerpc-ibm-aix4.1.4.0 gcc 1.0 okpowerpc-ibm-aix4.1.4.0 xlc 1.0i okrs6000-ibm-aix4.1.5.0 gcc 1.2f ok(gcc-2.7.2)rs6000-ibm-aix4.1.4.0 gcc 1.2f ok(gcc-2.7.2)rs6000-ibm-aix3.2.5 gcc 1.0i okrs6000-ibm-aix3.2.5 xlc 1.0i oksparc-sun-solaris2.8 gcc 1.3e ok (1.913)(gcc-2.95.3 & native ld)sparc-sun-solaris2.7 gcc 1.3e ok (1.913)(gcc-2.95.3 & native ld)sparc-sun-solaris2.6 gcc 1.3e ok (1.913)(gcc-2.95.3 & native ld)sparc-sun-solaris2.5.1 gcc 1.3e ok (1.911)sparc-sun-solaris2.5 gcc 1.3b ok(egcs-1.1.2, GNU ld 2.9.1 & native ld)sparc-sun-solaris2.5 cc 1.3b ok(SC 3.0.1)sparc-sun-solaris2.4 gcc 1.0a oksparc-sun-solaris2.4 cc 1.0a oksparc-sun-solaris2.3 gcc 1.2f oksparc-sun-sunos4.1.4 gcc 1.2f oksparc-sun-sunos4.1.4 cc 1.0f oksparc-sun-sunos4.1.3_U1 gcc 1.2f oksparc-sun-sunos4.1.3C gcc 1.2f oksparc-sun-sunos4.1.3 gcc 1.3b ok(egcs-1.1.2, GNU ld 2.9.1 & native ld)sparc-sun-sunos4.1.3 cc 1.3b oksparc-unknown-bsdi4.0 gcc 1.2c oksparc-unknown-linux-gnulibc1 gcc 1.2f oksparc-unknown-linux-gnu gcc 1.3b ok(egcs-1.1.2, GNU ld 2.9.1.0.23)sparc64-unknown-linux-gnu gcc 1.2f okNotes:- "ok" means "all tests passed".- "NS" means "Not Shared", but OK for static librariesNote: The vendor-distributed HP-UX `sed'(1) programs are horriblybroken, and cannot handle libtool's requirements, so users may reportunusual problems. There is no workaround except to install a working`sed' (such as GNU `sed') on these systems.Note: The vendor-distributed NCR MP-RAS `cc' programs emitscopyright on standard error that confuse tests on size of`conftest.err'. The workaround is to specify `CC' when run `configure'with `CC='cc -Hnocopyr''.File: libtool.info, Node: Platform quirks, Next: libtool script contents, Prev: Tested platforms, Up: Maintaining13.3 Platform quirks====================This section is dedicated to the sanity of the libtool maintainers. Itdescribes the programs that libtool uses, how they vary from system tosystem, and how to test for them.Because libtool is a shell script, it can be difficult to understandjust by reading it from top to bottom. This section helps show whylibtool does things a certain way. Combined with the scriptsthemselves, you should have a better sense of how to improve libtool, orwrite your own.* Menu:* References:: Finding more information.* Compilers:: Creating object files from source files.* Reloadable objects:: Binding object files together.* Multiple dependencies:: Removing duplicate dependent libraries.* Archivers:: Programs that create static archives.File: libtool.info, Node: References, Next: Compilers, Up: Platform quirks13.3.1 References-----------------The following is a list of valuable documentation references:* SGI's IRIX Manual Pages, which can be found at`http://techpubs.sgi.com/cgi-bin/infosrch.cgi?cmd=browse&db=man'.* Sun's free service area(`http://www.sun.com/service/online/free.html') and documentationserver (`http://docs.sun.com/').* Compaq's Tru64 UNIX online documentation is at(`http://tru64unix.compaq.com/faqs/publications/pub_page/doc_list.html')with C++ documentation at(`http://tru64unix.compaq.com/cplus/docs/index.htm').* Hewlett-Packard has online documentation at(`http://docs.hp.com/index.html').* IBM has online documentation at(`http://www.rs6000.ibm.com/resource/aix_resource/Pubs/').File: libtool.info, Node: Compilers, Next: Reloadable objects, Prev: References, Up: Platform quirks13.3.2 Compilers----------------The only compiler characteristics that affect libtool are the flagsneeded (if any) to generate PIC objects. In general, if a C compilersupports certain PIC flags, then any derivative compilers support thesame flags. Until there are some noteworthy exceptions to this rule,this section will document only C compilers.The following C compilers have standard command line options,regardless of the platform:`gcc'This is the GNU C compiler, which is also the system compiler formany free operating systems (FreeBSD, GNU/Hurd, GNU/Linux, Lites,NetBSD, and OpenBSD, to name a few).The `-fpic' or `-fPIC' flags can be used to generateposition-independent code. `-fPIC' is guaranteed to generateworking code, but the code is slower on m68k, m88k, and Sparcchips. However, using `-fpic' on those chips imposes arbitrarysize limits on the shared libraries.The rest of this subsection lists compilers by the operating systemthat they are bundled with:`aix3*'`aix4*'Most AIX compilers have no PIC flags, since AIX (with theexception of AIX for IA-64) runs on PowerPC and RS/6000 chips. (1)`hpux10*'Use `+Z' to generate PIC.`osf3*'Digital/UNIX 3.x does not have PIC flags, at least not on thePowerPC platform.`solaris2*'Use `-KPIC' to generate PIC.`sunos4*'Use `-PIC' to generate PIC.---------- Footnotes ----------(1) All code compiled for the PowerPC and RS/6000 chips(`powerpc-*-*', `powerpcle-*-*', and `rs6000-*-*') isposition-independent, regardless of the operating system or compilersuite. So, "regular objects" can be used to build shared libraries onthese systems and no special PIC compiler flags are required.File: libtool.info, Node: Reloadable objects, Next: Multiple dependencies, Prev: Compilers, Up: Platform quirks13.3.3 Reloadable objects-------------------------On all known systems, a reloadable object can be created by running `ld-r -o OUTPUT.o INPUT1.o INPUT2.o'. This reloadable object may betreated as exactly equivalent to other objects.File: libtool.info, Node: Multiple dependencies, Next: Archivers, Prev: Reloadable objects, Up: Platform quirks13.3.4 Multiple dependencies----------------------------On most modern platforms the order that dependent libraries are listedhas no effect on object generation. In theory, there are platformswhich require libraries which provide missing symbols to other librariesto listed after those libraries whose symbols they provide.Particularly, if a pair of static archives each resolve some of theother's symbols, it might be necessary to list one of those archivesboth before and after the other one. Libtool does not currently copewith this situation well, since duplicate libraries are removed fromthe link line by default. Libtool provides the command line option`--preserve-dup-deps' to preserve all duplicate dependencies in caseswhere it is necessary.File: libtool.info, Node: Archivers, Prev: Multiple dependencies, Up: Platform quirks13.3.5 Archivers----------------On all known systems, building a static library can be accomplished byrunning `ar cru libNAME.a OBJ1.o OBJ2.o ...', where the `.a' file isthe output library, and each `.o' file is an object file.On all known systems, if there is a program named `ranlib', then itmust be used to "bless" the created library before linking against it,with the `ranlib libNAME.a' command. Some systems, like Irix, use the`ar ts' command, instead.File: libtool.info, Node: libtool script contents, Next: Cheap tricks, Prev: Platform quirks, Up: Maintaining13.4 `libtool' script contents==============================Since version 1.4, the `libtool' script is generated by `configure'(*note Configuring::). In earlier versions, `configure' achieved thisby calling a helper script called `ltconfig'. From libtool version 0.7to 1.0, this script simply set shell variables, then sourced thelibtool backend, `ltmain.sh'. `ltconfig' from libtool version 1.1through 1.3 inlined the contents of `ltmain.sh' into the generated`libtool', which improved performance on many systems. The tests that`ltconfig' used to perform are now kept in `libtool.m4' where thay canbe written using Autoconf. This has the runtime performance benefitsof inlined `ltmain.sh', _and_ improves the build time a little whileconsiderably easing the amount of raw shell code that used to needmaintaining.The convention used for naming variables which hold shell commandsfor delayed evaluation, is to use the suffix `_cmd' where a single lineof valid shell script is needed, and the suffix `_cmds' where multiplelines of shell script *may* be delayed for later evaluation. Byconvention, `_cmds' variables delimit the evaluation units with the `~'character where necessary.Here is a listing of each of the configuration variables, and howthey are used within `ltmain.sh' (*note Configuring::):-- Variable: ARThe name of the system library archiver.-- Variable: CCThe name of the C compiler used to configure libtool.-- Variable: LDThe name of the linker that libtool should use internally forreloadable linking and possibly shared libraries.-- Variable: NMThe name of a BSD-compatible `nm' program, which produces listingsof global symbols in one the following formats:ADDRESS C GLOBAL-VARIABLE-NAMEADDRESS D GLOBAL-VARIABLE-NAMEADDRESS T GLOBAL-FUNCTION-NAME-- Variable: RANLIBSet to the name of the ranlib program, if any.-- Variable: allow_undefined_flagThe flag that is used by `archive_cmds' in order to declare thatthere will be unresolved symbols in the resulting shared library.Empty, if no such flag is required. Set to `unsupported' if thereis no way to generate a shared library with references to symbolsthat aren't defined in that library.-- Variable: always_export_symbolsWhether libtool should automatically generate a list of exportedsymbols using EXPORT_SYMBOLS_CMDS before linking an archive. Setto `yes' or `no'. Default is `no'.-- Variable: archive_cmds-- Variable: archive_expsym_cmds-- Variable: old_archive_cmdsCommands used to create shared libraries, shared libraries with`-export-symbols' and static libraries, respectively.-- Variable: old_archive_from_new_cmdsIf the shared library depends on a static library,`old_archive_from_new_cmds' contains the commands used to createthat static library. If this variable is not empty,`old_archive_cmds' is not used.-- Variable: old_archive_from_expsyms_cmdsIf a static library must be created from the export symbol list inorder to correctly link with a shared library,`old_archive_from_expsyms_cmds' contains the commands needed tocreate that static library. When these commands are executed, thevariable SONAME contains the name of the shared library inquestion, and the $OBJDIR/$NEWLIB contains the path of the staticlibrary these commands should build. After executing thesecommands, libtool will proceed to link against $OBJDIR/$NEWLIBinstead of SONAME.-- Variable: build_libtool_libsWhether libtool should build shared libraries on this system. Setto `yes' or `no'.-- Variable: build_old_libsWhether libtool should build static libraries on this system. Setto `yes' or `no'.-- Variable: compiler_c_oWhether the compiler supports the `-c' and `-o' optionssimultaneously. Set to `yes' or `no'.-- Variable: compiler_o_loWhether the compiler supports compiling directly to a ".lo" file,i.e whether object files do not have to have the suffix ".o". Setto `yes' or `no'.-- Variable: dlopen_supportWhether `dlopen' is supported on the platform. Set to `yes' or`no'.-- Variable: dlopen_selfWhether it is possible to `dlopen' the executable itself. Set to`yes' or `no'.-- Variable: dlopen_self_staticWhether it is possible to `dlopen' the executable itself, when itis linked statically (`-all-static'). Set to `yes' or `no'.-- Variable: echoAn `echo' program which does not interpret backslashes as anescape character.-- Variable: exclude_expsymsList of symbols that should not be listed in the preloaded symbols.-- Variable: export_dynamic_flag_specCompiler link flag that allows a dlopened shared library toreference symbols that are defined in the program.-- Variable: export_symbols_cmdsCommands to extract exported symbols from LIBOBJS to the fileEXPORT_SYMBOLS.-- Variable: extract_expsyms_cmdsCommands to extract the exported symbols list from a sharedlibrary. These commands are executed if there is no file$OBJDIR/$SONAME-DEF, and should write the names of the exportedsymbols to that file, for the use of`old_archive_from_expsyms_cmds'.-- Variable: fast_installDetermines whether libtool will privilege the installer or thedeveloper. The assumption is that installers will seldom runprograms in the build tree, and the developer will seldom install.This is only meaningful on platforms in whichSHLIBPATH_OVERRIDES_RUNPATH is not `yes', so FAST_INSTALL will beset to `needless' in this case. If FAST_INSTALL set to `yes',libtool will create programs that search for installed libraries,and, if a program is run in the build tree, a new copy will belinked on-demand to use the yet-to-be-installed libraries. If setto `no', libtool will create programs that use theyet-to-be-installed libraries, and will link a new copy of theprogram at install time. The default value is `yes' or`needless', depending on platform and configuration flags, and itcan be turned from `yes' to `no' with the configure flag`--disable-fast-install'.-- Variable: finish_cmdsCommands to tell the dynamic linker how to find shared librariesin a specific directory.-- Variable: finish_evalSame as FINISH_CMDS, except the commands are not displayed.-- Variable: fix_srcfile_pathExpression to fix the shell variable $srcfile for the compiler.-- Variable: global_symbol_pipeA pipeline that takes the output of NM, and produces a listing ofraw symbols followed by their C names. For example:$ eval "$NM progname | $global_symbol_pipe"D SYMBOL1 C-SYMBOL1T SYMBOL2 C-SYMBOL2C SYMBOL3 C-SYMBOL3...$The first column contains the symbol type (used to tell data fromcode on some platforms), but its meaning is system dependent.-- Variable: global_symbol_to_cdeclA pipeline that translates the output of GLOBAL_SYMBOL_PIPE intoproper C declarations. On platforms whose linkers differentiatecode from data, such as HP/UX, data symbols will be declared assuch, and code symbols will be declared as functions. Onplatforms that don't care, everything is assumed to be data.-- Variable: hardcode_actionEither `immediate' or `relink', depending on whether sharedlibrary paths can be hardcoded into executables before they areinstalled, or if they need to be relinked.-- Variable: hardcode_directSet to `yes' or `no', depending on whether the linker hardcodesdirectories if a library is directly specified on the command line(such as `DIR/libNAME.a') when HARDCODE_LIBDIR_FLAG_SPEC isspecified.-- Variable: hardcode_into_libsWhether the platform supports hardcoding of run-paths intolibraries. If enabled, linking of programs will be much simplerbut libraries will need to be relinked during installation. Setto `yes' or `no'.-- Variable: hardcode_libdir_flag_specFlag to hardcode a LIBDIR variable into a binary, so that thedynamic linker searches LIBDIR for shared libraries at runtime.If it is empty, libtool will try to use some other hardcodingmechanism.-- Variable: hardcode_libdir_separatorIf the compiler only accepts a single HARDCODE_LIBDIR_FLAG, thenthis variable contains the string that should separate multiplearguments to that flag.-- Variable: hardcode_minus_LSet to `yes' or `no', depending on whether the linker hardcodesdirectories specified by `-L' flags into the resulting executablewhen HARDCODE_LIBDIR_FLAG_SPEC is specified.-- Variable: hardcode_shlibpath_varSet to `yes' or `no', depending on whether the linker hardcodesdirectories by writing the contents of `$shlibpath_var' into theresulting executable when HARDCODE_LIBDIR_FLAG_SPEC is specified.Set to `unsupported' if directories specified by `$shlibpath_var'are searched at run time, but not at link time.-- Variable: host-- Variable: host_aliasFor information purposes, set to the specified and canonical namesof the system that libtool was configured for.-- Variable: include_expsymsList of symbols that must always be exported when usingEXPORT_SYMBOLS.-- Variable: libextThe standard old archive suffix (normally "a").-- Variable: libname_specThe format of a library name prefix. On all Unix systems, staticlibraries are called `libNAME.a', but on some systems (such asOS/2 or MS-DOS), the library is just called `NAME.a'.-- Variable: library_names_specA list of shared library names. The first is the name of the file,the rest are symbolic links to the file. The name in the list isthe file name that the linker finds when given `-lNAME'.-- Variable: link_all_deplibsWhether libtool must link a program against all its dependencylibraries. Set to `yes' or `no'. Default is `unknown', which isa synonym for `yes'.-- Variable: link_static_flagLinker flag (passed through the C compiler) used to prevent dynamiclinking.-- Variable: need_lib_prefixWhether libtool should automatically prefix module names with'lib'. Set to `yes' or `no'. By default, it is `unknown', whichmeans the same as `yes', but documents that we are not really sureabout it. `yes' means that it is possible both to `dlopen' and tolink against a library without 'lib' prefix, i.e. it requiresHARDCODE_DIRECT to be `yes'.-- Variable: need_versionWhether versioning is required for libraries, i.e. whether thedynamic linker requires a version suffix for all libraries. Setto `yes' or `no'. By default, it is `unknown', which means thesame as `yes', but documents that we are not really sure about it.-- Variable: need_locksWhether files must be locked to prevent conflicts when compilingsimultaneously. Set to `yes' or `no'.-- Variable: no_builtin_flagCompiler flag to disable builtin functions that conflict withdeclaring external global symbols as `char'.-- Variable: no_undefined_flagThe flag that is used by `archive_cmds' in order to declare thatthere will be no unresolved symbols in the resulting sharedlibrary. Empty, if no such flag is required.-- Variable: objdirThe name of the directory that contains temporary libtool files.-- Variable: objextThe standard object file suffix (normally "o").-- Variable: pic_flagAny additional compiler flags for building library object files.-- Variable: postinstall_cmds-- Variable: old_postinstall_cmdsCommands run after installing a shared or static library,respectively.-- Variable: postuninstall_cmds-- Variable: old_postuninstall_cmdsCommands run after uninstalling a shared or static library,respectively.-- Variable: reload_cmds-- Variable: reload_flagCommands to create a reloadable object.-- Variable: runpath_varThe environment variable that tells the linker which directories tohardcode in the resulting executable.-- Variable: shlibpath_overrides_runpathIndicates whether it is possible to override the hard-coded librarysearch path of a program with an environment variable. If this isset to no, libtool may have to create two copies of a program inthe build tree, one to be installed and one to be run in the buildtree only. When each of these copies is created depends on thevalue of `fast_install'. The default value is `unknown', which isequivalent to `no'.-- Variable: shlibpath_varThe environment variable that tells the dynamic linker where tofind shared libraries.-- Variable: soname_specThe name coded into shared libraries, if different from the realname of the file.-- Variable: striplib-- Variable: old_striplibCommand to strip a shared (`striplib') or static (`old_striplib')library, respectively. If these variables are empty, the stripflag in the install mode will be ignored for libraries (*noteInstall mode::).-- Variable: sys_lib_dlsearch_path_specExpression to get the run-time system library search path.Directories that appear in this list are never hard-coded intoexecutables.-- Variable: sys_lib_search_path_specExpression to get the compile-time system library search path.This variable is used by libtool when it has to test whether acertain library is shared or static. The directories listed inSHLIBPATH_VAR are automatically appended to this list, every timelibtool runs (i.e., not at configuration time), because somelinkers use this variable to extend the library search path.Linker switches such as `-L' also augment the search path.-- Variable: thread_safe_flag_specLinker flag (passed through the C compiler) used to generatethread-safe libraries.-- Variable: version_typeThe library version numbering type. One of `libtool',`freebsd-aout', `freebsd-elf', `irix', `linux', `osf', `sunos',`windows', or `none'.-- Variable: whole_archive_flag_specCompiler flag to generate shared objects from convenience archives.-- Variable: wlThe C compiler flag that allows libtool to pass a flag directly tothe linker. Used as: `${wl}SOME-FLAG'.Variables ending in `_cmds' or `_eval' contain a `~'-separated listof commands that are `eval'ed one after another. If any of thecommands return a nonzero exit status, libtool generally exits with anerror message.Variables ending in `_spec' are `eval'ed before being used bylibtool.File: libtool.info, Node: Cheap tricks, Prev: libtool script contents, Up: Maintaining13.5 Cheap tricks=================Here are a few tricks that you can use in order to make maintainershipeasier:* When people report bugs, ask them to use the `--config',`--debug', or `--features' flags, if you think they will help you.These flags are there to help you get information directly, ratherthan having to trust second-hand observation.* Rather than reconfiguring libtool every time I make a change to`ltmain.in', I keep a permanent `libtool' script in my PATH, whichsources `ltmain.in' directly.The following steps describe how to create such a script, where`/home/src/libtool' is the directory containing the libtool sourcetree, `/home/src/libtool/libtool' is a libtool script that has beenconfigured for your platform, and `~/bin' is a directory in yourPATH:trick$ cd ~/bintrick$ sed '/^# ltmain\.sh/q' /home/src/libtool/libtool > libtooltrick$ echo '. /home/src/libtool/ltmain.in' >> libtooltrick$ chmod +x libtooltrick$ libtool --versionltmain.sh (GNU @PACKAGE@) @VERSION@@TIMESTAMP@trick$The output of the final `libtool --version' command shows that the`ltmain.in' script is being used directly. Now, modify `~/bin/libtool'or `/home/src/libtool/ltmain.in' directly in order to test new changeswithout having to rerun `configure'.File: libtool.info, Node: GNU Free Documentation License, Next: Index, Prev: Maintaining, Up: TopGNU Free Documentation License******************************Version 1.1, March 2000Copyright (C) 2000 Free Software Foundation, Inc.51 Franklin Street, Fifth Floor, Boston, MA 02110-1301 USAEveryone is permitted to copy and distribute verbatim copiesof this license document, but changing it is not allowed.Preamble========The purpose of this License is to make a manual, textbook, or otherwritten document "free" in the sense of freedom: to assure everyone theeffective freedom to copy and redistribute it, with or withoutmodifying it, either commercially or noncommercially. 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