Crafting a Static Library with g

In the realm of software development, sharing reusable code components is paramount. For C programmers, creating static libraries offers a convenient way to encapsulate related functionality and distribute it across multiple projects. This article provides a step-by-step guide on how to build and utilize static libraries using g .

To begin, consider the task of creating a static library from two files: header.cpp and header.hpp. The first step involves compiling the source file (header.cpp) into an object file (header.o):

g   -c header.cpp

With the object file ready, you can now add it to a static library. Here's how:

ar rvs header.a header.o

This command adds the header.o object file to the header.a static library. If the library does not exist yet, g will create it for you.

Finally, to utilize the static library in another C project, you'll need to include the following command during compilation:

g   main.cpp header.a

By linking your main program with the static library, you gain access to the functions and variables defined in header.cpp and header.hpp. This approach allows you to seamlessly reuse code across multiple projects, simplifying development and maintenance.