How to Create a Static Library from Multiple Other Static Libraries?

Creating a Static Library That Links to Other Static Libraries

When building a static library that relies on dependencies from multiple other static libraries, it's essential to understand the limitations of static linking. Static libraries do not link with other static libraries directly.

To overcome this, you can create a new static library that encapsulates the functionality of the existing library and the required portions from the dependency libraries. Here's how it's done:

1. Concatenate Static Libraries:

   • Use a librarian tool, such as 'ar' on Linux, to combine the existing static library (X) with the necessary .o files from the dependency libraries (a_1-a_n).

2. Create New Static Library:

   • Once all the necessary .o files have been concatenated, create a new static library (Y) containing the merged contents.

3. Distribution:

   • Distribute the newly created static library (Y) to users, who can then link their programs against it. This will provide them with the functionality of both the existing static library (X) and the required dependency libraries.

Optimizing Static Library Size

To reduce the size of the concatenated static library, you can manually select only the necessary .o files from the dependency libraries. However, this process is complex and error-prone.

Related Question

Refer to "How to combine several C/C libraries into one?" for additional insights on consolidating multiple static libraries.

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