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Linking with multiple libraries

Nick Clifton nickc@redhat.com
Wed Dec 31 17:16:00 GMT 2008 
Hi Gary,

> Both libraries are static libraries.

> When linking to one static library, it links okay.
> 
> When linking to the library, but it requires a second library (also
> specified in the 'ld' command), it does not import the function from the
> second library, but also does not throw an error/warning.

OK - then this is a bug - the linker should be issuing some kind of 
error or warning.  Please can you provide a small test case that 
reproduces the problem so that we can investigate.

It sounds like you need to use the --start-group ... --end-group linker 
command line options to enclose the two libraries on the command line. 
Have a look at the linker manual for more information.


> As an aside, how important is it to prefix library names with 'lib'? I am
> using i386-elf-* under Cygwin.

Fairly important but not essential.  You could also use -l:<filename> to 
  have the linker treat <filename> as a library, regardless of how 
<filename> is formatted.  Having libraries start with lib and ending 
with .a is a convention, which makes things easier, but it is not an 
absolute requirement.

Cheers
   Nick
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