Re: compiler, linker and libraries

Lionel Brits wrote:
> A library is just a collection of object files stored in a single file that
> can be used by more than one program (the idea of reusable code).
> Libraries can be statically linked by the linker, so that only the parts
> that are needed are included in the executable file, or they can be
> dynamically linked when the executable is run, such as .DLL files in the
> windows architecture.


Often there is also a special library that isn't called directly, but calls
to its functions are generated by the compiler.


For the GNU range of compilers, this library is called libgcc.


The contents of such library are often functions to do (depending on
language of course. I'm a bit Pascal orientated:)
- calculations with types larger than the processor can handle.
- object constuctor/deconstructor helpers
- Set handling. (Pascal, Wirthian languages in general)
- Stack unwinding for exceptions (C++, Object Pascal) (separate lib for
      GNU IIRC)
- reference counting helpers (ansistrings, dynamic helpers)
- interprocedural goto (standard Pascal)
- String type helper (Object Pascal, Extended Pascal) (copy, length, realloc)
- helpers for special heap functions
- RTTI (runtime type information)
- Compare, fill,Move, copy of mem locations

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