Re: Smart linking under UNIX

umh@vax5.cit.cornell.edu writes:


>This brings up something I've wondered about. Why do "Standard Unix" linkers
>only include entire object files- ie every function inside the object file-
>rather than the "smart linking" which is standard on Macs and PCs where only
>the actual functions you use in a prticular object file are used?


Mainly because most Unix object module formats don't have any format to tell
you where functions/procedures begin and end. They provided libraries or
archives to allow the level of "optional" inclusion you are referring to;
i.e. if you *want* separately included functions, build separate object
files, and use the archiver to make a library.
-------
Marc Mengel
mengel@fnal.fnal.gov
[Actually, DOS and most other object files have the same problem, so you
have to make libraries explicitly. -John]
--

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