Thread: undefined reference to system() function

Alright, I have been searching all over the place for a solution for this and have been stuck for some hours now. I am working with a very specific piece of hardware but that shouldn't have anything to do with the actual compilation of my program.

Code:

/** Includes */
#include <avr/io.h>
#include <util/delay.h>
#include "adc.h"
#include <stdlib.h>
#include <stdio.h>
/** Constants */
#define F_CPU 1000000U

/** Global Variables */

/** Functions */

/** The initialize() function initializes all of the Data Direction Registers for the Wunderboard. Before making changes to DDRx registers, ensure that you have read the peripherals section of the Wunderboard user guide.*/
void initialize (void) {
	/** Port A is the switches and buttons. They should always be inputs. ( 0 = Input and 1 = Output )*/
	DDRA=0b00000000;

	/** Port B has the LED Array color control, SD card, and audio-out on it. Leave DDRB alone. ( 0 = Input and 1 = Output )*/
	DDRB=0b11000000;

	/** Port C is for the 'row' of the LED array. They should always be outputs. ( 0 = Input and 1 = Output )*/
	DDRC=0b11111111;

	/** Port D has the Serial on it. Leave DDRB alone. ( 0 = Input and 1 = Output )*/
	DDRD=0b00000000;

	/** Port E has the LED Array Column control out on it. Leave DDRE alone. ( 0 = Input and 1 = Output )*/
	DDRE=0b00000111;

	/** Port F has the accelerometer and audio-in on it. Leave DDRF alone. ( 0 = Input and 1 = Output )*/
	DDRF=0b00000000;
}

void clearArray(void)
{
	PORTB &= ~((1 << PB6) | (1 << PB7));	// Disable latches
	PORTC = 0x00;
	PORTB |= (1 << PB6) | (1 << PB7);		// Enable latches
	PORTB &= ~((1 << PB6) | (1 << PB7));	// Disable latches
}

/** Main Function */

int main (void) {
	/** Local Varibles */
	int a= ((0b11000111-0b10110111)/0b00001000);
	unsigned char q=1<<((read_adc(6)-0b10110111)/a);    //Y Axis
	unsigned char w=((read_adc(5)-0b10110111)/a);       //X Axis
	initialize();
	clearArray();
	
	while(1){
		
		q=1<<((read_adc(6)-0b10110111)/a);
		w=((read_adc(5)-0b10110111)/a);
		
		//system("xdotool getmouselocation > /home/gordy/Documents/mouseLoc");
		
		if(q <= (((0b11000111-0b10110111)/2)+ 0b10111000) && q >= (((0b11000111-0b10110111)/2)- 0b10110110))
		{
                    //don't move mouse
		}
		else if(q > (((0b11000111-0b10110111)/2)+ 0b10111000))
		{
		    //mouse will move +Y   
		}
		else if(q < (((0b11000111-0b10110111)/2)- 0b10110110))
		{
		    //mouse will move -Y
		}
		if(w < (((0b11000111-0b10110111)/2)+ 0b10111000) && w > (((0b11000111-0b10110111)/2)- 0b10110110))
        {
            //mouse does not move in the X direction
        }
        if(w > (((0b11000111-0b10110111)/2)+ 0b10111000))
        {
            //mouse will move +X
        }
        if(w < (((0b11000111-0b10110111)/2)- 0b10110110))
        {
            //mouse will move -X
        }
	}

}//main

My problem is that when I try to compile, it says

main.c:95: undefined reference to `system'
make: *** [main.elf] Error 1

I am thinking it might have something to do with the makefile (I did not create the makefile)
But I know that all you should need to use the system command is stdlib.h and I tested it in a separate file and the system function works, just not for this specific problem. Sorry for the specificity of the code, I really appreciate any help, thanks in advance.

I don't think I am linking the C standard library, I just thought it did it automatically and my makefile might specify otherwise but I'm not sure. How would I link the library? And also, how would I check if the makefile is specifying otherwise?

Originally Posted by gordyvision

I don't think I am linking the C standard library, I just thought it did it automatically and my makefile might specify otherwise but I'm not sure. How would I link the library? And also, how would I check if the makefile is specifying otherwise?

Look at your makefile and see what options and libraries you're using. (If you see, for instance, -nodefaultlibs, then that might be a hint.)

I noticed the makefile had a -c option but I'm currently not at my computer, I will check more thoroughly in about forty five minutes

-c means "compile only do not link", so presumably you have another rule for turning all the object files into an executable. Also: are you intending this to be run on your machine or a microcontroller? If the latter, I don't think you'll be wanting to do system anyway?

Well that would be the problem then. It will be run on the microcontroller, however it has a serial port that goes to the computer and I was hoping on using that to send commands in order to manipulate the mouse.

Well, okay, but that's not what system does -- system sends a call to the host operating system of the thing that is running the program. I don't know of a way to send commands via RS232, though.

Hmm, I guess if there was some way to send any information to a file on the computer, I could use thatinformation to use the system function on my computer

Is the code you posted being run on some kind of embedded system? If so please tell us a little bit about this system. What processor, any operating system, what compiler you are using?

Jim

I am most assuredly Not A Hardware Guy, but: what you are saying is ludicrous. You cannot run the system function on a different machine than the one that is running the program. If you mean "I will write a completely different second program that will run on my computer and listen on the RS232 port (assuming it exists on my machine and I can talk to it directly) and then process those signals", then you are a lot closer.

I would expect those two parenthetical if statements (IF you have an RS232 port on your machine and IF you can talk to it directly) are going to be two very large ifs, unless you are running a machine that has not had an upgrade, hardware or software, since about 1998 at the latest.

Originally Posted by gordyvision

Hmm, I guess if there was some way to send any information to a file on the computer, I could use thatinformation to use the system function on my computer

You'd be smarter to look into writing a server/client pair that use the RS-232 port properly...
The server on your host machine would listen to the computer's port and handle commands issued on the uC's port...

Thank you everyone for your help. And yes, I was planning on writing a completely different program to read the data sent by the Wunderboard. I appreciate all the input, I think I know how to finish the project.