Thread: Why I don't have to include code.c in this example?

  1. #1
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Apr 2007
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    284

    Why I don't have to include code.c in this example?

    In code.c

    Code:
    int accum = 0;                                                                                                                                                               
    int sum (int x, int y)                                                                                                                                                       
    {                                                                                                                                                                            
        int t = x + y;                                                                                                                                                           
        accum += t;                                                                                                                                                              
        return t;                                                                                                                                                                
    }
    In test.c
    Code:
    //#include "code.c"                                                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                                                                 int main()                                                                                                                                                                   
    {                                                                                                                                                                            
      return sum(1,3);                                                                                                                                                           
    }
    I use

    gcc -O2 -c code.c
    and get code.o

    gcc -O2 -o prog code.o test.c
    It's interesting to see I don't have to include code.c in my code, why is that?

  2. #2
    and the Hat of Guessing tabstop's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2007
    Posts
    14,336
    Because you linked it. That's what the .o file is -- it's the compiled version of the .c file. (-c means to compile only, and not try to make a "real" executable.) Remember: #include'ing .c files is evil and wrong; if your source code is split over multiple files, compile each of them into an .o file and then link them just like so.

  3. #3
    Kernel hacker
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    Jul 2007
    Location
    Farncombe, Surrey, England
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    15,677
    1. I don't think test.c would compile - it's missing at least the function that calls sum().

    2. Assuming that test.c is syntactically correct, you should also use a prototype for sum() - which could be in a "code.h" included in both code.c and code.h - that way, if you change it in one place but not the other, the compiler would be able to tell you that you messed up. If you enable warnings (-Wall in gcc), you should be told that there's a missing prototype when calling sum in test.c - it is always a good idea to get as much help from the compiler as possible when compiling the code.

    I agree with tabstop, you should NEVER EVER include a .c file in another source file - if it's to be included, it should be in a .h file.

    --
    Mats
    Compilers can produce warnings - make the compiler programmers happy: Use them!
    Please don't PM me for help - and no, I don't do help over instant messengers.

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