macros (created with #define) are expanded by the preprocessor doing text substitution. They never exist as symbols in an executable, so the linker has no reason to complain.
With integer definitions like;
Code:
const long int slim_nil = 0;
a const int is declared and defined. If you place that in a header file that is #include'd in multiple source files, those source files are compiled into object files and each object file has a copy. The linker sees the variable definition in multiple object files, and complains about multiple definitions.
The fix is to use;
Code:
extern const long int slim_nil; /* A declaration, not a definition */
in your header file. And in EXACTLY one source file in your project which #include's that header, place this somewhere AFTER the #include directive.
Code:
const long int slim_nil = 0; /* Corresponding definition */