Thread: What are .a files?

  1. #1
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    What are .a files?

    Hi.

    So what are they exactly? If I remember correctly, then SDL uses .a file too. At linking time I just had to -lSDL and a file called libSDL.a was linked. I also had to include a header called SDL/SDL.h or something like that.

    if libSDL.a contains definitions of functions, then why can't the definitions be in a .o file? Thus, at linking time, I'd just link the .o file and be done with it.
    Programming is a form of art.

  2. #2
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    .a files are static libraries, basically just collections of .o files.
    Kurt

  3. #3
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    how can I make my own collections of .o files?
    Programming is a form of art.

  4. #4
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    use ar
    Code:
    man ar
    should give you all the information you need.
    Kurt

  5. #5
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    thanks
    Programming is a form of art.

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