Creating your own library

[Troubled646]

can anyone tell me please how exactly we create our own library in c++? i want to use my own functions in other programs... thanku

[JoR]

That depends on your compiler and operating system but basically, you write your functions/methods for the library only and link with a special switch for creating a library.

[Bazzy]

Or make a header-only library.

[Troubled646]

thankyou... but i need a bit more explanation please.......

[blackcoder41]

Just like JoR said, it depends on your compiler and operating system. Do you mind mentioning what operating system you are working with so we could help you.

[Silvermaul]

What kind of library would you like to create? Static (.lib) or dynamic(.dll).

Give us some info to help you more.

[JoR]

static libraries can also be .a (linux) .la (MinGW etc.)... And dynamic .dylib (Mac OS) .so (Linux) and so on. It really all depends on your OS.

[1yR4jE8b]

I have a question too: What's the difference between a Static Library (.a) and an Object File (.o) ?

[1yR4jE8b]

I have a question too: What's the difference between a Static Library (.a) and an Object File (.o) ?

[Bazzy]

A static library is linked on compilation ( all the data of the library is merged in the final executable )
A dynamic library is linked on runtime ( there is one copy of the library available in the system and the running programs use it )
I read Shared Object instead of Object File. See Below

[mohitgoyal557]

still waiting for reply....how to create .lib file corresponding to .h file

[JoR]

Bazzy: Static Libraries and object files are both for static linking/merge into the program at linking time. I don't know the exact difference but I think while a static library is structured in functions, an object file holds plain binary code so not necessarily functions.

mohitgoyal557: That wasn't exactly the question and usually .h files aren't meant to contain compiling code. Everything that can be said now is said: It depends on the enviorenment so Troubled646 should tell us his OS, compiler etc.

[Bazzy]

@mohitgoyal557
We are still waiting for more details:

JoR wrote:

That depends on your compiler and operating system

blackcoder41 wrote:

Just like JoR said, it depends on your compiler and operating system.

[Edit|correction of post above]
An object file is a compiled file, a static library may be made of many object files.