Library extension .a/.so

[Francois Ouellette]

>>> What is the difference in libraries ending with extension .a and .so.
>>> Can one convert  from somelib.a to somelib.so?
>>
>> I'd like to know as well - I've tended to think that it's the difference
>> between static and dynamic, but upon reflection I don't have a good
>> reason
>> for thinking that. Or if I did, I've forgotten it.
>
> type 'file somelib.so someother.a' and see
>
> Peter

More specefically, a .a file is an archive containing 1 or more object
module(s) that can become part of an executable that gets created with ld.

A .so is an executable without a start address, made of 1 or more program
module(s) that can be "called" at run time by an executable program
(analogy with a DLL in W$).

Hope this helps,

 François Ouellette
<fouellet-cpI+UMyWUv9BDgjK7y7TUQ at public.gmane.org>
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