Chapter 14

Shared libraries

The section ``What is a shared library?'', describes what a shared library is and how to use one to build a.out files. It also offers suggestions about when and when not to use a shared library and how to determine whether an a.out uses a shared library.

The section ``Building a shared library'', describes how to build a shared library. Specifically, this section describes how to use mkshlib(CP) and how to write C code for shared libraries. Also described is how to use the tool chkshlib(CP), which checks the compatibility of versions of shared libraries.

This chapter is organized as follows:

• ``What is a shared library?''

• ``Deciding whether to use a shared library''

• ``Space considerations''

• ``Coding an application''

• ``Implementing shared libraries''

• ``Building a shared library''

• ``Changing existing code for the shared library''