SyntaxFix

[linux] What are libtool's .la file for?

It is a textual file that includes a description of the library.

It allows libtool to create platform-independent names.

For example, libfoo goes to:

Under Linux:

/lib/libfoo.so       # Symlink to shared object
/lib/libfoo.so.1     # Symlink to shared object
/lib/libfoo.so.1.0.1 # Shared object
/lib/libfoo.a        # Static library
/lib/libfoo.la       # 'libtool' library

Under Cygwin:

/lib/libfoo.dll.a    # Import library
/lib/libfoo.a        # Static library
/lib/libfoo.la       # libtool library
/bin/cygfoo_1.dll    # DLL

Under Windows MinGW:

/lib/libfoo.dll.a    # Import library
/lib/libfoo.a        # Static library
/lib/libfoo.la       # 'libtool' library
/bin/foo_1.dll       # DLL

So libfoo.la is the only file that is preserved between platforms by libtool allowing to understand what happens with:

  • Library dependencies
  • Actual file names
  • Library version and revision

Without depending on a specific platform implementation of libraries.

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• What are libtool's .la file for?