Using Libtool

Abstract

This chapter discusses Libtool (the GNU Library Tool), an open source application that simplifies creating and maintaining precompiled collections of functions (for languages such as C) or classes and associated methods (in object-oriented languages such as C++). These functions and classes, generally referred to as libraries, can subsequently be used by and linked to applications. Throughout this chapter, the term code libraries is used as a general, language-independent term for a precompiled collection of functions or classes that is external to an application. These code libraries can be linked to an application during final compilation, enabling it to execute the functions or methods in the library.