C Dynamic Libraries: Create & Use Guide

To create a dynamic library (also known as a shared library), typically the following steps need to be followed:

1. The source code file for a library, typically with a .c extension, contains the implementation code for the functions and data structures needed in the library.
2. Compile the source code file and link it as a shared library. When compiling, use the -shared option to link the generated object files as a shared library. For example, compile the mylib.c file to generate the shared library libmylib.so using the following command:

gcc -shared -o libmylib.so mylib.c

1. Place the generated shared library files in the system path so that other programs can access them. Typically, you can copy the shared library files to the /usr/lib or /usr/local/lib directories.
2. Include the library’s header file and link the shared library in the program where the library is needed. For example, write a program main.c that uses the libmylib.so library and compile it with the following command:

gcc -o main main.c -lmylib

The -lmylib option tells the compiler to link the shared library named libmylib.so.

1. Run the generated executable file, which will dynamically load shared libraries and call functions within them to achieve the desired functionality.

In general, the process of creating and using a dynamic library involves writing the library’s source code, compiling it to generate a shared library, placing the shared library in the system path, and writing a program that uses the library and links to the shared library.