link static lib in eclipse cdt

20
votes

I am sorry! I have googled this a lot and cannot find an answer! It's dumb I know.

I cannot link in static libraries(*.a) in eclipse cdt. I listed them all in Project->Settings-> GCC C++ linker -> Libraries. I used the absolute path to make sure I had the lib correct... and i get:

cannot find -l/usr/local/lib/libboost_date_time.a

I am sure it's stupid whatever I am doing wrong :(

Edit -- and i should mention i am linking the libraries at run time...

3
c++eclipsestatic-libraries
You can specify the full path for libs in gcc by prepending ':'. So in your case that would be '-l:/usr/local/lib/libboost_date_time.a', or add ':/usr/...' to the libraries in eclipse. But the convention of prefix 'lib' and adding search paths is there for a reason, so better use absolute paths only if really necessary. – erebos

3 Answers

19
votes

I remember having a similar issue way back when I was compiling our code under linux (coming from a windows background) and if I recall correctly specifying the absolute path to the static lib also didn't work.

Are you aware that to link to "libboost_date_time.a", you need to specify "boost_date_time" without the "lib" and the ".a"? In my case that solved the problem. /usr/local/lib should be on your path in any case AFAIR.

15
votes

Static libraries or archives are just a collection of object files.

Add the archive as Other Objects under C/C++ Build -> Settings -> C++ Linker -> Miscellaneous:

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Some folks cry bloody murder over specifying a full pathname. I find it works in practice (unlike theory at times), and its no worse than breaking the path and filename, and then specifying them with -L and -l. And did I mention it actually works in practice...

7
votes

I had the similar problem when adding the libs in the C/C++ General->Paths & Symbols configuration screen.

Instead on the C/C++ Build -> settings screen under GCC C++ Linker / Libraries I added the library name without lib and .a in Libraries (-l) and adding the path in Libraries search path (-L). This solved my problem