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Message-ID:	<3C0E669D.1090408@ece.gatech.edu>
Date:	Wed, 05 Dec 2001 13:25:33 -0500
From:	Charles Wilson <cwilson AT ece DOT gatech DOT edu>
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To:	T-FERNANDEZ AT dassault-data-services DOT fr
CC:	cygwin AT cygwin DOT com
Subject:	Re: GCC : -static option does not generate statically linked executable
References:	<OF49EA1364 DOT 67B4844C-ONC1256B19 DOT 0055088C AT dds DOT fr>
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T-FERNANDEZ AT dassault-data-services DOT fr wrote:

> Hi,
> 
> I am trying to generate an executable, using "gcc -static" option.
> The generated file is dynamically linked! As if the "-static" option was
> simply ignored.
> 
> The output of "cygcheck" is as follows :
> 
> Error: could not find libX11.dll
>   C:\cygwin\bin\cygwin1.dll
>     C:\WINNT\System32\KERNEL32.dll
>       C:\WINNT\System32\ntdll.dll
>   C:\cygwin\bin\cygtcl80.dll
>     C:\WINNT\System32\USER32.dll
>       C:\WINNT\System32\GDI32.dll
>         C:\WINNT\System32\ADVAPI32.dll
>           C:\WINNT\System32\RPCRT4.dll
>   C:\cygwin\bin\cygtk80.dll
>     C:\WINNT\System32\COMDLG32.DLL
>       C:\WINNT\System32\SHELL32.dll
>         C:\WINNT\System32\COMCTL32.dll
> 
> One can see that the X11 DLL library is not found : however, I use the
> -static option of gcc, before the -lX11 stuff, as mentioned in the
> documentation.
> I expect the compiler to link against libX11.a, so what happens?
> 
> Any idea would be greatly appreciated,


-static will cause the linker to link against a static lib IF POSSIBLE. 
  However, it really just means "hunt for '.a' instead of '.dll.a' or 
'.dll'"

.dll.a == import lib for a dll
.dll   == the linker has a limited ability to link directly to a dll 
*without* using an import lib.
.a     == static lib (mostly *)

(*) The problem: many packages -- including X -- name their *import* 
libs using the .a suffix.  So, when you specify -static, the linker 
diligently links against the .a file == an import lib == and you get a 
dynamically linked executable.

When this sort of behavior happens, it's usually becuase there IS no 
static library at all -- you CAN'T link statically.  (The X libraries 
are a good example; cygwin-xfree project does NOT provide static libs.)

Also, note that you can't link a cygwin program *fully* statically -- at 
minimum, it will require cygwin1.dll...

As far as your particular "can't find libX11.dll" problem -- add 
/usr/X11R6/bin to your system PATH.

--Chuck




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