libtool: Libtool paradigm
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1 2 The libtool paradigm
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1 At first, libtool was designed to support an arbitrary number of library
1 object types. After libtool was ported to more platforms, a new
1 paradigm gradually developed for describing the relationship between
1 libraries and programs.
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1 In summary, "libraries are programs with multiple entry points, and
1 more formally defined interfaces."
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1 Version 0.7 of libtool was a complete redesign and rewrite of libtool
1 to reflect this new paradigm. So far, it has proved to be successful:
1 libtool is simpler and more useful than before.
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1 The best way to introduce the libtool paradigm is to contrast it with
1 the paradigm of existing library systems, with examples from each. It
1 is a new way of thinking, so it may take a little time to absorb, but
1 when you understand it, the world becomes simpler.
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