How can I force linking with a static library when a shared library of same name is present

Question

Suppose I have a file main.cpp which uses sin() function which is defined in libmath. Also suppose that we have both libmath.a and libmath.so available in the same directory. Now if I issue the command g++ -o main main.cpp -lmath the default behaviour of Linux is to link to the shared library libmath.so. I want to know is there a way to force the program to link with the static library libmath.a without deleting or moving the shared library?

Diocletian

Possible duplicate of g++ linker: force static linking if static library exists? – Aeriell

Answer 1

You'll need to pass the -static to the linker, but only for particular libraries you want. e.g.:

g++ -o main main.cpp -Wl,-Bstatic -lmath -Wl,-Bdynamic

Terriss

Surely it shouldn't matter for gcc/binutils, -static and -Bstatic are synonyms in the GNU linker. – Terriss

Answer 2

If your linker supports -l:<filename> you may use:

g++ -o main main.cpp -l:libmath.a

Coheman

Answer 3

Use this function:

g++ -o main main.cpp /path_to/libmath.a

Europeanize