Lecture 7/8: Compiling, linking, modular

programming
●
The compilation process
● The C preprocessor (cpp)
● The linker ( ld)
● Variable scope
● Using modules
● make
● Example: complex number module
● Create your own libraries
● Debugging
● Style

PY 3C01 – Computational Methods II: Lecture 7/8 – C ompiling, linking, ...

 The compilation process
What happens after you invoke gcc ?
1. Pre-processing (cpp): takes care of #include directives etc.
2. Compilation:
i. translate to assembler code ( *.s)
ii. assembly ( as), creates object file *.o (machine code)
3. Linking ( ld): includes library functions, creates executable p rogram

PY 3C01 – Computational Methods II: Lecture 7/8 – C ompiling, linking, ...

 The compilation process
What happens after you invoke gcc ?
1. Pre-processing (cpp): takes care of #include directives etc.
2. Compilation:
i. translate to assembler code ( *.s)
ii. assembly ( as), creates object file *.o (machine code)
3. Linking ( ld): includes library functions, creates executable p rogram

Try out the following:

● download hello.c (from lecture 1)

● gcc -E hello.c (only runs preprocessor and sends output to stdout )

● gcc -S hello.c (creates assembler code hello.s)

● gcc -c hello.c (creates object file hello.o but does not invoke linker)

● gcc hello.o (links object file with library routines and creat es executable)

● ./a.out

PY 3C01 – Computational Methods II: Lecture 7/8 – C ompiling, linking, ...

 cpp – the C preprocessor

● cpp is basically a specialized text editor

● cpp is also used with other programming languages
● cpp processes the source-code file and eventually adds , removes or
changes parts of the text
●
preprocessor directives (editing commands for the p reprocessor) start
with ` #`
●
preprocessor directives are line-based, they do not end with a
semicolon `;`

PY 3C01 – Computational Methods II: Lecture 7/8 – C ompiling, linking, ...

 #include statement

#include <stdio.h>
#include “my_own_lib.h”

#include /home/archert/include/const.h

PY 3C01 – Computational Methods II: Lecture 7/8 – C ompiling, linking, ...

 #include statement
C's standard header files are
written in angle brackets ( <>)
#include <stdio.h>
#include “my_own_lib.h”

#include /home/archert/include/const.h

PY 3C01 – Computational Methods II: Lecture 7/8 – C ompiling, linking, ...

 #include statement
C's standard header files are
written in angle brackets ( <>)
#include <stdio.h>
#include “my_own_lib.h”

#include /home/archert/include/const.h

You can also include your own library

header files using double quotes ( “ ”)

PY 3C01 – Computational Methods II: Lecture 7/8 – C ompiling, linking, ...

 #include statement
C's standard header files are
written in angle brackets ( <>)
#include <stdio.h>
#include “my_own_lib.h”

#include /home/archert/include/const.h

You can also include your own library

header files using double quotes ( “ ”)
#include directives can contain
relative and absolute pathnames

PY 3C01 – Computational Methods II: Lecture 7/8 – C ompiling, linking, ...

 #include statement
C's standard header files are
written in angle brackets ( <>)
#include <stdio.h>
#include “my_own_lib.h”

#include /home/archert/include/const.h

You can also include your own library

header files using double quotes ( “ ”)
#include directives can contain
relative and absolute pathnames

Mind: do not accidentally include the same file twice ( see example later in
this lecture)

(more about header files in lecture 8)

PY 3C01 – Computational Methods II: Lecture 7/8 – C ompiling, linking, ...

 #define statement
Use #define to define constants:
#define SIZE 50

int data[SIZE];
...
for (i=0; i < SIZE; ++i)
... ;

Use #define to define macros:

/* square a number */
#define SQR(x) ((x)*(x))
...
printf(“%d %d”, i+1, SQR(i+1));

/* unsafe macro definition */

#define SQUARE(x) (x*x)
printf(“%d”, SQUARE(i+1));

PY 3C01 – Computational Methods II: Lecture 7/8 – C ompiling, linking, ...

 #define statement
Use #define to define constants:
#define SIZE 50 replaces every occurrence
of “SIZE” by “50”
int data[SIZE];
...
for (i=0; i < SIZE; ++i)
... ;

Use #define to define macros:

/* square a number */
#define SQR(x) ((x)*(x))
...
printf(“%d %d”, i+1, SQR(i+1));

/* unsafe macro definition */

#define SQUARE(x) (x*x)
printf(“%d”, SQUARE(i+1));

PY 3C01 – Computational Methods II: Lecture 7/8 – C ompiling, linking, ...

 #define statement
Use #define to define constants:
#define SIZE 50 replaces every occurrence
of “SIZE” by “50”
int data[SIZE];
...
for (i=0; i < SIZE; ++i)
... ;

Use #define to define macros:

/* square a number */
#define SQR(x) ((x)*(x))
... Parentheses indicate
printf(“%d %d”, i+1, SQR(i+1)); macro parameter

/* unsafe macro definition */

#define SQUARE(x) (x*x)
printf(“%d”, SQUARE(i+1));

PY 3C01 – Computational Methods II: Lecture 7/8 – C ompiling, linking, ...

 #define statement
Use #define to define constants:
#define SIZE 50 replaces every occurrence
of “SIZE” by “50”
int data[SIZE];
...
for (i=0; i < SIZE; ++i)
... ;

Use #define to define macros:

/* square a number */
#define SQR(x) ((x)*(x))
... Parentheses indicate
printf(“%d %d”, i+1, SQR(i+1)); macro parameter

/* unsafe macro definition */

#define SQUARE(x) (x*x)
printf(“%d”, SQUARE(i+1)); Note: incorrect use of parentheses,
expands to: i+1*i+1 == 2*i+1
→ put parentheses around the
parameters and around the whole
macro!

PY 3C01 – Computational Methods II: Lecture 7/8 – C ompiling, linking, ...

 Conditional compilation

#ifdef DEBUG
printf(“Debug version (more output)\n”);
#else
printf(“Production version\n”);
#endif

→ You can now compile a “debug” version by setting t he corresponding #define

flag in the command line: gcc -DDEBUG program.c

PY 3C01 – Computational Methods II: Lecture 7/8 – C ompiling, linking, ...

 Conditional compilation

#ifdef DEBUG
printf(“Debug version (more output)\n”);
#else
printf(“Production version\n”);
#endif

→ You can now compile a “debug” version by setting t he corresponding #define

flag in the command line: gcc -DDEBUG program.c

● Example of const.h header file that checks whether it has already bee n included:
#ifndef _CONST_H_INCLUDED_

double pi = 3.141592654;
double euler = 2.718281828;
...
#define _CONST_H_INCLUDED_
#endif /*_CONST_H_INCLUDED_*/

PY 3C01 – Computational Methods II: Lecture 7/8 – C ompiling, linking, ...

 Conditional compilation

#ifdef DEBUG
printf(“Debug version (more output)\n”);
#else
printf(“Production version\n”);
#endif

→ You can now compile a “debug” version by setting t he corresponding #define

flag in the command line: gcc -DDEBUG program.c

● Example of const.h header file that checks whether it has already bee n included:
#ifndef _CONST_H_INCLUDED_

double pi = 3.141592654;
double euler = 2.718281828;
... Check out preproc.c and try:
#define _CONST_H_INCLUDED_ cpp preproc.c
#endif /*_CONST_H_INCLUDED_*/ cpp -DDEBUG preproc.c
cpp -D_CONST_H_INCLUDED_ preproc.c
...

PY 3C01 – Computational Methods II: Lecture 7/8 – C ompiling, linking, ...

 The linker
The linker (ld) combines object files (*.o) and library archives (*.a) into an
executable program (binary).

main.o

extern.o ld a.out

lib.a

Libraries are specified with -l option (when invoked via gcc this is already
taken care of)

Directories where ld searches for library files:

● standard directories (defined in /etc/ld.so.conf): /lib, /usr/lib,

/usr/local/lib, ...
● directories specified with -L on command line

● directories listed in environment variable LD_LIBRARY_PATH

PY 3C01 – Computational Methods II: Lecture 7/8 – C ompiling, linking, ...

 Example: Complex numbers
(see: Lecture 3 – Advanced data structures)

complex.h
Public definitions for
#include “complex.h”
module “complex”
test_compl.c
#include “complex.h” program that uses
complex.c complex number module
Contains data structure
and basic arithmetic uses functions from complex.c
functions for complex
numbers.

PY 3C01 – Computational Methods II: Lecture 7/8 – C ompiling, linking, ...

 Example: Complex numbers

● Header file: complex.h

typedef struct
{
double real;
double imag;
} complex;

complex add(complex, complex);

/* multiply two complex numbers */

complex mult(complex, complex);

/* calculate the absolute square value of a complex number */

double abs_sqr(complex);

/* calculate the complex conjugate */

complex conjug(complex);

● File containing the function source code: complex.c

PY 3C01 – Computational Methods II: Lecture 7/8 – C ompiling, linking, ...

 Example: Complex numbers

● Program that uses complex number module: test_compl.c

#include <stdio.h>
#include "complex.h"

main()
{
complex a={1.0, 0.0}, b={0.0, 1.0};
complex c;
c = add(a,b);
printf("%f %f\n",c.real, c.imag);
a = b;
c = mult(a,b);
printf("%f %f\n",c.real, c.imag);
printf("%f\n", abs_sqr(a));
c = conjug(a);
printf("%f %f\n", c.real, c.imag);
return(0);
}

PY 3C01 – Computational Methods II: Lecture 7/8 – C ompiling, linking, ...

 Example: Complex numbers

complex.h
Public definitions for
#include “complex.h”
module “complex”
test_compl.c
#include “complex.h” program that uses
complex.c complex number module
Contains data structure
and basic arithmetic uses functions from complex.c
functions for complex
numbers.

Compile with:
gcc -c complex.c
gcc -c test_compl.c
gcc -o prog test_compl.o complex.o
or:
gcc -o prog test_compl.c complex.c

PY 3C01 – Computational Methods II: Lecture 7/8 – C ompiling, linking, ...

 Example: Complex numbers

complex.h
Public definitions for
#include “complex.h”
module “complex”
test_compl.c
#include “complex.h” program that uses
complex.c complex number module
Contains data structure
and basic arithmetic uses functions from complex.c
functions for complex
numbers.

Compile with:
gcc -c complex.c
gcc -c test_compl.c Can get very complicated if
gcc -o prog test_compl.o complex.o many modules are used!
or:
gcc -o prog test_compl.c complex.c

PY 3C01 – Computational Methods II: Lecture 7/8 – C ompiling, linking, ...

 make
Utility that simplifies compilation of many inter-r elated sources!
http://www.tcd.ie/Physics/People/Claude.Ederer/teac hing/3C01/makefile
#
# Makefile for complex number example Comments start with '#'
#
CC=gcc
CFLAGS=-g -Wall -ansi

all: prog

prog: test_compl.o complex.o

$(CC) $(CFLAGS) -o prog test_compl.o complex.o

test_compl.o: test_compl.c complex.h

Definition of “rules”:
complex.o: complex.c complex.h target: source [source2] [...]
command
clean:
rm -f prog test_compl.o complex.o [command2]
[...]
● To compile the program just type 'make'
● make compiles only files that have been changes since th e last compile
● For more information: man make

PY 3C01 – Computational Methods II: Lecture 7/8 – C ompiling, linking, ...

 Libraries

Two different types of libraries:

1) static: Included in executable at compilation time from l ibrary archive

file (usually called *.a), produces larger code but executable can run
independently
2) dynamic: called only at runtime, leads to slim code but li brary has to
be present at runtime (shared library files are cal led *.so)

You can easily create your own C-libraries and use them in your future
programs!

PY 3C01 – Computational Methods II: Lecture 7/8 – C ompiling, linking, ...

 Create your own library (static)
1) Create source code containing library functions
2) Test your library functions thoroughly!
3) Compile object file containing your library functions
gcc -c mylib.c → produces mylib.o
7) Create indexed library archive file
ar rs mylib.a mylib.o → produces mylib.a
You can also create an archive file from multiple o bject files!
9) Create header file mylib.h for your library containing all necessary
variable and function declarations
11)Use #include “mylib.h” in your program
13)Compile your program
gcc -o myprog myprog.c mylib.a

PY 3C01 – Computational Methods II: Lecture 7/8 – C ompiling, linking, ...

 Create your own library (static)
1) Create source code containing library functions
2) Test your library functions thoroughly!
3) Compile object file containing your library functions
gcc -c mylib.c → produces mylib.o
7) Create indexed library archive file
ar rs mylib.a mylib.o → produces mylib.a
You can also create an archive file from multiple o bject files!
9) Create header file mylib.h for your library containing all necessary
variable and function declarations
11)Use #include “mylib.h” in your program
13)Compile your program
gcc -o myprog myprog.c mylib.a

Exercise: Create a library complex.a from the corresponding module files.

Then compile test_compl.c and link it with your newly created library.

PY 3C01 – Computational Methods II: Lecture 7/8 – C ompiling, linking, ...

 Create your own library (dynamic)

1) Create object files containing your library functions and definitions

gcc -c -fpic complex.c

generates “position independent code”

3) Generate shared library

gcc -shared -o libcomplex.so complex.o

5) You still need the corresponding header file!

PY 3C01 – Computational Methods II: Lecture 7/8 – C ompiling, linking, ...

 Create your own library (dynamic)

1) Create object files containing your library functions and definitions

gcc -c -fpic complex.c

generates “position independent code”

3) Generate shared library

gcc -shared -o libcomplex.so complex.o

5) You still need the corresponding header file!

You can create directories ~/include and ~/lib to hold all your include and
library files. Then you can compile with:
gcc -I~/include test_compl.c -L~/lib -lcomplex

PY 3C01 – Computational Methods II: Lecture 7/8 – C ompiling, linking, ...

 Create your own library (dynamic)

1) Create object files containing your library functions and definitions

gcc -c -fpic complex.c

generates “position independent code”

3) Generate shared library

gcc -shared -o libcomplex.so complex.o

5) You still need the corresponding header file!

You can create directories ~/include and ~/lib to hold all your include and
library files. Then you can compile with:
gcc -I~/include test_compl.c -L~/lib -lcomplex

Before running the program you have to also tell the linker where to find
libcomplex.so, e.g. by setting export LD_LIBRARY_PATH=~/lib

PY 3C01 – Computational Methods II: Lecture 7/8 – C ompiling, linking, ...

Lecture 7/8: Compiling, linking, modular
programming
●
The compilation process
● The C preprocessor (cpp)
● The linker (ld)
● Variable scope
● Using modules
● make
● Example: complex number module
● Create your own libraries
● Debugging
● Style

PY 3C01 – Computational Methods II: Lecture 7/8 – C ompiling, linking, ...

 Lecture 7/8: Compiling, linking, modular
8ΕΩΟ
programming
●
The compilation process
0ΣΣΟ ΞΛςΣΨΚΛ ΞΛΙ ΓΣΘΤΠΙ∴ ΡΨΘΦΙςΩ Ι∴ΕΘΤΠΙ
● The C preprocessor (cpp)

∋ΣΘΤΜΠΙ ΞΛΙ(ld)
● The linker ΓΣΗΙ ΦΣΞΛ [ΜΞΛ ΕΡΗ [ΜΞΛΣΨΞ ΞΛΙ
ΨΩΙ● Σϑ Ε ΘΕΟΙ
Variable scope ΠΙ
● Using modules

● make

● Example: complex number module

● Create your own libraries

● Debugging

● Style

PY 3C01 – Computational Methods II: Lecture 7/8 – Compiling, linking, ...