Library help
 

Ok Im having problems loading libraries into my programs using #include <libhere> with all non-standard libraries (like stdlib). Problem libs include sdl/libsdl and ncurses.
Im using simplymepis with the kde desktop.:confused:

Re: Library help
 

What exactly is your problem. The include command does not load a library. It includes a header file.
If you have a header file in /usr/include/something/name.h

You may include it with #include <something/name.h>
If the header is not under a standard include path, you may need to use the -I option in gcc
If you have a header is /my_headers/header.h

you need to #include <header.h>
and on compilation gcc -I/my_headers/

But by including a header you will only have the definition of a function. That does not mean that that your executables will be linked against the library were the body those functions is implemented. You need the -l (tha's a small L not a 1) to use those functions. So to develop with ncurses library you need to include <curses.h> and link the programs against libncurses.so with -lncurses (you always ommit the lib and the extension). If you get undefined reference errors , the -l is your problem.

Hope it helps

Also, this thread is more suitable in the programming forum of LQ.
Dear moderator, can you plase move this thread to the programming forum?

I'd guess you are either
1.) Forgetting that you include c libraries this way <library.h>, the key being the .h part that you disclude for ansi c++ libs.
2.) The headers aren't in /usr/include, so you have to tell g++/gcc/make where your other include dirs are. I forget how to do this, but it's not too bad.

ok
 

ive tried all the stuff you said already and it hasnt helped my. The program will not compile because the function from the librarys (non-standard) are "undefined". for example say i included sdl_initiate() during compile time gcc says something like sdl_initiate() funtion undefined.
im beginning to think asking for help from anyone is a waste of time.

Re: ok
 

This is a typical SDL compilation line:
DO you use -lSDL ?
Is libSDL installed?

Try to compile an SDL demo from http://olofson.net/examples.html
If it compiles you are just forgettimg something
Look at the makefiles of the demos.

wow
 

this is getting kind of sad

Re: wow
 

What do you mean?
THats what Makefiles are for, try something like
gcc -g -O2 -I/usr/include/SDL -L/usr/lib -lSDL -lpthread your_filename.c
or
gcc -g -O2 -I/usr/local/include/SDL -L/usr/local/lib -lSDL -lpthread your_filename.c

grr
 

no wonder no one uses linux!
even though its good its a complete nightmare to use

Everything is a bugger to develop for. Unless you are writing PASCAL's or something else with a very complete library.
Makefiles can be a bit of a pain, but I recommend getting a program like anjuta or kdevelop to help you manage them easily. And read up on using things like pkg-config; it's not that hard once you learn it.

The same things happen on all systems; some just automate more of it for certain things.

Oh, I guess Java has the most complete library.

Re: grr
 

This is rediculous.. if you are asking for help, perhaps you should listen to what people tell you.

Are you linking in the libraries when you compile the program? Do you even know what we mean by linking in the libraries?

I am well aware you use makefiles to include things like -lSDL to your compile line... but did you write a makefile to do that?

I assure you this is not a linux problem, it is a user problem.