Guide to create static C lib for PB in Windows/Visual Studio

[Keya]

ive never created a .lib myself before other than existing projects so i was keen to learn myself how to create a simple one, and it turns out really easy! I've probably made it look harder than it is by breaking it down into 12 steps lol

See also using MASM assembler instead of C - http://www.purebasic.fr/english/viewtop ... 4&p=489136
For OSX & Linux it's even easier - see http://www.purebasic.fr/english/viewtop ... 2&p=488178

For Windows ...
1. Start Visual Studio (im using VS2013 for this), and click File menu -> New Project
2. In \Installed\Templates\Visual C++\Win32, select Win32 Project
3. Type "testlib" in Name, and click Ok


4. Select Static Library, and uncheck the other boxes


5. Right-click "Source Files", click Add -> New Item, and type "testlib.c" (ensuring the extension is .c and not the default .cpp - I dont know if you can make C++ libs for PB, but C is obviously fine and thats what we'll make here)


6. Add the C source code of the library:

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	double addnums(double num1, double num2) {
		return num1 + num2;
	}

7. Build menu -> Configuration Manager, and ensure it's Release and not Debug
8. Project menu -> Properties. Go to Configuration Properties\C/C++\Optimization, and ensure that "Whole Program Optimization" is turned OFF. You can still set the main Optimization to "Maximize Speed" or "Minimize Size" etc if you want and play around with all the other settings too it seems, but you can NOT use Whole Program Optimization with libs! (it's On by default!)

8b. Also, make sure to select "Disable C++ Security Checks"

9. Build menu -> Build Solution.
10. Copy the .lib file to wherever your .pb source file will be
11. Create the .pb source file:

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	ImportC "testlib.lib"  ;ensure ImportC and not Import
	  addnums.d (value1.d, value2.d) As "_addnums"
	EndImport

	MessageRequester("Result", StrD(addnums(5,2)))

12. Run and profit!

See also your \Purebasic\SDK\ directory!

Anyone have any guides for Linux and OSX?!?

[minor edit] I changed the function name from "add" to "addnums", as while it was ok on Windows it was clashing on Linux due to "add" being an asm instruction - poor form on my behalf there!

[idle]

good tip

[jack]

hi Keya
just one note, in step 7 you can also select x64 platform
click on Active solution platform->new , then select x64 as the new platform

[Keya]

jack yes good tip although to clarify i think you can only compile for both from the one Visual Studio if your Windows is also 64bit (64bit can compile 32+64, 32bit OS can only compile 32)? not 100% sure though but not really an issue for me though as i'm only using the 64bit one which definitely does both

[jack]

Keya, I just compiled a 64-bit lib with VS2010 in Windows 7 x86 and it works as expected with PB x64 in Windows x64 of course.

[Keya]

far out, cool! appreciate the clarifying

[Lunasole]

Nice to remember.

Also there is a small trick to open VS 2013 projects in VS 2010 (for those who won't use 2013/2015).

Need to open .sln file in text editor and change the following line

Code: Select all

Microsoft Visual Studio Solution File, Format Version 12.00

to

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Microsoft Visual Studio Solution File, Format Version 11.00

Already compiled few projects such way and it had no problems for now.

[normeus]

Keya,

Just tried your tutorial with Visual Studio 2017 and it worked great!!!

I hope you keep adding tips and sharing your knowledge with us.


Thank you again,

Norm.