Re: libtool ignorant of lack of headers in /usr

[Bob Friesenhahn]

On Tue, 18 Oct 2005, Carol Spears wrote:
> what purpose do the files with the extension .la have?  it was suggested
> to me to remove them.  this idea is very appealing because of these
> libtool issues and also because of my respect for the person who
> suggested it.

Libtool records information about the library in the .la file.  This 
allows libtool to deal with libraries in an operating system 
independent fashion so that it can work similarly across many 
operating systems.  Libtool reads existing .la files in order to learn 
more about the associated libraries (and the libraries they depend on) 
at link time.  The .la files are just text files so you could look at 
them in vi.  The only reason to delete a .la file is if its content is 
wrong.  Content can become wrong if someone moves a library that the 
described library depends on to some other location, or replaces it 
with one that itself depends on a different set of libraries.

> for an undefinable amount of time.  i wonder how i got the feeling i was
> hanging out in the mens room when i subscribed to this list?

Make sure to wipe well.

Bob
======================================
Bob Friesenhahn
address@hidden, http://www.simplesystems.org/users/bfriesen/
GraphicsMagick Maintainer,    http://www.GraphicsMagick.org/