Libtool issue with ar(1) on 64-bit AIX

[Daniel Richard G.]

I have a software project that builds using Libtool 1.5.24. At one point, 
it produces a gigantic static archive library, that is composed of several 
smaller static convenience libraries. Libtool extracts each of the smaller 
libraries, and assembles the object files into a new archive library, using 
ar(1) on both counts.

Libtool parameterizes the ar(1) invocation to create a new library, in the 
AR and AR_FLAGS variables. On 64-bit AIX, AR_FLAGS has to be set to "-X64 
cru", as ar(1) only accepts 32-bit objects by default. This much works 
fine.

The problem occurs when Libtool extracts the smaller libraries: it uses 
"$AR x /path/to/libfoo.a" (in the func_extract_an_archive() function). The 
command _name_ is parameterized, but not the _flags_---it uses "x" 
unconditionally.

On this system, if you don't pass in the -X64 flag, ar(1) thinks that you 
want to extract only the 32-bit objects in the archive. If you're doing a 
64-bit build, there of course won't be any. The end result being that what 
was supposed to be a gigantic static archive library ends up completely 
empty, save for the archive file header.

The flags passed to ar(1) in the extraction step need to be parameterized. 
64-bit AIX is a scenario where "ar x" alone doesn't work.


(Please Cc: me on any replies, as I am not subscribed to this list)


--Daniel


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