Beginner Problem: Static Linking

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Created Dec ’23

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Hi, I just started practicing Static Linking, and I tried to link a third party library into my code, but it kept bugging error: "The header file not found", so I believe there're some steps missing from my code, wish someone can help!

Here is the situation:

I use OpenGL as the target library, it contains two directories: "Include" directory which holds header files and "lib-arm64"directory which holds "libglfw3.a" and "libglfw.3.dylib". I believe .dylib is related to dynamic linking, so I am not gonna touch that and .a file is the source code I need. Therefore:

In Build Phase -> Linking Binary with Library, I attach "libglfw3.a".
In Build Setting -> Search Path, I include the address of header directory "Include" in "Header Search Path" and "lib-arm64" in "Library Search Path".
"#include <GLFW/glfw3.h>" is the command I copied from OpenGL website template and used in my code.

The error is: " 'GLFW/glfw3.h' file not found "

If anyone has any advice, feel free to share it, I really appreciate!

Another question I have, non-relevant to linking, but to debugging.

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Answer 1

zzzzray OP

Dec ’23

Please ignore anything down the separated line, I created a new post for that question :)

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Answer 2

DTS Engineer OP

Apple

Dec ’23

C supports two syntaxes for includes:

To include your own header, use quotes. For example, #include "MyTypes.h".
To include system headers, use angle brackets. For example, #include "<stdio.h>.

Xcode’s C compiler, Clang, has separate search paths for these:

For the first, use the Header Search Paths build setting.
For the second, use System Header Search Paths.

I believe you’re crossing the streams here, hence your problems.

Finally, there’s an option to support crossing the streams, namely Always Search User Paths, but it’s been deprecated and I recommend that you avoid it.

Share and Enjoy
—
Quinn “The Eskimo!” @ Developer Technical Support @ Apple
let myEmail = "eskimo" + "1" + "@" + "apple.com"

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Answer 3

zzzzray OP

Dec ’23

Thank you for your reply, Eskimo! I. can understand more of how Xcode compiler work right now.

But it looks like the issue still exist.

Here were attempts I made:

I tried include the header as system header, so I added the "Include" file in System Header Search Path, and included <GLFW/glfw3.h> and <glfw3.h> separately, both compiled an error.
I tried include the header as my own header, so I did the same thing but put the "Include" file in Header Search Path, and included "GLFW/glfw3.h" and "glfw3.h" separately, it still generates the same error.

I did not make other changes, the linking binary with library has libglfw3.a file, library search path has "lib-arm64" which contains ".a" file in it.

Probably I am missing some steps.

The template code I downloaded from OpenGL website: https://www.glfw.org/documentation.html The package as well from their resources: https://www.glfw.org/download.html

Once again, thank you so much for your reply, if you find other portion is missing, feel free to leave another comment. I will work on my end as well to indicate where the error comes from :)

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