How to link with a .la library file on linux

Question

I am using an open source library and it builds to a file like libshared.la. Can i statically link with this file using normal gcc commands? I'm more familiar with the dynamic linking of .so file and the static linking of .a files. Not sure about .la though. thanks!

Answer 1

That is a libtool file. You can use it using libtool:

$ libtool --mode=link gcc -g -O -o test test.o \
                     /usr/local/lib/libhello.la

More about libtool:

• http://www.gnu.org/software/libtool/manual/html_node/Using-libtool.html