Using C code from C++ using autotools

Question

I am writing a (my first) C++ class on top of some code written in C, but I can only get the C++ to compile by declaring the C functions in a extern block. My project uses autotools; is there any way to automate this process so I don't have to maintain two header files?

Answer 1

Use a extern block inside a #ifdef in C codes header files

Start of header files

#ifdef __cplusplus
extern "C" {
#endif

...and at end of the header files

#ifdef __cplusplus
}
#endif

This way it will work for being included in both C and C++ sources