How to link a C++ library in a C project

Question

The c project is composed by a lot of classes and files. The C++ library is compiled into a ".a" file. When I add the .a file as library to the MakeFile of the C project, it shows a lot of errors like undefined reference to '__gxx_personality_v0' that may related to the difference between C and C++.

I'm using gcc to compile the C project. But whatever functions I'm calling in the C project are declared as extern C in the header file of the C++ library.

I really appreciate any help!

Matthieu Brucher · Accepted Answer · 2019-03-04 22:24:53Z

3

You have to use a C++ linker, or use g++ as the link driver instead of gcc.

The issue is that the basic linker will not link against C++ runtime libraries (the same would be true for a Fortran static library). The C++ driver for your compiler will add these flags for you.

answered Mar 4, 2019 at 22:24

Matthieu Brucher

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3 Comments

alx - recommends codidact Over a year ago

Does main have to be C++ for that, or does it also work if main is C?

Matthieu Brucher Over a year ago

No, you can have any type of main. It's just the runtime libraries, what C++ needs to run, that you have to integrated s they are not in the static library.

AetX Over a year ago

Thanks! Compile with gcc and then link with g++ solved the problem!

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