Re: arg list too long (so, split it into two?)

[Morten Eriksen]

Robert Boehne <address@hidden> writes:

> I have a large library that IRIX CC w/ multi-language libtool is not
> happy creating.  It seems that the link line is too much for CC to
> handle.

Sounds familiar.. :^(

> Is the only solution to split this library into convience
> libs, then link those toghether?

I don't think this will help, as any convenience .a-libs will get
extracted into their object-files before the final linking -- IIRC.

Two strategies that have worked for us are:

        * change the IRIX-setting for the maximum size of the argument
          list. To do this, log in as root, run ``systune -i'' and set
          the ``ncargs'' variable large enough (I think the default is
          20kB -- trying doubling until you don't get the problem).

          This fix will only work on the machines where you go through
          this routine, of course. And only for the current boot. (To
          make the change permanent for an IRIX-installation, execute
          ``mv /unix.install /unix'' (but don't blame me if something
          goes wrong).)

        * make larger and fewer object-files, by using some small
          number of sourcefiles to include the "real" sourcefiles by
          "#include" statements, and compile and link these instead.

          For an example of how this can be done and integrated as a
          configure and build-option, see the Coin library at
          <http://www.coin3d.org>.


Note that another platform with the problem you describe is AIX, where
the former suggestion for solution won't work -- the argument size
limit is actually hardcoded into the OS.  :^/

If anyone on the list has any other suggestions for solving Robert's
problem, I would be very interested to hear about them. Is it for
instance possible to solve it fundamentally in libtool by adding a
workaround for the platforms with low default argument size setting?

Regards,
Morten