[NTLUG:Discuss] file types in /usr/lib

[Richard Geoffrion]

Richard Geoffrion wrote:
> What does one call files in the /usr/lib directory that end in ".a"? 
> What kind of files are they?
>
> I know that .so files are Shared Object files.. but what are .a files?
>
>   
Why do I seem to find the answer AFTER I've posted???

"...They're libraries (collections of .o files, basically). Most 
libraries live in /usr/lib.  When you specify "-lm" to cc/gcc at link 
time, it reads that as "use a library named 'm'" and then expands 'm' by 
wrapping 'lib' and '.a' around it to make 'libm.a' (which it finds in 
/usr/lib)."

Thanks everyone!

-- 
Richard