Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Runtime Library in C/C++

Le Trung Thang 2011

Static link vs Dynamic link

A Runtime library is the libraries with the features follow:
-1. Runtime library consists a collection of functions specialize in a specific target hardware.
For example: behavior of printf function in each different target hardware is different. In Intel x86 PC platform , printf will out a string to console, but in many embedded ARM boards, may be printf will out a string to serial port. So printf is a part of the runtime library.
-2. Runtime library consists a collection of functions which are only used by compiler, application developer cannot to use it.
For example: in compiling processing, compiler creates some internal functions automatically. These functions are used for some tasks as initialize zero data (__int_zero_data__), __main(),..
These functions cannot call by application developer.
-3. Runtime library consists functions that can be performed only (or are more efficient or accurate) at runtime are implemented in the runtime library.
For example: some logic errors, array bounds checking, dynamic type checking,...

Sometimes, some C/C++ compiler for embedded system can be also included the C/C++ standard library to Runtime library, too. Although, these standard libraries were packaged and shipped under static library. This is up to compiler manufacturer.

So, There can be conclusion that: In Linux environment, the Runtime library is different with the dynamic (shared) library.

Reference:  http://cboard.cprogramming.com/cplusplus-programming/136855-what-runtime-library-c-cplusplus.html


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2 comments:

  1. UnknownApril 13, 2011 at 8:57 PM

    above just mentioned "Runtime library consists a collection of functions...."

    --> it's possible if there's a global variable in library built by ourself and we reuse it for our application..

    ========= example =========
    in library we declared below variable and used in somewhere:

    int _iAmGlobalVar;

    => in our own application, we include this library, so can we reuse this variable ?

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  2. Lê Trung ThắngApril 13, 2011 at 11:14 PM

    Yes. we can. I think that.
    when we "talk" the word "Functions", we implied that it included the variables :) . However, They seldom declare the variables in runtime library.
    For example:
    In C Standard library, They predefined 3 well-known variables are stdin, stdout and stderr. when your program start, three the variables existed.

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