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Subject: Re: load and use a ".o" file?
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From: j-anthony@rcn.com (Jon S. Anthony)
Date: 22 Dec 2003 15:49:07 -0500
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Date: 2003-12-22T15:49:07-05:00
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Stephen Leake <stephen_leake@acm.org> writes:

> lifetime n00b <anonymous@yahoo.com> writes:
> 
...
> > Maybe I wasn't clear on exactly what I need to do. The program that
> > needs to load and use the object file is *already running* before
> > the object file is compiled. This "main program" has no prior
> > information about the data or routines which may be in the object
> > file it is being told to load.

This sort of thing is perfectly reasonable and something that is
extremely useful in a wide range of applications.

What I don't understand is why people don't just use technology that
has solved this problem since "for ever".  No, dll's and so's are not
the answer - they are intended to solve a different (related) problem
and are at best a poor mans hack for what you are talking about.

What you really "need"[1] here is a true dynamic language.


> Most good ideas have been thought of before :).

Indeed.  I see that Greenspun's 10th is alive and well on c.l.a :-|...


/Jon