Re: Why is memory footprint smaller when compiled static?

[Preben Randhol <randhol+abuse@pvv.org>]

On Wed, 5 Jun 2002 19:02:30 -0500, Steven Deller wrote:
> Preben,
> When you link with a shared library, everything in that shared library
> is loaded when it is loaded.  Everything, not just what you need.

Ah I see. Thanks!

> When you link statically, just what you need/use is included.  One
> caveat -- libraries, whether C or Ada, come in chunks (called object
> files) that often include many routines, so you get all of them even
> when you just want one.  Normally linkers can't do "dead code
> elimination", though some are getting almost smart enough to do that.

Ok.

> In your case, there are lots of parts of I/O and Ada that you are not
> using, so when you link statically, much of the library's contents are
> not included in the executable.

Yes. Ok now I understand and I learned something new :-)

Again thanks.

Preben Randhol