CODEWITHSUNDEEP
c++c++20c++-modules
Not Jungler's Fault
Not Jungler's Fault

Reputation: 183

How to distribute C++20 modules?

All the literature about modules is quite recently new, and I am struggling with one core concept thing.

When I make my own modules, after the linkage process, does exists a conventional or accepted way of package those modules to distribute them as a library?

Upvotes: 10

Views: 1230

Answers (1)

Nicol Bolas
Nicol Bolas

Reputation: 473447

Broadly speaking, the products of building a module's interface (as distinct from the linker-products of compilation, like a static/shared library) are not sharable between compilers. At least not the way that compiled libraries for the same OS/platform are. Compiled module formats are compiler-specific and may not even be stable between versions of the same compiler.

As such, if you want to ship a pre-compiled library that was build using modules, then just like non-module builds, you will need to ship textual files that are used to consume that module. Specifically, you need all of the interface units for any modules built into that library. Implementation units need not be given, as their products are all in the compiled form of the library (unless they are implementation partitions included by interface units).

Perhaps in the future, compilers for the same platform will standardize a compiled module format, or even across platforms. But until then, you're going to have to keep shipping text with your pre-compiled libraries.

Upvotes: 2

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