Static linking considered harmful

[Chris Adams]

Once upon a time, Ulrich Drepper <drepper at redhat.com> said:
> Regardless, the object file/source distinction is meaningless anyway. 
> The object files encode ABI internals.  Those change and make object 
> file reuse impossible (we never guarantee compatibility of object files, 
> only executables and DSOs).  Therefore I argue that without distributing 
> sources people linking statically are always violating the license since 
> they don't allow relinking with later or earlier versions.

The LGPL doesn't talk about different versions; it only requires
relinking with modified copies of the same version that maintain
interface compatibility.

After all, even dynamic linking doesn't guarantee compatibility with
earlier versions.
-- 
Chris Adams <cmadams at hiwaay.net>
Systems and Network Administrator - HiWAAY Internet Services
I don't speak for anybody but myself - that's enough trouble.