libload

This simple C library provides cross-platform interface to load dynamic (aka 'shared') libraries in runtime. Flags are currently optimized for loading local libraries, making it possible to be used in plugin development (C ABI is the most popular plugin binary interface).

Currently runs on Windows and Linux. Linux interface is supposed to be POSIX-compatible. Compilation flags are strict.

Example

An example can be found at tests/overview. It is an example of project with a library, loaded at runtime.

To be short, the library only provides functions:

• libloadfile - loads library file in runtime.
• libloadsymbol - loads function or global variable.
• libloadfinish - terminates the library.

Build

This project uses CMake build system:

cmake -B build
cmake --build build
cd build && ctest

The build output can be found at build/libload/

Notes

Why do library must have .so extension?

Windows is able to append .dll automatically, dl is unable. Also that is why library has to be allocated in array, not as just string literal.

Why Windows flags do not contain /Wall option?

Windows.h does not meet /Wall requirements. But if I use libloaderapi.h instead of Windows.h, I get No target architecture error. If you know the solution, I am ready to integrate it.