I've been reading up on the DMD compiler, and I can't find an option to compile to a dynamically linked library.  Is this currently possible? Thanks in advance.

Regards,
Garett

In article <cdd5ak$223b$1@digitaldaemon.com>, Garett Bass says...
>
>I've been reading up on the DMD compiler, and I can't find an option to compile to a dynamically linked library.  Is this currently possible? Thanks in advance.
>
>Regards,
>Garett
>
>


Yes, it is possible, and doesn't even require a command-line switch to do.  All you need to do is create a Library Definition File (*.def).  Here's an example:

================= Begin test.def ================= // Do not include this line
LIBRARY         TEST
DESCRIPTION     'An Example DLL'

EXETYPE		NT
CODE            PRELOAD DISCARDABLE
DATA            PRELOAD SINGLE

EXPORTS
testfunction @2
anotherfunction  @3
================= End test.def ================= // Do not include this line

Your methods need to be marked as extern as well as listed in the definition file.  If you want to see a working example, check out http://www.scratch-ware.net/d/ to see the Python/D DLL example at the bottom.


You can also look at the D for Win32 link:

http://www.digitalmars.com/d/windows.html

and scroll down to DLL (Dynamic Link Libraries) for a rundown including this
link:

http://www.digitalmars.com/ctg/ctgDefFiles.html

which describes in detail how to construct a .def file


Hope this helps
-Deja

Deja Augustine wrote:
> In article <cdd5ak$223b$1@digitaldaemon.com>, Garett Bass says...
> 
>>I've been reading up on the DMD compiler, and I can't find an option to
>>compile to a dynamically linked library.  Is this currently possible?
>>Thanks in advance.
>>
>>Regards,
>>Garett
>>
>>
> 
> 
> 
> Yes, it is possible, and doesn't even require a command-line switch to do.  All
> you need to do is create a Library Definition File (*.def).  Here's an example:
> 
> ================= Begin test.def ================= // Do not include this line
> LIBRARY         TEST
> DESCRIPTION     'An Example DLL'
> 
> EXETYPE		NT
> CODE            PRELOAD DISCARDABLE
> DATA            PRELOAD SINGLE
> 
> EXPORTS
> testfunction @2
> anotherfunction  @3
> ================= End test.def ================= // Do not include this line
> 
> Your methods need to be marked as extern as well as listed in the definition
> file.  If you want to see a working example, check out
> http://www.scratch-ware.net/d/ to see the Python/D DLL example at the bottom.

An example of creating a DLL in Windows is here:
http://spottedtiger.tripod.com/D_Language/D_Hub_Adv_Tutor_XP.html

It shows how to create a DLL.
Then copy the DLL into C:\dmd\MKoD_ex\WinDLL.dll
Then it shows how to create a file that uses the DLL. Great stuff.

> 
> 
> You can also look at the D for Win32 link:
> 
> http://www.digitalmars.com/d/windows.html
> 
> and scroll down to DLL (Dynamic Link Libraries) for a rundown including this
> link:
> 
> http://www.digitalmars.com/ctg/ctgDefFiles.html
> 
> which describes in detail how to construct a .def file
> 
> 
> Hope this helps
> -Deja
> 
> 


-- 
Justin (a/k/a jcc7)
http://jcc_7.tripod.com/d/