How do I create a library?

Question

Let\'s say I have 10 *.hpp and *.cpp files that I need to compile a code. I know that I will need those same files for many different codes. Can I create a \"package\" with

Answer 1

Assuming your "file1.hpp" and "file2.hpp" etc are closely related and (nearly) always used together, then making one "mypacakge.h" that contains the includes of the other components is a good idea (it doesn't in and of itself make it into a library - that is a different process altogether).

If they are NOT closely related and/or used together, then you shouldn't have such a "mega include", because it just drags in a bunch of things that aren't needed.

To make a library involves building your code once, and either generating a .lib file or a shared librar (.dll or .so file). The exact steps to do this depends on what system you are using, and it's a little too complicated for me to explain here.

Edit: To explain further: All of the C++ library is actually one library file or shared library file [along with a number of header files that contain some of the code and the declarations needed to use the code in the library]. But you include and separately - it would become pretty awful to include EVERYTHING from all the different C++ library headers in one , even if it was a lot less typing involved. It is split into sections that do one thing per headerfile. So you get a "complete" set from one header file, but not a too much other things you don't actually need.