How to properly set run paths, search paths, and install names?

Question

I have a collection of projects that I\'m compiling as dynamic libraries. Each of these .dylibs depend on other various .dylibs that I would like to place in various other d

Answer 1

install_name_tool is very useful for setting the names and paths. Its especially useful if the program runs its self-tests in the build directory, and then things change during a make install. In this case, you can use install_name_tool without the need for a separate build.

install_name_tool is also useful because Apple's LD does not honor rpath linker options like Linux/GCC does. That is, you need to use a different set of commands to set them.

Here's the man page for it. Its included in its entirety because it discusses other options, like -headerpad_max_install_names.

INSTALL_NAME_TOOL(1)                                      INSTALL_NAME_TOOL(1)

NAME
       install_name_tool - change dynamic shared library install names

SYNOPSIS
       install_name_tool  [-change  old  new  ]  ...  [-rpath  old  new  ] ...
       [-add_rpath new ] ... [-delete_rpath new ] ... [-id name] file

DESCRIPTION
       Install_name_tool changes the dynamic shared library install names  and
       or  adds,  changes  or  deletes the rpaths recorded in a Mach-O binary.
       For this tool to work when the install names or rpaths are  larger  the
       binary  should  be  built  with  the ld(1) -headerpad_max_install_names
       option.

       -change old new
              Changes the dependent shared library install name old to new  in
              the specified Mach-O binary.  More than one of these options can
              be specified.  If the Mach-O binary does  not  contain  the  old
              install  name  in  a  specified  -change  option  the  option is
              ignored.

       -id name
              Changes the shared library  identification  name  of  a  dynamic
              shared  library  to name.  If the Mach-O binary is not a dynamic
              shared library and the -id option is specified it is ignored.

       -rpath old new
              Changes the rpath path name old to new in the  specified  Mach-O
              binary.   More  than  one of these options can be specified.  If
              the Mach-O binary does not contain the old rpath path name in  a
              specified -rpath it is an error.

       -add_rpath new
              Adds  the  rpath  path  name new in the specified Mach-O binary.
              More than one of these options can be specified.  If the  Mach-O
              binary  already  contains  the  new rpath path name specified in
              -add_rpath it is an error.

       -delete_rpath old
              deletes the rpath path name old in the specified Mach-O  binary.
              More  than one of these options can be specified.  If the Mach-O
              binary does not contains the old rpath path  name  specified  in
              -delete_rpath it is an error.

SEE ALSO
       ld(1)