Linking static library with another static library and then using in a application for QT

[Maaz Momin]

Hi all,

I have 2 static library project and a application project.

In my case, Library1 depends on Library2.

---- Library2.pro ----

QT -= gui

TEMPLATE = lib

CONFIG += debug_and_release

CONFIG(release, debug|release): TARGET = Library2
else:CONFIG(debug, debug|release): TARGET = Library2d

CONFIG += staticlib

CONFIG += c++11

DEFINES += QT_DEPRECATED_WARNINGS

unix:CONFIG(debug, debug|release) {
    DESTDIR = staticlib/debug
} else {
    DESTDIR = staticlib/release
}

SOURCES += Library2Class.cpp
HEADERS += Library2Class.h

---- Library2Class.h File ----

class Q_DECL_EXPORT Library2Class
{
MyCode...
}

---- Library1.pro ----

QT -= gui

TEMPLATE = lib

CONFIG += debug_and_release

CONFIG(release, debug|release): TARGET = Library1
else:CONFIG(debug, debug|release): TARGET = Library1d

CONFIG += staticlib

CONFIG += c++11

DEFINES += QT_DEPRECATED_WARNINGS

unix:CONFIG(debug, debug|release) {
    DESTDIR = staticlib/debug
} else {
    DESTDIR = staticlib/release
}

CONFIG(release, debug|release) {
    LIBS += -L$$PWD/../Library2/staticlib/release/ -lLibrary2
} else:CONFIG(debug, debug|release) {
    LIBS += -L$$PWD/../Library2/staticlib/debug/ -lLibrary2d
}

INCLUDEPATH += $$PWD/../Library2
DEPENDPATH += $$PWD/../Library2

SOURCES += Library1Class.cpp
HEADERS += Library1Class.h

---- Library1Class.h File ----

#include "Library2Class.h"

class Library1Class
{
MyCode & using Library2 class
}

---

Then I include Library 1 in Application

--- Application.pro ---

QT -= gui
QT += network

CONFIG += c++11 console
CONFIG -= app_bundle

CONFIG += debug_and_release
TARGET = Application

TEMPLATE = app
CONFIG(release, debug|release) {
    LIBS += -L$$PWD/../Library1/staticlib/release/ -lLibrary1
} else:CONFIG(debug, debug|release) {
    LIBS += -L$$PWD/../Library1/staticlib/debug/ -lLibrary1d
}

INCLUDEPATH += $$PWD/../Library1
DEPENDPATH += $$PWD/../Library1

SOURCES += \
        main.cpp \
        console/MyClass.cpp 

HEADERS += \
    console/MyClass.h

---- MyClass.h File ----

#include "Library1Class.h"

class MyClass
{
MyCode & using Library1 class
}

When compiling I am getting following error

Library1.lib(Library1Class.obj) : error LNK2019: unresolved external symbol "__declspec(dllimport) public: __thiscall Library2Class::Library2Class(class QObject *)" (__imp_??0Library2Class@@QAE@PAVQObject@@@Z) referenced in function "private: void __thiscall library1namespace::calculate::Library1Class::process(class QFileInfo const &)" (?process@Library1Class@calculate@library1namespace@@AAEXABVQFileInfo@@@Z)

[edit:koahnig code tags added]

[koahnig]

@Maaz-Momin

Looks like you did not link against library2 for your application. While creating library1 the routines from library2 are included in the new library. The reference is only for telling where those routines are eventually found.

[Maaz Momin]

I thought Library1 will automatically link Library2.

Does that mean I need to add Library2 in Application.pro LIBS, INCLUDEPATH & DEPENDPATH ?

[koahnig]

@Maaz-Momin

A reference in LIBS is required for linking. INCLUDEPATH is required when you need to include headers of that library. DEPENDPATH is required when the library might change and you want to avoid problems while building your app. However, a rebuild all for your application would solve the issue with DEPENDPATH.

[Maaz Momin]

By modifying my Application.pro and having following changes everything works fine.

CONFIG(release, debug|release) {
    LIBS += -L$$PWD/../Library1/staticlib/release/ -lLibrary1
    LIBS += -L$$PWD/../Library2/staticlib/release/ -lLibrary2
} else:CONFIG(debug, debug|release) {
    LIBS += -L$$PWD/../Library1/staticlib/debug/ -lLibrary1d
    LIBS += -L$$PWD/../Library2/staticlib/debug/ -lLibrary2d
}

But is there a different solution. As in future if my Library1 depends on another static library OR I want to remove Library2 then again I have to modify my Application.pro

[edit:koahing code tags added]

[koahnig]

@Maaz-Momin said in Linking static library with another static library and then using in a application for QT:

But is there a different solution. As in future if my Library1 depends on another static library OR I want to remove Library2 then again I have to modify my Application.pro

Well, if you have the sources available you could generate one big library. However, what should be the benefit there?

In general the application.pro is changed frequently anyhow. if you change something to your application which is affecting modules used, you need to change the associated .pro file. AFAIK you should be able to link against libraries which are not used anymore. However, I would not recommend for clarity purposes.