When using GCC on Windows, you may need to link multiple object files and libraries to create a single executable file. Here's how you can do it:
1. Linking Object Files:
To link multiple object files together, you can use the following command:
```
gcc -o output.exe file1.o file2.o
```
Replace `output.exe` with the name you want for the executable file, and `file1.o` and `file2.o` with the names of the object files you want to link. You can include as many object files as needed in the command.
2. Linking Libraries:
If you need to link libraries, you can use the following command:
```
gcc -o output.exe file1.o file2.o -llibname
```
Replace `libname` with the name of the library you want to link, without the `lib` prefix and the `.a` or `.lib` extension. You can include multiple libraries by adding them to the command in the order they need to be linked.
3. Specifying Library Paths:
If the libraries are located in non-default directories, you can specify the library search path using the `-L` option, followed by the directory path. For example:
```
gcc -o output.exe file1.o file2.o -L/path/to/lib -llibname
```
4. Relying on Environment Variables:
If your libraries are stored in a directory that's included in the `LIB` environment variable, you can simply use the library name without specifying the full path. For example:
```
gcc -o output.exe file1.o file2.o -llibname
```
5. Combining Object Files and Libraries:
You can also combine object files and libraries in the same command to create the final executable. For example:
```
gcc -o output.exe file1.o file2.o -L/path/to/lib -llibname
```
By following these steps, you can effectively use GCC to link object files and libraries on Windows to create executable files for your projects.
