Autotools target type.
Sébastien Granjoux
seb.sfo@free.fr

# Autotools project type

There are different types of target available.

# Shared Library (Libtool)

It represents a library shared by several programs which is linked at run time. It is the most common kind of libraries on Linux. It is called dynamic link library on Windows.

It uses the Libtool package. Its name must start with 'lib' and has the '.la' extension.

# Module (Libtool)

It represents a library, often named a plugin, linked at run time explicitly by the program itself. It is used to only load the code corresponding to the used features.

It uses the Libtool package. Its name does not need the 'lib' prefix but must have the '.la' extension.

# Static Library (Libtool)

It represents a library linked with the program at compile time. Only the function used are kept inside the generated executable.

It uses the Libtool package. Its name must start with 'lib' and has the '.a' extension.

# Program

It represents compiled program by example from C source files. All children represent the source files compiled to generate the program.

# Python module

It represents a program written in Python.

# Java module

It represents a program written in Java.

# LISP module

It represents a program written in LISP.

# Header files

This target allows you to group header files and define where they have to be installed.

# Man documentation

It groups man pages needed by the project.

# Info documentation

It groups info page needed by the project.

# Miscellaneous Data

It groups data files which needed by the project like pictures, ui description, settings files...

# Script

It represents program those are scripts. Those scripts are only installed in the specified directory. If scripts are generated additional rules are needed.