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where to place library files under linux

Hi,

Is there any common place you put libraries used for developing apps under linux? When developing for win32, I usually make a folder under C:\ called "lib". Then all users can access any library under c:\lib.

Under linux, it seems there's already a folder called "lib". Is it proper to dump my libraries into there, or should I create some separate folder to differentiate? Also, it looks like in the /usr folder on my system we have a copy of the lib folder - what is the purpose of having /lib, and then usr/lib?

Thanks

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jkr

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jkr

BTW, to reference a particular library that is not placed there, use

-L/path/to/other/lib

to specify that directory on teh compiler's/linker's command line. As the man page says:

-Ldir Add directory dir to the list of directories to be
searched for `-l'.

-llibrary
Use the library named library when linking.

The linker searches a standard list of directories
for the library, which is actually a file named
`liblibrary.a'. The linker then uses this file as
if it had been specified precisely by name.

The directories searched include several standard
system directories plus any that you specify with
`-L'.