ranlib

ranlib

The ranlib command in Linux is used to generate an index for archive files. This index is used by the linker to quickly find symbols in the archive file.

Here are some examples of how to use the ranlib command:

# To generate an index for the archive file `lib.a`:
ranlib lib.a

# To print the table of contents for the archive file `lib.a`:
ranlib -t lib.a

# To create a new index for the archive file `lib.a`, even if one already exists:
ranlib -c lib.a

help

Usage: ranlib [options] archive
 Generate an index to speed access to archives
 The options are:
  @<file>                      Read options from <file>
  --plugin <name>              Load the specified plugin
  -D                           Use zero for symbol map timestamp (default)
  -U                           Use an actual symbol map timestamp
  -t                           Update the archive's symbol map timestamp
  -h --help                    Print this help message
  -v --version                 Print version information

breakdown

-c, --create: This option tells ranlib to create a new index even if one already exists.
-t, --table-of-contents: This option tells ranlib to print the table of contents of the archive file.
-h, --help: This option shows this help message.