RANLIB(1)

NAME
ranlib - convert archives to random libraries

SYNOPSIS
ranlib [ -t ] archive ...

DESCRIPTION
Ranlib converts each archive to a form which the loader can load more rapidly. Ranlib does this by adding a table of contents called __.SYMDEF to the beginning of the archive. Ranlib uses ar(1) to reconstruct the archive, so that sufficient temporary file space must be available in the file system which contains the current directory.

If given the -t option, ranlib only "touches" the archives and does not modify them. This is useful after copying an archive or using the -t option of make(1) in order to avoid having ld(1) complain about an “out of date” symbol table.

SEE ALSO
ld(1), ar(1), lorder(1), make(1)

BUGS
Because generation of a library by ar and randomization of the library by ranlib are separate processes, phase errors are possible. The loader, ld, warns when the modification date of a library is more recent than the creation date of its dictionary; but this means that you get the warning even if you only copy the library.