Constructors in shared libraries on HP/UX

[Jeffrey A Law]

  In message < 19980529191635.47746@hera.rbi.informatik.uni-frankfurt.de >you write:
  > 
  >  Constructors of global objects in g++-made shared libraries on HP/UX
  > are not called if the libraries are loaded dynamically. I experience
  > this problem when loading C++ extensions into the Tcl language.
  > 
  >  The problem can be solved by using the +I option of the HP/UX linker,
  > which arranges for a function to be invoked upon loading the library.
Using the +I is a bad idea as the default behavior.  I don't remember
the specifics, but I think it had something to do with when/how the
dtors were run (unload point or program exit).

  >  Unfortunately, there seems to be no corresponding option for
  > destructors when unloading the shared library. Could that be
  > done by installing an atexit() handler?
Actually, the same routine is called again, with a different argument
for the dtors.

The recommended way to handle C++ ctors in shared libraries that
you load via shl_load is to write a little wrapper which shl_loads
your library/code, then calls the library's construtor routine.


  >  BTW, it would also be useful if `g++ -shared' implied the -fPIC
  > option, which is needed to compile the collect2-created source code.
I thought at one time there was an argument against, this, but I can't
remember what it was.  Does anyone know why this might be a bad idea?

jeff