32-bit libraries in 64-bit build.

[Bob Plantz]

On Wed, 2009-05-20 at 07:47 -0700, Ian Lance Taylor wrote:
> Brian McGrew <brian@visionpro.com> writes:
> 
> > Is there any way of using a 32-bit library in a 64-bit build environment???
> > Our entire software build is 64-bit but I need to use a vendors library that
> > is only 32-bit and never will be 64-bit.  Any such way of accomplishing this
> > task?
> 
> No.  If an x86 processor is running in 64-bit mode, then it can not
> execute code compiled in 32-bit mode.  The two modes are not compatible.
> 
> The closest you can come is to write a 32-bit wrapper program around the
> library, run it in a separate process, and use some sort of RPC to
> communicate with it.
> 
> Ian

Wouldn't this depend on whether it is statically linked or dynamic? I
could certainly use 32-bit mode calling conventions in my 64-bit code
and call a function that uses only 32-bit instructions.

(I'm probably revealing my ignorance of libraries here.)

Bob