1. Oracle Solaris 11.4 Linkers and Libraries Guide
  2. Using the Link-Editor and Runtime Linker
  3. Introduction to the Oracle Solaris Link Editors
  4. Link Editing With the Link-Editor
  5. Static Executables

Static Executables

The creation of static executables has been discouraged for many releases. In fact, 64-bit system archive libraries have never been provided. Because a static executable is built against system archive libraries, the executable contains system implementation details. This self-containment has a number of drawbacks.

  • A static executable is immune to the benefits of system patches delivered as shared objects. The executable therefore, must be rebuilt to take advantage of many system improvements.

  • The ability of the static executable to run on future releases can be compromised.

  • The duplication of system implementation details negatively affects system performance.

Beginning with the Oracle Solaris 10 release, the OS no longer includes 32-bit system archive libraries. Without these libraries, specifically libc.a, the creation of a static executable is no longer achievable without specialized system knowledge. Note, that the link-editors ability to process static linking options, and the processing of archive libraries, remains unchanged.