Library Split

Issue

Various source files of different:

• users
• version evolution

are all linked together to libelektra.org.

Constraints

• have a legacy libelektra that is identical to current behavior
• full and static libraries remain unchanged

Assumptions

• linker overhead of a dozen libraries is not measurable

Considered Alternatives

• keep current situation

Decision

• split libraries

Argument

• allows various users (plugins, applications) to link to exactly what they need
• allows symbol versioning on different levels (for different evolving libraries)
• allows alternative implementation of parts of Elektra, e.g. a new libkdb which still uses libcore
• easier to navigate in source tree
• facilitates code reuse between plugins
• easier entrance to create commonly used libs (no fear of "changes in the core" for some helper functionality)

Implications

• maybe to bindings?
• plugins and applications need changes in order to profit from less dependencies

Related decisions

• none

Notes

• was discussed in a meeting, all were in favor (or did not say anything)

Sizes of libelektra.so

• 0.8.14 unmodified 128K
• 0.8.14 w/o meta.c 120K
• 0.8.14 w/o array 126K

So the removal of the non-core functionality is actually relevant. And kdb/core is now nearly half-split:

• 52K lib/libelektra-core.so.0.8.14
• 7,5K lib/libelektra-ease.so.0.8.14
• 1,3M lib/libelektra-full.so.0.8.14
• 76K lib/libelektra-kdb.so.0.8.14
• 9,3K lib/libelektra-meta.so.0.8.14
• 5,1K lib/libelektra-plugin.so.0.8.14
• 7,6K lib/libelektra-proposal.so.0.8.14