Elektra  0.9.8
Library Split

Problem

libelektra.so contains KDB and Key(Set) but plugins only need Key(Set) but not KDB.

Constraints

  • full and static libraries remain unchanged

Assumptions

  • linker overhead of less than a dozen libraries is not measurable

Considered Alternatives

  • keep current situation

Decision

Rationale

  • 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 (less fear of "changes in the core" for some helper functionality)

Implications

  • bindings need to decide which parts to link against
  • plugins and applications need changes
  • we need to get rid of the legacy library

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