[KLUG Members] What is an *.la file (in /usr/lib; concerning GroupWise plugin)

[Peter Buxton]

On Wed, Oct 15, 2003 at 06:04:57AM -0400, Adam Williams was only escaped
   alone to tell thee:

> But what is a *.la file?  Is it different than a *.a?  Are these just
> static libraries?


http://mail.gnu.org/archive/html/automake/2003-07/msg00116.html

  Actually, Libtool abstracts shared and static libraries into an
  unified concept henceforth called "Libtool libraries".  Libtool
  libraries are files using the `.la' suffix, and can designate a static
  library, a shared library, or maybe both.  What exactly it is, you
  cannot know before `./configure'-time: not all platforms support all
  kinds of libraries, and users can explicitly select which libraries
  should be built.  (However the package's maintainers can tune the
  default, *Note The `AC_PROG_LIBTOOL' macro: (Libtool)AC_PROG_LIBTOOL.)

  Because object files for shared and static libraries must be compiled
  differently, Libtool also uses its own abstraction: "Libtool objects".
  These are files ending with the `.lo' suffix.  Libtool libraries are
  built with Libtool objects.

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