How to load dylib or .a (static library) file using objective-C?

Question

C# code : (windows) ``` Assembly assembly = Assembly.LoadFrom(AssemblyPath); System.Type[] objTypes = assembly.GetTypes(); Type libType = null; ``` I want to achieve same for Mac where AssemblyPath is path of static library (libTEST.a) or dylib file. Is it possible in Objective-C (Mac)? I tried with NSBundle. But i want some good solution.

Accepted Answer

First off, this has precisely nothing to do with Xcode.

Now, you can't load static libraries dynamically, because a static library is just a collection of object files, which are not, by themselves, executable.

In order to load a dynamic library, use the `dlopen()` API:

```
void *handle = dlopen("/path/to/library.dylib", RTLD_LAZY);
```

To get a C function pointer:

```
int (*computeAnswer)(void) = dlsym(handle, "ComputeAnswer");
int answer = computeAnswer(); // 42
```

To get a C++ function pointer without `extern "C"` linkage (mangled name):

```
int (*mangledFunction)(void) = dlsym(handle, "i$mangledFunction_@v");
```

You can even hack yourself through the Objective-C naming convention of the linker compiler:

```
@class MyShinyClass;
Class cls = dlsym(handle, "OBJC_CLASS_$_MyShinyClass");

MyShinyClass *instance = [[cls alloc] init];
```

When you're done with the library, dispose of it:

```
dlclose(handle);
```

How to load dylib or .a (static library) file using objective-C?

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