RANLIB(1) RANLIB(1) NAME ranlib - convert archives to random libraries SYNOPSIS ranlib archive ... DESCRIPTION Ranlib converts each archive to a form which can be loaded more rapidly by the loader, by adding a table of contents named `__.SYMDEF' to the beginning of the archive. It uses ar(1) to reconstruct the archive, so that sufficient tempo- rary file space must be available in the file system con- taining the current directory. SEE ALSO ld(1), ar(1), lorder(1) BUGS Because generation of a library by ar and randomization by ranlib are separate, phase errors are possible. The loader ld warns when the modification date of a library is more recent than the creation of its dictionary; but this means you get the warning even if you only copy the library.