IBM i library definitions
The IBM® i library file system is organized with libraries as containers of objects, which includes source files and programs. The IBM i default search path (or library list) is an ordered list of libraries.
Building programs on IBM i requires
the definition of IBM i libraries
to identify:
- Libraries where source members are loaded before being compiled
- Libraries where compiled objects are built
- Libraries referenced by the build, such as vendor libraries that might not be under source control, but are needed by the build process
A library definition contains the following information:
- The name of the library
- An optional member name
Remember: A library definition makes no statement
about the actual existence of a library on a particular build
system. It is only a container for information about a
library. When the library definition is combined with information
from a build request, such as the target system and a resource prefix,
you can create a new library with the characteristics you specify
in that library definition.
The IBM i library
definition is used to store a complete or partial library name, depending
on the context. There are two types of library definitions:- Target libraries
- Specify load libraries and object compile libraries. The value in a target library is a partial library name. The full library name is created by appending a resource prefix value to this target library definition suffix. The resource prefix can be specified in the build definition or when you submit the build.
- Existing libraries
- Complete library names to specify other libraries that need to be referenced in the library list.
Note: You can select an existing library as the object library,
but an existing library used as the object library is not supported
for personal builds or promotions.