Importance

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Abstract

A library links to a compiled application using the following variation of load-time dynamic linking. At some point prior to linking, a user selects a library for linking to the compiled application. An association is made between the selected library and any external libraries referenced within the compiled application. For example, if the application is in Common Object File format, a new import table lists the selected library and the external libraries of the original import table. At link time, the selected library and the external libraries link to the compiled application. At load time, the application, selected library, and any external libraries load. When the selected library loads first, a function in the selected library performs operations before the application or external libraries load. A pointer references the list of libraries to be linked to the compiled application. The initial state of this pointer is archived. The linking process becomes reversible by restoring the initial state of the pointer and re-linking. By replacing the reference to the selected library with a reference to a second selected table, a second selected library links to the application. A data record associated with the selected library enables additional functionality of the selected library.

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