#141 Cannot include healpix headers in my own C++ code

[Anonymous]

I am trying to use HEALPix in C++ codes. I have run the configuration file using ./configure --auto=cxx and then run " make cpp-all". Initially, it showed an error saying "libtool: error: require no space between '-L' and '-lcfitsio' ". Hence I removed the -L from the make file. After that I could compile. The make cpp-test says pass as well (screenshot attached as "Healpix_Install.png). However, I am unable to include it in my .cpp codes. I have also defined environment variable "HEALPIX" in bashrc. I am unable to include the healpix modules in my code (screenshot of error attached as Healpix_Err.png). Thanks in advance.

[Martin Reinecke]

I think that the installation actually went fine. But the command "make Test -lhealpix_cxx" will not work in practice - you cannot pass compilation and linker flags to "make" in this way.
The command(s) that must be executed (with the help of "make" or in a different way is:

g++ Test_cpp -I /home/medha/Programs/Healpix_3.82/include -L /home/medha/Programs/Healpix_3.82/lib -lhealpix_cxx (combined compilation and linking)

or (separate compilation and linking):

g++ Test.cpp -c -I /home/medha/Programs/Healpix_3.82/include
g++ Test.o -o Test -L /home/medha/Programs/Healpix_3.82/lib -lhealpix_cxx

I may have overlooked some details in the commands above, but that's the rough approch.

Unfortunately working with "make" and compiling C++ programs (especially when they depend on other libraries) has quite some learning curve, but in my opinion it's very much worth the effort!

[Anonymous]

Dear Martin,

It works. Thank you very much.

[Anonymous]

Dear Martin, Also is there any way I could add it to bashrc or something by which I would not have to used the -I and the -L options?

[Martin Reinecke]

I wouldn't recommend doing this, since this approach will become unmaintainable once you have more complicated projects. My recommendation is to learn a bit about Makefiles (or about cmake or other alternatives if you prefer) and add the appropriate Makefile or other to your code directory. Then a simple "make" will always do the expected thing, and you do not need to change global configuration files.