Wlrunpath

Wlrunpath is a term used in some software build environments to describe the mechanism for specifying the runtime library search path that the dynamic linker uses when loading shared libraries. The concept arises from the practice of prefixing options with -Wl to pass flags through to the linker from compilers such as GCC or Clang, where the runpath information is encoded into the resulting executable.

In practice, Wlrunpath refers to configuring the linker to embed a runtime search path, typically via flags like -Wl,-rpath,PATH. This causes the executable to carry either an RPATH or RUNPATH, guiding the dynamic linker to look in specified directories for shared libraries at startup. RPATH and RUNPATH determine where the system should search for libraries relative to the binary, with RUNPATH generally allowing environment variables like LD_LIBRARY_PATH to influence the search order in certain contexts.

Usage commonly involves passing one or more paths to the linker through the compiler driver. For example: gcc main.c -Wl,-rpath,/opt/mylibs -L/opt/mylibs -lmylib. This approach helps ensure that bundled or target-specific libraries are found without requiring users to set environment variables at runtime. It is often used in packaging, cross-compilation, or deployment scenarios where control over the library search path is important.

Notes: Wlrunpath is not a universally standardized term; many toolchains implement the same concept under different names (RPATH, RUNPATH, or direct linker flags). Always consult your compiler and linker documentation for the exact syntax and behavior in your environment.