Building a Static Library Solution for Nana with Visual Studio 2015
This article guides you through creating a static library solution for the Nana C++ GUI library using Visual Studio 2015. Nana is a powerful and lightweight cross-platform GUI library, perfect for creating simple and complex applications. While Nana works out-of-the-box with standard build systems, creating a static library offers several advantages, including:
- Reduced Application Size: Static libraries embed the Nana code directly into your application, eliminating the need for separate Nana DLLs and potentially reducing your application's footprint.
- Simplified Deployment: You only need to distribute your executable file, as all necessary code is bundled within.
- Improved Code Control: You have complete control over the Nana version used, ensuring consistent behavior across different environments.
Setting Up the Project
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Create a New Static Library Project: Open Visual Studio 2015 and create a new "Static Library (.lib)" project. Name it appropriately, e.g., "NanaStaticLib".
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Include Nana Headers: Download the Nana library from the official website (https://nanapro.org/). Unzip the archive and add the Nana directory to your project's include path. For example, if you extracted Nana to "C:\Nana", add the following to your project's properties:
- Configuration Properties -> C/C++ -> General -> Additional Include Directories:
C:\Nana
- Configuration Properties -> C/C++ -> General -> Additional Include Directories:
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Add Nana Source Files: Navigate to the Nana directory, find the source files (usually under the "src" folder), and add them to your project as existing items.
Building the Static Library
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Configure Project Settings:
- Configuration Properties -> General -> Character Set: Choose "Not Set" or "Multi-Byte Character Set" based on your application's needs.
- Configuration Properties -> C/C++ -> Preprocessor -> Preprocessor Definitions: Add
NANA_STATIC_LINKto define Nana as a static library.
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Build the Project: Select "Build" -> "Build Solution". This will generate the Nana static library file (.lib) within the project's output directory.
Using the Nana Static Library
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Link the Static Library: In your application project (e.g., a console application), add the Nana static library file (.lib) to the linker settings:
- Configuration Properties -> Linker -> General -> Additional Library Directories: Specify the directory containing the Nana static library.
- Configuration Properties -> Linker -> Input -> Additional Dependencies: Add
NanaStaticLib.lib(replace with your actual library name).
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Include Nana Headers: Add the Nana header file path to your application's include directories as explained earlier.
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Start Using Nana: You can now use Nana classes and functions in your application code.
Code Example
// main.cpp
#include <nana/gui.hpp> // Include Nana header file
int main() {
// Create a simple window
nana::form fm;
fm.show();
nana::msgbox mb(fm, "Hello, World!", nana::msgbox::ok);
mb.show();
nana::exec();
return 0;
}
This code demonstrates a basic Nana window with a "Hello, World!" message box. Remember to link your application project with the Nana static library to run this code successfully.
Additional Tips
- Static Linking Caveats: Static linking might increase your application size. If size is a concern, consider using Nana as a dynamic library (DLL).
- Dependencies: Nana might have external dependencies, like libraries for window management or graphics. Ensure you include these dependencies in your static library project and your application project.
- Optimization: Configure your build settings (e.g., compiler flags) to optimize your static library for performance and size.
By following these steps and incorporating additional tips, you can build a robust and efficient Nana static library solution using Visual Studio 2015. This approach enables you to streamline your development process, minimize application size, and deploy your software with confidence.
