Develop Reference

Android - item in LOCAL_STATIC_LIBRARIES not being built

I'm having trouble getting the dependency module to build while building a static library in AOSP. Call this library A, it has a dependency on another static lib B.
A's Android.mk looks like this:
LOCAL_PATH:= $(call my-dir)
include $(CLEAR_VARS)
LOCAL_MODULE := A
LOCAL_SRC_FILES := <files...>
LOCAL_STATIC_LIBRARIES := B
include $(BUILD_STATIC_LIBRARY)
Individually B builds fine (mma).
Problem is when I build A, B is not being built. Instead I see this at output:
Export includes file: <...>/B/Android.mk -- out/<...>/STATIC_LIBRARIES/B_intermediates/export_includes
Can someone explain what does this line mean and, why is it not trying use B's Android.mk to properly build B?
I understand it's not ideal to package a static lib inside another, but here I'm more courious about why is it the build system not running through B's makefile, when it's clearly a dependency?
Thank you!

The build system ignores lots of irrelevant statements, LOCAL_STATIC_LIBRARIES being one of examples. They don't write every entry in LOCAL_STATIC_LIBRARIES as a dependency for libA.a. Instead, they interpret the Android.mk files to produce make rules for all targets, and if a dependency happens to show up, it will eventually get built, too.
Therefore, the easiest workaround for you would be to add a dummy shared library to your Android.mk, like
LOCAL_PATH:= $(call my-dir)
include $(CLEAR_VARS)
LOCAL_MODULE := A
LOCAL_SRC_FILES := <files...>
include $(BUILD_STATIC_LIBRARY)
include $(CLEAR_VARS)
LOCAL_MODULE := dummyA
LOCAL_SRC_FILES := dummy.c
LOCAL_STATIC_LIBRARIES := B
include $(BUILD_SHARED_LIBRARY)
I am not sure if you can drop LOCAL_SRC_FILES completely. In terms of good old plain make files, the above is roughly equivalent to:
all: libA.a libdummyA.so
libdummyA.so: dummy.c libB.a
gcc -o $# dummy.c -lb
Alternatively, you can manually specify the dependency:
$(PRODUCT_OUT)/obj/STATIC_LIBRARIES/libA_intermediates/libA.a: $(PRODUCT_OUT)/obj/STATIC_LIBRARIES/libB_intermediates/libB.a
Re: export_includes message, it is the result of processing LOCAL_EXPORT_C_INCLUDES statement for libB.

Android NDK/JNI: Building a shared library that depends on other shared libraries

I am writing an android app that wants to make JNI calls into a shared library built in using the NDK. The trick is this shared library calls functions provided by OTHER shared libraries. The other shared libraries are C libraries that have been compiled elsewhere.
Here's what I've tried:
My Environment:
I'm working in Eclipse. I've added native support and have a jni library. In that library I have my code and a \lib directory where I have copied my other .so files.
Attempt #1 Android.mk: Just telling it where the libs are
LOCAL_PATH := $(call my-dir)
include $(CLEAR_VARS)
LOCAL_MODULE := native_lib
LOCAL_SRC_FILES := native_lib.cpp
LOCAL_LDLIBS := -L$(SYSROOT)/../usr/lib -llog
LOCAL_LDLIBS += -L$(LOCAL_PATH)/lib/support_lib1
LOCAL_LDLIBS += -L$(LOCAL_PATH)/lib/support_lib2
include $(BUILD_SHARED_LIBRARY)
This builds just fine, but when I try to run I get errors indicating that dlopen(libnative_lib) failed because it couldn't load libsupport_lib1.
Coming here I found this:
Can shared library call another shared library?
which said that I needed to call load library on all necessary libraries. Great!
Attempt #2 Opening each library first
static {
System.loadLibrary("support_lib1");
System.loadLibrary("support_lib2");
System.loadLibrary("native_lib");
}
Again, this builds just fine, however when I run I get a new error:
couldn't load libsupport_lib1. findLibrary returned null.
Now we're getting somewhere. It must not be loading the libraries over to the target.
Attempt #3 Copying .so files into project/libs/armeabi
Didn't work. When Eclipse builds it deleted the files I dropped in there.
Attempt #4 Creating a new module for each library
So then I found this:
Android NDK: Link using a pre-compiled static library
It's about static libraries, but maybe I am having a similar problem. The gist is that I need to declare a module for each library. So my new Android.mk looks like this:
LOCAL_PATH := $(call my-dir)
#get support_lib1
include $(CLEAR_VARS)
LOCAL_MODULE := support_lib1
LOCAL_SRC_FILES := $(LOCAL_PATH)/lib/support_lib1.so
include $(BUILD_SHARED_LIBRARY)
#get support_lib2
include $(CLEAR_VARS)
LOCAL_MODULE := support_lib2
LOCAL_SRC_FILES := $(LOCAL_PATH)/lib/support_lib2.so
include $(BUILD_SHARED_LIBRARY)
#build native lib
include $(CLEAR_VARS)
LOCAL_MODULE := native_lib
LOCAL_SRC_FILES := native_lib.cpp
LOCAL_LDLIBS := -L$(SYSROOT)/../usr/lib -llog
LOCAL_LDLIBS += -L$(LOCAL_PATH)/lib/support_lib1
LOCAL_LDLIBS += -L$(LOCAL_PATH)/lib/support_lib2
include $(BUILD_SHARED_LIBRARY)
This builds! Even better, armeabi has the sos now! Even BETTER I get the following messages when I try to run it (telling me that support_lib1 and 2 were opened by LoadLibrary:
Trying to load lib /data/app-lib/com.example.tst/libsupport_lib1.so
added shared lib /data/app-lib/com.example.tst/libsupport_lib1.so
no JNI_OnLoad found in /data/app-lib/com.example.tst/libsupport_lib1.so, skipping init
but then...
dlopen failed: Could not locate symbol func_that_exists_in_libsupport_lib.so referenced by libnative_lib.so
Edit: Attempt 5: Use PREBUILT_SHARED_LIBRARY
So I found this:
How can i Link prebuilt shared Library to Android NDK project?
which seems to be exactly what I'm asking. Their answer seems to be 'don't use 'build_shared_library' but instead 'use PREBUILT_SHARED_LIBRARY
Okay, let's try.
LOCAL_PATH := $(call my-dir)
#get support_lib1
include $(CLEAR_VARS)
LOCAL_MODULE := support_lib1
LOCAL_SRC_FILES := $(LOCAL_PATH)/lib/support_lib1.so
include $(PREBUILT_SHARED_LIBRARY)
#get support_lib2
include $(CLEAR_VARS)
LOCAL_MODULE := support_lib2
LOCAL_SRC_FILES := $(LOCAL_PATH)/lib/support_lib2.so
include $(PREBUILT_SHARED_LIBRARY)
#build native lib
include $(CLEAR_VARS)
LOCAL_MODULE := native_lib
LOCAL_SRC_FILES := native_lib.cpp
LOCAL_LDLIBS := -L$(SYSROOT)/../usr/lib -llog
LOCAL_SHARED_LIBRARIES := support_lib1 support_lib2
include $(BUILD_SHARED_LIBRARY)
Build... fails! The build complains about missing symbols now.
Edit: Attempt 6: Flatten everything
So I went back to the prebuilts documentation in the NDK. It says:
Each prebuilt library must be declared as a single independent module to the build system. Here is a trivial example where we assume that the file "libfoo.so" is located in the same directory than the Android.mk below:
LOCAL_PATH := $(call my-dir)
include $(CLEAR_VARS)
LOCAL_MODULE := foo-prebuilt
LOCAL_SRC_FILES := libfoo.so
include $(PREBUILT_SHARED_LIBRARY)
Notice that, to declare such a module, you really only need the following:
Give the module a name (here 'foo-prebuilt'). This does not need to correspond to the name of the prebuilt library itself.
Assign to LOCAL_SRC_FILES the path to the prebuilt library you are providing. As usual, the path is relative to your LOCAL_PATH.
Include PREBUILT_SHARED_LIBRARY, instead of BUILD_SHARED_LIBRARY, if you are providing a shared, library. For static ones, use PREBUILT_STATIC_LIBRARY.
A prebuilt module does not build anything. However, a copy of your prebuilt shared library will be copied into $PROJECT/obj/local, and another will be copied and stripped into $PROJECT/libs/.
So let's try flattening everything out to match the trivial example. I copied my libraries out of their cozy /lib folder and put them in the jni root. I then did this:
LOCAL_PATH := $(call my-dir)
#get support_lib1
include $(CLEAR_VARS)
LOCAL_MODULE := support_lib1
LOCAL_SRC_FILES := support_lib1.so
include $(PREBUILT_SHARED_LIBRARY)
#get support_lib2
include $(CLEAR_VARS)
LOCAL_MODULE := support_lib2
LOCAL_SRC_FILES := support_lib2.so
include $(PREBUILT_SHARED_LIBRARY)
#build native lib
include $(CLEAR_VARS)
LOCAL_MODULE := native_lib
LOCAL_SRC_FILES := native_lib.cpp
LOCAL_LDLIBS := -L$(SYSROOT)/../usr/lib -llog
LOCAL_SHARED_LIBRARIES := support_lib1 support_lib2
include $(BUILD_SHARED_LIBRARY)
and... same error. Moreover I'm most definitely NOT seeing library files getting copied to $PROJECT/obj/local.
sooooo.... now what?

Your problem is with the naming convention. NDK and Android insist on the shared library names to always begin with lib. Otherwise, the libraries will not be linked properly, and not copied to the libs/armeabi folder properly, and not installed on the device (copied to /data/data/package/lib directory properly.
If you rename support_lib1.so to libsupport_1.so and support_lib2.so to libsupport_2.so, and put these two files in jni/lib directory, then your Attempt #5 will work with minor change:
LOCAL_PATH := $(call my-dir)
#get support_lib1
include $(CLEAR_VARS)
LOCAL_MODULE := support_lib1
LOCAL_SRC_FILES := lib/libsupport_1.so
include $(PREBUILT_SHARED_LIBRARY)
#get support_lib2
include $(CLEAR_VARS)
LOCAL_MODULE := support_lib2
LOCAL_SRC_FILES := lib/libsupport_2.so
include $(PREBUILT_SHARED_LIBRARY)
#build native lib
include $(CLEAR_VARS)
LOCAL_MODULE := native_lib
LOCAL_SRC_FILES := native_lib.cpp
LOCAL_LDLIBS := -L$(SYSROOT)/../usr/lib -llog
LOCAL_SHARED_LIBRARIES := support_lib1 support_lib2
include $(BUILD_SHARED_LIBRARY)
BTW, I don't think you need this -L$(SYSROOT)/../usr/lib.
PS Don't forget to update the Java side, too:
static {
System.loadLibrary("support_lib1");
System.loadLibrary("support_lib2");
System.loadLibrary("native_lib");
}

Not sure if this is exactly where you are at, but here's what I know about these sorts of things.
Make each prebuilt libary its own separate Makefile. Multiple targets in Android.mk tends to get wonky. Sad.
Include each make file using $(call import-add-path) and $(call import-module)
Export as much as you can from the prebuilt's make files, using the LOCAL_EXPORT_ family of variables.
Prebuilt Shared Library Android.mk
LOCAL_PATH := $(call my-dir)
include $(CLEAR_VARS)
LOCAL_MODULE := my_module_name
MY_LIBRARY_NAME := shared_library_name
### export include path
LOCAL_EXPORT_C_INCLUDES := $(LOCAL_PATH)/include
### path to library
LOCAL_SRC_FILES := libs/$(TARGET_ARCH_ABI)/lib$(MY_LIBRARY_NAME).so
### export dependency on the library
LOCAL_EXPORT_LDLIBS := -L$(LOCAL_PATH)/libs/$(TARGET_ARCH_ABI)/
LOCAL_EXPORT_LDLIBS += -l$(MY_LIBRARY_NAME)
include $(PREBUILT_SHARED_LIBRARY)
This is assuming that the prebuilt libaries live in a dir structure like this
+ SharedProjectFolderName
+--- Android.mk
+--- include/
+-+- libs/$(TARGET_ARCH_ABI)/
|- libshared_library_name.so
If you are not building for multiple ABI, I guess you can leave that bit out
The Project's Android.mk
LOCAL_PATH := $(call my-dir)
include $(CLEAR_VARS)
LOCAL_MODULE := my_jni_module
## source files here, etc...
### define dependency on the other library
LOCAL_SHARED_LIBRARIES := my_module_name
include $(BUILD_SHARED_LIBRARY)
$(call import-add-path,$(LOCAL_PATH)/path/to/myLibraries/)
$(call import-module,SharedProjectFolderName)
$(call import-module,AnotherSharedProject)
I recommend you put all shared libraries in one folder. When you say $(call import-module,SharedProjectFolderName) it looks for a folder containing an Android.mk along the search path you told it (import-add-path)
By the way, you probably shouldn't specify LOCAL_LDLIBS := -L$(SYSROOT)/../usr/lib. It should be finding the proper libs from NDK by itself. Adding more linker paths will probably confuse it. The proper way is to export the linker paths as flags from the sub-modules.
ALSO, you can use ndk-build V=1 to get a ton of info on why it can't find paths, etc

The -L option gives the linker a directory path in which to look for libraries. The -l option gives the linker a library file name to link in. Library file names must begin with "lib". Your libraries should be named libsupport_lib1.so and libsupport_lib2.so. If you do that, then this is probably what you should do (replacing attempt #1):
LOCAL_LDLIBS := -L$(SYSROOT)/../usr/lib -llog -lsupport_lib1 -lsupport_lib2
LOCAL_LDLIBS += -L$(LOCAL_PATH)/lib
The linker will prefix the library name you specify using -l with "lib" and suffix it with ".so". (Why do you have -L$(SYSROOT)/../usr/lib?)
I believe that attempts #1 and #2 failed because you did not link your libraries into your executable - they are not mentioned in a -l option. By the way, you can verify this yourself. Unzip the .apk file and look in the lib directory and subdirectories. Are your .so files in there?
Looking at the error:
but then... dlopen failed: Could not locate symbol func_that_exists_in_libsupport_lib.so referenced by libnative_lib.so
Can you supply the entire message? dlopen() loads and links libraries into the running process.

Use external static library in application (NDK)

I have recently started working with NDK and am stuck with a problem. I basically want to use an external static library (.so) into my application. Here's what I've tried till now.
Create a library
1) Add a method in the Java class with native keyword
public native static void FibNR ();
2) In the terminal navigate to the project folder and run the following command
mkdir jni
javah -jni -classpath bin/classes/ -d jni/ com.example.fibonaccinative.FibLib
3) Refresh project and add a C file corresponding to the generated H file.
4) Create a Android.mk file in the JNI folder and add the following code in it
LOCAL_PATH := $(call my-dir)
include $(CLEAR_VARS)
OPENCV_LIB_TYPE :=STATIC
LOCAL_SRC_FILES := com_example_fibonaccinative_FibLib.c
LOCAL_MODULE := com_example_fibonaccinative_FibLib
include $(BUILD_SHARED_LIBRARY)
5) Build the code using the following command
/Developer/android-ndk-r9b/ndk-build all
The above steps execute successfully and I'm able to view the results of the c code also. Now I want to create a new application and use the generated .so file (com_example_fibonaccinative_FibLib.so) into it. For this I do the following
Use the library
follow steps 1, 2 and 3 from above for the new application
4) Create a Android.mk file in the JNI folder and add the following code in it
LOCAL_PATH := $(call my-dir)
include $(CLEAR_VARS)
OPENCV_LIB_TYPE :=STATIC
LOCAL_SRC_FILES := com_example_usingstaticlibrary_LibraryTest.c
LOCAL_MODULE := com_example_usingstaticlibrary_LibraryTest
LOCAL_SHARED_LIBRARIES :=libcom_example_fibonaccinative_FibLib.so
LOCAL_LDLIBS := -L$(SYSROOT)/usr -llog
include $(BUILD_SHARED_LIBRARY)
5) Build the code using the following command
/Developer/android-ndk-r9b/ndk-build all
I'm not sure what to do next. What I think is I need to call the function of the library into com_example_usingstaticlibrary_LibraryTest.c. But doing so gives me an error saying
'com_example_fibonaccinative_FibLib' undeclared
EDIT 1:
1) In project 2 (where I want to use the Prebuilt Shared Library (.so)) I copied the library into the 'jni' folder
2) Changed the Android.mk file with the below text.
LOCAL_PATH := $(call my-dir)
include $(CLEAR_VARS)
LOCAL_MODULE := libcom_example_fibonaccinative_FibLib
LOCAL_SRC_FILES := libcom_example_fibonaccinative_FibLib.so
include $(PREBUILT_SHARED_LIBRARY)
include $(CLEAR_VARS)
LOCAL_MODULE := com_example_usingstaticlibrary_LibraryTest
LOCAL_SHARED_LIBRARIES := libcom_example_fibonaccinative_FibLib
LOCAL_SRC_FILES := com_example_usingstaticlibrary_LibraryTest.c
include $(BUILD_SHARED_LIBRARY)
3) Added the .h file from the old project (com_example_fibonaccinative_FibLib.h) into the 'jni' folder
4) Changed the source of com_example_usingstaticlibrary_LibraryTest.c to
#include "com_example_usingstaticlibrary_LibraryTest.h"
#include "com_example_fibonaccinative_FibLib.h"
JNIEXPORT jlong JNICALL Java_com_example_usingstaticlibrary_LibraryTest_callLibraryFunction
(JNIEnv *env, jclass class) {
Java_com_example_fibonaccinative_FibLib_fibNR(env, class, 500l);
return -500l;
}
Clean/Build results into the following error
undefined reference to 'Java_com_example_fibonaccinative_FibLib_fibNR'
Edit 2:
With reference to this I've edited the Android.mk as follows
LOCAL_PATH := $(call my-dir)
include $(CLEAR_VARS)
LOCAL_MODULE := com_example_fibonaccinative_FibLib
LOCAL_SRC_FILES := libcom_example_fibonaccinative_FibLib.so
LOCAL_EXPORT_C_INCLUDES := $(LOCAL_PATH)/include
include $(PREBUILT_SHARED_LIBRARY)
include $(CLEAR_VARS)
LOCAL_MODULE := com_example_usingstaticlibrary_LibraryTest
LOCAL_SRC_FILES := com_example_usingstaticlibrary_LibraryTest.c
LOCAL_SHARED_LIBRARIES := com_example_fibonaccinative_FibLib
include $(BUILD_SHARED_LIBRARY)
The NDK build command compiles the code without error. When trying to load the library it gives the following error
Exception Ljava/lang/UnsatisfiedLinkError; thrown while initializing Lcom/example/usingstaticlibrary/LibraryTest
When I remove LOCAL_SHARED_LIBRARIES := com_example_fibonaccinative_FibLib it works fine but I cannot use any function of the Prebuilt shared library.
Edit 3:
I tried a few more things including the suggestion by #jcm but nothing worked. I'm now attaching the source code. It has both the projects (Cleaned version to reduce size).
FibonacciNative: Contains the first project.
UsingStaticLibrary: Contains the second project. I intend to use the Prebuilt Shared Library of the first project into the second one.

You say you want to include a precompiled static library .a, but the file you reference is a shared library .so. If you still want to include a static library, here comes the solution and explanation:
LOCAL_SHARED_LIBRARIES :=libcom_example_fibonaccinative_FibLib.so
You're trying to include the static library as a shared one, looks like an accidental slip from using the previous shared library entry as reference :).
Upon that, Android makefiles still requires you to actually make a module for the external library.
include $(CLEAR_VARS)
LOCAL_MODULE := com_example_fibonaccinative_FibLib
LOCAL_SRC_FILES := com_example_fibonaccinative_FibLib.a
include $(PREBUILT_STATIC_LIBRARY)
Then you can simply add it as a dependency:
LOCAL_STATIC_LIBRARIES := com_example_fibonaccinative_FibLib
But if you're actually trying to include an external shared library. You would need to change the above to the following:
include $(CLEAR_VARS)
LOCAL_MODULE := com_example_fibonaccinative_FibLib
LOCAL_SRC_FILES := com_example_fibonaccinative_FibLib.so
include $(PREBUILT_SHARED_LIBRARY)
and include it as a shared library.
LOCAL_SHARED_LIBRARIES := com_example_fibonaccinative_FibLib
Hope I helped!
Disclaimer: I have not actually tried to compile an example, simply referencing my knowledge and quick research.
References:
Android NDK: Static library used is different than precompiled library specified

As you're including libcom_example_fibonaccinative_FibLib.so as LibraryTest's shared library, in your java static method, you should load it before loading LibraryTest:
System.loadlibrary(com_example_fibonaccinative_FibLib);
System.loadLibrary(LibraryTest);
Update:
After checking your code, LibraryTest.java should look like:
package com.kochartech.usingstaticlibrary;
public class LibraryTest {
public native static long callLibraryFunction();
static {
System.loadLibrary("com_kochartech_fibonaccinative_FibLib");
System.loadLibrary("com_kochartech_usingstaticlibrary_LibraryTest");
}
}

NDK: using user created .so when trying to build another .so

I'm trying to link some .so that I generated using the NDK to a new .so I'm trying to create,
as the old .so contains definitions of functions that I want to use in the new .so.
I've tried this Android.mk :
LOCAL_PATH := $(call my-dir)
include $(CLEAR_VARS)
LOCAL_MODULE := prog_test
LOCAL_SRC_FILES := main.c
LOCAL_MODULE_TAGS := optional
LOCAL_SHARED_LIBRARIES += mylib
include $(BUILD_SHARED_LIBRARY)
$(call import-module,<tag>) # with and without
I've also tried this method I found in stackoverflow NDK - How to use a generated .so library in another project but still no succes as I get always :
prebuilt/linux-x86/toolchain/arm-linux-androideabi-4.4.x/bin/../lib/gcc/arm-linux-androideabi/4.4.3/../../../../arm-linux-androideabi/bin/ld: error: cannot find -lmylib.so
I really appreciate any help to solve this issue.
B.R

you have to use include $(PREBUILD_SHARED_LIBRARY) instead of include $(BUILD_SHARED_LIBRARY)

Unable to LoadLibrary ssl for Android, getting UnsatifiedLinkError

I have built OpenSSL for Android(using ndk-build) and have linked it to my program. Compilation and linking works, but I get a run time error of UnsatisfiedLinkError.
More specifically, the program breaks on this code:
public class TestActivity extends Activity
{ // load the library - name matches jni/Android.mk
static {
System.loadLibrary("crypto2");
System.loadLibrary("ssl2"); // <=BREAKS HERE!
System.loadLibrary("Test");
}
It specifically breaks when loading ssl2, so it seems it was able to load crypto2.
I think I need to tell ssl2 that it use cryto2, I tried to do that on the Android.mk file, but it didn't help.
LOCAL_PATH := $(call my-dir)
include $(CLEAR_VARS)
LOCAL_MODULE := libcrypto2
LOCAL_SRC_FILES := OpenSSL/libcrypto2.so
include $(PREBUILT_SHARED_LIBRARY)
include $(CLEAR_VARS)
LOCAL_MODULE := libssl2
LOCAL_SRC_FILES := OpenSSL/libssl2.so
LOCAL_SHARED_LIBRARIES := libcrypto2
include $(PREBUILT_SHARED_LIBRARY)
include $(CLEAR_VARS) # Here we give our module name and source file(s)
LOCAL_C_INCLUDES := D:/DevelopTools/OpenSSL-WIN32/include $(LOCAL_PATH)/../../../Framework/Applications/FW2Prototype $(LOCAL_PATH)/../../../Graphics/Libraries/Common $(LOCAL_PATH)/../../../Input/Libraries/Common $(LOCAL_PATH)/../../../Audio/Libraries/Common $(LOCAL_PATH)/../../../Audio/Libraries/NullAudio $(LOCAL_PATH)/../../../Network/Libraries/Common
LOCAL_MODULE := Test
LOCAL_SRC_FILES := Test.cpp Reference.cpp JNINetwork.cpp JNIGraphics2D.cpp JNIInput.cpp JNIAudio.cpp Applications/FatalWars2/FatalWars2.cpp /../../../Audio/Libraries/NullAudio/NullAudio.cpp
LOCAL_SHARED_LIBRARIES := libcrypto2 libssl2
include $(BUILD_SHARED_LIBRARY)
Any idea what is wrong?
Thanks,

I "solved" this.
I simpley built openssl into a single so file. I built both crypto and ssl statically, so ssl's dependency in crypto was hidden inside the static linking.
The issue is apparently that I couldn't load the prebuilt shared library ssl, because it was dependant of another prebuilt shared library(crypto). Maybe it's possible to load such libraries somehow, but my solution was just to static link crypto into ssl and then into a shared library called openssl.