Cannot link compiled static C-libraries

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1

I’m attempting to combine QTouch and Arduino for a project using an Arduino Nano 33 IoT. I’ve generated the QTouch files which include static c-libraries that must be included. However, the compiler is unable to find the files, even though I explicitly tell it where to find them with build_flags.

Here is my platformio.ini file:

[env:nano_33_iot]
platform = atmelsam
board = nano_33_iot
framework = arduino
build_flags = -w -Ilib -Llib -lqtm_acq_samd21_0x0024_api -lqtm_freq_hop_0x0006_api -lqtm_freq_hop_auto_0x0004_api -lqtm_touch_key_0x0002_api

And the structure of the lib directory on my Windows machine:

08/01/2023  10:07 AM             6,992 qtm_acq_samd21_0x0024_api.a
08/01/2023  10:07 AM            16,198 qtm_acq_samd21_0x0024_api.h
08/01/2023  10:07 AM             7,212 qtm_common_components_api.h
08/01/2023  10:07 AM             1,704 qtm_freq_hop_0x0006_api.a
08/01/2023  10:07 AM             4,681 qtm_freq_hop_0x0006_api.h
08/01/2023  10:07 AM             1,996 qtm_freq_hop_auto_0x0004_api.a
08/01/2023  10:07 AM             4,952 qtm_freq_hop_auto_0x0004_api.h
08/01/2023  10:07 AM             3,900 qtm_touch_key_0x0002_api.a
08/01/2023  10:07 AM            10,231 qtm_touch_key_0x0002_api.h

And, finally, the error I am getting:

Linking .pio\build\nano_33_iot\firmware.elf
c:/users/user/.platformio/packages/toolchain-gccarmnoneeabi/bin/../lib/gcc/arm-none-eabi/7.2.1/../../../../arm-none-eabi/bin/ld.exe: cannot find -lqtm_acq_samd21_0x0024_api
c:/users/user/.platformio/packages/toolchain-gccarmnoneeabi/bin/../lib/gcc/arm-none-eabi/7.2.1/../../../../arm-none-eabi/bin/ld.exe: cannot find -lqtm_freq_hop_0x0006_api
c:/users/user/.platformio/packages/toolchain-gccarmnoneeabi/bin/../lib/gcc/arm-none-eabi/7.2.1/../../../../arm-none-eabi/bin/ld.exe: cannot find -lqtm_freq_hop_auto_0x0004_api
c:/users/user/.platformio/packages/toolchain-gccarmnoneeabi/bin/../lib/gcc/arm-none-eabi/7.2.1/../../../../arm-none-eabi/bin/ld.exe: cannot find -lqtm_touch_key_0x0002_api
collect2.exe: error: ld returned 1 exit status
*** [.pio\build\nano_33_iot\firmware.elf] Error 1

I am importing the touch library in my main.cpp file:

extern "C" {
    #include "touch/touch.h"
}

which imports the above qtm_* files directly, or through another sub-import.

Any ideas as to why this is happening?

2

These files don’t conform to the right naming scheme at all. If you tell GCC to

-lqtm_freq_hop_auto_0x0004_api

It will look for a library called libqtm_freq_hop_auto_0x0004_api.a. And that doesn’t exist.

Refer to this to link with the full name: You’ll have to write -l:qtm_freq_hop_auto_0x0004_api.a etc.

3

Thanks for the reply.

Unfortunately, I’m still getting the same error. Here’s my updated platformio.ini file for reference:

[env:nano_33_iot]
platform = atmelsam
board = nano_33_iot
framework = arduino
build_flags = -w -Ilib -Llib -l:qtm_acq_samd21_0x0024_api.a -l:qtm_freq_hop_0x0006_api.a -l:qtm_freq_hop_auto_0x0004_api.a -l:qtm_touch_key_0x0002_api.a
4

Yeah I just tested that and unfortunately the bug Failing to link external library - #5 by vit is still present. You have to write .a.a instead of .a as a workaround because it strips one .a. I just tested that in a minimal project and it does work fine.

Alternatively, prefixing the produced .a files with lib also solves your problem and your original platformio.ini can be used.

5

That worked!

Thanks for the help!