GNU ar format support

[sonals]

Are there any plans to support GNU ar format used for static libraries?

[serge1]

Hi, I did such attempt about 15 years ago. There were no particular interest from community. So, I abandoned the project. Do you see a particular value for such support?

[sonals]

We have been successfully using ELFIO in aiebu and other projects. Static libraries help consolidate multiple ELFs into a common archive improving logistics of binary distribution, hence the need to support static libraries (GNU ar files) in ELFIO.

[serge1]

It does not look as a big deal. I can challenge myself and add 'ar' support as a weekend project

[sonals]

I can help test your initial code. Let me know once you have something to share.

[serge1]

Thank you very much for your kind proposal. I'll definitely use it.
BTW, will it be a problem if I'll use C++23? Mostly, due to the usage of std::expected as error processing mechanism?

[sonals]

We are still on C++17 :-(
Can we keep ELFIO compatible with C++17?

[serge1]

Well, the reader part of the 'ario' library is ready. You can review it and look at the API usage in tests/ARIOTest.cpp or examples/archive_dump. All is located in Git branch ario.
It is initial, unstable implementation and API may, potentially, be changed.
Please let me know whether it satisfies your requirements.
Please inform me whether you need the writer part of the library too? If so, how urgent?

[sonals]

Thank you! I validated ario feature and it works great. Created a PR with two minor changes #155.

[sonals]

And yes, reader support is good enough for now.

[serge1]

ARIO library has been included into the 'main' branch and is part of the ELFIO distribution now

[serge1]

With adding arion and arioso examples to the project, I think the work is finished. Please let me know if further library improvement is desirable