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-rw-r--r--docs/libcurl/ABI70
1 files changed, 31 insertions, 39 deletions
diff --git a/docs/libcurl/ABI b/docs/libcurl/ABI
index ef0caa6f2..0121bb035 100644
--- a/docs/libcurl/ABI
+++ b/docs/libcurl/ABI
@@ -1,63 +1,55 @@
- _ _ ____ _
- ___| | | | _ \| |
- / __| | | | |_) | |
- | (__| |_| | _ <| |___
- \___|\___/|_| \_\_____|
-
- libcurl's binary interface
-
ABI - Application Binary Interface
-----------------------------------
+==================================
- "ABI" describes the low-level interface between an application program and a
- library. Calling conventions, function arguments, return values, struct
- sizes/defines and more.
+ "ABI" describes the low-level interface between an application program and a
+ library. Calling conventions, function arguments, return values, struct
+ sizes/defines and more.
- [Wikipedia has a longer description](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Application_binary_interface)
+ [Wikipedia has a longer description](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Application_binary_interface)
Upgrades
--------
- In the vast majority of all cases, a typical libcurl upgrade does not break
- the ABI at all. Your application can remain using libcurl just as before,
- only with less bugs and possibly with added new features. You need to read
- the release notes, and if they mention an ABI break/soname bump, you may
- have to verify that your application still builds fine and uses libcurl as
- it now is defined to work.
+ In the vast majority of all cases, a typical libcurl upgrade does not break
+ the ABI at all. Your application can remain using libcurl just as before,
+ only with less bugs and possibly with added new features. You need to read
+ the release notes, and if they mention an ABI break/soname bump, you may have
+ to verify that your application still builds fine and uses libcurl as it now
+ is defined to work.
Version Numbers
---------------
- In libcurl land, you really can't tell by the libcurl version number if that
- libcurl is binary compatible or not with another libcurl version.
+ In libcurl land, you really can't tell by the libcurl version number if that
+ libcurl is binary compatible or not with another libcurl version.
Soname Bumps
------------
- Whenever there are changes done to the library that will cause an ABI
- breakage, that may require your application to get attention or possibly be
- changed to adhere to new things, we will bump the soname. Then the library
- will get a different output name and thus can in fact be installed in
- parallel with an older installed lib (on most systems). Thus, old
- applications built against the previous ABI version will remain working and
- using the older lib, while newer applications build and use the newer one.
+ Whenever there are changes done to the library that will cause an ABI
+ breakage, that may require your application to get attention or possibly be
+ changed to adhere to new things, we will bump the soname. Then the library
+ will get a different output name and thus can in fact be installed in
+ parallel with an older installed lib (on most systems). Thus, old
+ applications built against the previous ABI version will remain working and
+ using the older lib, while newer applications build and use the newer one.
- During the first seven years of libcurl releases, there have only been four
- ABI breakages.
+ During the first seven years of libcurl releases, there have only been four
+ ABI breakages.
- We are determined to bump the SONAME as rarely as possible. Ideally, we
- never do it again.
+ We are determined to bump the SONAME as rarely as possible. Ideally, we
+ never do it again.
Downgrades
----------
- Going to an older libcurl version from one you're currently using can be a
- tricky thing. Mostly we add features and options to newer libcurls as that
- won't break ABI or hamper existing applications. This has the implication
- that going backwards may get you in a situation where you pick a libcurl
- that doesn't support the options your application needs. Or possibly you
- even downgrade so far so you cross an ABI break border and thus a different
- soname, and then your application may need to adapt to the modified ABI.
+ Going to an older libcurl version from one you're currently using can be a
+ tricky thing. Mostly we add features and options to newer libcurls as that
+ won't break ABI or hamper existing applications. This has the implication
+ that going backwards may get you in a situation where you pick a libcurl that
+ doesn't support the options your application needs. Or possibly you even
+ downgrade so far so you cross an ABI break border and thus a different
+ soname, and then your application may need to adapt to the modified ABI.
History
-------