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AIX: Create import library for executables with exports

Brad King requested to merge brad.king/cmake:aix-exe-implib into master

On AIX, plugins meant to be loaded into executables via dlopen must be linked with access to a list of symbols exported from the executable in order to use them (when not using runtime linking). The AIX linker supports specifying this list as an "import file" passed on the command line either via the -bI:... option or (with a leading #! . line) as a normal input file like any other library file.

The linker import file plays the same role on AIX as import libraries do on Windows. Teach CMake to enable its import library abstraction on AIX for executables with the ENABLE_EXPORTS target property set. Teach our internal ExportImportList script to optionally generate a leading #! . line at the top of the generated export/import list. Update our rule for linking an executable with exports to generate a public-facing "import library" implemented as an AIX linker import file.

With this approach, our existing infrastructure for handling import libraries on Windows will now work for AIX linker import files too:

  • Plugins that link to their executable's symbols will be automatically linked using the import file on the command line.

  • The executable's import file will be (optionally) installed and exported for use in linking externally-built plugins.

This will allow executables and their plugins to build even if we later turn off runtime linking.

Issue: #19163 (closed)

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