Method and system for calling one of a set of routines designed for direct invocation by programs of a second type when invoked by a program of the first type

摘要

A method and system for providing a set of routines that may be invoked by programs of two or more types is provided. In a preferred embodiment, a group of libraries that each are able to be called by programs of a different one of the types is provided. Each of the routines is provided by a function in one of the libraries. The method and system causes all of the libraries of the group to be loaded when any of the libraries of the group are loaded. In order to invoke a routine, a program calls a function in the library of the group that is able to be called by programs of its type. If the routine is provided by a function in this library, the library provides the routine itself. If the routine is provided by a function in another library of the group, the library calls the function that provides the routine in another library of the group. In a preferred embodiment, the library causes a calling instruction to be written into the library which calls the function that provides the routine in another library of the group in order to enable the library to call the function that provides the routine in another library of the group. In a further preferred embodiment, other libraries of the group are actually loaded only when one of their functions is called to provide a routine of the set.