ServBay Development Library
The ServBay Development Library is a comprehensive set of core development resources provided by ServBay, containing various files required for development such as .h (header files), .a (static libraries), and .la (libtool archives). This library is designed for developers who want to extend ServBay, compile custom software packages, or build specific modules, and it offers all essential development resources fully compatible with ServBay’s integrated components.
TIP
For Developers: This development library is mainly intended for advanced users who need to compile software or modules for integration with the ServBay environment. For typical ServBay usage (running websites, databases, etc.), you generally do not need to install this development package.
Overview
The primary role of the ServBay Development Library is to provide development header and library files for various ServBay packages (including PHP, PostgreSQL, OpenSSL, and more). These files are indispensable when compiling programs or modules that depend on a specific version of a package included with ServBay—such as building a PHP extension that needs to link to ServBay’s PHP. They ensure that your compiled code can interact properly with the corresponding packages in the ServBay environment.
Use Cases
This development library is particularly useful in the following scenarios:
- Compiling custom PHP modules/extensions: If you need to use a specific version of PHP from ServBay and install an extension not supplied by the official repository, you'll need the PHP header and library files from the ServBay Development Library.
- Compiling custom PostgreSQL modules/extensions: Similarly, building custom functions or extensions for PostgreSQL requires its corresponding header and library files, all included in the development library.
- Compiling programs that depend on ServBay packages: If your C/C++ or other language project needs to link against libraries provided by ServBay (like OpenSSL, cURL, GD, etc.), you can use the files available in this development library for compilation.
- Building new packages for ServBay: If you’re an advanced user contributing new packages or updating existing ones for ServBay, this development library serves as a key dependency in your build process.
For specific compilation methods, refer to these advanced guides:
Prerequisites
To work with the ServBay Development Library, make sure you have:
- A basic understanding of C/C++ or the programming language used by the modules you wish to compile.
- Familiarity with common compilation toolchains and build systems (such as make, autoconf, pkg-config, etc.).
- The necessary compilation tools installed on your system:
- macOS: Xcode Command Line Tools or the full Xcode suite
- Windows: Visual Studio Build Tools or Visual Studio Community
Installation
Installing the ServBay Development Library is straightforward and can be done directly from the ServBay application interface:
- Open the ServBay application.
- Go to the Packages tab in the left navigation panel.
- Select the General Packages category.
- Find ServBay Development Library in the list.
- Click the Install button to its right.
ServBay will automatically download and install all necessary development resources into your ServBay environment.
Once installed, the header and library files will be located in specific directories inside the ServBay installation folder:
- macOS: Inside
/Applications/ServBay/ - Windows: Inside
C:\ServBay\
During compilation, simply specify the appropriate include paths (-I) and library paths (-L) to use these files. For exact paths, see ServBay’s documentation or the package compilation guides.
Summary
The ServBay Development Library is a powerful tool for advanced developers, making secondary development and compilation within the ServBay environment possible. If you need to build custom modules or integrate deeply with ServBay's built-in packages, installing this development library is your essential first step.
