ServBay Development Library

The ServBay Development Library is a core collection of development resources provided by ServBay, primarily including various .h (header files), .a (static libraries), .la (libtool libraries), and other essential files for development. It is designed for developers who wish to perform advanced development on the ServBay environment, such as compiling custom software packages or building specialized modules. This library provides the necessary resources to ensure compatibility with built-in ServBay components.

TIP

For Developers: This development library is mainly intended for advanced users who need to compile software or modules to integrate with the ServBay environment. For regular ServBay usage (such as running websites or databases), you typically do not need to install this development package.

Overview

The main purpose of the ServBay Development Library is to provide development header files and library files for the various packages in ServBay, such as PHP, PostgreSQL, OpenSSL, and more. When you need to compile a program or module that depends on a specific version of a software package provided by ServBay (for example, building a PHP extension that needs to link against ServBay’s bundled PHP version), these files are essential. They ensure that your compiled code fully interoperates with the matching package inside the ServBay environment.

Use Cases

This development library is mainly suited to the following developer scenarios:

• Compiling custom PHP modules/extensions: If you need to use a specific version of PHP from ServBay and wish to compile and install a PHP extension that isn’t offered in the official repositories, you’ll require the PHP headers and library files from the ServBay Development Library.
• Compiling custom PostgreSQL modules/extensions: Similarly, developing PostgreSQL extensions or custom functions requires the relevant header and library files, all included in the development library.
• Compiling programs that depend on ServBay packages: If your C/C++ or other language projects need to link against libraries provided by ServBay (such as OpenSSL, cURL, GD, etc.), you can use the files supplied in the development library for compilation.
• Building new packages for ServBay: If you are an advanced ServBay user looking to contribute new packages or update current ones for the ServBay environment, this development library is a vital dependency during the build process.

For detailed compilation instructions, see the following advanced guides:

• How to Compile a Package
• How to Compile a PHP Module
• How to Compile a PostgreSQL Module

Prerequisites

To use the ServBay Development Library for compiling, you should have:

• A basic understanding of C/C++ or the language used by the module you wish to compile.
• Familiarity with common build toolchains and systems (such as make, autoconf, pkg-config, etc.).
• Xcode Command Line Tools or the full Xcode application installed on your macOS system.

Installation

Installing the ServBay Development Library is straightforward and can be done directly through the ServBay app interface:

1. Open the ServBay app.
2. Navigate to the Packages section in the left sidebar.
3. Select the General Packages tab.
4. Locate ServBay Development Library in the list.
5. Click the Install button to its right.

ServBay will automatically download and install all required development resources into its environment.

Once installation is complete, these header and library files will usually reside in specific locations within the ServBay installation directory (such as inside /Applications/ServBay/). You can use them during compilation by specifying the appropriate include (-I) and library (-L) paths. For exact locations, please refer to the ServBay documentation or the compilation guide for your particular package.

Summary

The ServBay Development Library is a powerful tool designed for advanced developers, making it possible to perform secondary development and compilation within the ServBay ecosystem. If you need to build custom modules or deeply integrate with ServBay’s bundled packages, installing this development library is your crucial first step.