Sharing a global/static variable between a process and DLL

To get the behavior of linux where both the main program and a dll share the same x, you can export that variable from either the dll, or the main program. The other module must import that variable.

You do this by using DEF files (see microsoft's documentation), or by marking the uses with the variable with __declspec(dllexport) where it's defined, and __declspec(dllimport) in any other module it's used (see microsoft's documentation). This is the same as how any function, object, or variable is shared between modules in windows.

In the case where you'd like a program to load a library at runtime, but the main program may have to use the variable before the library is loaded, the program should export the variable, and the dll should import it. There is a little bit of a chicken and egg problem here because the dll depends on the main program, and the main program depends on the dll. See http://www.lurklurk.org/linkers/linkers.html#wincircular

I've written an example of how you can do this using both Microsoft's compiler and mingw (gcc in windows), including all the different ways a program and a library can link to each other (statically, dll loaded at program start, dll loaded during runtime)

main.h

#ifndef MAIN_H
#define MAIN_H

// something that includes this
// would #include "linkage_importing.h"
// or #include "linkage_exporting.h"
// as appropriate

#ifndef EXPLICIT_MAIN
LINKAGE int x;
#endif // EXPLICIT_MAIN

#endif // MAIN_H

main.c

#ifdef EXPLICIT_DLL
#include "dyn_link.h"
#endif // EXPLICIT_DLL
#include <stdio.h>
#include "linkage_exporting.h"
#include "main.h"
#include "linkage_importing.h"
#include "dll.h"

FNCALL_DLL get_call_dll(void);

int main(int argc, char* argv[])
{
   FNCALL_DLL fncall_dll;
   fncall_dll = get_call_dll();
   if (fncall_dll)
   {
      x = 42;
      printf("Address of x as seen from main() in main.c: %p\n", &x);
      printf("x is set to %i in main()\n", x);
      fncall_dll();
      // could also be called as (*fncall_dll)();
      // if you want to be explicit that fncall_dll is a function pointer
      printf("Value of x as seen from main() after call to call_dll(): %i\n", x);
   }
   return 0;
}

FNCALL_DLL get_call_dll(void)
{
#ifdef EXPLICIT_DLL
   return get_ptr("dll.dll", "call_dll");
#else
   return call_dll;
#endif // EXPLICIT_DLL
}

dll.h

#ifndef DLL_H
#define DLL_H

// something that includes this
// would #include "linkage_importing.h"
// or #include "linkage_exporting.h"
// as appropriate

// declaration of type to hold a
// pointer to the function
typedef void(*FNCALL_DLL)(void);

#ifndef EXPLICIT_DLL
LINKAGE void call_dll(void);
#endif // EXPLICIT_DLL

#endif // DLL_H

dll.c

#ifdef EXPLICIT_MAIN
#include "dyn_link.h"
#endif // EXPLICIT_MAIN
#include <stdio.h>
#include "linkage_importing.h"
#include "main.h"
#include "linkage_exporting.h"
#include "dll.h"

int* get_x_ptr(void);

LINKAGE void call_dll(void)
{
   int* x_ptr;
   x_ptr = get_x_ptr();
   if (x_ptr)
   {
      printf("Address of x as seen from call_dll() in dll.c: %p\n", x_ptr);
      printf("Value of x as seen in call_dll: %i()\n", *x_ptr);
      *x_ptr = 31415;
      printf("x is set to %i in call_dll()\n", *x_ptr);
   }
}

int* get_x_ptr(void)
{
#ifdef EXPLICIT_MAIN
   return get_ptr("main.exe", "x");   // see note in dyn_link.c about using the main program as a library
#else
   return &x;
#endif //EXPLICIT_MAIN
}

dyn_link.h

#ifndef DYN_LINK_H
#define DYN_LINK_H

// even though this function is used by both, we link it
// into both main.exe and dll.dll as necessary.
// It's not shared in a dll, because it helps us load dlls :)
void* get_ptr(const char* library, const char* object);

#endif // DYN_LINK_H

dyn_link.c

#include "dyn_link.h"
#include <windows.h>
#include <stdio.h>

void* get_ptr(const char* library, const char* object)
{
   HINSTANCE hdll;
   FARPROC ptr;
   hdll = 0;
   ptr = 0;

   hdll = LoadLibrary(library);
   // in a better dynamic linking library, there would be a
   // function that would call FreeLibrary(hdll) to cleanup
   //
   // in the case where you want to load an object in the main
   // program, you can use
   // hdll = GetModuleHandle(NULL);
   // because there's no need to call LoadLibrary on the
   // executable if you can get its handle by some other means.

   if (hdll)
   {
      printf("Loaded library %s\n", library);
      ptr = GetProcAddress(hdll, object);
      if (ptr)
      {
         printf("Found %s in %s\n", object, library);
      } else {
         printf("Could not find %s in %s\n", object, library);
      }
   } else {
      printf("Could not load library %s\n", library);
   }
   return ptr;
}

linkage_importing.h

// sets up some macros to handle when to use "__declspec(dllexport)",
// "__declspec(dllimport)", "extern", or nothing.

// when using the LINKAGE macro (or including a header that does):
//    use "#include <linkage_importing.h>" to make the LINKAGE macro
//    do the right thing for importing (when using functions,
//    variables, etc...)
//
//    use "#include <linkage_exporting.h>" to make the LINKAGE macro
//    do the right thing for exporting (when declaring functions,
//    variables, etc).
//
//    You can include either file at any time to change the meaning of
//    LINKAGE.

// if you declare NO_DLL these macros do not use __declspec(...), only
// "extern" as appropriate

#ifdef LINKAGE
#undef LINKAGE
#endif
#ifdef NO_DLL
   #define LINKAGE extern
#else
   #define LINKAGE extern __declspec(dllimport)
#endif

linkage_exporting.h

// See linkage_importing.h to learn how this is used
#ifdef LINKAGE
#undef LINKAGE
#endif
#ifdef NO_DLL
   #define LINKAGE
#else
   #define LINKAGE __declspec(dllexport)
#endif

build mingw explicit both.sh

#! /bin/bash
echo Building configuration where both main
echo and dll link explicitly to each other
rm -rf mingw_explicit_both
mkdir -p mingw_explicit_both/obj
cd mingw_explicit_both/obj

# compile the source code (dll created with position independent code)
gcc -c -fPIC -DEXPLICIT_MAIN ../../dll.c
gcc -c -DEXPLICIT_DLL ../../main.c
gcc -c ../../dyn_link.c

#create the dll from its object code the normal way
gcc -shared -odll.dll dll.o dyn_link.o -Wl,--out-implib,libdll.a

# create the executable
gcc -o main.exe main.o dyn_link.o

mv dll.dll ..
mv main.exe ..
cd ..

build mingw explicit dll.sh

#! /bin/bash
echo Building configuration where main explicitly
echo links to dll, but dll implicitly links to main
rm -rf mingw_explicit_dll
mkdir -p mingw_explicit_dll/obj
cd mingw_explicit_dll/obj

# compile the source code (dll created with position independent code)
gcc -c -fPIC ../../dll.c
gcc -c -DEXPLICIT_DLL ../../main.c
gcc -c ../../dyn_link.c

# normally when linking a dll, you just use gcc
# to create the dll and its linking library (--out-implib...)
# But, this dll needs to import from main, and main's linking library doesn't exist yet
# so we create the linking library for main.o
# make sure that linking library knows to look for symbols in main.exe (the default would be a.out)
gcc -omain.exe -shared main.o -Wl,--out-implib,main.a  #note this reports failure, but it's only a failure to create main.exe, not a failure to create main.a

#create the dll from its object code the normal way (dll needs to know about main's exports)
gcc -shared -odll.dll dll.o dyn_link.o main.a -Wl,--out-implib,libdll.a

# create the executable
gcc -o main.exe main.o dyn_link.o

mv dll.dll ..
mv main.exe ..
cd ..

build mingw explicit main.sh

#! /bin/bash
echo Building configuration where dll explicitly
echo links to main, but main implicitly links to dll
rm -rf mingw_explicit_main
mkdir -p mingw_explicit_main/obj
cd mingw_explicit_main/obj

# compile the source code (dll created with position independent code)
gcc -c -fPIC -DEXPLICIT_MAIN ../../dll.c
gcc -c ../../main.c
gcc -c ../../dyn_link.c

# since the dll will link dynamically and explicitly with main, there is no need
# to create a linking library for main, and the dll can be built the regular way
gcc -shared -odll.dll dll.o dyn_link.o -Wl,--out-implib,libdll.a

# create the executable (main still links with dll implicitly)
gcc -o main.exe main.o -L. -ldll

mv dll.dll ..
mv main.exe ..
cd ..

build mingw implicit.sh

#! /bin/bash
echo Building configuration where main and
echo dll implicitly link to each other
rm -rf mingw_implicit
mkdir -p mingw_implicit/obj
cd mingw_implicit/obj

# compile the source code (dll created with position independent code)
gcc -c -fPIC ../../dll.c
gcc -c ../../main.c

# normally when linking a dll, you just use gcc
# to create the dll and its linking library (--out-implib...)
# But, this dll needs to import from main, and main's linking library doesn't exist yet
# so we create the linking library for main.o
# make sure that linking library knows to look for symbols in main.exe (the default would be a.out)
gcc -omain.exe -shared main.o -Wl,--out-implib,main.a  #note this reports failure, but it's only a failure to create main.exe, not a failure to create main.a

# create the dll from its object code the normal way (dll needs to know about main's exports)
gcc -shared -odll.dll dll.o main.a -Wl,--out-implib,libdll.a

# create the executable (exe needs to know about dll's exports)
gcc -o main.exe main.o -L. -ldll

mv dll.dll ..
mv main.exe ..
cd ..

build mingw static.sh

#! /bin/bash
echo Building configuration where main and dll
echo statically link to each other
rm -rf mingw_static
mkdir -p mingw_static/obj
cd mingw_static/obj

# compile the source code
gcc -c -DNO_DLL ../../dll.c
gcc -c -DNO_DLL ../../main.c

# create the static library
ar -rcs dll.a dll.o

# link the executable
gcc -o main.exe main.o dll.a

mv main.exe ../
cd ..

build msvc explicit both.bat

@echo off
echo Building configuration where both main
echo and dll link explicitly to each other
rd /s /q win_explicit_both
md win_explicit_both\obj
cd win_explicit_both\obj

rem compile the source code
cl /nologo /c /DEXPLICIT_MAIN ..\..\dll.c
cl /nologo /c /DEXPLICIT_DLL ..\..\main.c
cl /nologo /c ..\..\dyn_link.c

rem create the dll from its object code the normal way
link /nologo /dll dll.obj dyn_link.obj

rem create the executable
link /nologo main.obj dyn_link.obj

move dll.dll ..\
move main.exe ..\
cd ..

build msvc explicit dll.bat

@echo off
echo Building configuration where main explicitly
echo links to dll, but dll implicitly links to main
rd /s /q win_explicit_dll
md win_explicit_dll\obj
cd win_explicit_dll\obj

rem compile the source code
cl /nologo /c ..\..\dll.c
cl /nologo /c /DEXPLICIT_DLL ..\..\main.c
cl /nologo /c ..\..\dyn_link.c

rem normally when linking a dll, you just use the link command
rem that creates the dll and its linking library.
rem But, this dll needs to import from main, and main's linking library doesn't exist yet
rem so we create the linking library for main.obj
rem make sure that linking library knows to look for symbols in main.exe (the default would be main.dll)
lib /nologo /def /name:main.exe main.obj

rem create the dll from its object code the normal way (dll needs to know about main's exports)
link /nologo /dll dll.obj main.lib

rem create the executable
link /nologo main.obj dyn_link.obj

move dll.dll ..\
move main.exe ..\
cd ..

build msvc explicit main.bat

@echo off
echo Building configuration where dll explicitly
echo links to main, but main implicitly links to dll
rd /s /q win_explicit_main
md win_explicit_main\obj
cd win_explicit_main\obj

rem compile the source code
cl /nologo /c /DEXPLICIT_MAIN ..\..\dll.c
cl /nologo /c ..\..\main.c
cl /nologo /c ..\..\dyn_link.c

rem since the dll will link dynamically and explicitly with main, there is no need
rem to create a linking library for main, and the dll can be built the regular way
link /nologo /dll dll.obj dyn_link.obj

rem create the executable (main still links with dll implicitly)
link /nologo main.obj dll.lib

move dll.dll ..\
move main.exe ..\
cd ..

build msvc implicit.bat

@echo off
echo Building configuration where main and
echo dll implicitly link to each other
rd /s /q win_implicit
md win_implicit\obj
cd win_implicit\obj

rem compile the source code
cl /nologo /c ..\..\dll.c
cl /nologo /c ..\..\main.c

rem normally when linking a dll, you just use the link command
rem that creates the dll and its linking library.
rem But, this dll needs to import from main, and main's linking library doesn't exist yet
rem so we create the linking library for main.obj
rem make sure that linking library knows to look for symbols in main.exe (the default would be main.dll)
lib /nologo /def /name:main.exe main.obj

rem create the dll from its object code the normal way (dll needs to know about main's exports)
link /nologo /dll dll.obj main.lib

rem create the executable (exe needs to know about dll's exports)
link /nologo main.obj dll.lib

move dll.dll ..\
move main.exe ..\
cd ..

build msvc static.bat

@echo off
echo Building configuration where main and dll
echo statically link to each other
rd /s /q win_static
md win_static\obj
cd win_static\obj

rem compile the source code
cl /nologo /DNO_DLL /c ..\..\dll.c
cl /nologo /DNO_DLL /c ..\..\main.c

rem create the static library
lib /nologo dll.obj

rem link the executable
link /nologo main.obj dll.lib

move main.exe ..\
cd ..

First, I found that this article was a very interesting and a concise read on dynamic link libraries (the article is only specific to Linux, but the concepts surely apply to windows as well and you might get some insight as to the different behaviour you are seeing). Especially the fundamental difference between static and dynamic loading.

I think what you want or are trying to implement is a "cross-module singleton" pattern. If you read the answers to this thread, I don't know how I could possibly answer your question any better than Ben Voigt answered that post. I have implemented a cross-module singleton before (a few times actually) using the method he describes, and it works like a charm.

Of course, you will not be able to retain the cleaniness of just having the global variable sit there in the cpp file. You will have to use a static pointer and some accessor functions and reference counting. But it can work. I'm not so sure how it would be possible to avoid that foo.exe and foo.exe share the same instance of global data one bar.dll, I never had to do that and can't really think of a way to do it, sorry.