esp-idf/examples/build_system/cmake/import_prebuilt/README.md

Supported Targets	ESP32	ESP32-C2	ESP32-C3	ESP32-C5	ESP32-C6	ESP32-H2	ESP32-P4	ESP32-S2	ESP32-S3

Import Prebuilt Library Example

This example illustrates how to import a prebuilt static library in the ESP-IDF build system.

Example Flow

Users need to first build the project in the prebuilt subdirectory:

cd prebuilt
idf.py build

This builds a component named prebuilt, which has private dependency on ESP-IDF components spi_flash, log and app_update (see its CMakeLists.txt). Once built, the archive file libprebuilt.a, along with the header file prebuilt.h, is automatically copied to the main component of this example project.

The main component's CMakeLists.txt demonstrates how to import libprebuilt.a and link it to main so that the definitions inside can be used. It also demonstrates how to specify the same dependencies the original component had so as to properly resolve symbols used inside the prebuilt library.

Users can then return to this directory and build the main example:

cd ..
idf.py build

Output

The example simply outputs the current running partition.

I (319) prebuilt: The running partition is 'factory'!

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There is a discussion on importing prebuilt libraries in the programming guide under API Guides -> Build System -> Using Prebuilt Libraries with Components