Engine-folder preload helper for Linux: b2LoadNativeLibHere() (no sudo)#47
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Builds on the merged loader-assist (b2LoadNativeLib): the extension now locates
the running engine's own folder (realpath /proc/self/exe), strips to its
directory, and preloads <dir>/box2dxt.so by absolute path before any c:box2dxt>
binding resolves -- run from the first-call gateways (b2Version, checkABI). The
engine's later bare-name load then finds the already-resident copy, so a user
just drops box2dxt.so beside the OXT engine (or bundles it in a standalone) --
no /usr/lib, no sudo, no LD_LIBRARY_PATH, no script calls.
Off Linux realpath('/proc/self/exe') returns nothing and _ensureLib no-ops, so
Windows/macOS keep loading the library from beside the stack/app as before.
Requires the library soname to be box2dxt.so (build -DBOX2DXT_BARE_SONAME=ON).
No new C ABI symbol; b2Version() stays 4. Verified locally: bare-soname build
still emits box2dxt.so with soname box2dxt.so; .livecodescript gates pass. The
.lcb cannot be compiled headless -- needs an OXT load to confirm the
realpath/dlopen bindings resolve and the engine reuses the preloaded copy.
https://claude.ai/code/session_01EVV5fGeXqtWs8WDrmgWNku
The previous commit auto-called _ensureLib from b2Version/checkABI, which run on every platform -- but _ensureLib calls realpath (POSIX), so on Windows that binding would fail to resolve and make b2Version()/b2NewWorld() throw. Back out the auto-fire and expose the engine-folder preload as an explicit, Linux-only public handler b2LoadNativeLibHere(): it locates the engine via realpath /proc/self/exe and preloads <dir>/box2dxt.so. Callers gate it on the platform is Linux (the Kit will, once the preload is confirmed on Linux); b2Version/checkABI are back to their original cross-platform-safe form. No new C ABI symbol; b2Version() stays 4. .livecodescript gates pass; the .lcb still needs an OXT load to confirm the bindings compile and resolve. https://claude.ai/code/session_01EVV5fGeXqtWs8WDrmgWNku
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b2kSetup now calls b2LoadNativeLibHere() when (and only when) the platform is Linux, so Kit/demo users get the no-sudo engine-folder load automatically while Windows/macOS never touch the POSIX path. The breakage that forced the helper to be a manual call in #47 was Windows-only -- realpath is absent there, but present and harmless on macOS -- so a single platform gate is enough. Drop box2dxt.so beside the engine (or bundle it in a standalone) and the demos run on Linux with no /usr/lib, no sudo, no LD_LIBRARY_PATH. - src/box2dxt-kit.livecodescript: gated preload at the top of b2kSetup. - examples/*: re-synced embedded Kit. - examples/box2dxt-selftest: bump kStHarnessV 18->19 + add stTestLoaderHelper (Linux-gated; on Linux it also proves the realpath/dlopen bindings resolve). https://claude.ai/code/session_01EVV5fGeXqtWs8WDrmgWNku
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Goal
Let Box2Dxt load on Linux with no
/usr/lib, nosudo, noLD_LIBRARY_PATH— dropbox2dxt.soin the OXT engine's own folder (or bundle it in a standalone) and a one-call helper preloads it. Builds on the merged loader-assist (b2LoadNativeLib, #46).What it adds
b2LoadNativeLibHere()(insrc/box2dxt.lcb): reads the running engine's own path viarealpath("/proc/self/exe"), strips to its folder, and preloads<folder>/box2dxt.soby absolute path. The engine's later bare-namedlopenthen finds the already-resident copy. For a standalone,/proc/self/exeis the standalone binary, so this covers shipping self-contained too.Important: it is an explicit, Linux-only helper — NOT auto-fired
realpath/dlopenare POSIX. An earlier revision of this PR auto-called the preload fromb2Version/checkABI, which run on every platform — that would make those bindings fail to resolve on Windows and throw. Backed out.b2Version/checkABIare now back to their original cross-platform-safe form, and the preload is an explicit call you make only whenthe platform is "Linux"(the Kit will gate it that way once the mechanism is confirmed). On Windows/macOS nothing here is touched — they already load the library from beside the stack/app.Requirements / caveats
box2dxt.so(build-DBOX2DXT_BARE_SONAME=ON, the flag from Linux loader-assist: install the .so without sudo (spike) #46) or a preloaded copy won't match the bare-name request.b2Version()stays4.Verified locally
box2dxt.sowith sonamebox2dxt.so.tools/check-livecodescript.pypasses; no_ensureLib/auto-call references remain.Needs an OXT pass (the gate)
The
.lcbcan't be compiled headless. Two separate things to confirm in OXT:.lcb,put b2Version()→ expect4, and run a demo — confirms the new bindings compile/load and nothing fires on Windows.box2dxt.so(bare-soname) on no search path,put b2LoadNativeLibHere()→1, thenput b2Version()→4. If green, the no-sudo engine-folder install works and the Kit gating + finalization follow.https://claude.ai/code/session_01EVV5fGeXqtWs8WDrmgWNku