# Multiple C-Extensions with mkmf **URL:** \ **Category:** Ruby\ **Created:** [September 23, 2008, 11:59am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/multiple-c-extensions-with-mkmf/149297 "2008-09-23T11:59:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Matthew\_B\_Gardner](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/m/ac91a4/32.png) [@Matthew\_B\_Gardner](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/Matthew_B_Gardner)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2008, 11:59am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/multiple-c-extensions-with-mkmf/149297/1 "2008-09-23T11:59:58Z")
Hello – I was wondering if there’s a way to separate multiple C-extension classes into separate files but still be able to directly call functions (C-style calls)? I currently have a bunch of classes in one file for the performance boost of direct calls over ruby function calls (not Ruby-ish, I know, but the boost was significant), but the sloppiness isn’t very appealing, especially as the file continues to grow. Hopefully there’s a solution that will allow me to separate the classes without hindering performance? I appreciate any help, Matt ---
**Author:** ![Matthew\_B\_Gardner](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/m/ac91a4/32.png) [@Matthew\_B\_Gardner](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/Matthew_B_Gardner)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2008, 4:50pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/multiple-c-extensions-with-mkmf/149297/2 "2008-09-23T16:50:09Z")
Hi, On Tue, Sep 23, 2008 at 06:59:06PM +0900, Matthew B Gardner wrote: > Hello – > I was wondering if there’s a way to separate multiple C-extension classes > into separate files but still be able to directly call functions (C-style > calls)? I currently have a bunch of classes in one file for the performance > boost of direct calls over ruby function calls (not Ruby-ish, I know, but the > boost was significant), but the sloppiness isn’t very appealing, especially > as the file continues to grow. Hopefully there’s a solution that will allow > me to separate the classes without hindering performance? I think we’ll probably need some clarification. Do you have 1 extensions that you want to start separating out into multiple .c files? This is easily done. Just put them all in separate .c files and in the top level Init\_myextname() function call other initialization functions. I do this in Amalgalite, and I started using this approach after I saw how the extensions were built for ‘rev’. Take a look at those two gems and see if how their extensions are built help you out. enjoy, -jeremy ---
**Author:** ![Matthew\_B\_Gardner](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/m/ac91a4/32.png) [@Matthew\_B\_Gardner](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/Matthew_B_Gardner)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2008, 5:43pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/multiple-c-extensions-with-mkmf/149297/3 "2008-10-01T17:43:28Z")
On Tue, Sep 23, 2008 at 06:59:06PM +0900, Matthew B Gardner wrote: > Hello – > I was wondering if there’s a way to separate multiple C-extension classes > into separate files but still be able to directly call functions (C-style > calls)? I currently have a bunch of classes in one file for the performance > boost of direct calls over ruby function calls (not Ruby-ish, I know, but the > boost was significant), but the sloppiness isn’t very appealing, especially > as the file continues to grow. Hopefully there’s a solution that will allow > me to separate the classes without hindering performance? Ruby loads extensions with RTLD\_GLOBAL, so you should be able to access exported symbols in another extension if you require that extension using rb\_require(). Paul ---
**Author:** ![Matthew\_B\_Gardner](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/m/ac91a4/32.png) [@Matthew\_B\_Gardner](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/Matthew_B_Gardner)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2008, 8:43pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/multiple-c-extensions-with-mkmf/149297/4 "2008-10-01T20:43:50Z")
Hi, At Thu, 2 Oct 2008 00:41:33 +0900, Paul B. wrote in [ruby-talk:316603]: > Ruby loads extensions with RTLD\_GLOBAL, so you should be able to access > exported symbols in another extension if you require that extension > using rb\_require(). Don’t rely on it, since it’s not possible on all platforms.