Do you think you understand Unix/POSIX linkers? I thought I did. Then I started working on the Open MPI project. Then I realized that I didn’t have a clue how they work (e.g., do you know about OS X’s two-level and flat namespaces?).
A complex question came up recently on the Open MPI mailing list about embedding Open MPI in an R or Python language plugin. After 48 hours of extreme confusion and off-list discussions between myself and Brian B., I came up with a chart that helps lessen the confusion at least somewhat. It took me all day to write up that chart. Woof.
For your amusement, here’s the chart: https://svn.open-mpi.org/trac/ompi/wiki/Linkers