Linking multiple header files to c files

Question

How would I go about linking 2 header files that depend on each other with their c files?

For instance I have a file stack.h that depends on a struct declared in linkedlist.h, and the file "stack.c" calls on functions from linkedlist.c which depend on both header files. main.c depends on both header files

linkedlist.h

#include <stdio.h>
#include <stdlib.h>
#include "stack.h"
struct listNode
{
    int nodeValue;
    struct listNode * next;
};

typedef struct listNode listNode;

stack.h

 #include "linkedList.h"
    typedef struct stack {
        listNode *list;
    }stack;

I'm not convinced `linkedlist.h` needs *anything* from `stack.h`, based solely on what you've shown here. — WhozCraig, May 31 '16 at 03:39
I declare listNode *list. Maybe I should just typedef struct it there too instead of trying to include linkedlist.h — FreeStyle4, May 31 '16 at 03:40
As I said, nothing in `linkedlist.h` appears to refer to, nor require, *anything* from `stack.h`. The opposite is obviously not the case; `stack.h` clearly needs `linkedlist.h` included. But from what you've posted, `#include "stack.h"` in `linkedlist.h` is completely pointless. — WhozCraig, May 31 '16 at 03:41
Oh sorry, just reread your comment, I have a function called printContent which takes in a stack as a parameter in linkedlist.h void printContent(stack *userStack); — FreeStyle4, May 31 '16 at 03:42
That would be why the instruction for posting a [**minimal, *complete*, and verifiable example**](https://stackoverflow.com/help/mcve) are so important to follow. Otherwise it wastes time and effort. Regardless, if `printContent` requires a `stack` address as a parameter, either declare the prototype in `stack.h` or at-least forward declare the `stack` type in `linkedlist.h`, the latter option being the *least* preferred. — WhozCraig, May 31 '16 at 03:46
If `printContent` prints content of a `stack`, why is it exported by `linkedlist.h`? — LPs, May 31 '16 at 06:25
OT: header files aren't "*linked*" but "included" by the pre-processor prior to compilation Linking is something different done by the linker after compilation. — alk, May 31 '16 at 08:51

score 1 · Answer 1 · answered May 31 '16 at 08:28

How would I go about linking 2 header files that depend on each other

Don't. You should never have such a scenario or your program design is broken.

For your specific example, it appears that you try to implement a stack ADT by using a linked list. If so the stack should include the linked list ADT and that's it.

Linking multiple header files to c files

1 Answers1