It is mostly just lookup convenience. If you replace the -l option with
#14031: Linker paths carry substantial N*M overhead when many libaries are used -------------------------------------+------------------------------------- Reporter: nh2 | Owner: (none) Type: bug | Status: new Priority: normal | Milestone: Component: Compiler | Version: 8.0.2 Resolution: | Keywords: Operating System: Unknown/Multiple | Architecture: Type of failure: Compile-time | Unknown/Multiple performance bug | Test Case: Blocked By: | Blocking: Related Tickets: #11587 | Differential Rev(s): Wiki Page: | -------------------------------------+------------------------------------- Comment (by nh2): Result on the binutils mailing list: the full path of the library that is found, the result will be almost identical. The only differences I know of are error messages and the soname that will be used for a shared library with no DT_SONAME dynamic tag. -- Ticket URL: http://ghc.haskell.org/trac/ghc/ticket/14031#comment:6 GHC http://www.haskell.org/ghc/ The Glasgow Haskell Compiler