From: Alex Gutteridge <alexg@...>
Date: 2007-06-25T17:16:05+09:00
Subject: Name clash in C extension

Hi,

I'm trying to write an extension interfacing with the C iGraph  
library (http://cneurocvs.rmki.kfki.hu/igraph/). Unfortunately the  
iGraph header files define a macro called TYPE which clashes with the  
TYPE macro defined in ruby.h. Both headers are obviously required to  
compile my extension.

What is the best practice for dealing with name clashes like this? My  
current solution is to do a search and replace in the iGraph source  
changing TYPE to IGRAPH_TYPE and recompile the library. That works  
for now, but implies anyone else wanting to build my extension will  
have to manually hack iGraph themselves which seems a bit off. Am I  
missing some obvious solution other than emailing iGraph/Ruby core  
and asking for them to play a bit nicer with their names?

Alex Gutteridge

Bioinformatics Center
Kyoto University