Step-by-Step Guide: Integrating OptiVec into Lazarus Projects

1. Install OptiVec

1. Download the OptiVec binary package for your OS/architecture from the vendor.
2. Unpack to a known location:
   • Windows example: C:\OptiVec</li>
   • Linux example: /opt/optivec/
3. Note the following paths you’ll need:
   • include/header directory (Pascal units or C headers)
   • library (.lib/.a/.so/.dll) directory
   • sample/demo directory (optional)

2. Prepare Lazarus Project

1. Open Lazarus and create a new Project → Application.
2. Save the project to a folder.

3. Add OptiVec Units / Headers

OptiVec may provide Pascal units (.pas) or only C headers and libraries. Use the appropriate approach:

A. If OptiVec provides Pascal units

• Copy the provided .pas units into your project folder or a shared units path.
• In Lazarus: Project → Project Options → Compiler Options → Paths → Add the units directory to “Other unit files (-Fu)”.

B. If OptiVec only provides C headers + libraries

• Use Free Pascal’s external function declarations to link to the library. Create a Pascal unit that declares the external functions (example below).
• Add the unit file to your project and add the library path to Project → Project Options → Compiler Options → Linking → Other linking options or Libraries path.

4. Link Libraries

1. In Project → Project Options → Compiler Options → Linking:
   • Add library path where .dll/.so/.a/.lib reside.
   • For Windows DLLs, copy the .dll next to the executable or ensure it’s in PATH.
2. If static linking (.a/.lib), add the library name to “Other linking options” with -l prefix as needed. Example for Linux: -loptivec

5. Example: Minimal Pascal Wrapper (C-style API)

Create a unit OptiVecAPI.pas containing external declarations. Adjust names to match actual OptiVec exported functions.

pascal
 ffON2NH02oMAcqyoh2UU MQCbz04ET5EljRmK3YpQ CPXAhl7VTkj2dHDyAYAf” data-copycode=“true” role=“button” aria-label=“Copy Code”>Copy CodeCopied
unit OptiVecAPI;

interface

uses
SysUtils;

const
  {\(ifdef Windows}</span><span> </span><span>  OPTIVEC_LIB </span><span class="token" style="color: rgb(57, 58, 52);">=</span><span> </span><span class="token" style="color: rgb(163, 21, 21);">'optivec.dll'</span><span class="token" style="color: rgb(57, 58, 52);">;</span><span> </span><span>  </span><span class="token marco" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">{\)else}
  OPTIVEC_LIB = ‘liboptivec.so’;
  {$endif}

function ov_add_f32(const a: PSingle; const b: PSingle; outres: PSingle; n: LongInt): Integer; cdecl; external OPTIVEC_LIB name ‘ov_addf32’;

implementation

end.

pascal
 ffON2NH02oMAcqyoh2UU MQCbz04ET5EljRmK3YpQ CPXAhl7VTkj2dHDyAYAf” data-copycode=“true” role=“button” aria-label=“Copy Code”>Copy CodeCopied
uses
  OptiVecAPI;

procedure TestOptiVec;
var
  a, b, c: array of Single;
  i: Integer;
begin
  SetLength(a, 1000);
  SetLength(b, 1000);
  SetLength(c, 1000);
  for i := 0 to 999 do begin
    a[i] := i;
    b[i] := i * 0.5;
  end;
  // Call OptiVec vector add: c = a + b
  ov_add_f32(@a[0], @b[0], @c[0], 1000);
  // Verify
  for i := 0 to 9 do
    WriteLn(Format(‘c[%d]=%f’,[i, c[i]]));
end;