C++: Static libraries referencing Static Libraries

Question

I am in the process of refactoring a framework, and I could use some advise for design. Consider the following:

gl_utils.lib contains the struct:

namespace gl_utils
{
    struct LVec2
    {
        GLfloat x;
        GLfloat y;
        LVec2() {}
        LVec2(GLfloat x, GLfloat y): x(x), y(y) {}
    };
}

however animation_utils.lib contains an object using a struct in a different static library:

#include "gl_utils.h"
using namespace gl_utils;

class Part
{
    public:
        LVec2 Location;
        float Rotation;
        LVec2 Scaling;
        int Index;
        int Flip;

        Part();
};

Is this a bad idea? Is there a safe way to have libraries build on each other, or is there a technique that I am overlooking?

Answer 1

It is perfectly fine. You have to document it however since final executable or shared library will need to link with both static libraries.

If you don't want to introduce a dependency on gl_utils for animation_utils, you could introduce a core library for example to hold the LVec2(and possibly other types) struct as it is not exclusively gl related.

You'll still need to link on core library though but it could make the architecture even more modular.