In the Makefile.in of an existing c++ project on linux (ubuntu), it has this:
EXPORTS = \ gtkmozembed.h \ gtkmozembed_glue.cpp \ gtkmozembed_internal.h
Can you please tell me what does EXPORTS mean?
EXPORTS is just the name of a list of files. It might mean these files are being installed to a location where others can use them. Header files with implementation details not of interest to the user of a library can be kept private.
A .cpp file in EXPORTS can mean it contains skeleton code users have to compile and link into their projects.
Your example is from Firefox. It's defined as:
Copying or installing files in Makefiles is a bit problematic. Note that there is no dependency between the copy and its original.
When you do this (.def file) and compile your lib, you have got .dll and .lib file. Second file can be use to link library in execution time.
conlusion: using exports can create more universal lib (but more complicated)
(sorry for my very bad english :/)