linkers: Add support for mold linker

[why]
Support for the relatively new mold linker is missing. If someone wants
to use mold as linker `LDFLAGS="-B/path/to/mold"` has to be added instead
of the usual `CC_LD=mold meson ...` or `CXX_LD=mold meson ...`.

[how]
Allow `mold' as linker for clang and newer GCC versions (that versions
that have support).

The error message can be a bit off, because it is generic for all GNU
like compilers, but I guess that is ok. (i.e. 'mold' is not listed as
possible linker, even if it would be possible for the given compiler.)

[note]
GCC Version 12.0.1 is not sufficient to say `mold` is supported. The
expected release with support will be 12.1.0.
On the other hand people that use the un-released 12.0.1 will probably
have built it from trunk. Allowing 12.0.1 is helping bleeding edge
developers to use mold in Meson already now.

Fixes: #9072

Signed-off-by: Fini Jastrow <ulf.fini.jastrow@desy.de>

12 files changed, 73 insertions, 51 deletions

diff --git a/docs/markdown/Reference-tables.md b/docs/markdown/Reference-tables.md
index acd1297..2a6868c 100644
--- a/docs/markdown/Reference-tables.md
+++ b/docs/markdown/Reference-tables.md
@@ -46,6 +46,7 @@ These are return values of the `get_linker_id` method in a compiler object.
 | ld.bfd     | The GNU linker                              |
 | ld.gold    | The GNU gold linker                         |
 | ld.lld     | The LLVM linker, with the GNU interface     |
+| ld.mold    | The fast MOLD linker                        |
 | ld.solaris | Solaris and illumos                         |
 | ld.wasm    | emscripten's wasm-ld linker                 |
 | ld64       | Apple ld64                                  |
diff --git a/docs/markdown/snippets/mold-support.md b/docs/markdown/snippets/mold-support.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..450ffad
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/markdown/snippets/mold-support.md
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+## Support for mold linker added
+
+The high performance linker mold can be selected via `CC_LD` or `CXX_LD` for
+Clang and GCC >= 12.0.1.
diff --git a/mesonbuild/compilers/compilers.py b/mesonbuild/compilers/compilers.py
index 17c9f36..34f9a09 100644
--- a/mesonbuild/compilers/compilers.py
+++ b/mesonbuild/compilers/compilers.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-# Copyright 2012-2019 The Meson development team
+# Copyright 2012-2022 The Meson development team
 
 # Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
 # you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
@@ -1007,7 +1007,7 @@ class Compiler(HoldableObject, metaclass=abc.ABCMeta):
         return dep.get_link_args()
 
     @classmethod
-    def use_linker_args(cls, linker: str) -> T.List[str]:
+    def use_linker_args(cls, linker: str, version: str) -> T.List[str]:
         """Get a list of arguments to pass to the compiler to set the linker.
         """
         return []
diff --git a/mesonbuild/compilers/d.py b/mesonbuild/compilers/d.py
index 4e24e4e..ec0b155 100644
--- a/mesonbuild/compilers/d.py
+++ b/mesonbuild/compilers/d.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-# Copyright 2012-2017 The Meson development team
+# Copyright 2012-2022 The Meson development team
 
 # Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
 # you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
@@ -806,7 +806,7 @@ class LLVMDCompiler(DmdLikeCompilerMixin, DCompiler):
         return ldc_optimization_args[optimization_level]
 
     @classmethod
-    def use_linker_args(cls, linker: str) -> T.List[str]:
+    def use_linker_args(cls, linker: str, version: str) -> T.List[str]:
         return [f'-linker={linker}']
 
     def get_linker_always_args(self) -> T.List[str]:
diff --git a/mesonbuild/compilers/detect.py b/mesonbuild/compilers/detect.py
index 53948b0..74f2f17 100644
--- a/mesonbuild/compilers/detect.py
+++ b/mesonbuild/compilers/detect.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-# Copyright 2012-2021 The Meson development team
+# Copyright 2012-2022 The Meson development team
 
 # Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
 # you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
@@ -448,7 +448,7 @@ def _detect_c_or_cpp_compiler(env: 'Environment', lang: str, for_machine: Machin
                 version = _get_gnu_version_from_defines(defines)
                 cls = GnuCCompiler if lang == 'c' else GnuCPPCompiler
 
-            linker = guess_nix_linker(env, compiler, cls, for_machine)
+            linker = guess_nix_linker(env, compiler, cls, version, for_machine)
 
             return cls(
                 ccache + compiler, version, for_machine, is_cross,
@@ -484,7 +484,7 @@ def _detect_c_or_cpp_compiler(env: 'Environment', lang: str, for_machine: Machin
                 cls = ArmLtdClangCCompiler
             elif lang == 'cpp':
                 cls = ArmLtdClangCPPCompiler
-            linker = guess_nix_linker(env, compiler, cls, for_machine)
+            linker = guess_nix_linker(env, compiler, cls, version, for_machine)
             return cls(
                 ccache + compiler, version, for_machine, is_cross, info,
                 exe_wrap, linker=linker)
@@ -523,7 +523,7 @@ def _detect_c_or_cpp_compiler(env: 'Environment', lang: str, for_machine: Machin
             else:
                 target = 'unknown target'
             cls = ClangClCCompiler if lang == 'c' else ClangClCPPCompiler
-            linker = guess_win_linker(env, ['lld-link'], cls, for_machine)
+            linker = guess_win_linker(env, ['lld-link'], cls, version, for_machine)
             return cls(
                 compiler, version, for_machine, is_cross, info, target,
                 exe_wrap, linker=linker)
@@ -544,11 +544,11 @@ def _detect_c_or_cpp_compiler(env: 'Environment', lang: str, for_machine: Machin
                 # style ld, but for clang on "real" windows we'll use
                 # either link.exe or lld-link.exe
                 try:
-                    linker = guess_win_linker(env, compiler, cls, for_machine, invoked_directly=False)
+                    linker = guess_win_linker(env, compiler, cls, version, for_machine, invoked_directly=False)
                 except MesonException:
                     pass
             if linker is None:
-                linker = guess_nix_linker(env, compiler, cls, for_machine)
+                linker = guess_nix_linker(env, compiler, cls, version, for_machine)
 
             return cls(
                 ccache + compiler, version, for_machine, is_cross, info,
@@ -582,7 +582,7 @@ def _detect_c_or_cpp_compiler(env: 'Environment', lang: str, for_machine: Machin
                 m = f'Failed to detect MSVC compiler target architecture: \'cl /?\' output is\n{cl_signature}'
                 raise EnvironmentException(m)
             cls = VisualStudioCCompiler if lang == 'c' else VisualStudioCPPCompiler
-            linker = guess_win_linker(env, ['link'], cls, for_machine)
+            linker = guess_win_linker(env, ['link'], cls, version, for_machine)
             # As of this writing, CCache does not support MSVC but sccache does.
             if 'sccache' in ccache:
                 final_compiler = ccache + compiler
@@ -607,7 +607,7 @@ def _detect_c_or_cpp_compiler(env: 'Environment', lang: str, for_machine: Machin
                 info, exe_wrap, linker=linker)
         if '(ICC)' in out:
             cls = IntelCCompiler if lang == 'c' else IntelCPPCompiler
-            l = guess_nix_linker(env, compiler, cls, for_machine)
+            l = guess_nix_linker(env, compiler, cls, version, for_machine)
             return cls(
                 ccache + compiler, version, for_machine, is_cross, info,
                 exe_wrap, full_version=full_version, linker=l)
@@ -731,14 +731,14 @@ def detect_fortran_compiler(env: 'Environment', for_machine: MachineChoice) -> C
                 if guess_gcc_or_lcc == 'lcc':
                     version = _get_lcc_version_from_defines(defines)
                     cls = ElbrusFortranCompiler
-                    linker = guess_nix_linker(env, compiler, cls, for_machine)
+                    linker = guess_nix_linker(env, compiler, cls, version, for_machine)
                     return cls(
                         compiler, version, for_machine, is_cross, info,
                         exe_wrap, defines, full_version=full_version, linker=linker)
                 else:
                     version = _get_gnu_version_from_defines(defines)
                     cls = GnuFortranCompiler
-                    linker = guess_nix_linker(env, compiler, cls, for_machine)
+                    linker = guess_nix_linker(env, compiler, cls, version, for_machine)
                     return cls(
                         compiler, version, for_machine, is_cross, info,
                         exe_wrap, defines, full_version=full_version, linker=linker)
@@ -750,13 +750,13 @@ def detect_fortran_compiler(env: 'Environment', for_machine: MachineChoice) -> C
                 arm_ver_minor = arm_ver_match.group(2)
                 arm_ver_build = arm_ver_match.group(3)
                 version = '.'.join([arm_ver_major, arm_ver_minor, arm_ver_build])
-                linker = guess_nix_linker(env, compiler, cls, for_machine)
+                linker = guess_nix_linker(env, compiler, cls, version, for_machine)
                 return cls(
                     ccache + compiler, version, for_machine, is_cross, info,
                     exe_wrap, linker=linker)
             if 'G95' in out:
                 cls = G95FortranCompiler
-                linker = guess_nix_linker(env, compiler, cls, for_machine)
+                linker = guess_nix_linker(env, compiler, cls, version, for_machine)
                 return G95FortranCompiler(
                     compiler, version, for_machine, is_cross, info,
                     exe_wrap, full_version=full_version, linker=linker)
@@ -764,7 +764,7 @@ def detect_fortran_compiler(env: 'Environment', for_machine: MachineChoice) -> C
             if 'Sun Fortran' in err:
                 version = search_version(err)
                 cls = SunFortranCompiler
-                linker = guess_nix_linker(env, compiler, cls, for_machine)
+                linker = guess_nix_linker(env, compiler, cls, version, for_machine)
                 return SunFortranCompiler(
                     compiler, version, for_machine, is_cross, info,
                     exe_wrap, full_version=full_version, linker=linker)
@@ -780,7 +780,7 @@ def detect_fortran_compiler(env: 'Environment', for_machine: MachineChoice) -> C
                     target, exe_wrap, linker=linker)
 
             if 'ifort (IFORT)' in out:
-                linker = guess_nix_linker(env, compiler, IntelFortranCompiler, for_machine)
+                linker = guess_nix_linker(env, compiler, IntelFortranCompiler, version, for_machine)
                 return IntelFortranCompiler(
                     compiler, version, for_machine, is_cross, info,
                     exe_wrap, full_version=full_version, linker=linker)
@@ -810,14 +810,14 @@ def detect_fortran_compiler(env: 'Environment', for_machine: MachineChoice) -> C
 
             if 'flang' in out or 'clang' in out:
                 linker = guess_nix_linker(env,
-                                          compiler, FlangFortranCompiler, for_machine)
+                                          compiler, FlangFortranCompiler, version, for_machine)
                 return FlangFortranCompiler(
                     compiler, version, for_machine, is_cross, info,
                     exe_wrap, full_version=full_version, linker=linker)
 
             if 'Open64 Compiler Suite' in err:
                 linker = guess_nix_linker(env,
-                                          compiler, Open64FortranCompiler, for_machine)
+                                          compiler, Open64FortranCompiler, version, for_machine)
                 return Open64FortranCompiler(
                     compiler, version, for_machine, is_cross, info,
                     exe_wrap, full_version=full_version, linker=linker)
@@ -865,7 +865,7 @@ def _detect_objc_or_objcpp_compiler(env: 'Environment', for_machine: MachineChoi
                 continue
             version = _get_gnu_version_from_defines(defines)
             comp = GnuObjCCompiler if objc else GnuObjCPPCompiler
-            linker = guess_nix_linker(env, compiler, comp, for_machine)
+            linker = guess_nix_linker(env, compiler, comp, version, for_machine)
             return comp(
                 ccache + compiler, version, for_machine, is_cross, info,
                 exe_wrap, defines, linker=linker)
@@ -882,12 +882,12 @@ def _detect_objc_or_objcpp_compiler(env: 'Environment', for_machine: MachineChoi
             if 'windows' in out or env.machines[for_machine].is_windows():
                 # If we're in a MINGW context this actually will use a gnu style ld
                 try:
-                    linker = guess_win_linker(env, compiler, comp, for_machine)
+                    linker = guess_win_linker(env, compiler, comp, version, for_machine)
                 except MesonException:
                     pass
 
             if not linker:
-                linker = guess_nix_linker(env, compiler, comp, for_machine)
+                linker = guess_nix_linker(env, compiler, comp, version, for_machine)
             return comp(
                 ccache + compiler, version, for_machine,
                 is_cross, info, exe_wrap, linker=linker, defines=defines)
@@ -1032,7 +1032,7 @@ def detect_rust_compiler(env: 'Environment', for_machine: MachineChoice) -> Rust
                 extra_args: T.Dict[str, T.Union[str, bool]] = {}
                 always_args: T.List[str] = []
                 if is_link_exe:
-                    compiler.extend(cls.use_linker_args(cc.linker.exelist[0]))
+                    compiler.extend(cls.use_linker_args(cc.linker.exelist[0], ''))
                     extra_args['direct'] = True
                     extra_args['machine'] = cc.linker.machine
                 else:
@@ -1040,7 +1040,7 @@ def detect_rust_compiler(env: 'Environment', for_machine: MachineChoice) -> Rust
                     if 'ccache' in exelist[0]:
                         del exelist[0]
                     c = exelist.pop(0)
-                    compiler.extend(cls.use_linker_args(c))
+                    compiler.extend(cls.use_linker_args(c, ''))
 
                     # Also ensure that we pass any extra arguments to the linker
                     for l in exelist:
@@ -1059,12 +1059,12 @@ def detect_rust_compiler(env: 'Environment', for_machine: MachineChoice) -> Rust
                                              **extra_args)
             elif 'link' in override[0]:
                 linker = guess_win_linker(env,
-                                          override, cls, for_machine, use_linker_prefix=False)
+                                          override, cls, version, for_machine, use_linker_prefix=False)
                 # rustc takes linker arguments without a prefix, and
                 # inserts the correct prefix itself.
                 assert isinstance(linker, VisualStudioLikeLinkerMixin)
                 linker.direct = True
-                compiler.extend(cls.use_linker_args(linker.exelist[0]))
+                compiler.extend(cls.use_linker_args(linker.exelist[0], ''))
             else:
                 # On linux and macos rust will invoke the c compiler for
                 # linking, on windows it will use lld-link or link.exe.
@@ -1076,7 +1076,7 @@ def detect_rust_compiler(env: 'Environment', for_machine: MachineChoice) -> Rust
                 # Of course, we're not going to use any of that, we just
                 # need it to get the proper arguments to pass to rustc
                 c = linker.exelist[1] if linker.exelist[0].endswith('ccache') else linker.exelist[0]
-                compiler.extend(cls.use_linker_args(c))
+                compiler.extend(cls.use_linker_args(c, ''))
 
             env.coredata.add_lang_args(cls.language, cls, for_machine, env)
             return cls(
@@ -1135,7 +1135,7 @@ def detect_d_compiler(env: 'Environment', for_machine: MachineChoice) -> Compile
                     objfile = os.path.basename(f)[:-1] + 'obj'
                     linker = guess_win_linker(env,
                                               exelist,
-                                              LLVMDCompiler, for_machine,
+                                              LLVMDCompiler, full_version, for_machine,
                                               use_linker_prefix=True, invoked_directly=False,
                                               extra_args=[f])
                 else:
@@ -1143,7 +1143,7 @@ def detect_d_compiler(env: 'Environment', for_machine: MachineChoice) -> Compile
                     # Clean it up.
                     objfile = os.path.basename(f)[:-1] + 'o'
                     linker = guess_nix_linker(env,
-                                              exelist, LLVMDCompiler, for_machine,
+                                              exelist, LLVMDCompiler, full_version, for_machine,
                                               extra_args=[f])
             finally:
                 windows_proof_rm(f)
@@ -1153,7 +1153,7 @@ def detect_d_compiler(env: 'Environment', for_machine: MachineChoice) -> Compile
                 exelist, version, for_machine, info, arch,
                 full_version=full_version, linker=linker, version_output=out)
         elif 'gdc' in out:
-            linker = guess_nix_linker(env, exelist, GnuDCompiler, for_machine)
+            linker = guess_nix_linker(env, exelist, GnuDCompiler, version, for_machine)
             return GnuDCompiler(
                 exelist, version, for_machine, info, arch,
                 exe_wrapper=exe_wrap, is_cross=is_cross,
@@ -1173,12 +1173,12 @@ def detect_d_compiler(env: 'Environment', for_machine: MachineChoice) -> Compile
                 if info.is_windows() or info.is_cygwin():
                     objfile = os.path.basename(f)[:-1] + 'obj'
                     linker = guess_win_linker(env,
-                                              exelist, DmdDCompiler, for_machine,
+                                              exelist, DmdDCompiler, full_version, for_machine,
                                               invoked_directly=False, extra_args=[f, arch_arg])
                 else:
                     objfile = os.path.basename(f)[:-1] + 'o'
                     linker = guess_nix_linker(env,
-                                              exelist, DmdDCompiler, for_machine,
+                                              exelist, DmdDCompiler, full_version, for_machine,
                                               extra_args=[f, arch_arg])
             finally:
                 windows_proof_rm(f)
@@ -1209,7 +1209,7 @@ def detect_swift_compiler(env: 'Environment', for_machine: MachineChoice) -> Com
         # As for 5.0.1 swiftc *requires* a file to check the linker:
         with tempfile.NamedTemporaryFile(suffix='.swift') as f:
             linker = guess_nix_linker(env,
-                                      exelist, SwiftCompiler, for_machine,
+                                      exelist, SwiftCompiler, version, for_machine,
                                       extra_args=[f.name])
         return SwiftCompiler(
             exelist, version, for_machine, is_cross, info, linker=linker)
diff --git a/mesonbuild/compilers/mixins/clang.py b/mesonbuild/compilers/mixins/clang.py
index a823b1c..5083ace 100644
--- a/mesonbuild/compilers/mixins/clang.py
+++ b/mesonbuild/compilers/mixins/clang.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-# Copyright 2019 The meson development team
+# Copyright 2019-2022 The meson development team
 #
 # Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
 # you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
@@ -118,7 +118,7 @@ class ClangCompiler(GnuLikeCompiler):
             return []
 
     @classmethod
-    def use_linker_args(cls, linker: str) -> T.List[str]:
+    def use_linker_args(cls, linker: str, version: str) -> T.List[str]:
         # Clang additionally can use a linker specified as a path, which GCC
         # (and other gcc-like compilers) cannot. This is because clang (being
         # llvm based) is retargetable, while GCC is not.
@@ -127,13 +127,15 @@ class ClangCompiler(GnuLikeCompiler):
         # qcld: Qualcomm Snapdragon linker, based on LLVM
         if linker == 'qcld':
             return ['-fuse-ld=qcld']
+        if linker == 'mold':
+            return ['-fuse-ld=mold']
 
         if shutil.which(linker):
             if not shutil.which(linker):
                 raise mesonlib.MesonException(
                     f'Cannot find linker {linker}.')
             return [f'-fuse-ld={linker}']
-        return super().use_linker_args(linker)
+        return super().use_linker_args(linker, version)
 
     def get_has_func_attribute_extra_args(self, name: str) -> T.List[str]:
         # Clang only warns about unknown or ignored attributes, so force an
diff --git a/mesonbuild/compilers/mixins/clike.py b/mesonbuild/compilers/mixins/clike.py
index 162005f..4c2756e 100644
--- a/mesonbuild/compilers/mixins/clike.py
+++ b/mesonbuild/compilers/mixins/clike.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-# Copyright 2012-2017 The Meson development team
+# Copyright 2012-2022 The Meson development team
 
 # Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
 # you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
@@ -410,7 +410,7 @@ class CLikeCompiler(Compiler):
         if mode is CompileCheckMode.LINK:
             ld_value = env.lookup_binary_entry(self.for_machine, self.language + '_ld')
             if ld_value is not None:
-                largs += self.use_linker_args(ld_value[0])
+                largs += self.use_linker_args(ld_value[0], self.version)
 
             # Add LDFLAGS from the env
             sys_ld_args = env.coredata.get_external_link_args(self.for_machine, self.language)
diff --git a/mesonbuild/compilers/mixins/gnu.py b/mesonbuild/compilers/mixins/gnu.py
index 91e07e5..2613038 100644
--- a/mesonbuild/compilers/mixins/gnu.py
+++ b/mesonbuild/compilers/mixins/gnu.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-# Copyright 2019 The meson development team
+# Copyright 2019-2022 The meson development team
 #
 # Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
 # you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
@@ -306,7 +306,7 @@ class GnuLikeCompiler(Compiler, metaclass=abc.ABCMeta):
         return ['-I' + path]
 
     @classmethod
-    def use_linker_args(cls, linker: str) -> T.List[str]:
+    def use_linker_args(cls, linker: str, version: str) -> T.List[str]:
         if linker not in {'gold', 'bfd', 'lld'}:
             raise mesonlib.MesonException(
                 f'Unsupported linker, only bfd, gold, and lld are supported, not {linker}.')
@@ -389,3 +389,9 @@ class GnuCompiler(GnuLikeCompiler):
         elif threads > 0:
             return [f'-flto={threads}']
         return super().get_lto_compile_args(threads=threads)
+
+    @classmethod
+    def use_linker_args(cls, linker: str, version: str) -> T.List[str]:
+        if linker == 'mold' and mesonlib.version_compare(version, '>=12.0.1'):
+            return ['-fuse-ld=mold']
+        return super().use_linker_args(linker, version)
diff --git a/mesonbuild/compilers/rust.py b/mesonbuild/compilers/rust.py
index a460b78..0967ada 100644
--- a/mesonbuild/compilers/rust.py
+++ b/mesonbuild/compilers/rust.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-# Copyright 2012-2017 The Meson development team
+# Copyright 2012-2022 The Meson development team
 
 # Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
 # you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
@@ -136,7 +136,7 @@ class RustCompiler(Compiler):
         return ['-o', outputname]
 
     @classmethod
-    def use_linker_args(cls, linker: str) -> T.List[str]:
+    def use_linker_args(cls, linker: str, version: str) -> T.List[str]:
         return ['-C', f'linker={linker}']
 
     # Rust does not have a use_linker_args because it dispatches to a gcc-like
diff --git a/mesonbuild/linkers/detect.py b/mesonbuild/linkers/detect.py
index 80e0948..62719e0 100644
--- a/mesonbuild/linkers/detect.py
+++ b/mesonbuild/linkers/detect.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-# Copyright 2012-2021 The Meson development team
+# Copyright 2012-2022 The Meson development team
 
 # Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
 # you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ from .linkers import (
     AppleDynamicLinker,
     GnuGoldDynamicLinker,
     GnuBFDDynamicLinker,
+    MoldDynamicLinker,
     LLVMDynamicLinker,
     QualcommLLVMDynamicLinker,
     MSVCDynamicLinker,
@@ -56,7 +57,7 @@ def __failed_to_detect_linker(compiler: T.List[str], args: T.List[str], stdout:
 
 
 def guess_win_linker(env: 'Environment', compiler: T.List[str], comp_class: T.Type['Compiler'],
-                     for_machine: MachineChoice, *,
+                     comp_version: str, for_machine: MachineChoice, *,
                      use_linker_prefix: bool = True, invoked_directly: bool = True,
                      extra_args: T.Optional[T.List[str]] = None) -> 'DynamicLinker':
     env.coredata.add_lang_args(comp_class.language, comp_class, for_machine, env)
@@ -74,7 +75,7 @@ def guess_win_linker(env: 'Environment', compiler: T.List[str], comp_class: T.Ty
     override = []  # type: T.List[str]
     value = env.lookup_binary_entry(for_machine, comp_class.language + '_ld')
     if value is not None:
-        override = comp_class.use_linker_args(value[0])
+        override = comp_class.use_linker_args(value[0], comp_version)
         check_args += override
 
     if extra_args is not None:
@@ -126,12 +127,13 @@ def guess_win_linker(env: 'Environment', compiler: T.List[str], comp_class: T.Ty
     __failed_to_detect_linker(compiler, check_args, o, e)
 
 def guess_nix_linker(env: 'Environment', compiler: T.List[str], comp_class: T.Type['Compiler'],
-                     for_machine: MachineChoice, *,
+                     comp_version:str, for_machine: MachineChoice, *,
                      extra_args: T.Optional[T.List[str]] = None) -> 'DynamicLinker':
     """Helper for guessing what linker to use on Unix-Like OSes.
 
     :compiler: Invocation to use to get linker
     :comp_class: The Compiler Type (uninstantiated)
+    :comp_version: The compiler version string
     :for_machine: which machine this linker targets
     :extra_args: Any additional arguments required (such as a source file)
     """
@@ -147,7 +149,7 @@ def guess_nix_linker(env: 'Environment', compiler: T.List[str], comp_class: T.Ty
     override = []  # type: T.List[str]
     value = env.lookup_binary_entry(for_machine, comp_class.language + '_ld')
     if value is not None:
-        override = comp_class.use_linker_args(value[0])
+        override = comp_class.use_linker_args(value[0], comp_version)
         check_args += override
 
     _, o, e = Popen_safe(compiler + check_args)
@@ -194,6 +196,8 @@ def guess_nix_linker(env: 'Environment', compiler: T.List[str], comp_class: T.Ty
         cls: T.Type[GnuDynamicLinker]
         if 'gold' in o or 'gold' in e:
             cls = GnuGoldDynamicLinker
+        elif 'mold' in o or 'mold' in e:
+            cls = MoldDynamicLinker
         else:
             cls = GnuBFDDynamicLinker
         linker = cls(compiler, for_machine, comp_class.LINKER_PREFIX, override, version=v)
diff --git a/mesonbuild/linkers/linkers.py b/mesonbuild/linkers/linkers.py
index 88b66be..4609652 100644
--- a/mesonbuild/linkers/linkers.py
+++ b/mesonbuild/linkers/linkers.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-# Copyright 2012-2017 The Meson development team
+# Copyright 2012-2022 The Meson development team
 
 # Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
 # you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
@@ -806,6 +806,11 @@ class GnuBFDDynamicLinker(GnuDynamicLinker):
     id = 'ld.bfd'
 
 
+class MoldDynamicLinker(GnuDynamicLinker):
+
+    id = 'ld.mold'
+
+
 class LLVMDynamicLinker(GnuLikeDynamicLinkerMixin, PosixDynamicLinkerMixin, DynamicLinker):
 
     """Representation of LLVM's ld.lld linker.
diff --git a/unittests/linuxliketests.py b/unittests/linuxliketests.py
index 565b328..2177cdd 100644
--- a/unittests/linuxliketests.py
+++ b/unittests/linuxliketests.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-# Copyright 2016-2021 The Meson development team
+# Copyright 2016-2022 The Meson development team
 
 # Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
 # you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
@@ -1597,7 +1597,7 @@ class LinuxlikeTests(BasePlatformTests):
                 if isinstance(comp, (AppleClangCCompiler, AppleClangCPPCompiler,
                                      AppleClangObjCCompiler, AppleClangObjCPPCompiler)):
                     raise SkipTest('AppleClang is currently only supported with ld64')
-                if lang != 'rust' and comp.use_linker_args('bfd') == []:
+                if lang != 'rust' and comp.use_linker_args('bfd', '') == []:
                     raise SkipTest(
                         f'Compiler {comp.id} does not support using alternative linkers')
                 self.assertEqual(comp.linker.id, expected)