path: root/ld/ld.texinfo

\input texinfo
@setfilename ld.info
@syncodeindex ky cp
@include configdoc.texi
@c (configdoc.texi is generated by the Makefile)

@c @smallbook

@ifinfo
@format
START-INFO-DIR-ENTRY
* Ld: (ld).                       The GNU linker.
END-INFO-DIR-ENTRY
@end format
@end ifinfo

@ifinfo
This file documents the GNU linker LD.

Copyright (C) 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994 Free Software Foundation, Inc.

Permission is granted to make and distribute verbatim copies of
this manual provided the copyright notice and this permission notice
are preserved on all copies.

Permission is granted to copy and distribute modified versions of this
manual under the conditions for verbatim copying, provided also that
the entire resulting derived work is distributed under the terms of a
permission notice identical to this one.

Permission is granted to copy and distribute translations of this manual
into another language, under the above conditions for modified versions.

@ignore
Permission is granted to process this file through Tex and print the
results, provided the printed document carries copying permission
notice identical to this one except for the removal of this paragraph
(this paragraph not being relevant to the printed manual).

@end ignore
@end ifinfo
@iftex
@finalout
@setchapternewpage odd
@settitle Using LD, the GNU linker
@titlepage
@title Using ld
@subtitle The GNU linker
@sp 1
@subtitle @code{ld} version 2
@subtitle January 1994
@author Steve Chamberlain and Roland Pesch
@author Cygnus Support
@page

@tex
{\parskip=0pt
\hfill Cygnus Support\par
\hfill steve\@cygnus.com, pesch\@cygnus.com\par
\hfill {\it Using LD, the GNU linker}\par
\hfill Edited by Jeffrey Osier (jeffrey\@cygnus.com)\par
\hfill and Roland Pesch (pesch\@cygnus.com)\par
}
\global\parindent=0pt % Steve likes it this way.
@end tex

@vskip 0pt plus 1filll
Copyright @copyright{} 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994 Free Software Foundation, Inc.

Permission is granted to make and distribute verbatim copies of
this manual provided the copyright notice and this permission notice
are preserved on all copies.

Permission is granted to copy and distribute modified versions of this
manual under the conditions for verbatim copying, provided also that
the entire resulting derived work is distributed under the terms of a
permission notice identical to this one.

Permission is granted to copy and distribute translations of this manual
into another language, under the above conditions for modified versions.
@end titlepage
@end iftex
@c FIXME: Talk about importance of *order* of args, cmds to linker!

@ifinfo
@node Top
@top Using ld
This file documents the GNU linker ld.

@menu
* Overview::                    Overview
* Invocation::                  Invocation
* Commands::                    Command Language
@ifset GENERIC
* Machine Dependent::           Machine Dependent Features
@end ifset
@ifclear GENERIC
@ifset H8300
* H8/300::                      ld and the H8/300
@end ifset
@ifset Hitachi
* Hitachi::                     ld and other Hitachi micros
@end ifset
@ifset I960
* i960::                        ld and the Intel 960 family
@end ifset
@end ifclear
@ifclear SingleFormat
* BFD::                         BFD
@end ifclear
@c Following blank line required for remaining bug in makeinfo conds/menus

* MRI::                         MRI Compatible Script Files
* Index::                       Index
@end menu
@end ifinfo

@node Overview
@chapter Overview

@cindex GNU linker
@cindex what is this?
@code{ld} combines a number of object and archive files, relocates
their data and ties up symbol references. Usually the last step in
compiling a program is to run @code{ld}.

@code{ld} accepts Linker Command Language files written in
a superset of AT&T's Link Editor Command Language syntax,
to provide explicit and total control over the linking process.

@ifclear SingleFormat
This version of @code{ld} uses the general purpose BFD libraries
to operate on object files. This allows @code{ld} to read, combine, and
write object files in many different formats---for example, COFF or
@code{a.out}.  Different formats may be linked together to produce any
available kind of object file.  @xref{BFD}, for more information.
@end ifclear

Aside from its flexibility, the GNU linker is more helpful than other
linkers in providing diagnostic information.  Many linkers abandon
execution immediately upon encountering an error; whenever possible,
@code{ld} continues executing, allowing you to identify other errors
(or, in some cases, to get an output file in spite of the error).

@node Invocation
@chapter Invocation

The GNU linker @code{ld} is meant to cover a broad range of situations,
and to be as compatible as possible with other linkers.  As a result,
you have many choices to control its behavior.

@ifset UsesEnvVars
@menu
* Options::                     Command Line Options
* Environment::                 Environment Variables
@end menu

@node Options
@section Command Line Options
@end ifset

@cindex command line
@cindex options
Here is a summary of the options you can use on the @code{ld} command
line:

@c FIXME!  -relax only avail h8/300, i960.  Conditionals screwed in examples.
@smallexample
ld [ -o @var{output} ]  @var{objfile}@dots{}
  [ -A@var{architecture} ]  [ -b @var{input-format} ]  [ -Bstatic ]  
  [ -c @var{MRI-commandfile} ]  [ -d | -dc | -dp ]  
  [ -defsym @var{symbol}=@var{expression} ]
  [ -dynamic-linker @var{file} ] [ -embedded-relocs ]
  [ -e @var{entry} ]  [ -F ]  [ -F @var{format} ]
  [ -format @var{input-format} ]  [ -g ]  [ -G @var{size} ]  [ -help ]
  [ -i ]  [ -l@var{archive} ]  [ -L@var{searchdir} ]  [ -M ]
  [ -Map @var{mapfile} ]  [ -m @var{emulation} ]  [ -N | -n ]
  [ -noinhibit-exec ]  [ -oformat @var{output-format} ]
  [ -R @var{filename} ]  [ -relax ]  [ -retain-symbols-file @var{filename} ]
  [ -r | -Ur ]  [ -rpath @var{dir} ] [ -S ]  [ -s ] [ -soname @var{name} ]
  [ -sort-common ] [ -stats ] [ -T @var{commandfile} ]
  [ -Ttext @var{org} ]  [ -Tdata @var{org} ]
  [ -Tbss @var{org} ]  [ -t ] [ -traditional-format ]
  [ -u @var{symbol}]  [-V]  [-v]  [ -verbose]  [ -version ]
  [ -warn-common ]  [ -warn-once ] [ -y @var{symbol} ]  [ -X ]  [-x ]
  [ -( [ archives ] -) ] [ --start-group [ archives ] --end-group ]
  [ -split-by-reloc @var{count} ] [-split-by-file]
@end smallexample

This plethora of command-line options may seem intimidating, but in
actual practice few of them are used in any particular context.
@cindex standard Unix system
For instance, a frequent use of @code{ld} is to link standard Unix
object files on a standard, supported Unix system.  On such a system, to
link a file @code{hello.o}:

@example
ld -o @var{output} /lib/crt0.o hello.o -lc
@end example

This tells @code{ld} to produce a file called @var{output} as the
result of linking the file @code{/lib/crt0.o} with @code{hello.o} and
the library @code{libc.a}, which will come from the standard search
directories.  (See the discussion of the @samp{-l} option below.)

The command-line options to @code{ld} may be specified in any order, and
may be repeated at will.  Repeating most options with a
different argument will either have no further effect, or override prior
occurrences (those further to the left on the command line) of that
option.  

@ifclear SingleFormat
The exceptions---which may meaningfully be used more than once---are
@samp{-A}, @samp{-b} (or its synonym @samp{-format}), @samp{-defsym},
@samp{-L}, @samp{-l}, @samp{-R}, @samp{-u}, and @samp{-(} (or its
synonym @samp{--start-group})..
@end ifclear
@ifset SingleFormat
The exceptions---which may meaningfully be used more than once---are
@samp{-A}, @samp{-defsym}, @samp{-L}, @samp{-l}, @samp{-R}, @samp{-u},
and @samp{-(} (or its synonym @samp{--start-group}).
@end ifset

@cindex object files
The list of object files to be linked together, shown as @var{objfile}@dots{},
may follow, precede, or be mixed in with command-line options, except that
an @var{objfile} argument may not be placed between an option and
its argument.

Usually the linker is invoked with at least one object file, but you can
specify other forms of binary input files using @samp{-l}, @samp{-R},
and the script command language.  If @emph{no} binary input files at all
are specified, the linker does not produce any output, and issues the
message @samp{No input files}.

If the linker can not recognize the format of an object file, it will
assume that it is a linker script.  A script specified in this way
augments the main linker script used for the link (either the default
linker script or the one specified by using @samp{-T}).  This feature
permits the linker to link against a file which appears to be an object
or an archive, but actually merely defines some symbol values, or uses
@code{INPUT} or @code{GROUP} to load other objects.  @xref{Commands}.

For options whose names are a single letter,
option arguments must either follow the option letter without intervening
whitespace, or be given as separate arguments immediately following the
option that requires them.

For options whose names are multiple letters, either one dash or two can
precede the option name; for example, @samp{--oformat} and
@samp{-oformat} are equivalent.  Arguments to multiple-letter options
must either be separated from the option name by an equals sign, or be
given as separate arguments immediately following the option that
requires them.  For example, @samp{--oformat srec} and
@samp{--oformat=srec} are equivalent.  Unique abbreviations of the names
of multiple-letter options are accepted.

@table @code
@ifset I960
@cindex architectures
@kindex -A@var{arch}
@item -A@var{architecture}
In the current release of @code{ld}, this option is useful only for the
Intel 960 family of architectures.  In that @code{ld} configuration, the
@var{architecture} argument identifies the particular architecture in
the 960 family, enabling some safeguards and modifying the
archive-library search path.  @xref{i960,,@code{ld} and the Intel 960
family}, for details.

Future releases of @code{ld} may support similar functionality for
other architecture families.
@end ifset

@ifclear SingleFormat
@cindex binary input format
@kindex -b @var{format}
@cindex input format
@item -b @var{input-format}
@cindex input format
@code{ld} may be configured to support more than one kind of object
file.  If your @code{ld} is configured this way, you can use the
@samp{-b} option to specify the binary format for input object files
that follow this option on the command line.  Even when @code{ld} is
configured to support alternative object formats, you don't usually need
to specify this, as @code{ld} should be configured to expect as a
default input format the most usual format on each machine.
@var{input-format} is a text string, the name of a particular format
supported by the BFD libraries.  (You can list the available binary
formats with @samp{objdump -i}.)  @w{@samp{-format @var{input-format}}}
has the same effect, as does the script command @code{TARGET}.
@xref{BFD}.

You may want to use this option if you are linking files with an unusual
binary format.  You can also use @samp{-b} to switch formats explicitly (when
linking object files of different formats), by including
@samp{-b @var{input-format}} before each group of object files in a
particular format.  

The default format is taken from the environment variable
@code{GNUTARGET}.
@ifset UsesEnvVars
@xref{Environment}.
@end ifset
You can also define the input
format from a script, using the command @code{TARGET}; see @ref{Option
Commands}.
@end ifclear

@kindex -Bstatic
@item -Bstatic 
Do not link against shared libraries.  This option is accepted for
command-line compatibility with the SunOS linker.

@kindex -c @var{MRI-cmdfile}
@cindex compatibility, MRI
@item -c @var{MRI-commandfile}
For compatibility with linkers produced by MRI, @code{ld} accepts script
files written in an alternate, restricted command language, described in
@ref{MRI,,MRI Compatible Script Files}.  Introduce MRI script files with
the option @samp{-c}; use the @samp{-T} option to run linker
scripts written in the general-purpose @code{ld} scripting language.
If @var{MRI-cmdfile} does not exist, @code{ld} looks for it in the directories
specified by any @samp{-L} options.

@cindex common allocation
@kindex -d
@item -d 
@kindex -dc
@itemx -dc
@kindex -dp
@itemx -dp
These three options are equivalent; multiple forms are supported for
compatibility with other linkers.  They
assign space to common symbols even if a relocatable output file is
specified (with @samp{-r}).  The script command
@code{FORCE_COMMON_ALLOCATION} has the same effect.  @xref{Option
Commands}.

@cindex symbols, from command line
@kindex -defsym @var{symbol}=@var{exp}
@item -defsym @var{symbol}=@var{expression}
Create a global symbol in the output file, containing the absolute
address given by @var{expression}.  You may use this option as many
times as necessary to define multiple symbols in the command line.  A
limited form of arithmetic is supported for the @var{expression} in this
context: you may give a hexadecimal constant or the name of an existing
symbol, or use @code{+} and @code{-} to add or subtract hexadecimal
constants or symbols.  If you need more elaborate expressions, consider
using the linker command language from a script (@pxref{Assignment, ,
Assignment: Symbol Definitions}).  @emph{Note:}  there should be no
white space between @var{symbol}, the equals sign (``@key{=}''), and
@var{expression}.

@ifset GENERIC
@cindex dynamic linker, from command line
@kindex -dynamic-linker @var{file}
@item -dynamic-linker @var{file}
Set the name of the dynamic linker.  This is only meaningful when
generating dynamically linked ELF executables.  The default dynamic
linker is normally correct; don't use this unless you know what you are
doing.
@end ifset

@cindex MIPS embedded PIC code
@kindex -embedded-relocs
@item -embedded-relocs
This option is only meaningful when linking MIPS embedded PIC code,
generated by the -membedded-pic option to the GNU compiler and
assembler.  It causes the linker to create a table which may be used at
runtime to relocate any data which was statically initialized to pointer
values.  See the code in testsuite/ld-empic for details.

@cindex entry point, from command line
@kindex -e @var{entry}
@item -e @var{entry} 
Use @var{entry} as the explicit symbol for beginning execution of your
program, rather than the default entry point. @xref{Entry Point}, for a
discussion of defaults and other ways of specifying the
entry point.

@ifclear SingleFormat
@kindex -F
@item -F
@itemx -F@var{format}
Ignored.  Some older linkers used this option throughout a compilation
toolchain for specifying object-file format for both input and output
object files.  The mechanisms @code{ld} uses for this purpose (the
@samp{-b} or @samp{-format} options for input files, @samp{-oformat}
option or the @code{TARGET} command in linker scripts for output files,
the @code{GNUTARGET} environment variable) are more flexible, but
@code{ld} accepts the @samp{-F} option for compatibility with scripts
written to call the old linker.

@kindex -format
@item -format @var{input-format}
Synonym for @samp{-b @var{input-format}}.
@end ifclear

@kindex -g
@item -g
Ignored.  Provided for compatibility with other tools.

@kindex -G
@cindex object size
@item -G@var{value}
@itemx -G @var{value}
Set the maximum size of objects to be optimized using the GP register to
@var{size} under MIPS ECOFF.  Ignored for other object file formats.

@cindex help
@cindex usage
@kindex -help
@item -help
Print a summary of the command-line options on the standard output and exit.

@kindex -i
@cindex incremental link
@item -i
Perform an incremental link (same as option @samp{-r}).

@cindex archive files, from cmd line
@kindex -l@var{archive}
@item -l@var{ar} 
Add archive file @var{archive} to the list of files to link.  This 
option may be used any number of times.  @code{ld} will search its
path-list for occurrences of @code{lib@var{ar}.a} for every @var{archive}
specified.

@cindex search directory, from cmd line
@kindex -L@var{dir}
@item -L@var{searchdir} 
@itemx -L @var{searchdir} 
Add path @var{searchdir} to the list of paths that @code{ld} will search
for archive libraries and @code{ld} control scripts.  You may use this
option any number of times.

@ifset UsesEnvVars
The default set of paths searched (without being specified with
@samp{-L}) depends on which emulation mode @code{ld} is using, and in
some cases also on how it was configured.  @xref{Environment}.
@end ifset

The paths can also be specified in a link script with the
@code{SEARCH_DIR} command.

@cindex link map
@kindex -M
@item -M 
Print (to the standard output) a link map---diagnostic information
about where symbols are mapped by @code{ld}, and information on global
common storage allocation.

@cindex link map
@kindex -Map
@item -Map @var{mapfile}
Print to the file @var{mapfile} a link map---diagnostic information
about where symbols are mapped by @code{ld}, and information on global
common storage allocation.

@cindex emulation
@kindex -m @var{emulation}
@item -m@var{emulation}
@itemx -m @var{emulation}
Emulate the @var{emulation} linker.  You can list the available
emulations with the @samp{--verbose} or @samp{-V} options.  The default
depends on how your @code{ld} was configured.

@kindex -N
@cindex read/write from cmd line
@kindex OMAGIC
@item -N 
Set the text and data sections to be readable and writable.  Also, do
not page-align the data segment.  If the output format supports Unix
style magic numbers, mark the output as @code{OMAGIC}.

@kindex -n
@cindex read-only text
@kindex NMAGIC
@item -n 
Set the text segment to be read only, and mark the output as
@code{NMAGIC} if possible.

@item -noinhibit-exec
@cindex output file after errors
@kindex -noinhibit-exec
Retain the executable output file whenever it is still usable.
Normally, the linker will not produce an output file if it encounters
errors during the link process; it exits without writing an output file
when it issues any error whatsoever.

@item -o @var{output}
@kindex -o @var{output}
@cindex naming the output file
Use @var{output} as the name for the program produced by @code{ld}; if this
option is not specified, the name @file{a.out} is used by default.  The
script command @code{OUTPUT} can also specify the output file name.

@ifclear SingleFormat
@kindex -oformat
@item -oformat @var{output-format}
@code{ld} may be configured to support more than one kind of object
file.  If your @code{ld} is configured this way, you can use the
@samp{-oformat} option to specify the binary format for the output
object file.  Even when @code{ld} is configured to support alternative
object formats, you don't usually need to specify this, as @code{ld}
should be configured to produce as a default output format the most
usual format on each machine.  @var{output-format} is a text string, the
name of a particular format supported by the BFD libraries.  (You can
list the available binary formats with @samp{objdump -i}.)  The script
command @code{OUTPUT_FORMAT} can also specify the output format, but
this option overrides it.  @xref{BFD}.
@end ifclear

@item -R @var{filename}
@kindex -R @var{file}
@cindex symbol-only input
Read symbol names and their addresses from @var{filename}, but do not
relocate it or include it in the output.  This allows your output file
to refer symbolically to absolute locations of memory defined in other
programs.
 
@kindex -relax
@cindex synthesizing linker
@cindex relaxing addressing modes
@item -relax
An option with machine dependent effects.  
@ifset GENERIC
Currently this option is only supported on the H8/300 and the Intel 960.
@end ifset
@ifset H8300
@xref{H8/300,,@code{ld} and the H8/300}.
@end ifset
@ifset I960
@xref{i960,, @code{ld} and the Intel 960 family}.
@end ifset

On some platforms, the @samp{-relax} option performs global optimizations that
become possible when the linker resolves addressing in the program, such
as relaxing address modes and synthesizing new instructions in the
output object file.  

@ifset GENERIC
On platforms where this is not supported, @samp{-relax} is accepted, but
ignored.
@end ifset

@item -retain-symbols-file @var{filename}
@cindex retaining specified symbols
@cindex stripping all but some symbols
@cindex symbols, retaining selectively
Retain @emph{only} the symbols listed in the file @var{filename},
discarding all others.  @var{filename} is simply a flat file, with one
symbol name per line.  This option is especially useful in environments
@ifset GENERIC
(such as VxWorks)
@end ifset
where a large global symbol table is accumulated gradually, to conserve
run-time memory.

@samp{-retain-symbols-file} does @emph{not} discard undefined symbols,
or symbols needed for relocations.

You may only specify @samp{-retain-symbols-file} once in the command
line.  It overrides @samp{-s} and @samp{-S}.

@ifset GENERIC
@item -rpath @var{dir}
@cindex runtime library search path
@kindex -rpath
Add a directory to the runtime library search path.  This is only
meaningful when linking an ELF executable with shared objects.  All
-rpath arguments are concatenated and passed to the runtime linker,
which uses them to locate shared objects at runtime.
@end ifset

@cindex partial link
@cindex relocatable output
@kindex -r
@item -r 
Generate relocatable output---i.e., generate an output file that can in
turn serve as input to @code{ld}.  This is often called @dfn{partial
linking}.  As a side effect, in environments that support standard Unix
magic numbers, this option also sets the output file's magic number to
@code{OMAGIC}.
@c ; see @code{-N}. 
If this option is not specified, an absolute file is produced.  When
linking C++ programs, this option @emph{will not} resolve references to
constructors; to do that, use @samp{-Ur}.

This option does the same thing as @samp{-i}.

@kindex -S
@cindex strip debugger symbols
@item -S 
Omit debugger symbol information (but not all symbols) from the output file.

@kindex -s
@cindex strip all symbols
@item -s 
Omit all symbol information from the output file.

@ifset GENERIC
@item -soname @var{name}
@cindex runtime library name
@kindex -soname
When creating an ELF shared object, set the internal DT_SONAME field to
the specified name.  When an executable is linked with a shared object
which has a DT_SONAME field, then when the executable is run the dynamic
linker will attempt to load the shared object specified by the DT_SONAME
field rather than the using the file name given to the linker.
@end ifset

@item -sort-common
Normally, when @code{ld} places the global common symbols in the
appropriate output sections, it sorts them by size.  First come all the
one byte symbols, then all the two bytes, then all the four bytes, and
then everything else.  This is to prevent gaps between symbols due to
alignment constraints.  This option disables that sorting.

@item -split-by-reloc @var{count}
@kindex split
Trys to creates extra sections in the output file so that no single output section
in the file contains more than @var{count} relocations.  This
is useful when generating huge relocatable for downloading into
certain real time kernels with the COFF object file format; since
COFF cannot represent more than 65535 relocations in a single section.
Note that this will fail to work with object file formats which do not
support arbitrary sections.  The linker will not split up individual input
sections for redistribution,  so if a single input section contains
more than @var{count} relocations one output section will contain that
many relocations.

@item -split-by-file
@kindex split
Similar to -split-by-reloc but creates a new output section for each
input file.

@item -stats
Compute and display statistics about the operation of the linker,
such as execution time and memory usage.

@item -Tbss @var{org}
@kindex -Tbss @var{org}
@itemx -Tdata @var{org}
@kindex -Tdata @var{org}
@itemx -Ttext @var{org}
@kindex -Ttext @var{org}
@cindex segment origins, cmd line
Use @var{org} as the starting address for---respectively---the
@code{bss}, @code{data}, or the @code{text} segment of the output file.
@var{org} must be a single hexadecimal integer;
for compatibility with other linkers, you may omit the leading
@samp{0x} usually associated with hexadecimal values.

@item -T @var{commandfile}
@itemx -T@var{commandfile}
@kindex -T @var{script}
@cindex script files
Read link commands from the file @var{commandfile}.  These commands
replace @code{ld}'s default link script (rather than adding
to it), so @var{commandfile} must specify everything necessary to describe
the target format.  @xref{Commands}.  If @var{commandfile} does not
exist, @code{ld} looks for it in the directories specified by any
preceding @samp{-L} options.  Multiple @samp{-T} options accumulate.

@kindex -t
@cindex verbose
@cindex input files, displaying
@item -t 
Print the names of the input files as @code{ld} processes them.

@kindex -traditional-format
@cindex traditional format
@item -traditional-format
For some targets, the output of @code{ld} is different in some ways from
the output of some existing linker.  This switch requests @code{ld} to
use the traditional format instead.

@cindex dbx
For example, on SunOS, @code{ld} combines duplicate entries in the
symbol string table.  This can reduce the size of an output file with
full debugging information by over 30 percent.  Unfortunately, the SunOS
@code{dbx} program can not read the resulting program (@code{gdb} has no
trouble).  The @samp{-traditional-format} switch tells @code{ld} to not
combine duplicate entries.

@item -u @var{symbol}
@kindex -u @var{symbol}
@cindex undefined symbol
Force @var{symbol} to be entered in the output file as an undefined symbol.
Doing this may, for example, trigger linking of additional modules from
standard libraries.  @samp{-u} may be repeated with different option
arguments to enter additional undefined symbols.
@c Nice idea, but no such command: This option is equivalent
@c to the @code{EXTERN} linker command.

@kindex -Ur
@cindex constructors
@item -Ur 
For anything other than C++ programs, this option is equivalent to
@samp{-r}: it generates relocatable output---i.e., an output file that can in
turn serve as input to @code{ld}.  When linking C++ programs, @samp{-Ur}
@emph{does} resolve references to constructors, unlike @samp{-r}.
It does not work to use @samp{-Ur} on files that were themselves linked
with @samp{-Ur}; once the constructor table has been built, it cannot
be added to.  Use @samp{-Ur} only for the last partial link, and
@samp{-r} for the others.

@kindex --verbose
@cindex version
@item --verbose
Display the version number for @code{ld} and list the linker emulations
supported.  Display which input files can and cannot be opened.

@kindex -v
@kindex -V
@cindex version
@item -v
@itemx -V
Display the version number for @code{ld}.  The @code{-V} option also
lists the supported emulations.

@item -version
@kindex -version
Display the version number for @code{ld} and exit.

@item -warn-common
@kindex -warn-comon
@cindex warnings, on combining symbols
@cindex combining symbols, warnings on
Warn when a common symbol is combined with another common symbol or with
a symbol definition.  Unix linkers allow this somewhat sloppy practice,
but linkers on some other operating systems do not.  This option allows
you to find potential problems from combining global symbols.
Unfortunately, some C libraries use this practice, so you may get some
warnings about symbols in the libraries as well as in your programs.

There are three kinds of global symbols, illustrated here by C examples:

@table @samp
@item int i = 1;
A definition, which goes in the initialized data section of the output
file.

@item extern int i;
An undefined reference, which does not allocate space.
There must be either a definition or a common symbol for the
variable somewhere.

@item int i;
A common symbol.  If there are only (one or more) common symbols for a
variable, it goes in the uninitialized data area of the output file.
The linker merges multiple common symbols for the same variable into a
single symbol.  If they are of different sizes, it picks the largest
size.  The linker turns a common symbol into a declaration, if there is
a definition of the same variable.
@end table

The @samp{-warn-common} option can produce five kinds of warnings.  Each
warning consists of a pair of lines: the first describes the symbol just
encountered, and the second describes the previous symbol encountered
with the same name.  One or both of the two symbols will be a common
symbol.

@enumerate
@item
Turning a common symbol into a reference, because there is already a
definition for the symbol.
@smallexample
@var{file}(@var{section}): warning: common of `@var{symbol}'
   overridden by definition
@var{file}(@var{section}): warning: defined here
@end smallexample

@item
Turning a common symbol into a reference, because a later definition for
the symbol is encountered.  This is the same as the previous case,
except that the symbols are encountered in a different order.
@smallexample
@var{file}(@var{section}): warning: definition of `@var{symbol}'
   overriding common
@var{file}(@var{section}): warning: common is here
@end smallexample

@item
Merging a common symbol with a previous same-sized common symbol.
@smallexample
@var{file}(@var{section}): warning: multiple common
   of `@var{symbol}'
@var{file}(@var{section}): warning: previous common is here
@end smallexample

@item
Merging a common symbol with a previous larger common symbol.
@smallexample
@var{file}(@var{section}): warning: common of `@var{symbol}'
   overridden by larger common
@var{file}(@var{section}): warning: larger common is here
@end smallexample

@item
Merging a common symbol with a previous smaller common symbol.  This is
the same as the previous case, except that the symbols are
encountered in a different order.
@smallexample
@var{file}(@var{section}): warning: common of `@var{symbol}'
   overriding smaller common
@var{file}(@var{section}): warning: smaller common is here
@end smallexample
@end enumerate

@kindex -warn-once
@cindex warnings, on undefined symbols
@cindex undefined symbols, warnings on
@item -warn-once
Only warn once for each undefined symbol, rather than once per module
which refers to it.

@kindex -X
@cindex local symbols, deleting
@cindex L, deleting symbols beginning
@item -X 
Delete all temporary local symbols.  For most targets, this is all local
symbols whose names begin with @samp{L}.

@kindex -x
@cindex deleting local symbols
@item -x
Delete all local symbols.

@item -y @var{symbol}
@kindex -y @var{symbol}
@cindex symbol tracing
Print the name of each linked file in which @var{symbol} appears.  This
option may be given any number of times.  On many systems it is necessary
to prepend an underscore.

This option is useful when you have an undefined symbol in your link but
don't know where the reference is coming from.

@item -( @var{archives} -)
@itemx --start-group @var{archives} --end-group
@kindex -(
@cindex groups of archives
The @var{archives} should be a list of archive files.  They may be
either explicit file names, or @samp{-l} options.

The specified archives are searched repeatedly until no new undefined
references are created.  Normally, an archive is searched only once in
the order that it is specified on the command line.  If a symbol in that
archive is needed to resolve an undefined symbol referred to by an
object in an archive that appears later on the command line, the linker
would not be able to resolve that reference.  By grouping the archives,
they all be searched repeatedly until all possible references are
resolved.

Using this option has a significant performance cost.  It is best to use
it only when there are unavoidable circular references between two or
more archives.
@end table

@ifset UsesEnvVars
@node Environment
@section Environment Variables

You can change the behavior of @code{ld} with the environment
variable @code{GNUTARGET}.  

@kindex GNUTARGET
@cindex default input format
@code{GNUTARGET} determines the input-file object format if you don't
use @samp{-b} (or its synonym @samp{-format}).  Its value should be one
of the BFD names for an input format (@pxref{BFD}).  If there is no
@code{GNUTARGET} in the environment, @code{ld} uses the natural format
of the target. If @code{GNUTARGET} is set to @code{default} then BFD attempts to discover the
input format by examining binary input files; this method often
succeeds, but there are potential ambiguities, since there is no method
of ensuring that the magic number used to specify object-file formats is
unique.  However, the configuration procedure for BFD on each system
places the conventional format for that system first in the search-list,
so ambiguities are resolved in favor of convention.
@end ifset

@node Commands
@chapter Command Language

@cindex command files
The command language provides explicit control over the link process,
allowing complete specification of the mapping between the linker's
input files and its output.  It controls:
@itemize @bullet
@item 
input files 
@item 
file formats
@item 
output file layout
@item 
addresses of sections
@item 
placement of common blocks
@end itemize

You may supply a command file (also known as a link script) to the
linker either explicitly through the @samp{-T} option, or implicitly as
an ordinary file. If the linker opens a file which it cannot recognize
as a supported object or archive format, it reports an error.

@menu
* Scripts::                     Linker Scripts
* Expressions::                 Expressions
* MEMORY::                      MEMORY Command
* SECTIONS::                    SECTIONS Command
* Entry Point::                 The Entry Point
* Option Commands::             Option Commands
@end menu

@node Scripts
@section Linker Scripts
The @code{ld} command language is a collection of statements; some are
simple keywords setting a particular option, some are used to select and
group input files or name output files; and two statement
types have a fundamental and pervasive impact on the linking process.

@cindex fundamental script commands
@cindex commands, fundamental
@cindex output file layout
@cindex layout of output file
The most fundamental command of the @code{ld} command language is the
@code{SECTIONS} command (@pxref{SECTIONS}).  Every meaningful command
script must have a @code{SECTIONS} command: it specifies a
``picture'' of the output file's layout, in varying degrees of detail.
No other command is required in all cases.

The @code{MEMORY} command complements @code{SECTIONS} by describing the
available memory in the target architecture.  This command is optional;
if you don't use a @code{MEMORY} command, @code{ld} assumes sufficient
memory is available in a contiguous block for all output.
@xref{MEMORY}.

@cindex comments
You may include comments in linker scripts just as in C: delimited
by @samp{/*} and @samp{*/}.  As in C, comments are syntactically
equivalent to whitespace.

@node Expressions
@section Expressions
@cindex expression syntax
@cindex arithmetic
Many useful commands involve arithmetic expressions.  The syntax for
expressions in the command language is identical to that of C
expressions, with the following features:
@itemize @bullet
@item 
All expressions evaluated as integers and
are of ``long'' or ``unsigned long'' type.
@item 
All constants are integers.
@item 
All of the C arithmetic operators are provided.
@item 
You may reference, define, and create global variables.
@item 
You may call special purpose built-in functions.
@end itemize

@menu
* Integers::                    Integers
* Symbols::                     Symbol Names
* Location Counter::            The Location Counter
* Operators::                   Operators
* Evaluation::                  Evaluation
* Assignment::                  Assignment: Defining Symbols
* Arithmetic Functions::        Built-In Functions
@end menu

@node Integers
@subsection Integers
@cindex integer notation
@cindex octal integers
An octal integer is @samp{0} followed by zero or more of the octal
digits (@samp{01234567}).
@example
_as_octal = 0157255;
@end example

@cindex decimal integers
A decimal integer starts with a non-zero digit followed by zero or
more digits (@samp{0123456789}).
@example
_as_decimal = 57005;
@end example

@cindex hexadecimal integers
@kindex 0x
A hexadecimal integer is @samp{0x} or @samp{0X} followed by one or
more hexadecimal digits chosen from @samp{0123456789abcdefABCDEF}.
@example
_as_hex = 0xdead;
@end example

@cindex negative integers
To write a negative integer, use
the prefix operator @samp{-}; @pxref{Operators}.
@example
_as_neg = -57005;
@end example

@cindex scaled integers
@cindex K and M integer suffixes
@cindex M and K integer suffixes
@cindex suffixes for integers
@cindex integer suffixes
Additionally the suffixes @code{K} and @code{M} may be used to scale a
constant by 
@c TEXI2ROFF-KILL
@ifinfo
@c END TEXI2ROFF-KILL
@code{1024} or @code{1024*1024}
@c TEXI2ROFF-KILL
@end ifinfo
@tex
${\rm 1024}$ or ${\rm 1024}^2$
@end tex
@c END TEXI2ROFF-KILL
respectively. For example, the following all refer to the same quantity:

@example
        _fourk_1 = 4K;
        _fourk_2 = 4096;
        _fourk_3 = 0x1000;
@end example

@node Symbols
@subsection Symbol Names
@cindex symbol names
@cindex names
@cindex quoted symbol names
@kindex "
Unless quoted, symbol names start with a letter, underscore, or point
and may include any letters, underscores, digits, points,
and hyphens.  Unquoted symbol names must not conflict with any
keywords.  You can specify a symbol which contains odd characters or has
the same name as a keyword, by surrounding the symbol name in double quotes:
@example
        "SECTION" = 9;
        "with a space" = "also with a space" + 10;
@end example

Since symbols can contain many non-alphabetic characters, it is safest
to delimit symbols with spaces.  For example, @samp{A-B} is one symbol,
whereas @samp{A - B} is an expression involving subtraction.

@node Location Counter
@subsection The Location Counter
@kindex .
@cindex dot
@cindex location counter
@cindex current output location
The special linker variable @dfn{dot} @samp{.} always contains the
current output location counter. Since the @code{.} always refers to
a location in an output section, it must always appear in an
expression within a @code{SECTIONS} command. The @code{.} symbol
may appear anywhere that an ordinary symbol is allowed in an
expression, but its assignments have a side effect. Assigning a value
to the @code{.} symbol will cause the location counter to be moved.
@cindex holes
This may be used to create holes in the output section.  The location
counter may never be moved backwards.
@example
SECTIONS
@{
  output :
  @{
  file1(.text)
  . = . + 1000;
  file2(.text)
  . += 1000;
  file3(.text)
  @} = 0x1234;
@}
@end example
@noindent
In the previous example, @code{file1} is located at the beginning of the
output section, then there is a 1000 byte gap.  Then @code{file2}
appears, also with a 1000 byte gap following before @code{file3} is
loaded.  The notation @samp{= 0x1234} specifies what data to write in
the gaps (@pxref{Section Options}).

@iftex
@vfill
@end iftex

@need 5000
@node Operators
@subsection Operators
@cindex Operators for arithmetic
@cindex arithmetic operators
@cindex precedence in expressions
The linker recognizes  the standard C set of arithmetic operators, with
the standard bindings and precedence levels:
@c TEXI2ROFF-KILL
@ifinfo
@c END TEXI2ROFF-KILL
@example
precedence      associativity   Operators                Notes
(highest)
1               left            !  -  ~                  (1)
2               left            *  /  %
3               left            +  -
4               left            >>  <<
5               left            ==  !=  >  <  <=  >=
6               left            &
7               left            |
8               left            &&
9               left            ||
10              right           ? :
11              right           &=  +=  -=  *=  /=       (2)
(lowest)
@end example
Notes:
(1) Prefix operators 
(2) @xref{Assignment}
@c TEXI2ROFF-KILL
@end ifinfo
@tex
\vskip \baselineskip
%"lispnarrowing" is the extra indent used generally for @example
\hskip\lispnarrowing\vbox{\offinterlineskip
\hrule
\halign
{\vrule#&\strut\hfil\ #\ \hfil&\vrule#&\strut\hfil\ #\ \hfil&\vrule#&\strut\hfil\ {\tt #}\ \hfil&\vrule#\cr
height2pt&\omit&&\omit&&\omit&\cr
&Precedence&&  Associativity  &&{\rm Operators}&\cr
height2pt&\omit&&\omit&&\omit&\cr
\noalign{\hrule}
height2pt&\omit&&\omit&&\omit&\cr
&highest&&&&&\cr
% '176 is tilde, '~' in tt font
&1&&left&&\qquad-          \char'176\      !\qquad\dag&\cr 
&2&&left&&*          /        \%&\cr
&3&&left&&+          -&\cr
&4&&left&&>>         <<&\cr
&5&&left&&==         !=       >      <      <=      >=&\cr
&6&&left&&\&&\cr
&7&&left&&|&\cr
&8&&left&&{\&\&}&\cr
&9&&left&&||&\cr
&10&&right&&?        :&\cr
&11&&right&&\qquad\&=      +=       -=     *=     /=\qquad\ddag&\cr
&lowest&&&&&\cr
height2pt&\omit&&\omit&&\omit&\cr}
\hrule}
@end tex
@iftex
{
@obeylines@parskip=0pt@parindent=0pt
@dag@quad Prefix operators.
@ddag@quad @xref{Assignment}.
}
@end iftex
@c END TEXI2ROFF-KILL

@node Evaluation
@subsection Evaluation

@cindex lazy evaluation
@cindex expression evaluation order
The linker uses ``lazy evaluation'' for expressions; it only calculates
an expression when absolutely necessary.  The linker needs the value of
the start address, and the lengths of memory regions, in order to do any
linking at all; these values are computed as soon as possible when the
linker reads in the command file.  However, other values (such as symbol
values) are not known or needed until after storage allocation.  Such
values are evaluated later, when other information (such as the sizes of
output sections) is available for use in the symbol assignment
expression.

@node Assignment
@subsection Assignment: Defining Symbols
@cindex assignment in scripts
@cindex symbol definition, scripts
@cindex variables, defining
You may create global symbols, and assign values (addresses) to global
symbols, using any of the C assignment operators:

@table @code
@item @var{symbol}  = @var{expression} ;
@itemx @var{symbol} &= @var{expression} ;
@itemx @var{symbol} += @var{expression} ;
@itemx @var{symbol} -= @var{expression} ;
@itemx @var{symbol} *= @var{expression} ;
@itemx @var{symbol} /= @var{expression} ;
@end table

Two things distinguish assignment from other operators in @code{ld}
expressions.
@itemize @bullet
@item 
Assignment may only be used at the root of an expression;
@samp{a=b+3;} is allowed, but @samp{a+b=3;} is an error.

@kindex ;
@cindex semicolon
@item 
You must place a trailing semicolon (``@key{;}'') at the end of an
assignment statement.
@end itemize

Assignment statements may appear:
@itemize @bullet
@item 
as commands in their own right in an @code{ld} script; or
@item 
as independent statements within a @code{SECTIONS} command; or
@item 
as part of the contents of a section definition in a
@code{SECTIONS} command.
@end itemize

The first two cases are equivalent in effect---both define a symbol with
an absolute address.  The last case defines a symbol whose address is
relative to a particular section (@pxref{SECTIONS}).

@cindex absolute and relocatable symbols
@cindex relocatable and absolute symbols
@cindex symbols, relocatable and absolute
When a linker expression is evaluated and assigned to a variable, it is
given either an absolute or a relocatable type. An absolute expression
type is one in which the symbol contains the value that it will have in
the output file; a relocatable expression type is one in which the
value is expressed as a fixed offset from the base of a section.

The type of the expression is controlled by its position in the script
file.  A symbol assigned within a section definition is created relative
to the base of the section; a symbol assigned in any other place is
created as an absolute symbol. Since a symbol created within a
section definition is relative to the base of the section, it
will remain relocatable if relocatable output is requested.  A symbol
may be created with an absolute value even when assigned to within a
section definition by using the absolute assignment function
@code{ABSOLUTE}.  For example, to create an absolute symbol whose address
is the last byte of an output section named @code{.data}:
@example
SECTIONS@{ @dots{}
  .data : 
    @{
      *(.data)
      _edata = ABSOLUTE(.) ;
    @} 
@dots{} @}
@end example

The linker tries to put off the evaluation of an assignment until all
the terms in the source expression are known (@pxref{Evaluation}).  For
instance, the sizes of sections cannot be known until after allocation,
so assignments dependent upon these are not performed until after
allocation. Some expressions, such as those depending upon the location
counter @dfn{dot}, @samp{.} must be evaluated during allocation. If the
result of an expression is required, but the value is not available,
then an error results.  For example, a script like the following
@example
SECTIONS @{ @dots{}
  text 9+this_isnt_constant : 
    @{ @dots{}
    @}
@dots{} @}
@end example
@kindex Non constant expression
@noindent
will cause the error message ``@code{Non constant expression for initial
address}''.

@cindex provide
In some cases, it is desirable for a linker script to define a symbol
only if it is referenced, and only if it is not defined by any object
included in the link.  For example, traditional linkers defined the
symbol @samp{etext}.  However, ANSI C requires that the user be able to
use @samp{etext} as a function name without encountering an error.
The @code{PROVIDE} keyword may be used to define a symbol, such as
@samp{etext}, only if it is referenced but not defined.  The syntax is
@code{PROVIDE(@var{symbol} = @var{expression})}.

@node Arithmetic Functions
@subsection Arithmetic Functions
@cindex functions in expression language
The command language includes a number of built-in
functions for use in link script expressions.
@table @code
@item ABSOLUTE(@var{exp})
@kindex ABSOLUTE(@var{exp})
@cindex expression, absolute
Return the absolute (non-relocatable, as opposed to non-negative) value
of the expression @var{exp}.  Primarily useful to assign an absolute
value to a symbol within a section definition, where symbol values are
normally section-relative.

@item ADDR(@var{section})
@kindex ADDR(@var{section})
@cindex section address
Return the absolute address of the named @var{section}.  Your script must
previously have defined the location of that section. In the following
example, @code{symbol_1} and @code{symbol_2} are assigned identical
values:
@example
SECTIONS@{ @dots{}
  .output1 :
    @{ 
    start_of_output_1 = ABSOLUTE(.);
    @dots{}
    @}
  .output :
    @{
    symbol_1 = ADDR(.output1);
    symbol_2 = start_of_output_1;
    @}
@dots{} @}
@end example

@item ALIGN(@var{exp})
@kindex ALIGN(@var{exp})
@cindex rounding up location counter
Return the result of the current location counter (@code{.}) aligned to
the next @var{exp} boundary.  @var{exp} must be an expression whose
value is a power of two.  This is equivalent to 
@example
(. + @var{exp} - 1) & ~(@var{exp} - 1)
@end example

@code{ALIGN} doesn't change the value of the location counter---it just
does arithmetic on it.  As an example, to align the output @code{.data}
section to the next @code{0x2000} byte boundary after the preceding
section and to set a variable within the section to the next
@code{0x8000} boundary after the input sections:
@example
SECTIONS@{ @dots{}
  .data ALIGN(0x2000): @{
    *(.data)
    variable = ALIGN(0x8000);
  @}
@dots{} @}
@end example
@noindent
The first use of @code{ALIGN} in this example specifies the location of
a section because it is used as the optional @var{start} attribute of a
section definition (@pxref{Section Options}).  The second use simply
defines the value of a variable.

The built-in @code{NEXT} is closely related to @code{ALIGN}.

@item DEFINED(@var{symbol})
@kindex DEFINED(@var{symbol})
@cindex symbol defaults
Return 1 if @var{symbol} is in the linker global symbol table and is
defined, otherwise return 0.  You can use this function to provide default
values for symbols.  For example, the following command-file fragment shows how
to set a global symbol @code{begin} to the first location in the
@code{.text} section---but if a symbol called @code{begin} already
existed, its value is preserved:

@smallexample
SECTIONS@{ @dots{}
  .text : @{
    begin = DEFINED(begin) ? begin : . ;
    @dots{}
  @}
@dots{} @}
@end smallexample

@item NEXT(@var{exp})
@kindex NEXT(@var{exp})
@cindex unallocated address, next
Return the next unallocated address that is a multiple of @var{exp}.
This function is closely related to @code{ALIGN(@var{exp})}; unless you
use the @code{MEMORY} command to define discontinuous memory for the
output file, the two functions are equivalent.

@item SIZEOF(@var{section})
@kindex SIZEOF(@var{section})
@cindex section size
Return the size in bytes of the named @var{section}, if that section has
been allocated.  In the following example, @code{symbol_1} and
@code{symbol_2} are assigned identical values:
@c What does it return if the section hasn't been allocated?  0?
@example
SECTIONS@{ @dots{}
  .output @{
    .start = . ;
    @dots{}
    .end = . ;
    @}
  symbol_1 = .end - .start ;
  symbol_2 = SIZEOF(.output);
@dots{} @}

@end example

@item SIZEOF_HEADERS
@kindex SIZEOF_HEADERS
@cindex header size
@itemx sizeof_headers
@kindex sizeof_headers
Return the size in bytes of the output file's headers.  You can use this number
as the start address of the first section, if you choose, to facilitate
paging. 

@end table

@node MEMORY
@section Memory Layout
@kindex MEMORY
@cindex regions of memory
@cindex discontinuous memory
@cindex allocating memory
The linker's default configuration permits allocation of all available memory.
You can override this configuration by using the @code{MEMORY} command.  The
@code{MEMORY} command describes the location and size of blocks of
memory in the target.  By using it carefully, you can describe which
memory regions may be used by the linker, and which memory regions it
must avoid.  The linker does not shuffle sections to fit into the
available regions, but does move the requested sections into the correct
regions and issue errors when the regions become too full.  

A command file may contain at most one use of the @code{MEMORY}
command; however, you can define as many blocks of memory within it as
you wish.  The syntax is:
        
@example
MEMORY 
  @{
    @var{name} (@var{attr}) : ORIGIN = @var{origin}, LENGTH = @var{len}
    @dots{}
  @}
@end example
@table @code
@cindex naming memory regions
@item @var{name}
is a name used internally by the linker to refer to the region. Any
symbol name may be used.  The region names are stored in a separate
name space, and will not conflict with symbols, file names or section
names.  Use distinct names to specify multiple regions.

@cindex memory region attributes
@item (@var{attr})
is an optional list of attributes, permitted for compatibility with the
AT&T linker but not used by @code{ld} beyond checking that the
attribute list is valid.  Valid attribute lists must be made up of the
characters ``@code{LIRWX}''.  If you omit the attribute list, you may
omit the parentheses around it as well.

@kindex ORIGIN =
@kindex o =
@kindex org =
@item @var{origin}
is the start address of the region in physical memory.  It is
an expression that must evaluate to a constant before
memory allocation is performed. The keyword @code{ORIGIN} may be
abbreviated to @code{org} or @code{o} (but not, for example, @samp{ORG}).

@kindex LENGTH =
@kindex len =
@kindex l =
@item @var{len}
is the size in bytes of the region (an expression).
The keyword @code{LENGTH} may be abbreviated to @code{len} or @code{l}.
@end table 

For example, to specify that memory has two regions available for
allocation---one starting at 0 for 256 kilobytes, and the other
starting at @code{0x40000000} for four megabytes:

@example
MEMORY 
  @{
  rom : ORIGIN = 0, LENGTH = 256K
  ram : org = 0x40000000, l = 4M
  @}
@end example

Once you have defined a region of memory named @var{mem}, you can direct
specific output sections there by using a command ending in
@samp{>@var{mem}} within the @code{SECTIONS} command (@pxref{Section
Options}).  If the combined output sections directed to a region are too
big for the region, the linker will issue an error message.

@node SECTIONS
@section Specifying Output Sections

@kindex SECTIONS
The @code{SECTIONS} command controls exactly where input sections are
placed into output sections, their order in the output file, and to
which output sections they are allocated.

You may use at most one @code{SECTIONS} command in a script file,
but you can have as many statements within it as you wish.  Statements
within the @code{SECTIONS} command can do one of three things:

@itemize @bullet
@item 
define the entry point;

@item 
assign a value to a symbol;

@item 
describe the placement of a named output section, and which input
sections go into it.
@end itemize

You can also use the first two operations---defining the entry point and
defining symbols---outside the @code{SECTIONS} command: @pxref{Entry
Point}, and @pxref{Assignment}.  They are permitted here as well for
your convenience in reading the script, so that symbols and the entry
point can be defined at meaningful points in your output-file layout.

If you do not use a @code{SECTIONS} command, the linker places each input
section into an identically named output section in the order that the
sections are first encountered in the input files.  If all input sections
are present in the first file, for example, the order of sections in the
output file will match the order in the first input file.

@menu
* Section Definition::          Section Definitions
* Section Placement::           Section Placement
* Section Data Expressions::    Section Data Expressions
* Section Options::             Optional Section Attributes
@end menu

@node Section Definition
@subsection Section Definitions
@cindex section definition
The most frequently used statement in the @code{SECTIONS} command is
the @dfn{section definition}, which specifies the
properties of an output section: its location, alignment, contents,
fill pattern, and target memory region.  Most of
these specifications are optional; the simplest form of a section
definition is
@example
SECTIONS @{ @dots{}
  @var{secname} : @{
    @var{contents}
  @}
@dots{} @}
@end example
@cindex naming output sections
@noindent
@var{secname} is the name of the output section, and @var{contents} a
specification of what goes there---for example, a list of input files or
sections of input files (@pxref{Section Placement}).  As you might
assume, the whitespace shown is optional.  You do need the colon
@samp{:} and the braces @samp{@{@}}, however.

@var{secname} must meet the constraints of your output format.  In
formats which only support a limited number of sections, such as
@code{a.out}, the name must be one of the names supported by the format
(@code{a.out}, for example, allows only @code{.text}, @code{.data} or
@code{.bss}). If the output format supports any number of sections, but
with numbers and not names (as is the case for Oasys), the name should be
supplied as a quoted numeric string.  A section name may consist of any
sequence of characters, but any name which does not conform to the standard
@code{ld} symbol name syntax must be quoted.
@xref{Symbols, , Symbol Names}.

The linker will not create output sections which do not have any
contents.  This is for convenience when referring to input sections that
may or may not exist.  For example,
@example
.foo @{ *(.foo @}
@end example
will only create a @samp{.foo} section in the output file if there is a
@samp{.foo} section in at least one input file.

@node Section Placement
@subsection Section Placement

@cindex contents of a section
In a section definition, you can specify the contents of an output
section by listing particular input files, by listing particular
input-file sections, or by a combination of the two.  You can also place
arbitrary data in the section, and define symbols relative to the
beginning of the section.

The @var{contents} of a section definition may include any of the
following kinds of statement.  You can include as many of these as you
like in a single section definition, separated from one another by
whitespace. 

@table @code
@kindex @var{filename}
@cindex input files, section defn
@cindex files, including in output sections
@item @var{filename}
You may simply name a particular input file to be placed in the current
output section; @emph{all} sections from that file are placed in the
current section definition.  If the file name has already been mentioned
in another section definition, with an explicit section name list, then
only those sections which have not yet been allocated are used.

To specify a list of particular files by name:
@example
.data : @{ afile.o bfile.o cfile.o @}
@end example
@noindent
The example also illustrates that multiple statements can be included in
the contents of a section definition, since each file name is a separate
statement. 

@kindex @var{filename}(@var{section})
@cindex files and sections, section defn
@item @var{filename}( @var{section} )
@itemx @var{filename}( @var{section}, @var{section}, @dots{} )
@itemx @var{filename}( @var{section} @var{section} @dots{} )
You can name one or more sections from your input files, for
insertion in the current output section.  If you wish to specify a list
of input-file sections inside the parentheses, you may separate the
section names by either commas or whitespace.

@cindex input sections to output section
@kindex *(@var{section})
@item * (@var{section})
@itemx * (@var{section}, @var{section}, @dots{})
@itemx * (@var{section} @var{section} @dots{})
Instead of explicitly naming particular input files in a link control
script, you can refer to @emph{all} files from the @code{ld} command
line: use @samp{*} instead of a particular file name before the
parenthesized input-file section list.  

If you have already explicitly included some files by name, @samp{*}
refers to all @emph{remaining} files---those whose places in the output
file have not yet been defined.

For example, to copy sections @code{1} through @code{4} from an Oasys file
into the @code{.text} section of an @code{a.out} file, and sections @code{13}
and @code{14} into the @code{.data} section:
@example
SECTIONS @{
  .text :@{
    *("1" "2" "3" "4")
  @}
  
  .data :@{
    *("13" "14")
  @}
@}
@end example

@cindex @code{[@var{section}@dots{}]}, not supported
@samp{[ @var{section} @dots{} ]} used to be accepted as an alternate way
to specify named sections from all unallocated input files.  Because
some operating systems (VMS) allow brackets in file names, that notation
is no longer supported.

@cindex uninitialized data
@cindex commons in output
@kindex *( COMMON )
@item @var{filename}@code{( COMMON )}
@itemx *( COMMON )
Specify where in your output file to place uninitialized data
with this notation.  @code{*(COMMON)} by itself refers to all
uninitialized data from all input files (so far as it is not yet
allocated); @var{filename}@code{(COMMON)} refers to uninitialized data
from a particular file.  Both are special cases of the general
mechanisms for specifying where to place input-file sections:
@code{ld} permits you to refer to uninitialized data as if it
were in an input-file section named @code{COMMON}, regardless of the
input file's format.
@end table

For example, the following command script arranges the output file into
three consecutive sections, named @code{.text}, @code{.data}, and
@code{.bss}, taking the input for each from the correspondingly named
sections of all the input files:

@example
SECTIONS @{ 
  .text : @{ *(.text) @}
  .data : @{ *(.data) @} 
  .bss :  @{ *(.bss)  *(COMMON) @} 
@} 
@end example

The following example reads all of the sections from file @code{all.o}
and places them at the start of output section @code{outputa} which
starts at location @code{0x10000}. All of section @code{.input1} from
file @code{foo.o} follows immediately, in the same output section.  All
of section @code{.input2} from @code{foo.o} goes into output section
@code{outputb}, followed by section @code{.input1} from @code{foo1.o}.
All of the remaining @code{.input1} and @code{.input2} sections from any
files are written to output section @code{outputc}.

@example
SECTIONS @{
  outputa 0x10000 :
    @{
    all.o
    foo.o (.input1)
    @}
  outputb :
    @{
    foo.o (.input2)
    foo1.o (.input1)
    @}
  outputc :
    @{
    *(.input1)
    *(.input2)
    @}
@}
@end example        

@node Section Data Expressions
@subsection Section Data Expressions

@cindex expressions in a section
The foregoing statements arrange, in your output file, data originating
from your input files.  You can also place data directly in an output
section from the link command script.  Most of these additional
statements involve expressions; @pxref{Expressions}.  Although these
statements are shown separately here for ease of presentation, no such
segregation is needed within a section definition in the @code{SECTIONS}
command; you can intermix them freely with any of the statements we've
just described.

@table @code
@cindex input filename symbols
@cindex filename symbols
@kindex CREATE_OBJECT_SYMBOLS
@item CREATE_OBJECT_SYMBOLS
Create a symbol for each input file
in the current section, set to the address of the first byte of
data written from that input file.  For instance, with @code{a.out}
files it is conventional to have a symbol for each input file.  You can
accomplish this by defining the output @code{.text} section as follows:
@example
SECTIONS @{
  .text 0x2020 :
     @{
    CREATE_OBJECT_SYMBOLS
    *(.text)
    _etext = ALIGN(0x2000);
    @}
  @dots{}
@}
@end example

If @code{sample.ld} is a file containing this script, and @code{a.o},
@code{b.o}, @code{c.o}, and @code{d.o} are four input files with
contents like the following---
@example
/* a.c */

afunction() @{ @}
int adata=1;
int abss;
@end example

@noindent
@samp{ld -M -T sample.ld a.o b.o c.o d.o} would create a map like this,
containing symbols matching the object file names:
@example
00000000 A __DYNAMIC
00004020 B _abss
00004000 D _adata
00002020 T _afunction
00004024 B _bbss
00004008 D _bdata
00002038 T _bfunction
00004028 B _cbss
00004010 D _cdata
00002050 T _cfunction
0000402c B _dbss
00004018 D _ddata
00002068 T _dfunction
00004020 D _edata
00004030 B _end
00004000 T _etext
00002020 t a.o
00002038 t b.o
00002050 t c.o
00002068 t d.o
@end example

@kindex @var{symbol} = @var{expression} ;
@kindex @var{symbol} @var{f}= @var{expression} ;
@item @var{symbol} = @var{expression} ;
@itemx @var{symbol} @var{f}= @var{expression} ;
@var{symbol} is any symbol name (@pxref{Symbols}).  ``@var{f}='' 
refers to any of the operators @code{&= += -= *= /=} which combine
arithmetic and assignment.

@cindex assignment, in section defn
When you assign a value to a symbol within a particular section
definition, the value is relative to the beginning of the section
(@pxref{Assignment}).  If you write

@example
SECTIONS @{
  abs = 14 ;
  @dots{}
  .data : @{ @dots{} rel = 14 ; @dots{} @}
  abs2 = 14 + ADDR(.data);
  @dots{}
@}
@end example

@c FIXME:  Try above example!
@noindent
@code{abs} and @code{rel} do not have the same value; @code{rel} has the
same value as @code{abs2}.

@kindex BYTE(@var{expression})
@kindex SHORT(@var{expression})
@kindex LONG(@var{expression})
@kindex QUAD(@var{expression})
@cindex direct output
@item BYTE(@var{expression})
@itemx SHORT(@var{expression})
@itemx LONG(@var{expression})
@itemx QUAD(@var{expression})
By including one of these four statements in a section definition, you
can explicitly place one, two, four, or eight bytes (respectively) at
the current address of that section.  @code{QUAD} is only supported when
using a 64 bit host or target.

@ifclear SingleFormat
Multiple-byte quantities are represented in whatever byte order is
appropriate for the output file format (@pxref{BFD}).
@end ifclear

@item FILL(@var{expression})
@kindex FILL(@var{expression})
@cindex holes, filling
@cindex unspecified memory
Specify the ``fill pattern'' for the current section.  Any otherwise
unspecified regions of memory within the section (for example, regions
you skip over by assigning a new value to the location counter @samp{.})
are filled with the two least significant bytes from the
@var{expression} argument.  A @code{FILL} statement covers memory
locations @emph{after} the point it occurs in the section definition; by
including more than one @code{FILL} statement, you can have different
fill patterns in different parts of an output section.
@end table

@node Section Options
@subsection Optional Section Attributes
@cindex section defn, full syntax
Here is the full syntax of a section definition, including all the
optional portions:

@smallexample
SECTIONS @{
@dots{}
@var{secname} @var{start} BLOCK(@var{align}) (NOLOAD) : AT ( @var{ldadr} )
  @{ @var{contents} @} >@var{region} =@var{fill}
@dots{}
@}
@end smallexample

@var{secname} and @var{contents} are required.  @xref{Section
Definition}, and @pxref{Section Placement} for details on
@var{contents}.  The remaining elements---@var{start},
@code{BLOCK(@var{align)}}, @code{(NOLOAD)}, @code{AT ( @var{ldadr} )},
@code{>@var{region}}, and @code{=@var{fill}}---are all optional.

@table @code
@cindex start address, section
@cindex section start
@cindex section address
@item @var{start} 
You can force the output section to be loaded at a specified address by
specifying @var{start} immediately following the section name.
@var{start} can be represented as any expression. The following
example generates section @var{output} at location
@code{0x40000000}:

@example
SECTIONS @{
  @dots{}
  output 0x40000000: @{
    @dots{}
    @}
  @dots{}
@}
@end example

@kindex BLOCK(@var{align})
@cindex section alignment
@cindex aligning sections
@item BLOCK(@var{align})
You can include @code{BLOCK()} specification to advance
the location counter @code{.} prior to the beginning of the section, so
that the section will begin at the specified alignment.  @var{align} is
an expression.

@kindex NOLOAD
@cindex prevent unnecessary loading
@cindex loading, preventing
@item (NOLOAD)
Use @samp{(NOLOAD)} to prevent a section from being loaded into memory
each time it is accessed.  For example, in the script sample below, the
@code{ROM} segment is addressed at memory location @samp{0} and does not
need to be loaded into each object file:

@example
SECTIONS @{
  ROM  0  (NOLOAD)  : @{ @dots{} @}
  @dots{}
@}
@end example

@kindex AT ( @var{ldadr} )
@cindex specify load address
@cindex load address, specifying
@item AT ( @var{ldadr} )
The expression @var{ldadr} that follows the @code{AT} keyword specifies
the load address of the section.  The default (if you do not use the
@code{AT} keyword) is to make the load address the same as the
relocation address.  This feature is designed to make it easy to build a
ROM image.  For example, this @code{SECTIONS} definition creates two
output sections: one called @samp{.text}, which starts at @code{0x1000},
and one called @samp{.mdata}, which is loaded at the end of the
@samp{.text} section even though its relocation address is
@code{0x2000}.  The symbol @code{_data} is defined with the value
@code{0x2000}:

@smallexample
SECTIONS
  @{
  .text 0x1000 : @{ *(.text) _etext = . ; @}
  .mdata 0x2000 : 
    AT ( ADDR(.text) + SIZEOF ( .text ) )
    @{ _data = . ; *(.data); _edata = . ;  @}
  .bss 0x3000 :
    @{ _bstart = . ;  *(.bss) *(COMMON) ; _bend = . ;@}
@}
@end smallexample

The run-time initialization code (for C programs, usually @code{crt0})
for use with a ROM generated this way has to include something like
the following, to copy the initialized data from the ROM image to its runtime
address:

@smallexample
char *src = _etext;
char *dst = _data;

/* ROM has data at end of text; copy it. */
while (dst < _edata) @{
  *dst++ = *src++;
@}

/* Zero bss */
for (dst = _bstart; dst< _bend; dst++)
  *dst = 0;
@end smallexample

@kindex >@var{region}
@cindex section, assigning to memory region
@cindex memory regions and sections
@item >@var{region}
Assign this section to a previously defined region of memory.  
@xref{MEMORY}.

@kindex =@var{fill}
@cindex section fill pattern
@cindex fill pattern, entire section
@item =@var{fill}
Including @code{=@var{fill}} in a section definition specifies the
initial fill value for that section.  You may use any expression to
specify @var{fill}.  Any unallocated holes in the current output section
when written to the output file will be filled with the two least
significant bytes of the value, repeated as necessary.  You can also
change the fill value with a @code{FILL} statement in the @var{contents}
of a section definition.

@end table

@node Entry Point
@section The Entry Point
@kindex ENTRY(@var{symbol})
@cindex start of execution
@cindex first instruction
The linker command language includes a command specifically for
defining the first executable instruction in an output file (its
@dfn{entry point}).  Its argument is a symbol name:
@example
ENTRY(@var{symbol})
@end example

Like symbol assignments, the @code{ENTRY} command may be placed either
as an independent command in the command file, or among the section
definitions within the @code{SECTIONS} command---whatever makes the most
sense for your layout.

@cindex entry point, defaults
@code{ENTRY} is only one of several ways of choosing the entry point.
You may indicate it in any of the following ways (shown in descending
order of priority: methods higher in the list override methods lower down).
@itemize @bullet
@item 
the @samp{-e} @var{entry} command-line option;
@item 
the @code{ENTRY(@var{symbol})} command in a linker control script;
@item 
the value of the symbol @code{start}, if present;
@item 
the value of the symbol @code{_main}, if present;
@item 
the address of the first byte of the @code{.text} section, if present;
@item 
The address @code{0}.
@end itemize

For example, you can use these rules to generate an entry point with an
assignment statement: if no symbol @code{start} is defined within your
input files, you can simply define it, assigning it an appropriate
value---

@example
start = 0x2020;
@end example

@noindent
The example shows an absolute address, but you can use any expression.
For example, if your input object files use some other symbol-name
convention for the entry point, you can just assign the value of
whatever symbol contains the start address to @code{start}:

@example
start = other_symbol ;
@end example

@node Option Commands
@section Option Commands
The command language includes a number of other commands that you can
use for specialized purposes.  They are similar in purpose to
command-line options.

@table @code
@kindex CONSTRUCTORS
@cindex C++ constructors, arranging in link
@cindex constructors, arranging in link
@item CONSTRUCTORS
This command ties up C++ style constructor and destructor records.  The
details of the constructor representation vary from one object format to
another, but usually lists of constructors and destructors appear as
special sections.  The @code{CONSTRUCTORS} command specifies where the
linker is to place the data from these sections, relative to the rest of
the linked output.  Constructor data is marked by the symbol
@w{@code{__CTOR_LIST__}} at the start, and @w{@code{__CTOR_LIST_END}} at
the end; destructor data is bracketed similarly, between
@w{@code{__DTOR_LIST__}} and @w{@code{__DTOR_LIST_END}}.  (The compiler
must arrange to actually run this code; GNU C++ calls constructors from
a subroutine @code{__main}, which it inserts automatically into the
startup code for @code{main}, and destructors from @code{_exit}.)

@need 1000
@kindex FLOAT
@kindex NOFLOAT
@item FLOAT
@itemx NOFLOAT
These keywords were used in some older linkers to request a particular
math subroutine library.  @code{ld} doesn't use the keywords, assuming
instead that any necessary subroutines are in libraries specified using
the general mechanisms for linking to archives; but to permit the use of
scripts that were written for the older linkers, the keywords
@code{FLOAT} and @code{NOFLOAT} are accepted and ignored.

@kindex FORCE_COMMON_ALLOCATION
@cindex common allocation
@item FORCE_COMMON_ALLOCATION
This command has the same effect as the @samp{-d} command-line option:
to make @code{ld} assign space to common symbols even if a relocatable
output file is specified (@samp{-r}).

@kindex INPUT ( @var{files} )
@cindex binary input files
@item INPUT ( @var{file}, @var{file}, @dots{} )
@itemx INPUT ( @var{file} @var{file} @dots{} )
Use this command to include binary input files in the link, without
including them in a particular section definition.  
Specify the full name for each @var{file}, including @samp{.a} if
required.

@code{ld} searches for each @var{file} through the archive-library
search path, just as for files you specify on the command line.
See the description of @samp{-L} in @ref{Options,,Command Line
Options}.

If you use @samp{-l@var{file}}, @code{ld} will transform the name to
@code{lib@var{file}.a} as with the command line argument @samp{-l}.

@kindex GROUP ( @var{files} )
@cindex grouping input files
@item GROUP ( @var{file}, @var{file}, @dots{} )
@itemx GROUP ( @var{file} @var{file} @dots{} )
This command is like @code{INPUT}, except that the named files should
all be archives, and they are searched repeatedly until no new undefined
references are created.  See the description of @samp{-(} in
@ref{Options,,Command Line Options}.

@ignore
@item MAP ( @var{name} )
@kindex MAP ( @var{name} )
@c MAP(...) appears to look for an F in the arg, ignoring all other
@c chars; if it finds one, it sets "map_option_f" to true.  But nothing
@c checks map_option_f.  Apparently a stub for the future...
@end ignore

@item OUTPUT ( @var{filename} )
@kindex OUTPUT ( @var{filename} )
@cindex naming the output file
Use this command to name the link output file @var{filename}.  The
effect of @code{OUTPUT(@var{filename})} is identical to the effect of
@w{@samp{-o @var{filename}}}, which overrides it.  You can use this
command to supply a default output-file name other than @code{a.out}.

@ifclear SingleFormat
@item OUTPUT_ARCH ( @var{bfdname} )
@kindex OUTPUT_ARCH ( @var{bfdname} )
@cindex machine architecture, output
Specify a particular output machine architecture, with one of the names
used by the BFD back-end routines (@pxref{BFD}).  This command is often
unnecessary; the architecture is most often set implicitly by either the
system BFD configuration or as a side effect of the @code{OUTPUT_FORMAT}
command.

@item OUTPUT_FORMAT ( @var{bfdname} )
@kindex OUTPUT_FORMAT ( @var{bfdname} )
@cindex format, output file
When @code{ld} is configured to support multiple object code formats,
you can use this command to specify a particular output format.
@var{bfdname} is one of the names used by the BFD back-end routines
(@pxref{BFD}).  The effect is identical to the effect of the
@samp{-oformat} command-line option.  This selection affects only
the output file; the related command @code{TARGET} affects primarily
input files.
@end ifclear

@item SEARCH_DIR ( @var{path} )
@kindex SEARCH_DIR ( @var{path} )
@cindex path for libraries
@cindex search path, libraries
Add @var{path} to the list of paths where @code{ld} looks for
archive libraries.  @code{SEARCH_DIR(@var{path})} has the same
effect as @samp{-L@var{path}} on the command line.

@item STARTUP ( @var{filename} )
@kindex STARTUP ( @var{filename} )
@cindex first input file
Ensure that @var{filename} is the first input file used in the link
process. 

@ifclear SingleFormat
@item TARGET ( @var{format} )
@cindex input file format
@kindex TARGET ( @var{format} )
When @code{ld} is configured to support multiple object code formats,
you can use this command to change the input-file object code format
(like the command-line option @samp{-b} or its synonym @samp{-format}).
The argument @var{format} is one of the strings used by BFD to name
binary formats.  If @code{TARGET} is specified but @code{OUTPUT_FORMAT}
is not, the last @code{TARGET} argument is also used as the default
format for the @code{ld} output file.  @xref{BFD}.

@kindex GNUTARGET
If you don't use the @code{TARGET} command, @code{ld} uses the value of
the environment variable @code{GNUTARGET}, if available, to select the
output file format.  If that variable is also absent, @code{ld} uses
the default format configured for your machine in the BFD libraries.
@end ifclear
@end table

@ifset GENERIC
@node Machine Dependent
@chapter Machine Dependent Features

@cindex machine dependencies
@code{ld} has additional features on some platforms; the following
sections describe them.  Machines where @code{ld} has no additional
functionality are not listed.

@menu
* H8/300::                      @code{ld} and the H8/300
* i960::                        @code{ld} and the Intel 960 family
@end menu
@end ifset

@c FIXME!  This could use @raisesections/@lowersections, but there seems to be a conflict
@c         between those and node-defaulting.
@ifset H8300
@ifclear GENERIC
@raisesections
@end ifclear
@node H8/300
@section @code{ld} and the H8/300

@cindex H8/300 support
For the H8/300, @code{ld} can perform these global optimizations when
you specify the @samp{-relax} command-line option.

@table @emph
@item relaxing address modes
@cindex relaxing on H8/300
@code{ld} finds all @code{jsr} and @code{jmp} instructions whose
targets are within eight bits, and turns them into eight-bit
program-counter relative @code{bsr} and @code{bra} instructions,
respectively.

@item synthesizing instructions
@cindex synthesizing on H8/300
@c FIXME: specifically mov.b, or any mov instructions really?
@code{ld} finds all @code{mov.b} instructions which use the
sixteen-bit absolute address form, but refer to the top
page of memory, and changes them to use the eight-bit address form.
(That is: the linker turns @samp{mov.b @code{@@}@var{aa}:16} into
@samp{mov.b @code{@@}@var{aa}:8} whenever the address @var{aa} is in the
top page of memory).
@end table
@ifclear GENERIC
@lowersections
@end ifclear
@end ifset

@ifclear GENERIC
@ifset Hitachi
@c This stuff is pointless to say unless you're especially concerned
@c with Hitachi chips; don't enable it for generic case, please.
@node Hitachi
@chapter @code{ld} and other Hitachi chips

@code{ld} also supports the H8/300H, the H8/500, and the Hitachi SH.  No
special features, commands, or command-line options are required for
these chips.
@end ifset
@end ifclear

@ifset I960
@ifclear GENERIC
@raisesections
@end ifclear
@node i960
@section @code{ld} and the Intel 960 family

@cindex i960 support

You can use the @samp{-A@var{architecture}} command line option to
specify one of the two-letter names identifying members of the 960
family; the option specifies the desired output target, and warns of any
incompatible instructions in the input files.  It also modifies the
linker's search strategy for archive libraries, to support the use of
libraries specific to each particular architecture, by including in the
search loop names suffixed with the string identifying the architecture.

For example, if your @code{ld} command line included @w{@samp{-ACA}} as
well as @w{@samp{-ltry}}, the linker would look (in its built-in search
paths, and in any paths you specify with @samp{-L}) for a library with
the names

@example
try
libtry.a
tryca
libtryca.a
@end example

@noindent
The first two possibilities would be considered in any event; the last
two are due to the use of @w{@samp{-ACA}}.

You can meaningfully use @samp{-A} more than once on a command line, since
the 960 architecture family allows combination of target architectures; each
use will add another pair of name variants to search for when @w{@samp{-l}}
specifies a library.

@cindex @code{-relax} on i960
@cindex relaxing on i960
@code{ld} supports the @samp{-relax} option for the i960 family.  If you
specify @samp{-relax}, @code{ld} finds all @code{balx} and @code{calx}
instructions whose targets are within 24 bits, and turns them into
24-bit program-counter relative @code{bal} and @code{cal}
instructions, respectively.  @code{ld} also turns @code{cal}
instructions into @code{bal} instructions when it determines that the
target subroutine is a leaf routine (that is, the target subroutine does
not itself call any subroutines).

@ifclear GENERIC
@lowersections
@end ifclear
@end ifset

@ifclear SingleFormat
@node BFD
@chapter BFD

@cindex back end
@cindex object file management
@cindex object formats available
@kindex objdump -i
The linker accesses object and archive files using the BFD libraries.
These libraries allow the linker to use the same routines to operate on
object files whatever the object file format.  A different object file
format can be supported simply by creating a new BFD back end and adding
it to the library.  To conserve runtime memory, however, the linker and
associated tools are usually configured to support only a subset of the
object file formats available.  You can use @code{objdump -i}
(@pxref{objdump,,objdump,binutils.info,The GNU Binary Utilities}) to
list all the formats available for your configuration.

@cindex BFD requirements
@cindex requirements for BFD
As with most implementations, BFD is a compromise between
several conflicting requirements. The major factor influencing
BFD design was efficiency: any time used converting between
formats is time which would not have been spent had BFD not
been involved. This is partly offset by abstraction payback; since
BFD simplifies applications and back ends, more time and care
may be spent optimizing algorithms for a greater speed.

One minor artifact of the BFD solution which you should bear in
mind is the potential for information loss.  There are two places where
useful information can be lost using the BFD mechanism: during
conversion and during output. @xref{BFD information loss}.

@menu
* BFD outline::                 How it works: an outline of BFD
@end menu

@node BFD outline
@section How it works: an outline of BFD
@cindex opening object files
@include bfdsumm.texi
@end ifclear

@node MRI
@appendix MRI Compatible Script Files
@cindex MRI compatibility
To aid users making the transition to @sc{gnu} @code{ld} from the MRI
linker, @code{ld} can use MRI compatible linker scripts as an
alternative to the more general-purpose linker scripting language
described in @ref{Commands,,Command Language}.  MRI compatible linker
scripts have a much simpler command set than the scripting language
otherwise used with @code{ld}.  @sc{gnu} @code{ld} supports the most
commonly used MRI linker commands; these commands are described here.

In general, MRI scripts aren't of much use with the @code{a.out} object
file format, since it only has three sections and MRI scripts lack some
features to make use of them.

You can specify a file containing an MRI-compatible script using the
@samp{-c} command-line option.

Each command in an MRI-compatible script occupies its own line; each
command line starts with the keyword that identifies the command (though
blank lines are also allowed for punctuation).  If a line of an
MRI-compatible script begins with an unrecognized keyword, @code{ld}
issues a warning message, but continues processing the script.

Lines beginning with @samp{*} are comments.

You can write these commands using all upper-case letters, or all
lower case; for example, @samp{chip} is the same as @samp{CHIP}.
The following list shows only the upper-case form of each command.

@table @code
@cindex @code{ABSOLUTE} (MRI)
@item ABSOLUTE @var{secname}
@item ABSOLUTE @var{secname}, @var{secname}, @dots{} @var{secname}
Normally, @code{ld} includes in the output file all sections from all
the input files.  However, in an MRI-compatible script, you can use the
@code{ABSOLUTE} command to restrict the sections that will be present in
your output program.  If the @code{ABSOLUTE} command is used at all in a
script, then only the sections named explicitly in @code{ABSOLUTE}
commands will appear in the linker output.  You can still use other
input sections (whatever you select on the command line, or using
@code{LOAD}) to resolve addresses in the output file.

@cindex @code{ALIAS} (MRI)
@item ALIAS @var{out-secname}, @var{in-secname}
Use this command to place the data from input section @var{in-secname}
in a section called @var{out-secname} in the linker output file.

@var{in-secname} may be an integer.

@cindex @code{BASE} (MRI)
@item BASE @var{expression}
Use the value of @var{expression} as the lowest address (other than
absolute addresses) in the output file.

@cindex @code{CHIP} (MRI)
@item CHIP @var{expression}
@itemx CHIP @var{expression}, @var{expression}
This command does nothing; it is accepted only for compatibility.

@cindex @code{END} (MRI)
@item END
This command does nothing whatever; it's only accepted for compatibility.

@cindex @code{FORMAT} (MRI)
@item FORMAT @var{output-format}
Similar to the @code{OUTPUT_FORMAT} command in the more general linker
language, but restricted to one of these output formats: 

@enumerate
@item 
S-records, if @var{output-format} is @samp{S}

@item
IEEE, if @var{output-format} is @samp{IEEE}

@item
COFF (the @samp{coff-m68k} variant in BFD), if @var{output-format} is
@samp{COFF}
@end enumerate

@cindex @code{LIST} (MRI)
@item LIST @var{anything}@dots{}
Print (to the standard output file) a link map, as produced by the
@code{ld} command-line option @samp{-M}.

The keyword @code{LIST} may be followed by anything on the
same line, with no change in its effect.

@cindex @code{LOAD} (MRI)
@item LOAD @var{filename}
@item LOAD @var{filename}, @var{filename}, @dots{} @var{filename}
Include one or more object file @var{filename} in the link; this has the
same effect as specifying @var{filename} directly on the @code{ld}
command line.

@cindex @code{NAME} (MRI)
@item NAME @var{output-name}
@var{output-name} is the name for the program produced by @code{ld}; the
MRI-compatible command @code{NAME} is equivalent to the command-line
option @samp{-o} or the general script language command @code{OUTPUT}.

@cindex @code{ORDER} (MRI)
@item ORDER @var{secname}, @var{secname}, @dots{} @var{secname}
@itemx ORDER @var{secname} @var{secname} @var{secname}
Normally, @code{ld} orders the sections in its output file in the
order in which they first appear in the input files.  In an MRI-compatible
script, you can override this ordering with the @code{ORDER} command.  The
sections you list with @code{ORDER} will appear first in your output
file, in the order specified.

@cindex @code{PUBLIC} (MRI)
@item PUBLIC @var{name}=@var{expression}
@itemx PUBLIC @var{name},@var{expression}
@itemx PUBLIC @var{name} @var{expression}
Supply a value (@var{expression}) for external symbol
@var{name} used in the linker input files.

@cindex @code{SECT} (MRI)
@item SECT @var{secname}, @var{expression}
@itemx SECT @var{secname}=@var{expression}
@itemx SECT @var{secname} @var{expression}
You can use any of these three forms of the @code{SECT} command to
specify the start address (@var{expression}) for section @var{secname}.
If you have more than one @code{SECT} statement for the same
@var{secname}, only the @emph{first} sets the start address.
@end table


@node Index
@unnumbered Index

@printindex cp

@tex
% I think something like @colophon should be in texinfo.  In the
% meantime:
\long\def\colophon{\hbox to0pt{}\vfill
\centerline{The body of this manual is set in}
\centerline{\fontname\tenrm,}
\centerline{with headings in {\bf\fontname\tenbf}}
\centerline{and examples in {\tt\fontname\tentt}.}
\centerline{{\it\fontname\tenit\/} and}
\centerline{{\sl\fontname\tensl\/}}
\centerline{are used for emphasis.}\vfill}
\page\colophon
% Blame: pesch@cygnus.com, 28mar91.
@end tex


@contents
@bye