Merge pull request #5681 from dcbaker/dynamic-linker-split

split dynamic linker representations from compilers

33 files changed, 1464 insertions, 926 deletions

diff --git a/docs/markdown/snippets/b_lundef_on_apple.md b/docs/markdown/snippets/b_lundef_on_apple.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..850a412
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/markdown/snippets/b_lundef_on_apple.md
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+## Meson's builtin b_lundef is now supported on macOS
+
+This has always been possible, but there are some addtional restrictions on
+macOS (mainly do to Apple only features). With the linker internal
+re-architecture this has become possible
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/docs/markdown/snippets/split-compiler-and-linker-representations.md b/docs/markdown/snippets/split-compiler-and-linker-representations.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..fd2e622
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/markdown/snippets/split-compiler-and-linker-representations.md
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+## Compiler and dynamic linker representation split
+
+0.52.0 inclues a massive refactor of the representaitons of compilers to
+tease apart the representations of compilers and dynamic linkers (ld). This
+fixes a number of compiler/linker combinations. In particular this fixes
+use GCC and vanilla clang on macOS.
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/mesonbuild/backend/ninjabackend.py b/mesonbuild/backend/ninjabackend.py
index eb28f1a..82e70c9 100644
--- a/mesonbuild/backend/ninjabackend.py
+++ b/mesonbuild/backend/ninjabackend.py
@@ -1328,7 +1328,8 @@ int dummy;
                                                                self.get_target_dir(target))
             else:
                 target_slashname_workaround_dir = self.get_target_dir(target)
-            rpath_args = rustc.build_rpath_args(self.environment.get_build_dir(),
+            rpath_args = rustc.build_rpath_args(self.environment,
+                                                self.environment.get_build_dir(),
                                                 target_slashname_workaround_dir,
                                                 self.determine_rpath_dirs(target),
                                                 target.build_rpath,
@@ -2325,9 +2326,10 @@ https://gcc.gnu.org/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=47485'''))
             # All shared libraries are PIC
             commands += linker.get_pic_args()
             # Add -Wl,-soname arguments on Linux, -install_name on OS X
-            commands += linker.get_soname_args(target.prefix, target.name, target.suffix,
-                                               target.soversion, target.darwin_versions,
-                                               isinstance(target, build.SharedModule))
+            commands += linker.get_soname_args(
+                self.environment, target.prefix, target.name, target.suffix,
+                target.soversion, target.darwin_versions,
+                isinstance(target, build.SharedModule))
             # This is only visited when building for Windows using either GCC or Visual Studio
             if target.vs_module_defs and hasattr(linker, 'gen_vs_module_defs_args'):
                 commands += linker.gen_vs_module_defs_args(target.vs_module_defs.rel_to_builddir(self.build_to_src))
@@ -2538,7 +2540,8 @@ https://gcc.gnu.org/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=47485'''))
                 self.get_target_dir(target))
         else:
             target_slashname_workaround_dir = self.get_target_dir(target)
-        commands += linker.build_rpath_args(self.environment.get_build_dir(),
+        commands += linker.build_rpath_args(self.environment,
+                                            self.environment.get_build_dir(),
                                             target_slashname_workaround_dir,
                                             self.determine_rpath_dirs(target),
                                             target.build_rpath,
diff --git a/mesonbuild/build.py b/mesonbuild/build.py
index eab2057..49ec8e8 100644
--- a/mesonbuild/build.py
+++ b/mesonbuild/build.py
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ from .mesonlib import (
     extract_as_list, typeslistify, stringlistify, classify_unity_sources,
     get_filenames_templates_dict, substitute_values, has_path_sep,
 )
-from .compilers import Compiler, is_object, clink_langs, sort_clink, lang_suffixes, get_macos_dylib_install_name
+from .compilers import Compiler, is_object, clink_langs, sort_clink, lang_suffixes
 from .linkers import StaticLinker
 from .interpreterbase import FeatureNew
 
@@ -96,8 +96,12 @@ known_stlib_kwargs = known_build_target_kwargs | {'pic'}
 known_jar_kwargs = known_exe_kwargs | {'main_class'}
 
 @lru_cache(maxsize=None)
-def get_target_macos_dylib_install_name(ld):
-    return get_macos_dylib_install_name(ld.prefix, ld.name, ld.suffix, ld.soversion)
+def get_target_macos_dylib_install_name(ld) -> str:
+    name = ['@rpath/', ld.prefix, ld.name]
+    if ld.soversion is not None:
+        name.append('.' + ld.soversion)
+    name.append('.dylib')
+    return ''.join(name)
 
 class InvalidArguments(MesonException):
     pass
diff --git a/mesonbuild/compilers/__init__.py b/mesonbuild/compilers/__init__.py
index 5cd56b8..c81fe75 100644
--- a/mesonbuild/compilers/__init__.py
+++ b/mesonbuild/compilers/__init__.py
@@ -23,7 +23,6 @@ __all__ = [
     'clink_langs',
     'c_suffixes',
     'cpp_suffixes',
-    'get_macos_dylib_install_name',
     'get_base_compile_args',
     'get_base_link_args',
     'is_assembly',
@@ -185,6 +184,6 @@ from .rust import RustCompiler
 from .swift import SwiftCompiler
 from .vala import ValaCompiler
 from .mixins.visualstudio import VisualStudioLikeCompiler
-from .mixins.gnu import GnuCompiler, get_macos_dylib_install_name
+from .mixins.gnu import GnuCompiler
 from .mixins.intel import IntelGnuLikeCompiler, IntelVisualStudioLikeCompiler
 from .mixins.clang import ClangCompiler
diff --git a/mesonbuild/compilers/c.py b/mesonbuild/compilers/c.py
index f50b77c..1ec9146 100644
--- a/mesonbuild/compilers/c.py
+++ b/mesonbuild/compilers/c.py
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ from .mixins.intel import IntelGnuLikeCompiler, IntelVisualStudioLikeCompiler
 from .mixins.clang import ClangCompiler
 from .mixins.elbrus import ElbrusCompiler
 from .mixins.pgi import PGICompiler
+from .mixins.islinker import BasicLinkerIsCompilerMixin, LinkerEnvVarsMixin
 from .compilers import (
     gnu_winlibs,
     msvc_winlibs,
@@ -112,14 +113,8 @@ class ClangCCompiler(ClangCompiler, CCompiler):
     def get_option_link_args(self, options):
         return []
 
-    def get_linker_always_args(self):
-        basic = super().get_linker_always_args()
-        if self.compiler_type.is_osx_compiler:
-            return basic + ['-Wl,-headerpad_max_install_names']
-        return basic
 
-
-class EmscriptenCCompiler(ClangCCompiler):
+class EmscriptenCCompiler(LinkerEnvVarsMixin, BasicLinkerIsCompilerMixin, ClangCCompiler):
     def __init__(self, exelist, version, compiler_type, for_machine: MachineChoice, is_cross, exe_wrapper=None, **kwargs):
         if not is_cross:
             raise MesonException('Emscripten compiler can only be used for cross compilation.')
@@ -129,18 +124,6 @@ class EmscriptenCCompiler(ClangCCompiler):
     def get_option_link_args(self, options):
         return []
 
-    def get_linker_always_args(self):
-        return []
-
-    def get_asneeded_args(self):
-        return []
-
-    def get_lundef_args(self):
-        return []
-
-    def build_rpath_args(self, *args, **kwargs):
-        return []
-
     def get_soname_args(self, *args, **kwargs):
         raise MesonException('Emscripten does not support shared libraries.')
 
@@ -293,14 +276,14 @@ class VisualStudioLikeCCompilerMixin:
 
 class VisualStudioCCompiler(VisualStudioLikeCompiler, VisualStudioLikeCCompilerMixin, CCompiler):
 
-    def __init__(self, exelist, version, for_machine: MachineChoice, is_cross, exe_wrap, target: str):
-        CCompiler.__init__(self, exelist, version, for_machine, is_cross, exe_wrap)
+    def __init__(self, exelist, version, for_machine: MachineChoice, is_cross, exe_wrap, target: str, **kwargs):
+        CCompiler.__init__(self, exelist, version, for_machine, is_cross, exe_wrap, **kwargs)
         VisualStudioLikeCompiler.__init__(self, target)
         self.id = 'msvc'
 
 class ClangClCCompiler(VisualStudioLikeCompiler, VisualStudioLikeCCompilerMixin, CCompiler):
-    def __init__(self, exelist, version, for_machine: MachineChoice, is_cross, exe_wrap, target):
-        CCompiler.__init__(self, exelist, version, for_machine, is_cross, exe_wrap)
+    def __init__(self, exelist, version, for_machine: MachineChoice, is_cross, exe_wrap, target, **kwargs):
+        CCompiler.__init__(self, exelist, version, for_machine, is_cross, exe_wrap, **kwargs)
         VisualStudioLikeCompiler.__init__(self, target)
         self.id = 'clang-cl'
 
@@ -311,8 +294,8 @@ class IntelClCCompiler(IntelVisualStudioLikeCompiler, VisualStudioLikeCCompilerM
 
     __have_warned = False
 
-    def __init__(self, exelist, version, for_machine: MachineChoice, is_cross, exe_wrap, target):
-        CCompiler.__init__(self, exelist, version, for_machine, is_cross, exe_wrap)
+    def __init__(self, exelist, version, for_machine: MachineChoice, is_cross, exe_wrap, target, **kwargs):
+        CCompiler.__init__(self, exelist, version, for_machine, is_cross, exe_wrap, **kwargs)
         IntelVisualStudioLikeCompiler.__init__(self, target)
 
     def get_options(self):
@@ -388,9 +371,6 @@ class CcrxCCompiler(CcrxCompiler, CCompiler):
     def get_output_args(self, target):
         return ['-output=obj=%s' % target]
 
-    def get_linker_output_args(self, outputname):
-        return ['-output=%s' % outputname]
-
     def get_werror_args(self):
         return ['-change_message=error']
 
diff --git a/mesonbuild/compilers/compilers.py b/mesonbuild/compilers/compilers.py
index 5249068..f16e447 100644
--- a/mesonbuild/compilers/compilers.py
+++ b/mesonbuild/compilers/compilers.py
@@ -13,9 +13,10 @@
 # limitations under the License.
 
 import contextlib, enum, os.path, re, tempfile, shlex
-from typing import Optional, Tuple, List
+import typing
+from typing import List, Optional, Tuple
 
-from ..linkers import StaticLinker
+from ..linkers import StaticLinker, GnuLikeDynamicLinkerMixin
 from .. import coredata
 from .. import mlog
 from .. import mesonlib
@@ -27,6 +28,11 @@ from ..envconfig import (
     Properties,
 )
 
+if typing.TYPE_CHECKING:
+    from ..coredata import OptionDictType
+    from ..environment import Environment
+    from ..linkers import DynamicLinker  # noqa: F401
+
 """This file contains the data files of all compilers Meson knows
 about. To support a new compiler, add its information below.
 Also add corresponding autodetection code in environment.py."""
@@ -335,18 +341,26 @@ def get_base_link_args(options, linker, is_shared_module):
             args += linker.get_coverage_link_args()
     except KeyError:
         pass
-    # These do not need a try...except
-    if not is_shared_module and option_enabled(linker.base_options, options, 'b_lundef'):
-        args.append('-Wl,--no-undefined')
+
     as_needed = option_enabled(linker.base_options, options, 'b_asneeded')
     bitcode = option_enabled(linker.base_options, options, 'b_bitcode')
     # Shared modules cannot be built with bitcode_bundle because
     # -bitcode_bundle is incompatible with -undefined and -bundle
     if bitcode and not is_shared_module:
-        args.append('-Wl,-bitcode_bundle')
+        args.extend(linker.bitcode_args())
     elif as_needed:
         # -Wl,-dead_strip_dylibs is incompatible with bitcode
         args.extend(linker.get_asneeded_args())
+
+    # Apple's ld (the only one that supports bitcode) does not like any
+    # -undefined arguments at all, so don't pass these when using bitcode
+    if not bitcode:
+        if (not is_shared_module and
+                option_enabled(linker.base_options, options, 'b_lundef')):
+            args.extend(linker.no_undefined_link_args())
+        else:
+            args.extend(linker.get_allow_undefined_link_args())
+
     try:
         crt_val = options['b_vscrt'].value
         buildtype = options['buildtype'].value
@@ -358,30 +372,6 @@ def get_base_link_args(options, linker, is_shared_module):
         pass
     return args
 
-def prepare_rpaths(raw_rpaths, build_dir, from_dir):
-    internal_format_rpaths = [evaluate_rpath(p, build_dir, from_dir) for p in raw_rpaths]
-    ordered_rpaths = order_rpaths(internal_format_rpaths)
-    return ordered_rpaths
-
-def order_rpaths(rpath_list):
-    # We want rpaths that point inside our build dir to always override
-    # those pointing to other places in the file system. This is so built
-    # binaries prefer our libraries to the ones that may lie somewhere
-    # in the file system, such as /lib/x86_64-linux-gnu.
-    #
-    # The correct thing to do here would be C++'s std::stable_partition.
-    # Python standard library does not have it, so replicate it with
-    # sort, which is guaranteed to be stable.
-    return sorted(rpath_list, key=os.path.isabs)
-
-def evaluate_rpath(p, build_dir, from_dir):
-    if p == from_dir:
-        return '' # relpath errors out in this case
-    elif os.path.isabs(p):
-        return p # These can be outside of build dir.
-    else:
-        return os.path.relpath(os.path.join(build_dir, p), os.path.join(build_dir, from_dir))
-
 
 class CrossNoRunException(MesonException):
     pass
@@ -529,7 +519,7 @@ class CompilerArgs(list):
             return True
         return False
 
-    def to_native(self, copy=False):
+    def to_native(self, copy: bool = False) -> typing.List[str]:
         # Check if we need to add --start/end-group for circular dependencies
         # between static libraries, and for recursively searching for symbols
         # needed by static libraries that are provided by object files or
@@ -538,8 +528,12 @@ class CompilerArgs(list):
             new = self.copy()
         else:
             new = self
-        if get_compiler_uses_gnuld(self.compiler):
-            global soregex
+        # This covers all ld.bfd, ld.gold, ld.gold, and xild on Linux, which
+        # all act like (or are) gnu ld
+        # TODO: this could probably be added to the DynamicLinker instead
+        if (hasattr(self.compiler, 'linker') and
+                self.compiler.linker is not None and
+                isinstance(self.compiler.linker, GnuLikeDynamicLinkerMixin)):
             group_start = -1
             group_end = -1
             for i, each in enumerate(new):
@@ -656,7 +650,8 @@ class Compiler:
     # manually searched.
     internal_libs = ()
 
-    def __init__(self, exelist, version, for_machine: MachineChoice, **kwargs):
+    def __init__(self, exelist, version, for_machine: MachineChoice,
+                 linker: typing.Optional['DynamicLinker'] = None, **kwargs):
         if isinstance(exelist, str):
             self.exelist = [exelist]
         elif isinstance(exelist, list):
@@ -676,6 +671,7 @@ class Compiler:
             self.full_version = None
         self.for_machine = for_machine
         self.base_options = []
+        self.linker = linker
 
     def __repr__(self):
         repr_str = "<{0}: v{1} `{2}`>"
@@ -729,6 +725,12 @@ class Compiler:
     def get_exelist(self):
         return self.exelist[:]
 
+    def get_linker_exelist(self) -> typing.List[str]:
+        return self.linker.get_exelist()
+
+    def get_linker_output_args(self, outputname: str) -> typing.List[str]:
+        return self.linker.get_output_args(outputname)
+
     def get_builtin_define(self, *args, **kwargs):
         raise EnvironmentException('%s does not support get_builtin_define.' % self.id)
 
@@ -738,17 +740,17 @@ class Compiler:
     def get_always_args(self):
         return []
 
-    def can_linker_accept_rsp(self):
+    def can_linker_accept_rsp(self) -> bool:
         """
         Determines whether the linker can accept arguments using the @rsp syntax.
         """
-        return mesonlib.is_windows()
+        return self.linker.get_accepts_rsp()
 
     def get_linker_always_args(self):
-        return []
+        return self.linker.get_always_args()
 
     def get_linker_lib_prefix(self):
-        return ''
+        return self.linker.get_lib_prefix()
 
     def gen_import_library_args(self, implibname):
         """
@@ -769,7 +771,10 @@ class Compiler:
         """
         return self.get_language() in languages_using_ldflags
 
-    def get_args_from_envvars(self):
+    def get_linker_args_from_envvars(self) -> typing.List[str]:
+        return self.linker.get_args_from_envvars()
+
+    def get_args_from_envvars(self) -> typing.Tuple[typing.List[str], typing.List[str]]:
         """
         Returns a tuple of (compile_flags, link_flags) for the specified language
         from the inherited environment
@@ -781,15 +786,13 @@ class Compiler:
                 mlog.debug('No {} in the environment, not changing global flags.'.format(var))
 
         lang = self.get_language()
-        compiler_is_linker = False
-        if hasattr(self, 'get_linker_exelist'):
-            compiler_is_linker = (self.get_exelist() == self.get_linker_exelist())
+        compiler_is_linker = self.linker is not None and self.linker.invoked_by_compiler()
 
         if lang not in cflags_mapping:
             return [], []
 
-        compile_flags = []
-        link_flags = []
+        compile_flags = []  # type: typing.List[str]
+        link_flags = []     # type: typing.List[str]
 
         env_compile_flags = os.environ.get(cflags_mapping[lang])
         log_var(cflags_mapping[lang], env_compile_flags)
@@ -798,12 +801,11 @@ class Compiler:
 
         # Link flags (same for all languages)
         if self.use_ldflags():
-            env_link_flags = os.environ.get('LDFLAGS')
+            env_link_flags = self.get_linker_args_from_envvars()
         else:
-            env_link_flags = None
+            env_link_flags = []
         log_var('LDFLAGS', env_link_flags)
-        if env_link_flags is not None:
-            link_flags += shlex.split(env_link_flags)
+        link_flags += env_link_flags
         if compiler_is_linker:
             # When the compiler is used as a wrapper around the linker (such as
             # with GCC and Clang), the compile flags can be needed while linking
@@ -861,8 +863,8 @@ class Compiler:
     def get_option_compile_args(self, options):
         return []
 
-    def get_option_link_args(self, options):
-        return []
+    def get_option_link_args(self, options: 'OptionDictType') -> typing.List[str]:
+        return self.linker.get_option_args(options)
 
     def check_header(self, *args, **kwargs) -> Tuple[bool, bool]:
         raise EnvironmentException('Language %s does not support header checks.' % self.get_display_language())
@@ -910,10 +912,8 @@ class Compiler:
             'Language {} does not support has_multi_arguments.'.format(
                 self.get_display_language()))
 
-    def has_multi_link_arguments(self, args, env) -> Tuple[bool, bool]:
-        raise EnvironmentException(
-            'Language {} does not support has_multi_link_arguments.'.format(
-                self.get_display_language()))
+    def has_multi_link_arguments(self, args: typing.List[str], env: 'Environment') -> Tuple[bool, bool]:
+        return self.linker.has_multi_arguments(args, env)
 
     def _get_compile_output(self, dirname, mode):
         # In pre-processor mode, the output is sent to stdout and discarded
@@ -1026,19 +1026,23 @@ class Compiler:
     def get_compile_debugfile_args(self, rel_obj, **kwargs):
         return []
 
-    def get_link_debugfile_args(self, rel_obj):
-        return []
+    def get_link_debugfile_args(self, targetfile: str) -> typing.List[str]:
+        return self.linker.get_debugfile_args(targetfile)
 
-    def get_std_shared_lib_link_args(self):
-        return []
+    def get_std_shared_lib_link_args(self) -> typing.List[str]:
+        return self.linker.get_std_shared_lib_args()
+
+    def get_std_shared_module_link_args(self, options: 'OptionDictType') -> typing.List[str]:
+        return self.linker.get_std_shared_module_args(options)
+
+    def get_link_whole_for(self, args: typing.List[str]) -> typing.List[str]:
+        return self.linker.get_link_whole_for(args)
 
-    def get_std_shared_module_link_args(self, options):
-        return self.get_std_shared_lib_link_args()
+    def get_allow_undefined_link_args(self) -> typing.List[str]:
+        return self.linker.get_allow_undefined_args()
 
-    def get_link_whole_for(self, args):
-        if isinstance(args, list) and not args:
-            return []
-        raise EnvironmentException('Language %s does not support linking whole archives.' % self.get_display_language())
+    def no_undefined_link_args(self) -> typing.List[str]:
+        return self.linker.no_undefined_args()
 
     # Compiler arguments needed to enable the given instruction set.
     # May be [] meaning nothing needed or None meaning the given set
@@ -1046,77 +1050,11 @@ class Compiler:
     def get_instruction_set_args(self, instruction_set):
         return None
 
-    def build_unix_rpath_args(self, build_dir, from_dir, rpath_paths, build_rpath, install_rpath):
-        if not rpath_paths and not install_rpath and not build_rpath:
-            return []
-        args = []
-        if get_compiler_is_osx_compiler(self):
-            # Ensure that there is enough space for install_name_tool in-place editing of large RPATHs
-            args.append('-Wl,-headerpad_max_install_names')
-            # @loader_path is the equivalent of $ORIGIN on macOS
-            # https://stackoverflow.com/q/26280738
-            origin_placeholder = '@loader_path'
-        else:
-            origin_placeholder = '$ORIGIN'
-        # The rpaths we write must be relative if they point to the build dir,
-        # because otherwise they have different length depending on the build
-        # directory. This breaks reproducible builds.
-        processed_rpaths = prepare_rpaths(rpath_paths, build_dir, from_dir)
-        # Need to deduplicate rpaths, as macOS's install_name_tool
-        # is *very* allergic to duplicate -delete_rpath arguments
-        # when calling depfixer on installation.
-        all_paths = OrderedSet([os.path.join(origin_placeholder, p) for p in processed_rpaths])
-        # Build_rpath is used as-is (it is usually absolute).
-        if build_rpath != '':
-            all_paths.add(build_rpath)
-
-        if mesonlib.is_dragonflybsd() or mesonlib.is_openbsd():
-            # This argument instructs the compiler to record the value of
-            # ORIGIN in the .dynamic section of the elf. On Linux this is done
-            # by default, but is not on dragonfly/openbsd for some reason. Without this
-            # $ORIGIN in the runtime path will be undefined and any binaries
-            # linked against local libraries will fail to resolve them.
-            args.append('-Wl,-z,origin')
-
-        if get_compiler_is_osx_compiler(self):
-            # macOS does not support colon-separated strings in LC_RPATH,
-            # hence we have to pass each path component individually
-            args += ['-Wl,-rpath,' + rp for rp in all_paths]
-        else:
-            # In order to avoid relinking for RPATH removal, the binary needs to contain just
-            # enough space in the ELF header to hold the final installation RPATH.
-            paths = ':'.join(all_paths)
-            if len(paths) < len(install_rpath):
-                padding = 'X' * (len(install_rpath) - len(paths))
-                if not paths:
-                    paths = padding
-                else:
-                    paths = paths + ':' + padding
-            args.append('-Wl,-rpath,' + paths)
-
-        if mesonlib.is_sunos():
-            return args
-
-        if get_compiler_is_linuxlike(self):
-            # Rpaths to use while linking must be absolute. These are not
-            # written to the binary. Needed only with GNU ld:
-            # https://sourceware.org/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=16936
-            # Not needed on Windows or other platforms that don't use RPATH
-            # https://github.com/mesonbuild/meson/issues/1897
-            #
-            # In addition, this linker option tends to be quite long and some
-            # compilers have trouble dealing with it. That's why we will include
-            # one option per folder, like this:
-            #
-            #   -Wl,-rpath-link,/path/to/folder1 -Wl,-rpath,/path/to/folder2 ...
-            #
-            # ...instead of just one single looooong option, like this:
-            #
-            #   -Wl,-rpath-link,/path/to/folder1:/path/to/folder2:...
-
-            args += ['-Wl,-rpath-link,' + os.path.join(build_dir, p) for p in rpath_paths]
-
-        return args
+    def build_rpath_args(self, env: 'Environment', build_dir: str, from_dir: str,
+                         rpath_paths: str, build_rpath: str,
+                         install_rpath: str) -> typing.List[str]:
+        return self.linker.build_rpath_args(
+            env, build_dir, from_dir, rpath_paths, build_rpath, install_rpath)
 
     def thread_flags(self, env):
         return []
@@ -1125,10 +1063,6 @@ class Compiler:
         raise EnvironmentException('Language %s does not support OpenMP flags.' % self.get_display_language())
 
     def language_stdlib_only_link_flags(self):
-        # The linker flags needed to link the standard library of the current
-        # language in. This is needed in cases where you e.g. combine D and C++
-        # and both of which need to link their runtime library in or otherwise
-        # building fails with undefined symbols.
         return []
 
     def gnu_symbol_visibility_args(self, vistype):
@@ -1149,9 +1083,8 @@ class Compiler:
         m = 'Language {} does not support position-independent executable'
         raise EnvironmentException(m.format(self.get_display_language()))
 
-    def get_pie_link_args(self):
-        m = 'Language {} does not support position-independent executable'
-        raise EnvironmentException(m.format(self.get_display_language()))
+    def get_pie_link_args(self) -> typing.List[str]:
+        return self.linker.get_pie_args()
 
     def get_argument_syntax(self):
         """Returns the argument family type.
@@ -1172,11 +1105,8 @@ class Compiler:
         raise EnvironmentException(
             '%s does not support get_profile_use_args ' % self.get_id())
 
-    def get_undefined_link_args(self):
-        '''
-        Get args for allowing undefined symbols when linking to a shared library
-        '''
-        return []
+    def get_undefined_link_args(self) -> typing.List[str]:
+        return self.linker.get_undefined_link_args()
 
     def remove_linkerlike_args(self, args):
         return [x for x in args if not x.startswith('-Wl')]
@@ -1185,13 +1115,32 @@ class Compiler:
         return []
 
     def get_lto_link_args(self) -> List[str]:
-        return []
+        return self.linker.get_lto_args()
 
     def sanitizer_compile_args(self, value: str) -> List[str]:
         return []
 
     def sanitizer_link_args(self, value: str) -> List[str]:
-        return []
+        return self.linker.sanitizer_args(value)
+
+    def get_asneeded_args(self) -> typing.List[str]:
+        return self.linker.get_asneeded_args()
+
+    def bitcode_args(self) -> typing.List[str]:
+        return self.linker.bitcode_args()
+
+    def get_linker_debug_crt_args(self) -> typing.List[str]:
+        return self.linker.get_debug_crt_args()
+
+    def get_buildtype_linker_args(self, buildtype: str) -> typing.List[str]:
+        return self.linker.get_buildtype_args(buildtype)
+
+    def get_soname_args(self, env: 'Environment', prefix: str, shlib_name: str,
+                        suffix: str, soversion: str, darwin_versions: typing.Tuple[str, str],
+                        is_shared_module: bool) -> typing.List[str]:
+        return self.linker.get_soname_args(
+            env, prefix, shlib_name, suffix, soversion,
+            darwin_versions, is_shared_module)
 
 
 @enum.unique
@@ -1235,23 +1184,6 @@ def get_compiler_is_linuxlike(compiler):
     compiler_type = getattr(compiler, 'compiler_type', None)
     return compiler_type and compiler_type.is_standard_compiler
 
-def get_compiler_is_osx_compiler(compiler):
-    compiler_type = getattr(compiler, 'compiler_type', None)
-    return compiler_type and compiler_type.is_osx_compiler
-
-def get_compiler_uses_gnuld(c):
-    # FIXME: Perhaps we should detect the linker in the environment?
-    # FIXME: Assumes that *BSD use GNU ld, but they might start using lld soon
-    compiler_type = getattr(c, 'compiler_type', None)
-    return compiler_type in {
-        CompilerType.GCC_STANDARD,
-        CompilerType.GCC_MINGW,
-        CompilerType.GCC_CYGWIN,
-        CompilerType.CLANG_STANDARD,
-        CompilerType.CLANG_MINGW,
-        CompilerType.ICC_STANDARD,
-    }
-
 def get_largefile_args(compiler):
     '''
     Enable transparent large-file-support for 32-bit UNIX systems
diff --git a/mesonbuild/compilers/cpp.py b/mesonbuild/compilers/cpp.py
index 5808b2e..f93db3e 100644
--- a/mesonbuild/compilers/cpp.py
+++ b/mesonbuild/compilers/cpp.py
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@ from .mixins.intel import IntelGnuLikeCompiler, IntelVisualStudioLikeCompiler
 from .mixins.clang import ClangCompiler
 from .mixins.elbrus import ElbrusCompiler
 from .mixins.pgi import PGICompiler
+from .mixins.islinker import BasicLinkerIsCompilerMixin, LinkerEnvVarsMixin
 
 
 def non_msvc_eh_options(eh, args):
@@ -183,7 +184,7 @@ class ClangCPPCompiler(ClangCompiler, CPPCompiler):
         return ['-lstdc++']
 
 
-class EmscriptenCPPCompiler(ClangCPPCompiler):
+class EmscriptenCPPCompiler(LinkerEnvVarsMixin, BasicLinkerIsCompilerMixin, ClangCPPCompiler):
     def __init__(self, exelist, version, compiler_type, for_machine: MachineChoice, is_cross, exe_wrapper=None, **kwargs):
         if not is_cross:
             raise MesonException('Emscripten compiler can only be used for cross compilation.')
@@ -200,18 +201,6 @@ class EmscriptenCPPCompiler(ClangCPPCompiler):
     def get_option_link_args(self, options):
         return []
 
-    def get_linker_always_args(self):
-        return []
-
-    def get_asneeded_args(self):
-        return []
-
-    def get_lundef_args(self):
-        return []
-
-    def build_rpath_args(self, *args, **kwargs):
-        return []
-
     def get_soname_args(self, *args, **kwargs):
         raise MesonException('Emscripten does not support shared libraries.')
 
@@ -473,8 +462,8 @@ class CPP11AsCPP14Mixin:
 
 
 class VisualStudioCPPCompiler(CPP11AsCPP14Mixin, VisualStudioLikeCPPCompilerMixin, VisualStudioLikeCompiler, CPPCompiler):
-    def __init__(self, exelist, version, for_machine: MachineChoice, is_cross: bool, exe_wrap, target):
-        CPPCompiler.__init__(self, exelist, version, for_machine, is_cross, exe_wrap)
+    def __init__(self, exelist, version, for_machine: MachineChoice, is_cross: bool, exe_wrap, target, **kwargs):
+        CPPCompiler.__init__(self, exelist, version, for_machine, is_cross, exe_wrap, **kwargs)
         VisualStudioLikeCompiler.__init__(self, target)
         self.base_options = ['b_pch', 'b_vscrt'] # FIXME add lto, pgo and the like
         self.id = 'msvc'
@@ -506,8 +495,8 @@ class VisualStudioCPPCompiler(CPP11AsCPP14Mixin, VisualStudioLikeCPPCompilerMixi
         return args
 
 class ClangClCPPCompiler(CPP11AsCPP14Mixin, VisualStudioLikeCPPCompilerMixin, VisualStudioLikeCompiler, CPPCompiler):
-    def __init__(self, exelist, version, for_machine: MachineChoice, is_cross, exe_wrap, target):
-        CPPCompiler.__init__(self, exelist, version, for_machine, is_cross, exe_wrap)
+    def __init__(self, exelist, version, for_machine: MachineChoice, is_cross, exe_wrap, target, **kwargs):
+        CPPCompiler.__init__(self, exelist, version, for_machine, is_cross, exe_wrap, **kwargs)
         VisualStudioLikeCompiler.__init__(self, target)
         self.id = 'clang-cl'
 
@@ -518,8 +507,8 @@ class ClangClCPPCompiler(CPP11AsCPP14Mixin, VisualStudioLikeCPPCompilerMixin, Vi
 
 class IntelClCPPCompiler(VisualStudioLikeCPPCompilerMixin, IntelVisualStudioLikeCompiler, CPPCompiler):
 
-    def __init__(self, exelist, version, for_machine: MachineChoice, is_cross, exe_wrap, target):
-        CPPCompiler.__init__(self, exelist, version, for_machine, is_cross, exe_wrap)
+    def __init__(self, exelist, version, for_machine: MachineChoice, is_cross, exe_wrap, target, **kwargs):
+        CPPCompiler.__init__(self, exelist, version, for_machine, is_cross, exe_wrap, **kwargs)
         IntelVisualStudioLikeCompiler.__init__(self, target)
 
     def get_options(self):
@@ -574,9 +563,6 @@ class CcrxCPPCompiler(CcrxCompiler, CPPCompiler):
     def get_output_args(self, target):
         return ['-output=obj=%s' % target]
 
-    def get_linker_output_args(self, outputname):
-        return ['-output=%s' % outputname]
-
     def get_option_link_args(self, options):
         return []
 
diff --git a/mesonbuild/compilers/cs.py b/mesonbuild/compilers/cs.py
index 8069ab1..7c884c9 100644
--- a/mesonbuild/compilers/cs.py
+++ b/mesonbuild/compilers/cs.py
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ from ..mesonlib import EnvironmentException
 from ..mesonlib import is_windows
 
 from .compilers import Compiler, MachineChoice, mono_buildtype_args
+from .mixins.islinker import BasicLinkerIsCompilerMixin
 
 cs_optimization_args = {'0': [],
                         'g': [],
@@ -27,7 +28,7 @@ cs_optimization_args = {'0': [],
                         's': ['-optimize+'],
                         }
 
-class CsCompiler(Compiler):
+class CsCompiler(BasicLinkerIsCompilerMixin, Compiler):
     def __init__(self, exelist, version, for_machine: MachineChoice, comp_id, runner=None):
         self.language = 'cs'
         super().__init__(exelist, version, for_machine)
@@ -50,18 +51,12 @@ class CsCompiler(Compiler):
     def get_link_args(self, fname):
         return ['-r:' + fname]
 
-    def get_soname_args(self, *args):
-        return []
-
     def get_werror_args(self):
         return ['-warnaserror']
 
     def split_shlib_to_parts(self, fname):
         return None, fname
 
-    def build_rpath_args(self, build_dir, from_dir, rpath_paths, build_rpath, install_rpath):
-        return []
-
     def get_dependency_gen_args(self, outtarget, outfile):
         return []
 
@@ -71,15 +66,9 @@ class CsCompiler(Compiler):
     def get_compile_only_args(self):
         return []
 
-    def get_linker_output_args(self, outputname):
-        return []
-
     def get_coverage_args(self):
         return []
 
-    def get_coverage_link_args(self):
-        return []
-
     def get_std_exe_link_args(self):
         return []
 
@@ -142,6 +131,7 @@ class CsCompiler(Compiler):
     def get_optimization_args(self, optimization_level):
         return cs_optimization_args[optimization_level]
 
+
 class MonoCompiler(CsCompiler):
     def __init__(self, exelist, version, for_machine: MachineChoice):
         super().__init__(exelist, version, for_machine, 'mono',
diff --git a/mesonbuild/compilers/cuda.py b/mesonbuild/compilers/cuda.py
index 152c8ba..b6bafe7 100644
--- a/mesonbuild/compilers/cuda.py
+++ b/mesonbuild/compilers/cuda.py
@@ -12,19 +12,23 @@
 # See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
 # limitations under the License.
 
-import re, os.path
+import os.path
+import typing
 
 from .. import mlog
 from ..mesonlib import EnvironmentException, MachineChoice, Popen_safe
 from .compilers import (Compiler, cuda_buildtype_args, cuda_optimization_args,
                         cuda_debug_args, CompilerType)
-from .mixins.gnu import get_gcc_soname_args
+
+if typing.TYPE_CHECKING:
+    from ..environment import Environment  # noqa: F401
+
 
 class CudaCompiler(Compiler):
-    def __init__(self, exelist, version, for_machine: MachineChoice, is_cross, exe_wrapper=None):
+    def __init__(self, exelist, version, for_machine: MachineChoice, is_cross, exe_wrapper=None, **kwargs):
         if not hasattr(self, 'language'):
             self.language = 'cuda'
-        super().__init__(exelist, version, for_machine)
+        super().__init__(exelist, version, for_machine, **kwargs)
         self.is_cross = is_cross
         self.exe_wrapper = exe_wrapper
         self.id = 'nvcc'
@@ -48,7 +52,7 @@ class CudaCompiler(Compiler):
         return []
 
     def thread_link_flags(self, environment):
-        return ['-Xcompiler=-pthread']
+        return self._cook_link_args(super().thread_link_flags())
 
     def sanity_check(self, work_dir, environment):
         mlog.debug('Sanity testing ' + self.get_display_language() + ' compiler:', ' '.join(self.exelist))
@@ -143,9 +147,6 @@ class CudaCompiler(Compiler):
         else:
             mlog.debug('cudaGetDeviceCount() returned ' + stde)
 
-    def get_compiler_check_args(self):
-        return super().get_compiler_check_args() + []
-
     def has_header_symbol(self, hname, symbol, prefix, env, extra_args=None, dependencies=None):
         result, cached = super().has_header_symbol(hname, symbol, prefix, env, extra_args, dependencies)
         if result:
@@ -160,22 +161,24 @@ class CudaCompiler(Compiler):
         return self.compiles(t.format(**fargs), env, extra_args, dependencies)
 
     @staticmethod
-    def _cook_link_args(args):
+    def _cook_link_args(args: typing.List[str]) -> typing.List[str]:
         """
         Converts GNU-style arguments -Wl,-arg,-arg
         to NVCC-style arguments -Xlinker=-arg,-arg
         """
-        return [re.sub('^-Wl,', '-Xlinker=', arg) for arg in args]
-
-    def get_output_args(self, target):
-        return ['-o', target]
+        cooked = []  # type: typing.List[str]
+        for arg in args:
+            if arg.startswith('-Wl,'):
+                arg = arg.replace('-Wl,', '-Xlinker=', 1)
+            arg = arg.replace(' ', '\\')
+            cooked.append(arg)
+        return cooked
 
     def name_string(self):
         return ' '.join(self.exelist)
 
     def get_soname_args(self, *args):
-        rawargs = get_gcc_soname_args(CompilerType.GCC_STANDARD, *args)
-        return self._cook_link_args(rawargs)
+        return self._cook_link_args(super().get_soname_args(*args))
 
     def get_dependency_gen_args(self, outtarget, outfile):
         return []
@@ -195,12 +198,6 @@ class CudaCompiler(Compiler):
     def get_werror_args(self):
         return ['-Werror=cross-execution-space-call,deprecated-declarations,reorder']
 
-    def get_linker_exelist(self):
-        return self.exelist[:]
-
-    def get_linker_output_args(self, outputname):
-        return ['-o', outputname]
-
     def get_warn_args(self, level):
         return self.warn_args[level]
 
@@ -212,27 +209,17 @@ class CudaCompiler(Compiler):
             path = '.'
         return ['-I' + path]
 
-    def get_std_shared_lib_link_args(self):
-        return ['-shared']
-
     def depfile_for_object(self, objfile):
         return objfile + '.' + self.get_depfile_suffix()
 
     def get_depfile_suffix(self):
         return 'd'
 
-    def get_buildtype_linker_args(self, buildtype):
-        return []
-
-    def get_std_exe_link_args(self):
-        return []
-
-    def build_rpath_args(self, build_dir, from_dir, rpath_paths, build_rpath, install_rpath):
-        rawargs = self.build_unix_rpath_args(build_dir, from_dir, rpath_paths, build_rpath, install_rpath)
-        return self._cook_link_args(rawargs)
-
-    def get_linker_search_args(self, dirname):
-        return ['-L' + dirname]
+    def build_rpath_args(self, env: 'Environment', build_dir: str, from_dir: str,
+                         rpath_paths: str, build_rpath: str,
+                         install_rpath: str) -> typing.List[str]:
+        return self._cook_link_args(super().build_rpath_args(
+            env, build_dir, from_dir, rpath_paths, build_rpath, install_rpath))
 
     def linker_to_compiler_args(self, args):
         return args
@@ -242,3 +229,9 @@ class CudaCompiler(Compiler):
 
     def compute_parameters_with_absolute_paths(self, parameter_list, build_dir):
         return []
+
+    def get_output_args(self, target: str) -> typing.List[str]:
+        return ['-o', target]
+
+    def get_std_exe_link_args(self) -> typing.List[str]:
+        return []
diff --git a/mesonbuild/compilers/d.py b/mesonbuild/compilers/d.py
index 1a37c63..18e3bf9 100644
--- a/mesonbuild/compilers/d.py
+++ b/mesonbuild/compilers/d.py
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@
 # limitations under the License.
 
 import os.path, subprocess
+import typing
 
 from ..mesonlib import (
     EnvironmentException, MachineChoice, version_compare, is_windows, is_osx
@@ -27,7 +28,8 @@ from .compilers import (
     Compiler,
     CompilerArgs,
 )
-from .mixins.gnu import get_gcc_soname_args, gnu_color_args, gnu_optimization_args
+from .mixins.gnu import GnuCompiler
+from .mixins.islinker import LinkerEnvVarsMixin, BasicLinkerIsCompilerMixin
 
 d_feature_args = {'gcc':  {'unittest': '-funittest',
                            'debug': '-fdebug',
@@ -62,44 +64,8 @@ dmd_optimization_args = {'0': [],
                          's': ['-O'],
                          }
 
-class DCompiler(Compiler):
-    mscrt_args = {
-        'none': ['-mscrtlib='],
-        'md': ['-mscrtlib=msvcrt'],
-        'mdd': ['-mscrtlib=msvcrtd'],
-        'mt': ['-mscrtlib=libcmt'],
-        'mtd': ['-mscrtlib=libcmtd'],
-    }
-
-    def __init__(self, exelist, version, for_machine: MachineChoice, arch, **kwargs):
-        self.language = 'd'
-        super().__init__(exelist, version, for_machine, **kwargs)
-        self.id = 'unknown'
-        self.arch = arch
-
-    def sanity_check(self, work_dir, environment):
-        source_name = os.path.join(work_dir, 'sanity.d')
-        output_name = os.path.join(work_dir, 'dtest')
-        with open(source_name, 'w') as ofile:
-            ofile.write('''void main() { }''')
-        pc = subprocess.Popen(self.exelist + self.get_output_args(output_name) + self.get_target_arch_args() + [source_name], cwd=work_dir)
-        pc.wait()
-        if pc.returncode != 0:
-            raise EnvironmentException('D compiler %s can not compile programs.' % self.name_string())
-        if subprocess.call(output_name) != 0:
-            raise EnvironmentException('Executables created by D compiler %s are not runnable.' % self.name_string())
-
-    def needs_static_linker(self):
-        return True
-
-    def name_string(self):
-        return ' '.join(self.exelist)
 
-    def get_exelist(self):
-        return self.exelist
-
-    def get_linker_exelist(self):
-        return self.exelist[:]
+class DmdLikeCompilerMixin:
 
     def get_output_args(self, target):
         return ['-of=' + target]
@@ -133,11 +99,6 @@ class DCompiler(Compiler):
         # DMD and LDC does not currently return Makefile-compatible dependency info.
         return []
 
-    def get_linker_search_args(self, dirname):
-        # -L is recognized as "add this to the search path" by the linker,
-        # while the compiler recognizes it as "pass to linker".
-        return ['-Wl,-L' + dirname]
-
     def get_coverage_args(self):
         return ['-cov']
 
@@ -158,21 +119,6 @@ class DCompiler(Compiler):
             return []
         return ['-fPIC']
 
-    def get_std_shared_lib_link_args(self):
-        return ['-shared']
-
-    def get_soname_args(self, *args):
-        # FIXME: Make this work for cross-compiling
-        if is_windows():
-            return []
-        elif is_osx():
-            soname_args = get_gcc_soname_args(CompilerType.GCC_OSX, *args)
-            if soname_args:
-                return ['-Wl,' + ','.join(soname_args)]
-            return []
-
-        return get_gcc_soname_args(CompilerType.GCC_STANDARD, *args)
-
     def get_feature_args(self, kwargs, build_to_src):
         res = []
         if 'unittest' in kwargs:
@@ -266,7 +212,7 @@ class DCompiler(Compiler):
     def gen_import_library_args(self, implibname):
         return ['-Wl,--out-implib=' + implibname]
 
-    def build_rpath_args(self, build_dir, from_dir, rpath_paths, build_rpath, install_rpath):
+    def build_rpath_args(self, env, build_dir, from_dir, rpath_paths, build_rpath, install_rpath):
         if is_windows():
             return []
 
@@ -285,54 +231,6 @@ class DCompiler(Compiler):
                 paths = paths + ':' + padding
         return ['-Wl,-rpath,{}'.format(paths)]
 
-    def _get_compiler_check_args(self, env, extra_args, dependencies, mode='compile'):
-        if callable(extra_args):
-            extra_args = extra_args(mode)
-        if extra_args is None:
-            extra_args = []
-        elif isinstance(extra_args, str):
-            extra_args = [extra_args]
-        if dependencies is None:
-            dependencies = []
-        elif not isinstance(dependencies, list):
-            dependencies = [dependencies]
-        # Collect compiler arguments
-        args = CompilerArgs(self)
-        for d in dependencies:
-            # Add compile flags needed by dependencies
-            args += d.get_compile_args()
-            if mode == 'link':
-                # Add link flags needed to find dependencies
-                args += d.get_link_args()
-
-        if mode == 'compile':
-            # Add DFLAGS from the env
-            args += env.coredata.get_external_args(self.for_machine, self.language)
-        elif mode == 'link':
-            # Add LDFLAGS from the env
-            args += env.coredata.get_external_link_args(self.for_machine, self.language)
-        # extra_args must override all other arguments, so we add them last
-        args += extra_args
-        return args
-
-    def compiles(self, code, env, *, extra_args=None, dependencies=None, mode='compile'):
-        args = self._get_compiler_check_args(env, extra_args, dependencies, mode)
-
-        with self.cached_compile(code, env.coredata, extra_args=args, mode=mode) as p:
-            return p.returncode == 0, p.cached
-
-    def has_multi_arguments(self, args, env):
-        return self.compiles('int i;\n', env, extra_args=args)
-
-    def get_target_arch_args(self):
-        # LDC2 on Windows targets to current OS architecture, but
-        # it should follow the target specified by the MSVC toolchain.
-        if is_windows():
-            if self.arch == 'x86_64':
-                return ['-m64']
-            return ['-m32']
-        return []
-
     @classmethod
     def translate_args_to_nongnu(cls, args):
         dcargs = []
@@ -480,6 +378,191 @@ class DCompiler(Compiler):
             assert(buildtype == 'custom')
             raise EnvironmentException('Requested C runtime based on buildtype, but buildtype is "custom".')
 
+    def get_soname_args(self, *args, **kwargs) -> typing.List[str]:
+        # LDC and DMD actually do use a linker, but they proxy all of that with
+        # their own arguments
+        return Compiler.get_soname_args(self, *args, **kwargs)
+
+
+class DCompiler(Compiler):
+    mscrt_args = {
+        'none': ['-mscrtlib='],
+        'md': ['-mscrtlib=msvcrt'],
+        'mdd': ['-mscrtlib=msvcrtd'],
+        'mt': ['-mscrtlib=libcmt'],
+        'mtd': ['-mscrtlib=libcmtd'],
+    }
+
+    def __init__(self, exelist, version, for_machine: MachineChoice, arch, **kwargs):
+        self.language = 'd'
+        super().__init__(exelist, version, for_machine, **kwargs)
+        self.id = 'unknown'
+        self.arch = arch
+
+    def sanity_check(self, work_dir, environment):
+        source_name = os.path.join(work_dir, 'sanity.d')
+        output_name = os.path.join(work_dir, 'dtest')
+        with open(source_name, 'w') as ofile:
+            ofile.write('''void main() { }''')
+        pc = subprocess.Popen(self.exelist + self.get_output_args(output_name) + self.get_target_arch_args() + [source_name], cwd=work_dir)
+        pc.wait()
+        if pc.returncode != 0:
+            raise EnvironmentException('D compiler %s can not compile programs.' % self.name_string())
+        if subprocess.call(output_name) != 0:
+            raise EnvironmentException('Executables created by D compiler %s are not runnable.' % self.name_string())
+
+    def needs_static_linker(self):
+        return True
+
+    def depfile_for_object(self, objfile):
+        return objfile + '.' + self.get_depfile_suffix()
+
+    def get_depfile_suffix(self):
+        return 'deps'
+
+    def get_pic_args(self):
+        if is_windows():
+            return []
+        return ['-fPIC']
+
+    def get_feature_args(self, kwargs, build_to_src):
+        res = []
+        if 'unittest' in kwargs:
+            unittest = kwargs.pop('unittest')
+            unittest_arg = d_feature_args[self.id]['unittest']
+            if not unittest_arg:
+                raise EnvironmentException('D compiler %s does not support the "unittest" feature.' % self.name_string())
+            if unittest:
+                res.append(unittest_arg)
+
+        if 'debug' in kwargs:
+            debug_level = -1
+            debugs = kwargs.pop('debug')
+            if not isinstance(debugs, list):
+                debugs = [debugs]
+
+            debug_arg = d_feature_args[self.id]['debug']
+            if not debug_arg:
+                raise EnvironmentException('D compiler %s does not support conditional debug identifiers.' % self.name_string())
+
+            # Parse all debug identifiers and the largest debug level identifier
+            for d in debugs:
+                if isinstance(d, int):
+                    if d > debug_level:
+                        debug_level = d
+                elif isinstance(d, str) and d.isdigit():
+                    if int(d) > debug_level:
+                        debug_level = int(d)
+                else:
+                    res.append('{0}={1}'.format(debug_arg, d))
+
+            if debug_level >= 0:
+                res.append('{0}={1}'.format(debug_arg, debug_level))
+
+        if 'versions' in kwargs:
+            version_level = -1
+            versions = kwargs.pop('versions')
+            if not isinstance(versions, list):
+                versions = [versions]
+
+            version_arg = d_feature_args[self.id]['version']
+            if not version_arg:
+                raise EnvironmentException('D compiler %s does not support conditional version identifiers.' % self.name_string())
+
+            # Parse all version identifiers and the largest version level identifier
+            for v in versions:
+                if isinstance(v, int):
+                    if v > version_level:
+                        version_level = v
+                elif isinstance(v, str) and v.isdigit():
+                    if int(v) > version_level:
+                        version_level = int(v)
+                else:
+                    res.append('{0}={1}'.format(version_arg, v))
+
+            if version_level >= 0:
+                res.append('{0}={1}'.format(version_arg, version_level))
+
+        if 'import_dirs' in kwargs:
+            import_dirs = kwargs.pop('import_dirs')
+            if not isinstance(import_dirs, list):
+                import_dirs = [import_dirs]
+
+            import_dir_arg = d_feature_args[self.id]['import_dir']
+            if not import_dir_arg:
+                raise EnvironmentException('D compiler %s does not support the "string import directories" feature.' % self.name_string())
+            for idir_obj in import_dirs:
+                basedir = idir_obj.get_curdir()
+                for idir in idir_obj.get_incdirs():
+                    # Avoid superfluous '/.' at the end of paths when d is '.'
+                    if idir not in ('', '.'):
+                        expdir = os.path.join(basedir, idir)
+                    else:
+                        expdir = basedir
+                    srctreedir = os.path.join(build_to_src, expdir)
+                    res.append('{0}{1}'.format(import_dir_arg, srctreedir))
+
+        if kwargs:
+            raise EnvironmentException('Unknown D compiler feature(s) selected: %s' % ', '.join(kwargs.keys()))
+
+        return res
+
+    def get_buildtype_linker_args(self, buildtype):
+        if buildtype != 'plain':
+            return self.get_target_arch_args()
+        return []
+
+    def get_std_exe_link_args(self):
+        return []
+
+    def _get_compiler_check_args(self, env, extra_args, dependencies, mode='compile'):
+        if callable(extra_args):
+            extra_args = extra_args(mode)
+        if extra_args is None:
+            extra_args = []
+        elif isinstance(extra_args, str):
+            extra_args = [extra_args]
+        if dependencies is None:
+            dependencies = []
+        elif not isinstance(dependencies, list):
+            dependencies = [dependencies]
+        # Collect compiler arguments
+        args = CompilerArgs(self)
+        for d in dependencies:
+            # Add compile flags needed by dependencies
+            args += d.get_compile_args()
+            if mode == 'link':
+                # Add link flags needed to find dependencies
+                args += d.get_link_args()
+
+        if mode == 'compile':
+            # Add DFLAGS from the env
+            args += env.coredata.get_external_args(self.for_machine, self.language)
+        elif mode == 'link':
+            # Add LDFLAGS from the env
+            args += env.coredata.get_external_link_args(self.for_machine, self.language)
+        # extra_args must override all other arguments, so we add them last
+        args += extra_args
+        return args
+
+    def compiles(self, code, env, *, extra_args=None, dependencies=None, mode='compile'):
+        args = self._get_compiler_check_args(env, extra_args, dependencies, mode)
+
+        with self.cached_compile(code, env.coredata, extra_args=args, mode=mode) as p:
+            return p.returncode == 0, p.cached
+
+    def has_multi_arguments(self, args, env):
+        return self.compiles('int i;\n', env, extra_args=args)
+
+    def get_target_arch_args(self):
+        # LDC2 on Windows targets to current OS architecture, but
+        # it should follow the target specified by the MSVC toolchain.
+        if is_windows():
+            if self.arch == 'x86_64':
+                return ['-m64']
+            return ['-m32']
+        return []
+
     def get_crt_compile_args(self, crt_val, buildtype):
         return []
 
@@ -489,7 +572,11 @@ class DCompiler(Compiler):
     def thread_link_flags(self, env):
         return ['-pthread']
 
-class GnuDCompiler(DCompiler):
+    def name_string(self):
+        return ' '.join(self.exelist)
+
+
+class GnuDCompiler(DCompiler, GnuCompiler):
     def __init__(self, exelist, version, for_machine: MachineChoice, arch, **kwargs):
         DCompiler.__init__(self, exelist, version, for_machine, arch, **kwargs)
         self.id = 'gcc'
@@ -507,32 +594,17 @@ class GnuDCompiler(DCompiler):
 
     def get_colorout_args(self, colortype):
         if self._has_color_support:
-            return gnu_color_args[colortype][:]
+            super().get_colorout_args(colortype)
         return []
 
     def get_dependency_gen_args(self, outtarget, outfile):
-        if not self._has_deps_support:
-            return []
-        return ['-MD', '-MQ', outtarget, '-MF', outfile]
-
-    def get_output_args(self, target):
-        return ['-o', target]
-
-    def get_linker_output_args(self, target):
-        return ['-o', target]
-
-    def get_include_args(self, path, is_system):
-        return ['-I' + path]
+        if self._has_deps_support:
+            return super().get_dependency_gen_args(outtarget, outfile)
+        return []
 
     def get_warn_args(self, level):
         return self.warn_args[level]
 
-    def get_werror_args(self):
-        return ['-Werror']
-
-    def get_linker_search_args(self, dirname):
-        return ['-L' + dirname]
-
     def get_coverage_args(self):
         return []
 
@@ -546,13 +618,8 @@ class GnuDCompiler(DCompiler):
 
         return parameter_list
 
-    def build_rpath_args(self, build_dir, from_dir, rpath_paths, build_rpath, install_rpath):
-        return self.build_unix_rpath_args(build_dir, from_dir, rpath_paths, build_rpath, install_rpath)
-
-    def get_optimization_args(self, optimization_level):
-        return gnu_optimization_args[optimization_level]
 
-class LLVMDCompiler(DCompiler):
+class LLVMDCompiler(DmdLikeCompilerMixin, LinkerEnvVarsMixin, BasicLinkerIsCompilerMixin, DCompiler):
     def __init__(self, exelist, version, for_machine: MachineChoice, arch, **kwargs):
         DCompiler.__init__(self, exelist, version, for_machine, arch, **kwargs)
         self.id = 'llvm'
@@ -590,7 +657,7 @@ class LLVMDCompiler(DCompiler):
         return ldc_optimization_args[optimization_level]
 
 
-class DmdDCompiler(DCompiler):
+class DmdDCompiler(DmdLikeCompilerMixin, LinkerEnvVarsMixin, BasicLinkerIsCompilerMixin, DCompiler):
     def __init__(self, exelist, version, for_machine: MachineChoice, arch, **kwargs):
         DCompiler.__init__(self, exelist, version, for_machine, arch, **kwargs)
         self.id = 'dmd'
diff --git a/mesonbuild/compilers/fortran.py b/mesonbuild/compilers/fortran.py
index c10e2ca..30ec6fe 100644
--- a/mesonbuild/compilers/fortran.py
+++ b/mesonbuild/compilers/fortran.py
@@ -11,9 +11,11 @@
 # WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
 # See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
 # limitations under the License.
+
+from pathlib import Path
 from typing import List
 import subprocess, os
-from pathlib import Path
+import typing
 
 from .compilers import (
     CompilerType,
@@ -22,8 +24,7 @@ from .compilers import (
 )
 from .mixins.clike import CLikeCompiler
 from .mixins.gnu import (
-    GnuCompiler, apple_buildtype_linker_args, gnulike_buildtype_args,
-    gnulike_buildtype_linker_args, gnu_optimization_args,
+    GnuCompiler, gnulike_buildtype_args, gnu_optimization_args,
 )
 from .mixins.intel import IntelGnuLikeCompiler, IntelVisualStudioLikeCompiler
 from .mixins.clang import ClangCompiler
@@ -99,11 +100,6 @@ class FortranCompiler(CLikeCompiler, Compiler):
     def get_debug_args(self, is_debug):
         return clike_debug_args[is_debug]
 
-    def get_buildtype_linker_args(self, buildtype):
-        if is_osx():
-            return apple_buildtype_linker_args[buildtype]
-        return gnulike_buildtype_linker_args[buildtype]
-
     def get_dependency_gen_args(self, outtarget, outfile):
         return []
 
@@ -256,6 +252,10 @@ class IntelFortranCompiler(IntelGnuLikeCompiler, FortranCompiler):
     def language_stdlib_only_link_flags(self):
         return ['-lifcore', '-limf']
 
+    def get_dependency_gen_args(self, outtarget: str, outfile: str) -> typing.List[str]:
+        return ['-gen-dep=' + outtarget, '-gen-depformat=make']
+
+
 class IntelClFortranCompiler(IntelVisualStudioLikeCompiler, FortranCompiler):
 
     file_suffixes = ['f90', 'f', 'for', 'ftn', 'fpp']
@@ -270,8 +270,8 @@ class IntelClFortranCompiler(IntelVisualStudioLikeCompiler, FortranCompiler):
         'custom': [],
     }
 
-    def __init__(self, exelist, for_machine: MachineChoice, version, is_cross, target: str, exe_wrapper=None):
-        FortranCompiler.__init__(self, exelist, for_machine, version, is_cross, exe_wrapper)
+    def __init__(self, exelist, for_machine: MachineChoice, version, is_cross, target: str, exe_wrapper=None, **kwargs):
+        FortranCompiler.__init__(self, exelist, for_machine, version, is_cross, exe_wrapper, **kwargs)
         IntelVisualStudioLikeCompiler.__init__(self, target)
 
         default_warn_args = ['/warn:general', '/warn:truncated_source']
diff --git a/mesonbuild/compilers/java.py b/mesonbuild/compilers/java.py
index ea1fa0f..fb1a190 100644
--- a/mesonbuild/compilers/java.py
+++ b/mesonbuild/compilers/java.py
@@ -17,8 +17,9 @@ import os.path, shutil, subprocess
 from ..mesonlib import EnvironmentException, MachineChoice
 
 from .compilers import Compiler, java_buildtype_args
+from .mixins.islinker import BasicLinkerIsCompilerMixin
 
-class JavaCompiler(Compiler):
+class JavaCompiler(BasicLinkerIsCompilerMixin, Compiler):
     def __init__(self, exelist, version, for_machine: MachineChoice):
         self.language = 'java'
         super().__init__(exelist, version, for_machine)
@@ -26,24 +27,15 @@ class JavaCompiler(Compiler):
         self.is_cross = False
         self.javarunner = 'java'
 
-    def get_soname_args(self, *args):
-        return []
-
     def get_werror_args(self):
         return ['-Werror']
 
     def split_shlib_to_parts(self, fname):
         return None, fname
 
-    def build_rpath_args(self, build_dir, from_dir, rpath_paths, build_rpath, install_rpath):
-        return []
-
     def get_dependency_gen_args(self, outtarget, outfile):
         return []
 
-    def get_linker_exelist(self):
-        return self.exelist[:]
-
     def get_compile_only_args(self):
         return []
 
@@ -52,15 +44,9 @@ class JavaCompiler(Compiler):
             subdir = './'
         return ['-d', subdir, '-s', subdir]
 
-    def get_linker_output_args(self, outputname):
-        return []
-
     def get_coverage_args(self):
         return []
 
-    def get_coverage_link_args(self):
-        return []
-
     def get_std_exe_link_args(self):
         return []
 
diff --git a/mesonbuild/compilers/mixins/arm.py b/mesonbuild/compilers/mixins/arm.py
index 02654ce..fca3d66 100644
--- a/mesonbuild/compilers/mixins/arm.py
+++ b/mesonbuild/compilers/mixins/arm.py
@@ -35,15 +35,6 @@ arm_buildtype_args = {
     'custom': [],
 }  # type: typing.Dict[str, typing.List[str]]
 
-arm_buildtype_linker_args = {
-    'plain': [],
-    'debug': [],
-    'debugoptimized': [],
-    'release': [],
-    'minsize': [],
-    'custom': [],
-}  # type: typing.Dict[str, typing.List[str]]
-
 arm_optimization_args = {
     '0': ['-O0'],
     'g': ['-g'],
@@ -87,8 +78,6 @@ class ArmCompiler:
         # Assembly
         self.can_compile_suffixes.add('s')
 
-    def can_linker_accept_rsp(self) -> bool:
-        return False
 
     def get_pic_args(self) -> typing.List[str]:
         # FIXME: Add /ropi, /rwpi, /fpic etc. qualifiers to --apcs
@@ -97,9 +86,6 @@ class ArmCompiler:
     def get_buildtype_args(self, buildtype: str) -> typing.List[str]:
         return arm_buildtype_args[buildtype]
 
-    def get_buildtype_linker_args(self, buildtype: str) -> typing.List[str]:
-        return arm_buildtype_linker_args[buildtype]
-
     # Override CCompiler.get_always_args
     def get_always_args(self) -> typing.List[str]:
         return []
@@ -108,10 +94,6 @@ class ArmCompiler:
     def get_dependency_gen_args(self, outtarget: str, outfile: str) -> typing.List[str]:
         return []
 
-    # Override CCompiler.get_std_shared_lib_link_args
-    def get_std_shared_lib_link_args(self) -> typing.List[str]:
-        return []
-
     def get_pch_use_args(self, pch_dir: str, header: str) -> typing.List[str]:
         # FIXME: Add required arguments
         # NOTE from armcc user guide:
@@ -130,19 +112,9 @@ class ArmCompiler:
     def thread_flags(self, env: 'Environment') -> typing.List[str]:
         return []
 
-    def thread_link_flags(self, env: 'Environment') -> typing.List[str]:
-        return []
-
-    def get_linker_exelist(self) -> typing.List[str]:
-        args = ['armlink']
-        return args
-
     def get_coverage_args(self) -> typing.List[str]:
         return []
 
-    def get_coverage_link_args(self) -> typing.List[str]:
-        return []
-
     def get_optimization_args(self, optimization_level: str) -> typing.List[str]:
         return arm_optimization_args[optimization_level]
 
@@ -191,9 +163,6 @@ class ArmclangCompiler:
         # Assembly
         self.can_compile_suffixes.update('s')
 
-    def can_linker_accept_rsp(self) -> bool:
-        return False
-
     def get_pic_args(self) -> typing.List[str]:
         # PIC support is not enabled by default for ARM,
         # if users want to use it, they need to add the required arguments explicitly
@@ -205,13 +174,6 @@ class ArmclangCompiler:
     def get_buildtype_args(self, buildtype: str) -> typing.List[str]:
         return armclang_buildtype_args[buildtype]
 
-    def get_buildtype_linker_args(self, buildtype: str) -> typing.List[str]:
-        return arm_buildtype_linker_args[buildtype]
-
-    # Override CCompiler.get_std_shared_lib_link_args
-    def get_std_shared_lib_link_args(self) -> typing.List[str]:
-        return []
-
     def get_pch_suffix(self) -> str:
         return 'gch'
 
@@ -225,34 +187,12 @@ class ArmclangCompiler:
     def get_dependency_gen_args(self, outtarget: str, outfile: str) -> typing.List[str]:
         return []
 
-    # Override CCompiler.build_rpath_args
-    def build_rpath_args(self, build_dir: str, from_dir: str, rpath_paths: str,
-                         build_rpath: str, install_rpath: str) -> typing.List[str]:
-        return []
-
-    def get_linker_exelist(self) -> typing.List[str]:
-        return [self.linker_exe]
-
     def get_optimization_args(self, optimization_level: str) -> typing.List[str]:
         return armclang_optimization_args[optimization_level]
 
     def get_debug_args(self, is_debug: bool) -> typing.List[str]:
         return clike_debug_args[is_debug]
 
-    def gen_export_dynamic_link_args(self, env: 'Environment') -> typing.List[str]:
-        """
-        The args for export dynamic
-        """
-        return ['--export_dynamic']
-
-    def gen_import_library_args(self, implibname: str) -> typing.List[str]:
-        """
-        The args of the outputted import library
-
-        ArmLinker's symdefs output can be used as implib
-        """
-        return ['--symdefs=' + implibname]
-
     def compute_parameters_with_absolute_paths(self, parameter_list: typing.List[str], build_dir: str) -> typing.List[str]:
         for idx, i in enumerate(parameter_list):
             if i[:2] == '-I' or i[:2] == '-L':
diff --git a/mesonbuild/compilers/mixins/ccrx.py b/mesonbuild/compilers/mixins/ccrx.py
index 48b5ed1..4de06fd 100644
--- a/mesonbuild/compilers/mixins/ccrx.py
+++ b/mesonbuild/compilers/mixins/ccrx.py
@@ -32,15 +32,6 @@ ccrx_buildtype_args = {
     'custom': [],
 }  # type: typing.Dict[str, typing.List[str]]
 
-ccrx_buildtype_linker_args = {
-    'plain': [],
-    'debug': [],
-    'debugoptimized': [],
-    'release': [],
-    'minsize': [],
-    'custom': [],
-}  # type: typing.Dict[str, typing.List[str]]
-
 ccrx_optimization_args = {
     '0': ['-optimize=0'],
     'g': ['-optimize=0'],
@@ -60,14 +51,6 @@ class CcrxCompiler:
     def __init__(self, compiler_type: 'CompilerType'):
         if not self.is_cross:
             raise EnvironmentException('ccrx supports only cross-compilation.')
-        # Check whether 'rlink.exe' is available in path
-        self.linker_exe = 'rlink.exe'
-        args = '--version'
-        try:
-            p, stdo, stderr = Popen_safe(self.linker_exe, args)
-        except OSError as e:
-            err_msg = 'Unknown linker\nRunning "{0}" gave \n"{1}"'.format(' '.join([self.linker_exe] + [args]), e)
-            raise EnvironmentException(err_msg)
         self.id = 'ccrx'
         self.compiler_type = compiler_type
         # Assembly
@@ -78,9 +61,6 @@ class CcrxCompiler:
                           '2': default_warn_args + [],
                           '3': default_warn_args + []}
 
-    def can_linker_accept_rsp(self) -> bool:
-        return False
-
     def get_pic_args(self) -> typing.List[str]:
         # PIC support is not enabled by default for CCRX,
         # if users want to use it, they need to add the required arguments explicitly
@@ -89,13 +69,6 @@ class CcrxCompiler:
     def get_buildtype_args(self, buildtype: str) -> typing.List[str]:
         return ccrx_buildtype_args[buildtype]
 
-    def get_buildtype_linker_args(self, buildtype: str) -> typing.List[str]:
-        return ccrx_buildtype_linker_args[buildtype]
-
-    # Override CCompiler.get_std_shared_lib_link_args
-    def get_std_shared_lib_link_args(self) -> typing.List[str]:
-        return []
-
     def get_pch_suffix(self) -> str:
         return 'pch'
 
@@ -106,28 +79,12 @@ class CcrxCompiler:
     def get_dependency_gen_args(self, outtarget: str, outfile: str) -> typing.List[str]:
         return []
 
-    # Override CCompiler.build_rpath_args
-    def build_rpath_args(self, build_dir: str, from_dir: str, rpath_paths: str, build_rpath: str, install_rpath: str) -> typing.List[str]:
-        return []
-
     def thread_flags(self, env: 'Environment') -> typing.List[str]:
         return []
 
-    def thread_link_flags(self, env: 'Environment') -> typing.List[str]:
-        return []
-
-    def get_linker_exelist(self) -> typing.List[str]:
-        return [self.linker_exe]
-
-    def get_linker_lib_prefix(self) -> str:
-        return '-lib='
-
     def get_coverage_args(self) -> typing.List[str]:
         return []
 
-    def get_coverage_link_args(self) -> typing.List[str]:
-        return []
-
     def get_optimization_args(self, optimization_level: str) -> typing.List[str]:
         return ccrx_optimization_args[optimization_level]
 
diff --git a/mesonbuild/compilers/mixins/clike.py b/mesonbuild/compilers/mixins/clike.py
index 37d2424..3af1768 100644
--- a/mesonbuild/compilers/mixins/clike.py
+++ b/mesonbuild/compilers/mixins/clike.py
@@ -61,9 +61,6 @@ class CLikeCompiler:
         else:
             self.exe_wrapper = exe_wrapper.get_command()
 
-        # Set to None until we actually need to check this
-        self.has_fatal_warnings_link_arg = None
-
     def needs_static_linker(self):
         return True # When compiling static libraries, so yes.
 
@@ -73,13 +70,6 @@ class CLikeCompiler:
         '''
         return ['-pipe'] + compilers.get_largefile_args(self)
 
-    def get_linker_debug_crt_args(self):
-        """
-        Arguments needed to select a debug crt for the linker
-        This is only needed for MSVC
-        """
-        return []
-
     def get_no_stdinc_args(self):
         return ['-nostdinc']
 
@@ -93,22 +83,9 @@ class CLikeCompiler:
         # Almost every compiler uses this for disabling warnings
         return ['-w']
 
-    def get_soname_args(self, *args):
-        return []
-
     def split_shlib_to_parts(self, fname):
         return None, fname
 
-    # The default behavior is this, override in MSVC
-    @functools.lru_cache(maxsize=None)
-    def build_rpath_args(self, build_dir, from_dir, rpath_paths, build_rpath, install_rpath):
-        if self.compiler_type.is_windows_compiler:
-            return []
-        return self.build_unix_rpath_args(build_dir, from_dir, rpath_paths, build_rpath, install_rpath)
-
-    def get_dependency_gen_args(self, outtarget, outfile):
-        return ['-MD', '-MQ', outtarget, '-MF', outfile]
-
     def depfile_for_object(self, objfile):
         return objfile + '.' + self.get_depfile_suffix()
 
@@ -118,9 +95,6 @@ class CLikeCompiler:
     def get_exelist(self):
         return self.exelist[:]
 
-    def get_linker_exelist(self):
-        return self.exelist[:]
-
     def get_preprocess_only_args(self):
         return ['-E', '-P']
 
@@ -140,19 +114,17 @@ class CLikeCompiler:
     def get_output_args(self, target):
         return ['-o', target]
 
-    def get_linker_output_args(self, outputname):
-        return ['-o', outputname]
-
     def get_coverage_args(self):
         return ['--coverage']
 
-    def get_coverage_link_args(self):
-        return ['--coverage']
+    def get_coverage_link_args(self) -> typing.List[str]:
+        return self.linker.get_coverage_args()
 
     def get_werror_args(self):
         return ['-Werror']
 
     def get_std_exe_link_args(self):
+        # TODO: is this a linker property?
         return []
 
     def get_include_args(self, path, is_system):
@@ -162,9 +134,6 @@ class CLikeCompiler:
             return ['-isystem', path]
         return ['-I' + path]
 
-    def get_std_shared_lib_link_args(self):
-        return ['-shared']
-
     def get_compiler_dirs(self, env: 'Environment', name: str) -> typing.List[str]:
         '''
         Get dirs from the compiler, either `libraries:` or `programs:`
@@ -222,27 +191,16 @@ class CLikeCompiler:
         return os.path.basename(header_name) + '.' + self.get_pch_suffix()
 
     def get_linker_search_args(self, dirname: str) -> typing.List[str]:
-        return ['-L' + dirname]
+        return self.linker.get_search_args(dirname)
 
     def get_default_include_dirs(self):
         return []
 
-    def gen_export_dynamic_link_args(self, env) -> typing.List[str]:
-        m = env.machines[self.for_machine]
-        if m.is_windows() or m.is_cygwin():
-            return ['-Wl,--export-all-symbols']
-        elif env.machines[self.for_machine].is_darwin():
-            return []
-        else:
-            return ['-Wl,-export-dynamic']
+    def gen_export_dynamic_link_args(self, env: 'Environment') -> typing.List[str]:
+        return self.linker.export_dynamic_args(env)
 
     def gen_import_library_args(self, implibname: str) -> typing.List[str]:
-        """
-        The name of the outputted import library
-
-        This implementation is used only on Windows by compilers that use GNU ld
-        """
-        return ['-Wl,--out-implib=' + implibname]
+        return self.linker.import_library_args(implibname)
 
     def sanity_check_impl(self, work_dir, environment, sname, code):
         mlog.debug('Sanity testing ' + self.get_display_language() + ' compiler:', ' '.join(self.exelist))
@@ -1104,11 +1062,8 @@ class CLikeCompiler:
             return []
         return ['-pthread']
 
-    def thread_link_flags(self, env):
-        host_m = env.machines[self.for_machine]
-        if host_m.is_haiku() or host_m.is_darwin():
-            return []
-        return ['-pthread']
+    def thread_link_flags(self, env: 'Environment') -> typing.List[str]:
+        return self.linker.thread_flags(env)
 
     def linker_to_compiler_args(self, args):
         return args
@@ -1139,14 +1094,7 @@ class CLikeCompiler:
         # First time we check for link flags we need to first check if we have
         # --fatal-warnings, otherwise some linker checks could give some
         # false positive.
-        fatal_warnings_args = ['-Wl,--fatal-warnings']
-        if self.has_fatal_warnings_link_arg is None:
-            self.has_fatal_warnings_link_arg = False
-            self.has_fatal_warnings_link_arg = self.has_multi_link_arguments(fatal_warnings_args, env)[0]
-
-        if self.has_fatal_warnings_link_arg:
-            args = fatal_warnings_args + args
-
+        args = self.linker.fatal_warnings() + args
         args = self.linker_to_compiler_args(args)
         code = 'int main() { return 0; }'
         return self.has_arguments(args, env, code, mode='link')
diff --git a/mesonbuild/compilers/mixins/gnu.py b/mesonbuild/compilers/mixins/gnu.py
index 9756604..757dc65 100644
--- a/mesonbuild/compilers/mixins/gnu.py
+++ b/mesonbuild/compilers/mixins/gnu.py
@@ -46,24 +46,6 @@ gnulike_buildtype_args = {
     'custom': [],
 }  # type: typing.Dict[str, typing.List[str]]
 
-apple_buildtype_linker_args = {
-    'plain': [],
-    'debug': [],
-    'debugoptimized': [],
-    'release': [],
-    'minsize': [],
-    'custom': [],
-}  # type: typing.Dict[str, typing.List[str]]
-
-gnulike_buildtype_linker_args = {
-    'plain': [],
-    'debug': [],
-    'debugoptimized': [],
-    'release': ['-Wl,-O1'],
-    'minsize': [],
-    'custom': [],
-}  # type: typing.Dict[str, typing.List[str]]
-
 gnu_optimization_args = {
     '0': [],
     'g': ['-Og'],
@@ -102,35 +84,6 @@ gnu_color_args = {
 }  # type: typing.Dict[str, typing.List[str]]
 
 
-def get_macos_dylib_install_name(prefix: str, shlib_name: str, suffix: str, soversion: str) -> str:
-    install_name = prefix + shlib_name
-    if soversion is not None:
-        install_name += '.' + soversion
-    install_name += '.dylib'
-    return '@rpath/' + install_name
-
-
-def get_gcc_soname_args(compiler_type: 'CompilerType', prefix: str,
-                        shlib_name: str, suffix: str, soversion: str, darwin_versions:
-                        typing.Tuple[str, str], is_shared_module: bool) -> typing.List[str]:
-    if compiler_type.is_standard_compiler:
-        sostr = '' if soversion is None else '.' + soversion
-        return ['-Wl,-soname,%s%s.%s%s' % (prefix, shlib_name, suffix, sostr)]
-    elif compiler_type.is_windows_compiler:
-        # For PE/COFF the soname argument has no effect with GNU LD
-        return []
-    elif compiler_type.is_osx_compiler:
-        if is_shared_module:
-            return []
-        name = get_macos_dylib_install_name(prefix, shlib_name, suffix, soversion)
-        args = ['-install_name', name]
-        if darwin_versions:
-            args += ['-compatibility_version', darwin_versions[0], '-current_version', darwin_versions[1]]
-        return args
-    else:
-        raise RuntimeError('Not implemented yet.')
-
-
 # TODO: The result from calling compiler should be cached. So that calling this
 # function multiple times don't add latency.
 def gnulike_default_include_dirs(compiler: typing.List[str], lang: str) -> typing.List[str]:
@@ -179,25 +132,13 @@ class GnuLikeCompiler(metaclass=abc.ABCMeta):
         self.compiler_type = compiler_type
         self.base_options = ['b_pch', 'b_lto', 'b_pgo', 'b_sanitize', 'b_coverage',
                              'b_ndebug', 'b_staticpic', 'b_pie']
-        if (not self.compiler_type.is_osx_compiler and
-                not self.compiler_type.is_windows_compiler and
-                not mesonlib.is_openbsd()):
+        if not (self.compiler_type.is_windows_compiler or mesonlib.is_openbsd()):
             self.base_options.append('b_lundef')
         if not self.compiler_type.is_windows_compiler:
             self.base_options.append('b_asneeded')
         # All GCC-like backends can do assembly
         self.can_compile_suffixes.add('s')
 
-    def get_asneeded_args(self) -> typing.List[str]:
-        # GNU ld cannot be installed on macOS
-        # https://github.com/Homebrew/homebrew-core/issues/17794#issuecomment-328174395
-        # Hence, we don't need to differentiate between OS and ld
-        # for the sake of adding as-needed support
-        if self.compiler_type.is_osx_compiler:
-            return ['-Wl,-dead_strip_dylibs']
-        else:
-            return ['-Wl,--as-needed']
-
     def get_pic_args(self) -> typing.List[str]:
         if self.compiler_type.is_osx_compiler or self.compiler_type.is_windows_compiler:
             return [] # On Window and OS X, pic is always on.
@@ -206,9 +147,6 @@ class GnuLikeCompiler(metaclass=abc.ABCMeta):
     def get_pie_args(self) -> typing.List[str]:
         return ['-fPIE']
 
-    def get_pie_link_args(self) -> typing.List[str]:
-        return ['-pie']
-
     def get_buildtype_args(self, buildtype: str) -> typing.List[str]:
         return gnulike_buildtype_args[buildtype]
 
@@ -219,11 +157,6 @@ class GnuLikeCompiler(metaclass=abc.ABCMeta):
     def get_debug_args(self, is_debug: bool) -> typing.List[str]:
         return clike_debug_args[is_debug]
 
-    def get_buildtype_linker_args(self, buildtype: str) -> typing.List[str]:
-        if self.compiler_type.is_osx_compiler:
-            return apple_buildtype_linker_args[buildtype]
-        return gnulike_buildtype_linker_args[buildtype]
-
     @abc.abstractmethod
     def get_pch_suffix(self) -> str:
         raise NotImplementedError("get_pch_suffix not implemented")
@@ -231,27 +164,6 @@ class GnuLikeCompiler(metaclass=abc.ABCMeta):
     def split_shlib_to_parts(self, fname: str) -> typing.Tuple[str, str]:
         return os.path.dirname(fname), fname
 
-    # We're doing argument proxying here, I don't think there's anyway to
-    # accurately model this without copying the real signature
-    def get_soname_args(self, *args: typing.Any) -> typing.List[str]:
-        return get_gcc_soname_args(self.compiler_type, *args)
-
-    def get_std_shared_lib_link_args(self) -> typing.List[str]:
-        return ['-shared']
-
-    def get_std_shared_module_link_args(self, options: typing.Dict[str, 'UserOption[typing.Any]']) -> typing.List[str]:
-        if self.compiler_type.is_osx_compiler:
-            return ['-bundle', '-Wl,-undefined,dynamic_lookup']
-        return ['-shared']
-
-    def get_link_whole_for(self, args: typing.List[str]) -> typing.List[str]:
-        if self.compiler_type.is_osx_compiler:
-            result = []  # type: typing.List[str]
-            for a in args:
-                result += ['-Wl,-force_load', a]
-            return result
-        return ['-Wl,--whole-archive'] + args + ['-Wl,--no-whole-archive']
-
     def get_instruction_set_args(self, instruction_set: str) -> typing.Optional[typing.List[str]]:
         return gnulike_instruction_set_args.get(instruction_set, None)
 
@@ -284,19 +196,6 @@ class GnuLikeCompiler(metaclass=abc.ABCMeta):
     def get_profile_use_args(self) -> typing.List[str]:
         return ['-fprofile-use', '-fprofile-correction']
 
-    def get_allow_undefined_link_args(self) -> typing.List[str]:
-        if self.compiler_type.is_osx_compiler:
-            # Apple ld
-            return ['-Wl,-undefined,dynamic_lookup']
-        elif self.compiler_type.is_windows_compiler:
-            # For PE/COFF this is impossible
-            return []
-        elif mesonlib.is_sunos():
-            return []
-        else:
-            # GNU ld and LLVM lld
-            return ['-Wl,--allow-shlib-undefined']
-
     def get_gui_app_args(self, value: bool) -> typing.List[str]:
         if self.compiler_type.is_windows_compiler:
             return ['-mwindows' if value else '-mconsole']
@@ -369,9 +268,6 @@ class GnuLikeCompiler(metaclass=abc.ABCMeta):
     def get_lto_compile_args(self) -> typing.List[str]:
         return ['-flto']
 
-    def get_lto_link_args(self) -> typing.List[str]:
-        return ['-flto']
-
     def sanitizer_compile_args(self, value: str) -> typing.List[str]:
         if value == 'none':
             return []
@@ -380,10 +276,19 @@ class GnuLikeCompiler(metaclass=abc.ABCMeta):
             args.append('-fno-omit-frame-pointer')
         return args
 
-    def sanitizer_link_args(self, value: str) -> typing.List[str]:
-        if value == 'none':
-            return []
-        return ['-fsanitize=' + value]
+    def get_output_args(self, target: str) -> typing.List[str]:
+        return ['-o', target]
+
+    def get_dependency_gen_args(self, outtarget, outfile):
+        return ['-MD', '-MQ', outtarget, '-MF', outfile]
+
+    def get_compile_only_args(self) -> typing.List[str]:
+        return ['-c']
+
+    def get_include_args(self, path: str, is_system: bool) -> typing.List[str]:
+        if is_system:
+            return ['-isystem' + path]
+        return ['-I' + path]
 
 
 class GnuCompiler(GnuLikeCompiler):
diff --git a/mesonbuild/compilers/mixins/intel.py b/mesonbuild/compilers/mixins/intel.py
index 7fadb50..d7e1b21 100644
--- a/mesonbuild/compilers/mixins/intel.py
+++ b/mesonbuild/compilers/mixins/intel.py
@@ -133,8 +133,5 @@ class IntelVisualStudioLikeCompiler(VisualStudioLikeCompiler):
         version = int(v1 + v2)
         return self._calculate_toolset_version(version)
 
-    def get_linker_exelist(self) -> typing.List[str]:
-        return ['xilink']
-
     def openmp_flags(self) -> typing.List[str]:
         return ['/Qopenmp']
diff --git a/mesonbuild/compilers/mixins/islinker.py b/mesonbuild/compilers/mixins/islinker.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4c1a476
--- /dev/null
+++ b/mesonbuild/compilers/mixins/islinker.py
@@ -0,0 +1,124 @@
+# Copyright 2019 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.
+# You may obtain a copy of the License at
+#
+#     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+#
+# Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+# distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+# WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+# See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+# limitations under the License.
+
+"""Mixins for compilers that *are* linkers.
+
+While many compilers (such as gcc and clang) are used by meson to dispatch
+linker commands and other (like MSVC) are not, a few (such as DMD) actually
+are both the linker and compiler in one binary. This module provides mixin
+classes for those cases.
+"""
+
+import os
+import shlex
+import typing
+
+from ... import mesonlib
+
+if typing.TYPE_CHECKING:
+    from ...coredata import OptionDictType
+    from ...environment import Environment
+
+
+class LinkerEnvVarsMixin:
+
+    """Mixin reading LDFLAGS from the environment."""
+
+    def get_linker_args_from_envvars(self) -> typing.List[str]:
+        flags = os.environ.get('LDFLAGS')
+        if not flags:
+            return []
+        return shlex.split(flags)
+
+
+class BasicLinkerIsCompilerMixin:
+
+    """Provides a baseline of methods that a linker would implement.
+
+    In every case this provides a "no" or "empty" answer. If a compiler
+    implements any of these it needs a different mixin or to override that
+    functionality itself.
+    """
+
+    def sanitizer_link_args(self, value: str) -> typing.List[str]:
+        return []
+
+    def get_lto_link_args(self) -> typing.List[str]:
+        return []
+
+    def can_linker_accept_rsp(self) -> bool:
+        return mesonlib.is_windows()
+
+    def get_linker_exelist(self) -> typing.List[str]:
+        return self.exelist.copy()
+
+    def get_linker_output_args(self, output: str) -> typing.List[str]:
+        return []
+
+    def get_linker_always_args(self) -> typing.List[str]:
+        return []
+
+    def get_linker_lib_prefix(self) -> str:
+        return ''
+
+    def get_option_link_args(self, options: 'OptionDictType') -> typing.List[str]:
+        return []
+
+    def has_multi_link_args(self, args: typing.List[str], env: 'Environment') -> typing.Tuple[bool, bool]:
+        return False, False
+
+    def get_link_debugfile_args(self, targetfile: str) -> typing.List[str]:
+        return []
+
+    def get_std_shared_lib_link_args(self) -> typing.List[str]:
+        return []
+
+    def get_std_shared_module_args(self, options: 'OptionDictType') -> typing.List[str]:
+        return self.get_std_shared_lib_link_args()
+
+    def get_link_whole_for(self, args: typing.List[str]) -> typing.List[str]:
+        raise mesonlib.EnvironmentException(
+            'Linker {} does not support link_whole'.format(self.id))
+
+    def get_allow_undefined_args(self) -> typing.List[str]:
+        raise mesonlib.EnvironmentException(
+            'Linker {} does not support allow undefined'.format(self.id))
+
+    def get_pie_link_args(self) -> typing.List[str]:
+        m = 'Linker {} does not support position-independent executable'
+        raise mesonlib.EnvironmentException(m.format(self.id))
+
+    def get_undefined_link_args(self) -> typing.List[str]:
+        return []
+
+    def get_coverage_link_args(self) -> typing.List[str]:
+        m = "Linker {} doesn't implement coverage data generation.".format(self.id)
+        raise mesonlib.EnvironmentException(m)
+
+    def no_undefined_link_args(self) -> typing.List[str]:
+        return []
+
+    def bitcode_args(self) -> typing.List[str]:
+        raise mesonlib.MesonException("This linker doesn't support bitcode bundles")
+
+    def get_soname_args(self, for_machine: 'mesonlib.MachineChoice',
+                        prefix: str, shlib_name: str, suffix: str, soversion: str,
+                        darwin_versions: typing.Tuple[str, str],
+                        is_shared_module: bool) -> typing.List[str]:
+        raise mesonlib.MesonException("This linker doesn't support soname args")
+
+    def build_rpath_args(self, env: 'Environment', build_dir: str, from_dir: str,
+                         rpath_paths: str, build_rpath: str,
+                         install_rpath: str) -> typing.List[str]:
+        return []
diff --git a/mesonbuild/compilers/mixins/pgi.py b/mesonbuild/compilers/mixins/pgi.py
index 0613e79..c13c7bc 100644
--- a/mesonbuild/compilers/mixins/pgi.py
+++ b/mesonbuild/compilers/mixins/pgi.py
@@ -33,17 +33,7 @@ pgi_buildtype_args = {
 }  # type: typing.Dict[str, typing.List[str]]
 
 
-pgi_buildtype_linker_args = {
-    'plain': [],
-    'debug': [],
-    'debugoptimized': [],
-    'release': [],
-    'minsize': [],
-    'custom': [],
-}  # type: typing.Dict[str, typing.List[str]]
-
-
-class PGICompiler():
+class PGICompiler:
     def __init__(self, compiler_type: 'CompilerType'):
         self.base_options = ['b_pch']
         self.id = 'pgi'
@@ -64,19 +54,11 @@ class PGICompiler():
     def gen_import_library_args(self, implibname: str) -> typing.List[str]:
         return []
 
-    def get_std_shared_lib_link_args(self) -> typing.List[str]:
-        # PGI -shared is Linux only.
-        if self.compiler_type.is_windows_compiler:
-            return ['-Bdynamic', '-Mmakedll']
-        elif not self.compiler_type.is_osx_compiler:
-            return ['-shared']
-        return []
-
     def get_pic_args(self) -> typing.List[str]:
         # PGI -fPIC is Linux only.
-        if self.compiler_type.is_osx_compiler or self.compiler_type.is_windows_compiler:
-            return []
-        return ['-fPIC']
+        if self.compiler_type.is_linux_compiler():
+            return ['-fPIC']
+        return []
 
     def openmp_flags(self) -> typing.List[str]:
         return ['-mp']
@@ -84,9 +66,6 @@ class PGICompiler():
     def get_buildtype_args(self, buildtype: str) -> typing.List[str]:
         return pgi_buildtype_args[buildtype]
 
-    def get_buildtype_linker_args(self, buildtype: str) -> typing.List[str]:
-        return pgi_buildtype_linker_args[buildtype]
-
     def get_optimization_args(self, optimization_level: str) -> typing.List[str]:
         return clike_optimization_args[optimization_level]
 
@@ -99,9 +78,6 @@ class PGICompiler():
                 parameter_list[idx] = i[:2] + os.path.normpath(os.path.join(build_dir, i[2:]))
         return parameter_list
 
-    def get_allow_undefined_link_args(self) -> typing.List[str]:
-        return []
-
     def get_dependency_gen_args(self, outtarget: str, outfile: str) -> typing.List[str]:
         return []
 
diff --git a/mesonbuild/compilers/mixins/visualstudio.py b/mesonbuild/compilers/mixins/visualstudio.py
index edb104d..5fe8599 100644
--- a/mesonbuild/compilers/mixins/visualstudio.py
+++ b/mesonbuild/compilers/mixins/visualstudio.py
@@ -61,17 +61,6 @@ msvc_buildtype_args = {
     'custom': [],
 }  # type: typing.Dict[str, typing.List[str]]
 
-msvc_buildtype_linker_args = {
-    'plain': [],
-    'debug': [],
-    'debugoptimized': [],
-    # The otherwise implicit REF and ICF linker optimisations are disabled by
-    # /DEBUG. REF implies ICF.
-    'release': ['/OPT:REF'],
-    'minsize': ['/INCREMENTAL:NO', '/OPT:REF'],
-    'custom': [],
-}  # type: typing.Dict[str, typing.List[str]]
-
 msvc_optimization_args = {
     '0': [],
     'g': ['/O0'],
@@ -133,31 +122,18 @@ class VisualStudioLikeCompiler(metaclass=abc.ABCMeta):
             self.machine = 'x86'
         else:
             self.machine = target
+        self.linker.machine = self.machine
 
     # Override CCompiler.get_always_args
     def get_always_args(self) -> typing.List[str]:
         return self.always_args
 
-    def get_linker_debug_crt_args(self) -> typing.List[str]:
-        """
-        Arguments needed to select a debug crt for the linker
-
-        Sometimes we need to manually select the CRT (C runtime) to use with
-        MSVC. One example is when trying to link with static libraries since
-        MSVC won't auto-select a CRT for us in that case and will error out
-        asking us to select one.
-        """
-        return ['/MDd']
-
     def get_buildtype_args(self, buildtype: str) -> typing.List[str]:
         args = msvc_buildtype_args[buildtype]
         if self.id == 'msvc' and mesonlib.version_compare(self.version, '<18.0'):
             args = [arg for arg in args if arg != '/Gw']
         return args
 
-    def get_buildtype_linker_args(self, buildtype: str) -> typing.List[str]:
-        return msvc_buildtype_linker_args[buildtype]
-
     def get_pch_suffix(self) -> str:
         return 'pch'
 
@@ -197,23 +173,6 @@ class VisualStudioLikeCompiler(metaclass=abc.ABCMeta):
     def get_dependency_gen_args(self, outtarget: str, outfile: str) -> typing.List[str]:
         return []
 
-    def get_linker_exelist(self) -> typing.List[str]:
-        # FIXME, should have same path as compiler.
-        # FIXME, should be controllable via cross-file.
-        if self.id == 'clang-cl':
-            return ['lld-link']
-        else:
-            return ['link']
-
-    def get_linker_always_args(self) -> typing.List[str]:
-        return ['/nologo']
-
-    def get_linker_output_args(self, outputname: str) -> typing.List[str]:
-        return ['/MACHINE:' + self.machine, '/OUT:' + outputname]
-
-    def get_linker_search_args(self, dirname: str) -> typing.List[str]:
-        return ['/LIBPATH:' + dirname]
-
     def linker_to_compiler_args(self, args: typing.List[str]) -> typing.List[str]:
         return ['/link'] + args
 
@@ -228,12 +187,6 @@ class VisualStudioLikeCompiler(metaclass=abc.ABCMeta):
     def get_pic_args(self) -> typing.List[str]:
         return [] # PIC is handled by the loader on Windows
 
-    def gen_export_dynamic_link_args(self, env: 'Environment') -> typing.List[str]:
-        return [] # Not applicable with MSVC
-
-    def get_std_shared_lib_link_args(self) -> typing.List[str]:
-        return ['/DLL']
-
     def gen_vs_module_defs_args(self, defsfile: str) -> typing.List[str]:
         if not isinstance(defsfile, str):
             raise RuntimeError('Module definitions file should be str')
@@ -249,9 +202,6 @@ class VisualStudioLikeCompiler(metaclass=abc.ABCMeta):
         "The name of the outputted import library"
         return ['/IMPLIB:' + implibname]
 
-    def build_rpath_args(self, build_dir: str, from_dir: str, rpath_paths: str, build_rpath: str, install_rpath: str) -> typing.List[str]:
-        return []
-
     def openmp_flags(self) -> typing.List[str]:
         return ['/openmp']
 
@@ -259,9 +209,6 @@ class VisualStudioLikeCompiler(metaclass=abc.ABCMeta):
     def thread_flags(self, env: 'Environment') -> typing.List[str]:
         return []
 
-    def thread_link_flags(self, env: 'Environment') -> typing.List[str]:
-        return []
-
     @classmethod
     def unix_args_to_native(cls, args: typing.List[str]) -> typing.List[str]:
         result = []
@@ -331,16 +278,6 @@ class VisualStudioLikeCompiler(metaclass=abc.ABCMeta):
             args = ['/FS'] + args
         return args
 
-    def get_link_debugfile_args(self, targetfile: str) -> typing.List[str]:
-        pdbarr = targetfile.split('.')[:-1]
-        pdbarr += ['pdb']
-        return ['/DEBUG', '/PDB:' + '.'.join(pdbarr)]
-
-    def get_link_whole_for(self, args: typing.List[str]) -> typing.List[str]:
-        # Only since VS2015
-        args = mesonlib.listify(args)
-        return ['/WHOLEARCHIVE:' + x for x in args]
-
     def get_instruction_set_args(self, instruction_set: str) -> typing.Optional[typing.List[str]]:
         if self.is_64:
             return vs64_instruction_set_args.get(instruction_set, None)
@@ -418,7 +355,3 @@ class VisualStudioLikeCompiler(metaclass=abc.ABCMeta):
 
     def get_argument_syntax(self) -> str:
         return 'msvc'
-
-    def get_allow_undefined_link_args(self) -> typing.List[str]:
-        # link.exe
-        return ['/FORCE:UNRESOLVED']
diff --git a/mesonbuild/compilers/objc.py b/mesonbuild/compilers/objc.py
index b9ce0b1..7a778d7 100644
--- a/mesonbuild/compilers/objc.py
+++ b/mesonbuild/compilers/objc.py
@@ -23,9 +23,9 @@ from .mixins.gnu import GnuCompiler
 from .mixins.clang import ClangCompiler
 
 class ObjCCompiler(CLikeCompiler, Compiler):
-    def __init__(self, exelist, version, for_machine: MachineChoice, is_cross: bool, exe_wrap: typing.Optional[str]):
+    def __init__(self, exelist, version, for_machine: MachineChoice, is_cross: bool, exe_wrap: typing.Optional[str], **kwargs):
         self.language = 'objc'
-        Compiler.__init__(self, exelist, version, for_machine)
+        Compiler.__init__(self, exelist, version, for_machine, **kwargs)
         CLikeCompiler.__init__(self, is_cross, exe_wrap)
 
     def get_display_language(self):
@@ -57,8 +57,8 @@ class ObjCCompiler(CLikeCompiler, Compiler):
 
 
 class GnuObjCCompiler(GnuCompiler, ObjCCompiler):
-    def __init__(self, exelist, version, compiler_type, for_machine: MachineChoice, is_cross, exe_wrapper=None, defines=None):
-        ObjCCompiler.__init__(self, exelist, version, for_machine, is_cross, exe_wrapper)
+    def __init__(self, exelist, version, compiler_type, for_machine: MachineChoice, is_cross, exe_wrapper=None, defines=None, **kwargs):
+        ObjCCompiler.__init__(self, exelist, version, for_machine, is_cross, exe_wrapper, **kwargs)
         GnuCompiler.__init__(self, compiler_type, defines)
         default_warn_args = ['-Wall', '-Winvalid-pch']
         self.warn_args = {'0': [],
@@ -68,8 +68,8 @@ class GnuObjCCompiler(GnuCompiler, ObjCCompiler):
 
 
 class ClangObjCCompiler(ClangCompiler, ObjCCompiler):
-    def __init__(self, exelist, version, compiler_type, for_machine: MachineChoice, is_cross, exe_wrapper=None):
-        ObjCCompiler.__init__(self, exelist, version, for_machine, is_cross, exe_wrapper)
+    def __init__(self, exelist, version, compiler_type, for_machine: MachineChoice, is_cross, exe_wrapper=None, **kwargs):
+        ObjCCompiler.__init__(self, exelist, version, for_machine, is_cross, exe_wrapper, **kwargs)
         ClangCompiler.__init__(self, compiler_type)
         default_warn_args = ['-Wall', '-Winvalid-pch']
         self.warn_args = {'0': [],
diff --git a/mesonbuild/compilers/objcpp.py b/mesonbuild/compilers/objcpp.py
index a090bed..70a86c5 100644
--- a/mesonbuild/compilers/objcpp.py
+++ b/mesonbuild/compilers/objcpp.py
@@ -23,9 +23,9 @@ from .mixins.gnu import GnuCompiler
 from .mixins.clang import ClangCompiler
 
 class ObjCPPCompiler(CLikeCompiler, Compiler):
-    def __init__(self, exelist, version, for_machine: MachineChoice, is_cross: bool, exe_wrap: typing.Optional[str]):
+    def __init__(self, exelist, version, for_machine: MachineChoice, is_cross: bool, exe_wrap: typing.Optional[str], **kwargs):
         self.language = 'objcpp'
-        Compiler.__init__(self, exelist, version, for_machine)
+        Compiler.__init__(self, exelist, version, for_machine, **kwargs)
         CLikeCompiler.__init__(self, is_cross, exe_wrap)
 
     def get_display_language(self):
@@ -58,8 +58,8 @@ class ObjCPPCompiler(CLikeCompiler, Compiler):
 
 
 class GnuObjCPPCompiler(GnuCompiler, ObjCPPCompiler):
-    def __init__(self, exelist, version, compiler_type, for_machine: MachineChoice, is_cross, exe_wrapper=None, defines=None):
-        ObjCPPCompiler.__init__(self, exelist, version, for_machine, is_cross, exe_wrapper)
+    def __init__(self, exelist, version, compiler_type, for_machine: MachineChoice, is_cross, exe_wrapper=None, defines=None, **kwargs):
+        ObjCPPCompiler.__init__(self, exelist, version, for_machine, is_cross, exe_wrapper, **kwargs)
         GnuCompiler.__init__(self, compiler_type, defines)
         default_warn_args = ['-Wall', '-Winvalid-pch', '-Wnon-virtual-dtor']
         self.warn_args = {'0': [],
@@ -69,8 +69,8 @@ class GnuObjCPPCompiler(GnuCompiler, ObjCPPCompiler):
 
 
 class ClangObjCPPCompiler(ClangCompiler, ObjCPPCompiler):
-    def __init__(self, exelist, version, compiler_type, for_machine: MachineChoice, is_cross, exe_wrapper=None):
-        ObjCPPCompiler.__init__(self, exelist, version, for_machine, is_cross, exe_wrapper)
+    def __init__(self, exelist, version, compiler_type, for_machine: MachineChoice, is_cross, exe_wrapper=None, **kwargs):
+        ObjCPPCompiler.__init__(self, exelist, version, for_machine, is_cross, exe_wrapper, **kwargs)
         ClangCompiler.__init__(self, compiler_type)
         default_warn_args = ['-Wall', '-Winvalid-pch', '-Wnon-virtual-dtor']
         self.warn_args = {'0': [],
diff --git a/mesonbuild/compilers/rust.py b/mesonbuild/compilers/rust.py
index 665b3c2..479c5a7 100644
--- a/mesonbuild/compilers/rust.py
+++ b/mesonbuild/compilers/rust.py
@@ -13,11 +13,14 @@
 # limitations under the License.
 
 import subprocess, os.path
+import typing
 
 from ..mesonlib import EnvironmentException, MachineChoice, Popen_safe
-
 from .compilers import Compiler, rust_buildtype_args, clike_debug_args
 
+if typing.TYPE_CHECKING:
+    from ..environment import Environment  # noqa: F401
+
 rust_optimization_args = {'0': [],
                           'g': ['-C', 'opt-level=0'],
                           '1': ['-C', 'opt-level=1'],
@@ -27,9 +30,9 @@ rust_optimization_args = {'0': [],
                           }
 
 class RustCompiler(Compiler):
-    def __init__(self, exelist, version, for_machine: MachineChoice, is_cross, exe_wrapper=None):
+    def __init__(self, exelist, version, for_machine: MachineChoice, is_cross, exe_wrapper=None, **kwargs):
         self.language = 'rust'
-        super().__init__(exelist, version, for_machine)
+        super().__init__(exelist, version, for_machine, **kwargs)
         self.exe_wrapper = exe_wrapper
         self.id = 'rustc'
         self.is_cross = is_cross
@@ -77,9 +80,6 @@ class RustCompiler(Compiler):
     def get_buildtype_args(self, buildtype):
         return rust_buildtype_args[buildtype]
 
-    def build_rpath_args(self, build_dir, from_dir, rpath_paths, build_rpath, install_rpath):
-        return self.build_unix_rpath_args(build_dir, from_dir, rpath_paths, build_rpath, install_rpath)
-
     def get_sysroot(self):
         cmd = self.exelist + ['--print', 'sysroot']
         p, stdo, stde = Popen_safe(cmd)
@@ -102,8 +102,5 @@ class RustCompiler(Compiler):
 
         return parameter_list
 
-    def get_buildtype_linker_args(self, build_type):
-        return []
-
     def get_std_exe_link_args(self):
         return []
diff --git a/mesonbuild/compilers/swift.py b/mesonbuild/compilers/swift.py
index 0038264..6c639fd 100644
--- a/mesonbuild/compilers/swift.py
+++ b/mesonbuild/compilers/swift.py
@@ -27,16 +27,13 @@ swift_optimization_args = {'0': [],
                            }
 
 class SwiftCompiler(Compiler):
-    def __init__(self, exelist, version, for_machine: MachineChoice, is_cross):
+    def __init__(self, exelist, version, for_machine: MachineChoice, is_cross, **kwargs):
         self.language = 'swift'
-        super().__init__(exelist, version, for_machine)
+        super().__init__(exelist, version, for_machine, **kwargs)
         self.version = version
         self.id = 'llvm'
         self.is_cross = is_cross
 
-    def get_linker_exelist(self):
-        return self.exelist[:]
-
     def name_string(self):
         return ' '.join(self.exelist)
 
@@ -58,9 +55,6 @@ class SwiftCompiler(Compiler):
     def get_output_args(self, target):
         return ['-o', target]
 
-    def get_linker_output_args(self, target):
-        return ['-o', target]
-
     def get_header_import_args(self, headername):
         return ['-import-objc-header', headername]
 
@@ -70,9 +64,6 @@ class SwiftCompiler(Compiler):
     def get_buildtype_args(self, buildtype):
         return swift_buildtype_args[buildtype]
 
-    def get_buildtype_linker_args(self, buildtype):
-        return []
-
     def get_std_exe_link_args(self):
         return ['-emit-executable']
 
@@ -82,9 +73,6 @@ class SwiftCompiler(Compiler):
     def get_mod_gen_args(self):
         return ['-emit-module']
 
-    def build_rpath_args(self, *args):
-        return [] # FIXME
-
     def get_include_args(self, dirname):
         return ['-I' + dirname]
 
diff --git a/mesonbuild/environment.py b/mesonbuild/environment.py
index cd55ace..2630ae9 100644
--- a/mesonbuild/environment.py
+++ b/mesonbuild/environment.py
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@
 # limitations under the License.
 
 import os, platform, re, sys, shlex, shutil, subprocess, typing
+import tempfile
 
 from . import coredata
 from .linkers import ArLinker, ArmarLinker, VisualStudioLinker, DLinker, CcrxLinker, IntelVisualStudioLinker
@@ -38,6 +39,23 @@ from .compilers import (
     is_object,
     is_source,
 )
+from .linkers import (
+    AppleDynamicLinker,
+    ArmClangDynamicLinker,
+    ArmDynamicLinker,
+    CcrxDynamicLinker,
+    ClangClDynamicLinker,
+    DynamicLinker,
+    GnuDynamicLinker,
+    LLVMDynamicLinker,
+    MSVCDynamicLinker,
+    OptlinkDynamicLinker,
+    PGIDynamicLinker,
+    SolarisDynamicLinker,
+    XildAppleDynamicLinker,
+    XildLinuxDynamicLinker,
+    XilinkDynamicLinker,
+)
 from functools import lru_cache
 from .compilers import (
     ArmCCompiler,
@@ -63,8 +81,8 @@ from .compilers import (
     EmscriptenCCompiler,
     EmscriptenCPPCompiler,
     IntelCCompiler,
-    IntelCPPCompiler,
     IntelClCCompiler,
+    IntelCPPCompiler,
     IntelClCPPCompiler,
     IntelFortranCompiler,
     IntelClFortranCompiler,
@@ -639,7 +657,57 @@ class Environment:
                 errmsg += '\nRunning "{0}" gave "{1}"'.format(c, e)
         raise EnvironmentException(errmsg)
 
-    def _detect_c_or_cpp_compiler(self, lang, for_machine):
+    @staticmethod
+    def _guess_nix_linker(compiler: typing.List[str], for_machine: MachineChoice, *,
+                          prefix: typing.Union[str, typing.List[str]] = '-Wl,',
+                          extra_args: typing.Optional[typing.List[str]] = None) -> 'DynamicLinker':
+        """Helper for guessing what linker to use on Unix-Like OSes.
+
+        :prefix: The prefix that the compiler uses to proxy arguments to the
+            linker, if required. This can be passed as a string or a list of
+            strings. If it is passed as a string then the arguments to be
+            proxied to the linker will be concatenated, if it is a list they
+            will be appended. This means that if a space is required (such as
+            with swift which wants `-Xlinker --version` and *not*
+            `-Xlinker=--version`) you must pass as a list.
+        :extra_args: Any addtional arguments rquired (such as a source file)
+        """
+        extra_args = typing.cast(typing.List[str], extra_args or [])
+        if isinstance(prefix, str):
+            check_args = [prefix + '--version'] + extra_args
+        else:
+            check_args = prefix + ['--version'] + extra_args
+        _, o, e = Popen_safe(compiler + check_args)
+        v = search_version(o)
+        if o.startswith('LLD'):
+            linker = LLVMDynamicLinker(compiler, for_machine, 'lld', version=v)  # type: DynamicLinker
+        # first is for apple clang, second is for real gcc
+        elif e.endswith('(use -v to see invocation)\n') or 'macosx_version' in e:
+            if isinstance(prefix, str):
+                _, _, e = Popen_safe(compiler + [prefix + '-v'] + extra_args)
+            else:
+                _, _, e = Popen_safe(compiler + prefix + ['-v'] + extra_args)
+            i = 'APPLE ld'
+            for line in e.split('\n'):
+                if 'PROJECT:ld' in line:
+                    v = line.split('-')[1]
+                    break
+            else:
+                v = 'unknown version'
+            linker = AppleDynamicLinker(compiler, for_machine, i, version=v)
+        elif 'GNU' in o:
+            if 'gold' in 'o':
+                i = 'GNU ld.gold'
+            else:
+                i = 'GNU ld.bfd'
+            linker = GnuDynamicLinker(compiler, for_machine, i, version=v)
+        elif 'Solaris' in e:
+            linker = SolarisDynamicLinker(compiler, for_machine, 'solaris', version=search_version(e))
+        else:
+            raise MesonException('Unable to determine dynamic linker.')
+        return linker
+
+    def _detect_c_or_cpp_compiler(self, lang: str, for_machine: MachineChoice) -> Compiler:
         popen_exceptions = {}
         compilers, ccache, exe_wrap = self._get_compilers(lang, for_machine)
         is_cross = not self.machines.matches_build_machine(for_machine)
@@ -701,13 +769,18 @@ class Environment:
                     popen_exceptions[' '.join(compiler)] = 'no pre-processor defines'
                     continue
                 compiler_type = self.get_gnu_compiler_type(defines)
+
+                linker = self._guess_nix_linker(compiler, for_machine)
+
                 if guess_gcc_or_lcc == 'lcc':
                     version = self.get_lcc_version_from_defines(defines)
                     cls = ElbrusCCompiler if lang == 'c' else ElbrusCPPCompiler
                 else:
                     version = self.get_gnu_version_from_defines(defines)
                     cls = GnuCCompiler if lang == 'c' else GnuCPPCompiler
-                return cls(ccache + compiler, version, compiler_type, for_machine, is_cross, exe_wrap, defines, full_version=full_version)
+                return cls(ccache + compiler, version, compiler_type,
+                           for_machine, is_cross, exe_wrap, defines,
+                           full_version=full_version, linker=linker)
 
             if 'Emscripten' in out:
                 cls = EmscriptenCCompiler if lang == 'c' else EmscriptenCPPCompiler
@@ -730,7 +803,8 @@ class Environment:
                 full_version = arm_ver_str
                 compiler_type = CompilerType.ARM_WIN
                 cls = ArmclangCCompiler if lang == 'c' else ArmclangCPPCompiler
-                return cls(ccache + compiler, version, compiler_type, for_machine, is_cross, exe_wrap, full_version=full_version)
+                linker = ArmClangDynamicLinker(for_machine, version=version)
+                return cls(ccache + compiler, version, compiler_type, for_machine, is_cross, exe_wrap, full_version=full_version, linker=linker)
             if 'CL.EXE COMPATIBILITY' in out:
                 # if this is clang-cl masquerading as cl, detect it as cl, not
                 # clang
@@ -746,7 +820,8 @@ class Environment:
                 else:
                     target = 'unknown target'
                 cls = ClangClCCompiler if lang == 'c' else ClangClCPPCompiler
-                return cls(compiler, version, for_machine, is_cross, exe_wrap, target)
+                linker = ClangClDynamicLinker(for_machine, version=version)
+                return cls(compiler, version, for_machine, is_cross, exe_wrap, target, linker=linker)
             if 'clang' in out:
                 if 'Apple' in out or self.machines[for_machine].is_darwin():
                     compiler_type = CompilerType.CLANG_OSX
@@ -755,12 +830,15 @@ class Environment:
                 else:
                     compiler_type = CompilerType.CLANG_STANDARD
                 cls = ClangCCompiler if lang == 'c' else ClangCPPCompiler
-                return cls(ccache + compiler, version, compiler_type, for_machine, is_cross, exe_wrap, full_version=full_version)
+
+                linker = self._guess_nix_linker(compiler, for_machine)
+                return cls(ccache + compiler, version, compiler_type, for_machine, is_cross, exe_wrap, full_version=full_version, linker=linker)
             if 'Intel(R) C++ Intel(R)' in err:
                 version = search_version(err)
                 target = 'x86' if 'IA-32' in err else 'x86_64'
                 cls = IntelClCCompiler if lang == 'c' else IntelClCPPCompiler
-                return cls(compiler, version, for_machine, is_cross, exe_wrap, target)
+                linker = XilinkDynamicLinker(for_machine, version=version)
+                return cls(compiler, version, for_machine, is_cross, exe_wrap, target, linker=linker)
             if 'Microsoft' in out or 'Microsoft' in err:
                 # Latest versions of Visual Studio print version
                 # number to stderr but earlier ones print version
@@ -778,8 +856,9 @@ class Environment:
                     target = match.group(1)
                 else:
                     target = 'x86'
+                linker = MSVCDynamicLinker(for_machine, version=version)
                 cls = VisualStudioCCompiler if lang == 'c' else VisualStudioCPPCompiler
-                return cls(compiler, version, for_machine, is_cross, exe_wrap, target)
+                return cls(compiler, version, for_machine, is_cross, exe_wrap, target, linker=linker)
             if 'PGI Compilers' in out:
                 if self.machines[for_machine].is_darwin():
                     compiler_type = CompilerType.PGI_OSX
@@ -788,25 +867,27 @@ class Environment:
                 else:
                     compiler_type = CompilerType.PGI_STANDARD
                 cls = PGICCompiler if lang == 'c' else PGICPPCompiler
-                return cls(ccache + compiler, version, compiler_type, for_machine, is_cross, exe_wrap)
+                linker = PGIDynamicLinker(compiler, for_machine, 'pgi', version=version)
+                return cls(ccache + compiler, version, compiler_type, for_machine, is_cross, exe_wrap, linker=linker)
             if '(ICC)' in out:
                 if self.machines[for_machine].is_darwin():
                     compiler_type = CompilerType.ICC_OSX
-                elif self.machines[for_machine].is_windows():
-                    # TODO: fix ICC on Windows
-                    compiler_type = CompilerType.ICC_WIN
+                    l = XildAppleDynamicLinker(compiler, for_machine, 'xild', version=version)
                 else:
                     compiler_type = CompilerType.ICC_STANDARD
+                    l = XildLinuxDynamicLinker(compiler, for_machine, 'xild', version=version)
                 cls = IntelCCompiler if lang == 'c' else IntelCPPCompiler
-                return cls(ccache + compiler, version, compiler_type, for_machine, is_cross, exe_wrap, full_version=full_version)
+                return cls(ccache + compiler, version, compiler_type, for_machine, is_cross, exe_wrap, full_version=full_version, linker=l)
             if 'ARM' in out:
                 compiler_type = CompilerType.ARM_WIN
                 cls = ArmCCompiler if lang == 'c' else ArmCPPCompiler
-                return cls(ccache + compiler, version, compiler_type, for_machine, is_cross, exe_wrap, full_version=full_version)
+                linker = ArmDynamicLinker(for_machine, version=version)
+                return cls(ccache + compiler, version, compiler_type, for_machine, is_cross, exe_wrap, full_version=full_version, linker=linker)
             if 'RX Family' in out:
                 compiler_type = CompilerType.CCRX_WIN
                 cls = CcrxCCompiler if lang == 'c' else CcrxCPPCompiler
-                return cls(ccache + compiler, version, compiler_type, for_machine, is_cross, exe_wrap, full_version=full_version)
+                linker = CcrxDynamicLinker(for_machine, version=version)
+                return cls(ccache + compiler, version, compiler_type, for_machine, is_cross, exe_wrap, full_version=full_version, linker=linker)
 
         self._handle_exceptions(popen_exceptions, compilers)
 
@@ -846,8 +927,8 @@ class Environment:
             # Luckily, the "V" also makes it very simple to extract
             # the full version:
             version = out.strip().split('V')[-1]
-            cls = CudaCompiler
-            return cls(ccache + compiler, version, for_machine, exe_wrap)
+            linker = self._guess_nix_linker(compiler, for_machine, prefix='-Xlinker=')
+            return CudaCompiler(ccache + compiler, version, for_machine, exe_wrap, linker=linker)
         raise EnvironmentException('Could not find suitable CUDA compiler: "' + ' '.join(compilers) + '"')
 
     def detect_fortran_compiler(self, for_machine: MachineChoice):
@@ -885,22 +966,27 @@ class Environment:
                     else:
                         version = self.get_gnu_version_from_defines(defines)
                         cls = GnuFortranCompiler
-                    return cls(compiler, version, compiler_type, for_machine, is_cross, exe_wrap, defines, full_version=full_version)
+                    linker = self._guess_nix_linker(compiler, for_machine)
+                    return cls(compiler, version, compiler_type, for_machine, is_cross, exe_wrap, defines, full_version=full_version, linker=linker)
 
                 if 'G95' in out:
-                    return G95FortranCompiler(compiler, version, for_machine, is_cross, exe_wrap, full_version=full_version)
+                    linker = self._guess_nix_linker(compiler, for_machine)
+                    return G95FortranCompiler(compiler, version, for_machine, is_cross, exe_wrap, full_version=full_version, linker=linker)
 
                 if 'Sun Fortran' in err:
                     version = search_version(err)
-                    return SunFortranCompiler(compiler, version, for_machine, is_cross, exe_wrap, full_version=full_version)
+                    linker = self._guess_nix_linker(compiler, for_machine)
+                    return SunFortranCompiler(compiler, version, for_machine, is_cross, exe_wrap, full_version=full_version, linker=linker)
 
                 if 'Intel(R) Visual Fortran' in err:
                     version = search_version(err)
                     target = 'x86' if 'IA-32' in err else 'x86_64'
-                    return IntelClFortranCompiler(compiler, version, for_machine, is_cross, target, exe_wrap)
+                    linker = XilinkDynamicLinker(for_machine, version=version)
+                    return IntelClFortranCompiler(compiler, version, for_machine, is_cross, target, exe_wrap, linker=linker)
 
                 if 'ifort (IFORT)' in out:
-                    return IntelFortranCompiler(compiler, version, for_machine, is_cross, exe_wrap, full_version=full_version)
+                    linker = XildLinuxDynamicLinker(compiler, for_machine, 'xild', version=version)
+                    return IntelFortranCompiler(compiler, version, for_machine, is_cross, exe_wrap, full_version=full_version, linker=linker)
 
                 if 'PathScale EKOPath(tm)' in err:
                     return PathScaleFortranCompiler(compiler, version, for_machine, is_cross, exe_wrap, full_version=full_version)
@@ -912,54 +998,34 @@ class Environment:
                         compiler_type = CompilerType.PGI_WIN
                     else:
                         compiler_type = CompilerType.PGI_STANDARD
-                    return PGIFortranCompiler(compiler, version, compiler_type, for_machine, is_cross, exe_wrap, full_version=full_version)
+                    linker = PGIDynamicLinker(compiler, for_machine, 'pgi', version=version)
+                    return PGIFortranCompiler(compiler, version, compiler_type, for_machine, is_cross, exe_wrap, full_version=full_version, linker=linker)
 
                 if 'flang' in out or 'clang' in out:
-                    return FlangFortranCompiler(compiler, version, for_machine, is_cross, exe_wrap, full_version=full_version)
+                    linker = self._guess_nix_linker(compiler, for_machine)
+                    return FlangFortranCompiler(compiler, version, for_machine, is_cross, exe_wrap, full_version=full_version, linker=linker)
 
                 if 'Open64 Compiler Suite' in err:
-                    return Open64FortranCompiler(compiler, version, for_machine, is_cross, exe_wrap, full_version=full_version)
+                    linker = self._guess_nix_linker(compiler, for_machine)
+                    return Open64FortranCompiler(compiler, version, for_machine, is_cross, exe_wrap, full_version=full_version, linker=linker)
 
                 if 'NAG Fortran' in err:
-                    return NAGFortranCompiler(compiler, version, for_machine, is_cross, exe_wrap, full_version=full_version)
+                    linker = self._guess_nix_linker(compiler, for_machine)
+                    return NAGFortranCompiler(compiler, version, for_machine, is_cross, exe_wrap, full_version=full_version, linker=linker)
         self._handle_exceptions(popen_exceptions, compilers)
 
     def get_scratch_dir(self):
         return self.scratch_dir
 
-    def detect_objc_compiler(self, for_machine):
-        popen_exceptions = {}
-        compilers, ccache, exe_wrap = self._get_compilers('objc', for_machine)
-        is_cross = not self.machines.matches_build_machine(for_machine)
-        for compiler in compilers:
-            if isinstance(compiler, str):
-                compiler = [compiler]
-            arg = ['--version']
-            try:
-                p, out, err = Popen_safe(compiler + arg)
-            except OSError as e:
-                popen_exceptions[' '.join(compiler + arg)] = e
-                continue
-            version = search_version(out)
-            if 'Free Software Foundation' in out or ('e2k' in out and 'lcc' in out):
-                defines = self.get_gnu_compiler_defines(compiler)
-                if not defines:
-                    popen_exceptions[' '.join(compiler)] = 'no pre-processor defines'
-                    continue
-                compiler_type = self.get_gnu_compiler_type(defines)
-                version = self.get_gnu_version_from_defines(defines)
-                return GnuObjCCompiler(ccache + compiler, version, compiler_type, for_machine, is_cross, exe_wrap, defines)
-            if out.startswith('Apple LLVM') or out.startswith('Apple clang'):
-                return ClangObjCCompiler(ccache + compiler, version, CompilerType.CLANG_OSX, for_machine, is_cross, exe_wrap)
-            if 'windows' in out:
-                return ClangObjCCompiler(ccache + compiler, version, CompilerType.CLANG_MINGW, for_machine, is_cross, exe_wrap)
-            if out.startswith(('clang', 'OpenBSD clang')):
-                return ClangObjCCompiler(ccache + compiler, version, CompilerType.CLANG_STANDARD, for_machine, is_cross, exe_wrap)
-        self._handle_exceptions(popen_exceptions, compilers)
+    def detect_objc_compiler(self, for_machine: MachineInfo) -> 'Compiler':
+        return self._detect_objc_or_objcpp_compiler(for_machine, True)
 
-    def detect_objcpp_compiler(self, for_machine):
+    def detect_objcpp_compiler(self, for_machine: MachineInfo) -> 'Compiler':
+        return self._detect_objc_or_objcpp_compiler(for_machine, False)
+
+    def _detect_objc_or_objcpp_compiler(self, for_machine: MachineInfo, objc: bool) -> 'Compiler':
         popen_exceptions = {}
-        compilers, ccache, exe_wrap = self._get_compilers('objcpp', for_machine)
+        compilers, ccache, exe_wrap = self._get_compilers('objc' if objc else 'objcpp', for_machine)
         is_cross = not self.machines.matches_build_machine(for_machine)
         for compiler in compilers:
             if isinstance(compiler, str):
@@ -978,13 +1044,19 @@ class Environment:
                     continue
                 compiler_type = self.get_gnu_compiler_type(defines)
                 version = self.get_gnu_version_from_defines(defines)
-                return GnuObjCPPCompiler(ccache + compiler, version, compiler_type, for_machine, is_cross, exe_wrap, defines)
-            if out.startswith('Apple LLVM') or out.startswith('Apple clang'):
-                return ClangObjCPPCompiler(ccache + compiler, version, CompilerType.CLANG_OSX, for_machine, is_cross, exe_wrap)
-            if 'windows' in out:
-                return ClangObjCPPCompiler(ccache + compiler, version, CompilerType.CLANG_MINGW, for_machine, is_cross, exe_wrap)
-            if out.startswith(('clang', 'OpenBSD clang')):
-                return ClangObjCPPCompiler(ccache + compiler, version, CompilerType.CLANG_STANDARD, for_machine, is_cross, exe_wrap)
+                comp = GnuObjCCompiler if objc else GnuObjCPPCompiler
+                linker = self._guess_nix_linker(compiler, for_machine)
+                return comp(ccache + compiler, version, compiler_type, for_machine, is_cross, exe_wrap, defines, linker=linker)
+            if 'clang' in out:
+                comp = ClangObjCCompiler if objc else ClangObjCPPCompiler
+                if 'Apple' in out or self.machines[for_machine].is_darwin():
+                    compiler_type = CompilerType.CLANG_OSX
+                elif 'windows' in out or self.machines[for_machine].is_windows():
+                    compiler_type = CompilerType.CLANG_MINGW
+                else:
+                    compiler_type = CompilerType.CLANG_STANDARD
+                linker = self._guess_nix_linker(compiler, for_machine)
+                return comp(ccache + compiler, version, compiler_type, for_machine, is_cross, exe_wrap, linker=linker)
         self._handle_exceptions(popen_exceptions, compilers)
 
     def detect_java_compiler(self, for_machine):
@@ -1059,7 +1131,18 @@ class Environment:
             version = search_version(out)
 
             if 'rustc' in out:
-                return RustCompiler(compiler, version, for_machine, is_cross, exe_wrap)
+                # Chalk up another quirk for rust. There is no way (AFAICT) to
+                # figure out what linker rustc is using for a non-nightly compiler
+                # (On nightly you can pass -Z print-link-args). So we're going to
+                # hard code the linker based on the platform.
+                # Currenty gnu ld is used for everything except apple by
+                # default, and apple ld is used on mac.
+                # TODO: find some better way to figure this out.
+                if self.machines[for_machine].is_darwin():
+                    linker = AppleDynamicLinker([], for_machine, 'Apple ld')
+                else:
+                    linker = GnuDynamicLinker([], for_machine, 'GNU ld')
+                return RustCompiler(compiler, version, for_machine, is_cross, exe_wrap, linker=linker)
 
         self._handle_exceptions(popen_exceptions, compilers)
 
@@ -1100,11 +1183,31 @@ class Environment:
             arch = 'x86_mscoff'
 
         if 'LLVM D compiler' in out:
-            return compilers.LLVMDCompiler(exelist, version, for_machine, arch, full_version=full_version)
+            # LDC seems to require a file
+            m = self.machines[for_machine]
+            if m.is_windows() or m.is_cygwin():
+                # Getting LDC on windows to give useful linker output when not
+                # doing real work is painfully hard. It ships with a verison of
+                # lld-link, so just assume that we're going to use lld-link
+                # with it.
+                _, o, _ = Popen_safe(['lld-link.exe', '--version'])
+                linker = ClangClDynamicLinker(for_machine, version=search_version(o))
+            else:
+                with tempfile.NamedTemporaryFile(suffix='.d') as f:
+                    linker = self._guess_nix_linker(exelist, for_machine, prefix='-L', extra_args=[f.name])
+            return compilers.LLVMDCompiler(exelist, version, for_machine, arch, full_version=full_version, linker=linker)
         elif 'gdc' in out:
-            return compilers.GnuDCompiler(exelist, version, for_machine, arch, full_version=full_version)
+            linker = self._guess_nix_linker(exelist, for_machine)
+            return compilers.GnuDCompiler(exelist, version, for_machine, arch, full_version=full_version, linker=linker)
         elif 'The D Language Foundation' in out or 'Digital Mars' in out:
-            return compilers.DmdDCompiler(exelist, version, for_machine, arch, full_version=full_version)
+            # DMD seems to require a file
+            m = self.machines[for_machine]
+            if m.is_windows() or m.is_cygwin():
+                linker = OptlinkDynamicLinker(for_machine, version=full_version)
+            else:
+                with tempfile.NamedTemporaryFile(suffix='.d') as f:
+                    linker = self._guess_nix_linker(exelist, for_machine, prefix='-L', extra_args=[f.name])
+            return compilers.DmdDCompiler(exelist, version, for_machine, arch, full_version=full_version, linker=linker)
         raise EnvironmentException('Unknown compiler "' + ' '.join(exelist) + '"')
 
     def detect_swift_compiler(self, for_machine):
@@ -1120,7 +1223,12 @@ class Environment:
             raise EnvironmentException('Could not execute Swift compiler "%s"' % ' '.join(exelist))
         version = search_version(err)
         if 'Swift' in err:
-            return compilers.SwiftCompiler(exelist, version, for_machine, is_cross)
+            # As for 5.0.1 swiftc *requires* a file to check the linker:
+            with tempfile.NamedTemporaryFile(suffix='.swift') as f:
+                linker = self._guess_nix_linker(
+                    exelist, for_machine, prefix=['-Xlinker'], extra_args=[f.name])
+            return compilers.SwiftCompiler(exelist, version, for_machine, is_cross, linker=linker)
+
         raise EnvironmentException('Unknown compiler "' + ' '.join(exelist) + '"')
 
     def compiler_from_language(self, lang: str, for_machine: MachineChoice):
diff --git a/mesonbuild/interpreter.py b/mesonbuild/interpreter.py
index c102978..0fd2f06 100644
--- a/mesonbuild/interpreter.py
+++ b/mesonbuild/interpreter.py
@@ -2831,12 +2831,16 @@ external dependencies (including libraries) must go to "dependencies".''')
                         continue
                     else:
                         raise
+
             if for_machine == MachineChoice.HOST or self.environment.is_cross_build():
                 logger_fun = mlog.log
             else:
                 logger_fun = mlog.debug
             logger_fun(comp.get_display_language(), 'compiler for the', machine_name, 'machine:',
                        mlog.bold(' '.join(comp.get_exelist())), comp.get_version_string())
+            if comp.linker is not None:
+                logger_fun(comp.get_display_language(), 'linker for the', machine_name, 'machine:',
+                           mlog.bold(comp.linker.id), comp.linker.version)
             self.build.ensure_static_linker(comp)
 
         langs = self.coredata.compilers[for_machine].keys()
diff --git a/mesonbuild/linkers.py b/mesonbuild/linkers.py
index dc9a825..a641cd0 100644
--- a/mesonbuild/linkers.py
+++ b/mesonbuild/linkers.py
@@ -12,6 +12,9 @@
 # See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
 # limitations under the License.
 
+import abc
+import os
+import shlex
 import typing
 
 from . import mesonlib
@@ -51,8 +54,9 @@ class StaticLinker:
     def get_coverage_link_args(self) -> typing.List[str]:
         return []
 
-    def build_rpath_args(self, build_dir: str, from_dir: str, rpath_paths: str,
-                         build_rpath: str, install_rpath: str) -> typing.List[str]:
+    def build_rpath_args(self, env: 'Environment', build_dir: str, from_dir: str,
+                         rpath_paths: str, build_rpath: str,
+                         install_rpath: str) -> typing.List[str]:
         return []
 
     def thread_link_flags(self, env: 'Environment') -> typing.List[str]:
@@ -189,3 +193,693 @@ class CcrxLinker(StaticLinker):
 
     def get_linker_always_args(self) -> typing.List[str]:
         return ['-nologo', '-form=library']
+
+
+def prepare_rpaths(raw_rpaths: str, build_dir: str, from_dir: str) -> typing.List[str]:
+    # The rpaths we write must be relative if they point to the build dir,
+    # because otherwise they have different length depending on the build
+    # directory. This breaks reproducible builds.
+    internal_format_rpaths = [evaluate_rpath(p, build_dir, from_dir) for p in raw_rpaths]
+    ordered_rpaths = order_rpaths(internal_format_rpaths)
+    return ordered_rpaths
+
+
+def order_rpaths(rpath_list: typing.List[str]) -> typing.List[str]:
+    # We want rpaths that point inside our build dir to always override
+    # those pointing to other places in the file system. This is so built
+    # binaries prefer our libraries to the ones that may lie somewhere
+    # in the file system, such as /lib/x86_64-linux-gnu.
+    #
+    # The correct thing to do here would be C++'s std::stable_partition.
+    # Python standard library does not have it, so replicate it with
+    # sort, which is guaranteed to be stable.
+    return sorted(rpath_list, key=os.path.isabs)
+
+
+def evaluate_rpath(p: str, build_dir: str, from_dir: str) -> str:
+    if p == from_dir:
+        return '' # relpath errors out in this case
+    elif os.path.isabs(p):
+        return p # These can be outside of build dir.
+    else:
+        return os.path.relpath(os.path.join(build_dir, p), os.path.join(build_dir, from_dir))
+
+
+class DynamicLinker(metaclass=abc.ABCMeta):
+
+    """Base class for dynamic linkers."""
+
+    _BUILDTYPE_ARGS = {
+        'plain': [],
+        'debug': [],
+        'debugoptimized': [],
+        'release': [],
+        'minsize': [],
+        'custom': [],
+    }  # type: typing.Dict[str, typing.List[str]]
+
+    def __init__(self, exelist: typing.List[str], for_machine: mesonlib.MachineChoice,
+                 id_: str, *, version: str = 'unknown version'):
+        self.exelist = exelist
+        self.for_machine = for_machine
+        self.version = version
+        self.id = id_
+
+    def __repr__(self) -> str:
+        return '<{}: v{} `{}`>'.format(type(self).__name__, self.version, ' '.join(self.exelist))
+
+    def get_id(self) -> str:
+        return self.id
+
+    def get_version_string(self) -> str:
+        return '({} {})'.format(self.id, self.version)
+
+    def get_exelist(self) -> typing.List[str]:
+        return self.exelist.copy()
+
+    def get_accepts_rsp(self) -> bool:
+        # TODO: is it really a matter of is_windows or is it for_windows?
+        return mesonlib.is_windows()
+
+    def get_always_args(self) -> typing.List[str]:
+        return []
+
+    def get_lib_prefix(self) -> str:
+        return ''
+
+    # XXX: is use_ldflags a compiler or a linker attribute?
+
+    def get_args_from_envvars(self) -> typing.List[str]:
+        flags = os.environ.get('LDFLAGS')
+        if not flags:
+            return []
+        return shlex.split(flags)
+
+    def get_option_args(self, options: 'OptionDictType') -> typing.List[str]:
+        return []
+
+    def has_multi_arguments(self, args: typing.List[str], env: 'Environment') -> typing.Tuple[bool, bool]:
+        m = 'Language {} does not support has_multi_link_arguments.'
+        raise mesonlib.EnvironmentException(m.format(self.id))
+
+    def get_debugfile_args(self, targetfile: str) -> typing.List[str]:
+        """Some compilers (MSVC) write debug into a separate file.
+
+        This method takes the target object path and returns a list of
+        commands to append to the linker invocation to control where that
+        file is written.
+        """
+        return []
+
+    def get_std_shared_lib_args(self) -> typing.List[str]:
+        return []
+
+    def get_std_shared_module_args(self, options: 'OptionDictType') -> typing.List[str]:
+        return self.get_std_shared_lib_args()
+
+    def get_pie_args(self) -> typing.List[str]:
+        # TODO: this really needs to take a boolean and return the args to
+        # disable pie, otherwise it only acts to enable pie if pie *isn't* the
+        # default.
+        m = 'Linker {} does not support position-independent executable'
+        raise mesonlib.EnvironmentException(m.format(self.id))
+
+    def get_lto_args(self) -> typing.List[str]:
+        return []
+
+    def sanitizer_args(self, value: str) -> typing.List[str]:
+        return []
+
+    def get_buildtype_args(self, buildtype: str) -> typing.List[str]:
+        # We can override these in children by just overriding the
+        # _BUILDTYPE_ARGS value.
+        return self._BUILDTYPE_ARGS[buildtype]
+
+    def get_asneeded_args(self) -> typing.List[str]:
+        return []
+
+    def get_link_whole_for(self, args: typing.List[str]) -> typing.List[str]:
+        raise mesonlib.EnvironmentException(
+            'Linker {} does not support link_whole'.format(self.id))
+
+    def get_allow_undefined_args(self) -> typing.List[str]:
+        raise mesonlib.EnvironmentException(
+            'Linker {} does not support allow undefined'.format(self.id))
+
+    def invoked_by_compiler(self) -> bool:
+        """True if meson uses the compiler to invoke the linker."""
+        return True
+
+    @abc.abstractmethod
+    def get_output_args(self, outname: str) -> typing.List[str]:
+        pass
+
+    def get_coverage_args(self) -> typing.List[str]:
+        m = "Linker {} doesn't implement coverage data generation.".format(self.id)
+        raise mesonlib.EnvironmentException(m)
+
+    @abc.abstractmethod
+    def get_search_args(self, dirname: str) -> typing.List[str]:
+        pass
+
+    def export_dynamic_args(self, env: 'Environment') -> typing.List[str]:
+        return []
+
+    def import_library_args(self, implibname: str) -> typing.List[str]:
+        """The name of the outputted import library.
+
+        This implementation is used only on Windows by compilers that use GNU ld
+        """
+        return []
+
+    def thread_flags(self, env: 'Environment') -> typing.List[str]:
+        return []
+
+    def no_undefined_args(self) -> typing.List[str]:
+        """Arguments to error if there are any undefined symbols at link time.
+
+        This is the inverse of get_allow_undefined_args().
+
+        TODO: A future cleanup might merge this and
+              get_allow_undefined_args() into a single method taking a
+              boolean
+        """
+        return []
+
+    def fatal_warnings(self) -> typing.List[str]:
+        """Arguments to make all warnings errors."""
+        return []
+
+    def bitcode_args(self) -> typing.List[str]:
+        raise mesonlib.MesonException('This linker does not support bitcode bundles')
+
+    def get_debug_crt_args(self) -> typing.List[str]:
+        return []
+
+    def build_rpath_args(self, env: 'Environment', build_dir: str, from_dir: str,
+                         rpath_paths: str, build_rpath: str,
+                         install_rpath: str) -> typing.List[str]:
+        return []
+
+
+class PosixDynamicLinkerMixin:
+
+    """Mixin class for POSIX-ish linkers.
+
+    This is obviously a pretty small subset of the linker interface, but
+    enough dynamic linkers that meson supports are POSIX-like but not
+    GNU-like that it makes sense to split this out.
+    """
+
+    def get_output_args(self, outname: str) -> typing.List[str]:
+        return ['-o', outname]
+
+    def get_std_shared_lib_args(self) -> typing.List[str]:
+        return ['-shared']
+
+    def get_search_args(self, dirname: str) -> typing.List[str]:
+        return ['-L', dirname]
+
+
+class GnuLikeDynamicLinkerMixin:
+
+    """Mixin class for dynamic linkers that provides gnu-like interface.
+
+    This acts as a base for the GNU linkers (bfd and gold), the Intel Xild
+    (which comes with ICC), LLVM's lld, and other linkers like GNU-ld.
+    """
+
+    _BUILDTYPE_ARGS = {
+        'plain': [],
+        'debug': [],
+        'debugoptimized': [],
+        'release': ['-Wl,-O1'],
+        'minsize': [],
+        'custom': [],
+    }  # type: typing.Dict[str, typing.List[str]]
+
+    def get_pie_args(self) -> typing.List[str]:
+        return ['-pie']
+
+    def get_asneeded_args(self) -> typing.List[str]:
+        return ['-Wl,--as-needed']
+
+    def get_link_whole_for(self, args: typing.List[str]) -> typing.List[str]:
+        if not args:
+            return args
+        return ['-Wl,--whole-archive'] + args + ['-Wl,--no-whole-archive']
+
+    def get_allow_undefined_args(self) -> typing.List[str]:
+        return ['-Wl,--allow-shlib-undefined']
+
+    def get_lto_args(self) -> typing.List[str]:
+        return ['-flto']
+
+    def sanitizer_args(self, value: str) -> typing.List[str]:
+        if value == 'none':
+            return []
+        return ['-fsanitize=' + value]
+
+    def invoked_by_compiler(self) -> bool:
+        """True if meson uses the compiler to invoke the linker."""
+        return True
+
+    def get_coverage_args(self) -> typing.List[str]:
+        return ['--coverage']
+
+    def export_dynamic_args(self, env: 'Environment') -> typing.List[str]:
+        m = env.machines[self.for_machine]
+        if m.is_windows() or m.is_cygwin():
+            return ['-Wl,--export-all-symbols']
+        return ['-Wl,-export-dynamic']
+
+    def import_library_args(self, implibname: str) -> typing.List[str]:
+        return ['-Wl,--out-implib=' + implibname]
+
+    def thread_flags(self, env: 'Environment') -> typing.List[str]:
+        if env.machines[self.for_machine].is_haiku():
+            return []
+        return ['-pthread']
+
+    def no_undefined_args(self) -> typing.List[str]:
+        return ['-Wl,--no-undefined']
+
+    def fatal_warnings(self) -> typing.List[str]:
+        return ['-Wl,--fatal-warnings']
+
+    def get_soname_args(self, env: 'Environment', prefix: str, shlib_name: str,
+                        suffix: str, soversion: str, darwin_versions: typing.Tuple[str, str],
+                        is_shared_module: bool) -> typing.List[str]:
+        m = env.machines[self.for_machine]
+        if m.is_windows() or m.is_cygwin():
+            # For PE/COFF the soname argument has no effect
+            return []
+        sostr = '' if soversion is None else '.' + soversion
+        return ['-Wl,-soname,{}{}.{}{}'.format(prefix, shlib_name, suffix, sostr)]
+
+    def build_rpath_args(self, env: 'Environment', build_dir: str, from_dir: str,
+                         rpath_paths: str, build_rpath: str,
+                         install_rpath: str) -> typing.List[str]:
+        m = env.machines[self.for_machine]
+        if m.is_windows() or m.is_cygwin():
+            return []
+        if not rpath_paths and not install_rpath and not build_rpath:
+            return []
+        args = []
+        origin_placeholder = '$ORIGIN'
+        processed_rpaths = prepare_rpaths(rpath_paths, build_dir, from_dir)
+        # Need to deduplicate rpaths, as macOS's install_name_tool
+        # is *very* allergic to duplicate -delete_rpath arguments
+        # when calling depfixer on installation.
+        all_paths = mesonlib.OrderedSet([os.path.join(origin_placeholder, p) for p in processed_rpaths])
+        # Build_rpath is used as-is (it is usually absolute).
+        if build_rpath != '':
+            all_paths.add(build_rpath)
+
+        # TODO: should this actually be "for (dragonfly|open)bsd"?
+        if mesonlib.is_dragonflybsd() or mesonlib.is_openbsd():
+            # This argument instructs the compiler to record the value of
+            # ORIGIN in the .dynamic section of the elf. On Linux this is done
+            # by default, but is not on dragonfly/openbsd for some reason. Without this
+            # $ORIGIN in the runtime path will be undefined and any binaries
+            # linked against local libraries will fail to resolve them.
+            args.append('-Wl,-z,origin')
+
+        # In order to avoid relinking for RPATH removal, the binary needs to contain just
+        # enough space in the ELF header to hold the final installation RPATH.
+        paths = ':'.join(all_paths)
+        if len(paths) < len(install_rpath):
+            padding = 'X' * (len(install_rpath) - len(paths))
+            if not paths:
+                paths = padding
+            else:
+                paths = paths + ':' + padding
+        args.append('-Wl,-rpath,' + paths)
+
+        # TODO: should this actually be "for solaris/sunos"?
+        if mesonlib.is_sunos():
+            return args
+
+        # Rpaths to use while linking must be absolute. These are not
+        # written to the binary. Needed only with GNU ld:
+        # https://sourceware.org/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=16936
+        # Not needed on Windows or other platforms that don't use RPATH
+        # https://github.com/mesonbuild/meson/issues/1897
+        #
+        # In addition, this linker option tends to be quite long and some
+        # compilers have trouble dealing with it. That's why we will include
+        # one option per folder, like this:
+        #
+        #   -Wl,-rpath-link,/path/to/folder1 -Wl,-rpath,/path/to/folder2 ...
+        #
+        # ...instead of just one single looooong option, like this:
+        #
+        #   -Wl,-rpath-link,/path/to/folder1:/path/to/folder2:...
+        args.extend(['-Wl,-rpath-link,' + os.path.join(build_dir, p) for p in rpath_paths])
+
+        return args
+
+
+class AppleDynamicLinker(PosixDynamicLinkerMixin, DynamicLinker):
+
+    """Apple's ld implementation."""
+
+    def get_asneeded_args(self) -> typing.List[str]:
+        return ['-Wl,-dead_strip_dylibs']
+
+    def get_allow_undefined_args(self) -> typing.List[str]:
+        return ['-Wl,-undefined,dynamic_lookup']
+
+    def get_std_shared_module_args(self, options: 'OptionDictType') -> typing.List[str]:
+        return ['-bundle', '-Wl,-undefined,dynamic_lookup']
+
+    def get_link_whole_for(self, args: typing.List[str]) -> typing.List[str]:
+        result = []  # type: typing.List[str]
+        for a in args:
+            result.extend(['-Wl,-force_load', a])
+        return result
+
+    def no_undefined_args(self) -> typing.List[str]:
+        return ['-Wl,-undefined,error']
+
+    def get_always_args(self) -> typing.List[str]:
+        return ['-Wl,-headerpad_max_install_names']
+
+    def bitcode_args(self) -> typing.List[str]:
+        return ['-Wl,-bitcode_bundle']
+
+    def fatal_warnings(self) -> typing.List[str]:
+        return ['-Wl,-fatal_warnings']
+
+    def get_soname_args(self, env: 'Environment', prefix: str, shlib_name: str,
+                        suffix: str, soversion: str, darwin_versions: typing.Tuple[str, str],
+                        is_shared_module: bool) -> typing.List[str]:
+        if is_shared_module:
+            return []
+        install_name = ['@rpath/', prefix, shlib_name]
+        if soversion is not None:
+            install_name.append('.' + soversion)
+        install_name.append('.dylib')
+        args = ['-install_name', ''.join(install_name)]
+        if darwin_versions:
+            args.extend(['-compatibility_version', darwin_versions[0],
+                         '-current_version', darwin_versions[1]])
+        return args
+
+    def build_rpath_args(self, env: 'Environment', build_dir: str, from_dir: str,
+                         rpath_paths: str, build_rpath: str,
+                         install_rpath: str) -> typing.List[str]:
+        if not rpath_paths and not install_rpath and not build_rpath:
+            return []
+        # Ensure that there is enough space for install_name_tool in-place
+        # editing of large RPATHs
+        args = ['-Wl,-headerpad_max_install_names']
+        # @loader_path is the equivalent of $ORIGIN on macOS
+        # https://stackoverflow.com/q/26280738
+        origin_placeholder = '@loader_path'
+        processed_rpaths = prepare_rpaths(rpath_paths, build_dir, from_dir)
+        all_paths = mesonlib.OrderedSet([os.path.join(origin_placeholder, p) for p in processed_rpaths])
+        if build_rpath != '':
+            all_paths.add(build_rpath)
+        args.extend(['-Wl,-rpath,' + rp for rp in all_paths])
+
+        return args
+
+
+class GnuDynamicLinker(GnuLikeDynamicLinkerMixin, PosixDynamicLinkerMixin, DynamicLinker):
+
+    """Representation of GNU ld.bfd and ld.gold."""
+
+    pass
+
+
+class LLVMDynamicLinker(GnuLikeDynamicLinkerMixin, PosixDynamicLinkerMixin, DynamicLinker):
+
+    """Representation of LLVM's lld (not lld-link) linker.
+
+    This is only the posix-like linker.
+    """
+
+    pass
+
+
+class XildLinuxDynamicLinker(GnuLikeDynamicLinkerMixin, PosixDynamicLinkerMixin, DynamicLinker):
+
+    """Representation of Intel's Xild linker.
+
+    This is only the linux-like linker which dispatches to Gnu ld.
+    """
+
+    pass
+
+
+class XildAppleDynamicLinker(AppleDynamicLinker):
+
+    """Representation of Intel's Xild linker.
+
+    This is the apple linker, which dispatches to Apple's ld.
+    """
+
+    pass
+
+
+class CcrxDynamicLinker(DynamicLinker):
+
+    """Linker for Renesis CCrx compiler."""
+
+    def __init__(self, for_machine: mesonlib.MachineChoice,
+                 *, version: str = 'unknown version'):
+        super().__init__(['rlink.exe'], for_machine, 'rlink',
+                         version=version)
+
+    def get_accepts_rsp(self) -> bool:
+        return False
+
+    def get_lib_prefix(self) -> str:
+        return '-lib='
+
+    def get_std_shared_lib_args(self) -> typing.List[str]:
+        return []
+
+    def get_output_args(self, outputname: str) -> typing.List[str]:
+        return ['-output=%s' % outputname]
+
+    def get_search_args(self, dirname: str) -> typing.NoReturn:
+        raise EnvironmentError('rlink.exe does not have a search dir argument')
+
+    def get_allow_undefined_args(self) -> typing.List[str]:
+        return []
+
+    def get_soname_args(self, env: 'Environment', prefix: str, shlib_name: str,
+                        suffix: str, soversion: str, darwin_versions: typing.Tuple[str, str],
+                        is_shared_module: bool) -> typing.List[str]:
+        return []
+
+
+class ArmDynamicLinker(PosixDynamicLinkerMixin, DynamicLinker):
+
+    """Linker for the ARM compiler."""
+
+    def __init__(self, for_machine: mesonlib.MachineChoice,
+                 *, version: str = 'unknown version'):
+        super().__init__(['armlink'], for_machine, 'armlink',
+                         version=version)
+
+    def get_accepts_rsp(self) -> bool:
+        return False
+
+    def get_std_shared_lib_args(self) -> typing.NoReturn:
+        raise mesonlib.MesonException('The Arm Linkers do not support shared libraries')
+
+    def get_allow_undefined_args(self) -> typing.List[str]:
+        return []
+
+
+class ArmClangDynamicLinker(ArmDynamicLinker):
+
+    """Linker used with ARM's clang fork.
+
+    The interface is similar enough to the old ARM ld that it inherits and
+    extends a few things as needed.
+    """
+
+    def export_dynamic_args(self, env: 'Environment') -> typing.List[str]:
+        return ['--export_dynamic']
+
+    def import_library_args(self, implibname: str) -> typing.List[str]:
+        return ['--symdefs=' + implibname]
+
+
+class PGIDynamicLinker(PosixDynamicLinkerMixin, DynamicLinker):
+
+    """PGI linker."""
+
+    def get_allow_undefined_args(self) -> typing.List[str]:
+        return []
+
+    def get_soname_args(self, env: 'Environment', prefix: str, shlib_name: str,
+                        suffix: str, soversion: str, darwin_versions: typing.Tuple[str, str],
+                        is_shared_module: bool) -> typing.List[str]:
+        return []
+
+    def get_std_shared_lib_args(self) -> typing.List[str]:
+        # PGI -shared is Linux only.
+        if mesonlib.is_windows():
+            return ['-Bdynamic', '-Mmakedll']
+        elif mesonlib.is_linux:
+            return ['-shared']
+        return []
+
+    def build_rpath_args(self, env: 'Environment', build_dir: str, from_dir: str,
+                         rpath_paths: str, build_rpath: str,
+                         install_rpath: str) -> typing.List[str]:
+        if env.machines[self.for_machine].is_windows():
+            return ['-R' + os.path.join(build_dir, p) for p in rpath_paths]
+        return []
+
+
+class VisualStudioLikeLinkerMixin:
+
+    _BUILDTYPE_ARGS = {
+        'plain': [],
+        'debug': [],
+        'debugoptimized': [],
+        # The otherwise implicit REF and ICF linker optimisations are disabled by
+        # /DEBUG. REF implies ICF.
+        'release': ['/OPT:REF'],
+        'minsize': ['/INCREMENTAL:NO', '/OPT:REF'],
+        'custom': [],
+    }  # type: typing.Dict[str, typing.List[str]]
+
+    def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
+        super().__init__(*args, **kwargs)
+        self.machine = 'x86'
+
+    def get_debug_crt_args(self) -> typing.List[str]:
+        """Arguments needed to select a debug crt for the linker.
+
+        Sometimes we need to manually select the CRT (C runtime) to use with
+        MSVC. One example is when trying to link with static libraries since
+        MSVC won't auto-select a CRT for us in that case and will error out
+        asking us to select one.
+        """
+        return ['/MDd']
+
+    def get_output_args(self, outputname: str) -> typing.List[str]:
+        return ['/MACHINE:' + self.machine, '/OUT:' + outputname]
+
+    def get_always_args(self) -> typing.List[str]:
+        return ['/nologo']
+
+    def get_search_args(self, dirname: str) -> typing.List[str]:
+        return ['/LIBPATH:' + dirname]
+
+    def get_std_shared_lib_args(self) -> typing.List[str]:
+        return ['/DLL']
+
+    def get_debugfile_args(self, targetfile: str) -> typing.List[str]:
+        pdbarr = targetfile.split('.')[:-1]
+        pdbarr += ['pdb']
+        return ['/DEBUG', '/PDB:' + '.'.join(pdbarr)]
+
+    def get_link_whole_for(self, args: typing.List[str]) -> typing.List[str]:
+        # Only since VS2015
+        args = mesonlib.listify(args)
+        return ['/WHOLEARCHIVE:' + x for x in args]
+
+    def get_allow_undefined_args(self) -> typing.List[str]:
+        # link.exe
+        return ['/FORCE:UNRESOLVED']
+
+    def get_soname_args(self, env: 'Environment', prefix: str, shlib_name: str,
+                        suffix: str, soversion: str, darwin_versions: typing.Tuple[str, str],
+                        is_shared_module: bool) -> typing.List[str]:
+        return []
+
+
+class MSVCDynamicLinker(VisualStudioLikeLinkerMixin, DynamicLinker):
+
+    """Microsoft's Link.exe."""
+
+    def __init__(self, for_machine: mesonlib.MachineChoice,
+                 *, version: str = 'unknown version'):
+        super().__init__(['link.exe'], for_machine, 'link', version=version)
+
+
+class ClangClDynamicLinker(VisualStudioLikeLinkerMixin, DynamicLinker):
+
+    """Clang's lld-link.exe."""
+
+    def __init__(self, for_machine: mesonlib.MachineChoice,
+                 *, version: str = 'unknown version'):
+        super().__init__(['lld-link.exe'], for_machine, 'lld-link',
+                         version=version)
+
+
+class XilinkDynamicLinker(VisualStudioLikeLinkerMixin, DynamicLinker):
+
+    """Intel's Xilink.exe."""
+
+    def __init__(self, for_machine: mesonlib.MachineChoice,
+                 *, version: str = 'unknown version'):
+        super().__init__(['xilink.exe'], for_machine, 'xilink', version=version)
+
+
+class SolarisDynamicLinker(PosixDynamicLinkerMixin, DynamicLinker):
+
+    """Sys-V derived linker used on Solaris and OpenSolaris."""
+
+    def get_link_whole_for(self, args: typing.List[str]) -> typing.List[str]:
+        if not args:
+            return args
+        return ['-Wl,--whole-archive'] + args + ['-Wl,--no-whole-archive']
+
+    def no_undefined_args(self) -> typing.List[str]:
+        return ['-z', 'defs']
+
+    def get_allow_undefined_args(self) -> typing.List[str]:
+        return ['-z', 'nodefs']
+
+    def fatal_warnings(self) -> typing.List[str]:
+        return ['-z', 'fatal-warnings']
+
+    def build_rpath_args(self, env: 'Environment', build_dir: str, from_dir: str,
+                         rpath_paths: str, build_rpath: str,
+                         install_rpath: str) -> typing.List[str]:
+        if not rpath_paths and not install_rpath and not build_rpath:
+            return []
+        processed_rpaths = prepare_rpaths(rpath_paths, build_dir, from_dir)
+        all_paths = mesonlib.OrderedSet([os.path.join('$ORIGIN', p) for p in processed_rpaths])
+        if build_rpath != '':
+            all_paths.add(build_rpath)
+
+        # In order to avoid relinking for RPATH removal, the binary needs to contain just
+        # enough space in the ELF header to hold the final installation RPATH.
+        paths = ':'.join(all_paths)
+        if len(paths) < len(install_rpath):
+            padding = 'X' * (len(install_rpath) - len(paths))
+            if not paths:
+                paths = padding
+            else:
+                paths = paths + ':' + padding
+        return ['-Wl,-rpath,{}'.format(paths)]
+
+    def get_soname_args(self, env: 'Environment', prefix: str, shlib_name: str,
+                        suffix: str, soversion: str, darwin_versions: typing.Tuple[str, str],
+                        is_shared_module: bool) -> typing.List[str]:
+        sostr = '' if soversion is None else '.' + soversion
+        return ['-Wl,-soname,{}{}.{}{}'.format(prefix, shlib_name, suffix, sostr)]
+
+
+class OptlinkDynamicLinker(VisualStudioLikeLinkerMixin, DynamicLinker):
+
+    """Digital Mars dynamic linker for windows."""
+
+    def __init__(self, for_machine: mesonlib.MachineChoice,
+                 *, version: str = 'unknown version'):
+        # Use optlink instead of link so we don't interfer with other link.exe
+        # implementations.
+        super().__init__(['optlink.exe'], for_machine, 'optlink', version=version)
+
+    def get_allow_undefined_args(self) -> typing.List[str]:
+        return []
diff --git a/run_project_tests.py b/run_project_tests.py
index 88d6a57..2dff885 100755
--- a/run_project_tests.py
+++ b/run_project_tests.py
@@ -636,6 +636,7 @@ def detect_tests_to_run(only: typing.List[str]) -> typing.List[typing.Tuple[str,
         ('fpga', 'fpga', shutil.which('yosys') is None),
         ('frameworks', 'frameworks', False),
         ('nasm', 'nasm', False),
+        ('wasm', 'wasm', shutil.which('emcc') is None or backend is not Backend.ninja),
     ]
 
     if only:
diff --git a/run_unittests.py b/run_unittests.py
index 26850b7..c79b4e2 100755
--- a/run_unittests.py
+++ b/run_unittests.py
@@ -444,7 +444,8 @@ class InternalTests(unittest.TestCase):
     def test_compiler_args_class_gnuld(self):
         cargsfunc = mesonbuild.compilers.CompilerArgs
         ## Test --start/end-group
-        gcc = mesonbuild.compilers.GnuCCompiler([], 'fake', mesonbuild.compilers.CompilerType.GCC_STANDARD, False, MachineChoice.HOST)
+        linker = mesonbuild.linkers.GnuDynamicLinker([], MachineChoice.HOST, 'fake')
+        gcc = mesonbuild.compilers.GnuCCompiler([], 'fake', mesonbuild.compilers.CompilerType.GCC_STANDARD, False, MachineChoice.HOST, linker=linker)
         ## Test that 'direct' append and extend works
         l = cargsfunc(gcc, ['-Lfoodir', '-lfoo'])
         self.assertEqual(l.to_native(copy=True), ['-Lfoodir', '-Wl,--start-group', '-lfoo', '-Wl,--end-group'])
@@ -5032,7 +5033,7 @@ class LinuxlikeTests(BasePlatformTests):
             raise unittest.SkipTest('-fsanitize=address is not supported on OpenBSD')
 
         testdir = os.path.join(self.common_test_dir, '13 pch')
-        self.init(testdir, extra_args=['-Db_sanitize=address'])
+        self.init(testdir, extra_args=['-Db_sanitize=address', '-Db_lundef=false'])
         self.build()
         compdb = self.get_compdb()
         for i in compdb:
@@ -5950,9 +5951,10 @@ class NativeFileTests(BasePlatformTests):
                     f.write("{}='{}'\n".format(k, v))
         return filename
 
-    def helper_create_binary_wrapper(self, binary, dir_=None, **kwargs):
+    def helper_create_binary_wrapper(self, binary, dir_=None, extra_args=None, **kwargs):
         """Creates a wrapper around a binary that overrides specific values."""
         filename = os.path.join(dir_ or self.builddir, 'binary_wrapper{}.py'.format(self.current_wrapper))
+        extra_args = extra_args or {}
         self.current_wrapper += 1
         if is_haiku():
             chbang = '#!/bin/env python3'
@@ -5969,10 +5971,10 @@ class NativeFileTests(BasePlatformTests):
                 def main():
                     parser = argparse.ArgumentParser()
                 '''.format(chbang)))
-            for name in kwargs:
+            for name in chain(extra_args, kwargs):
                 f.write('    parser.add_argument("-{0}", "--{0}", action="store_true")\n'.format(name))
             f.write('    args, extra_args = parser.parse_known_args()\n')
-            for name, value in kwargs.items():
+            for name, value in chain(extra_args.items(), kwargs.items()):
                 f.write('    if args.{}:\n'.format(name))
                 f.write('        print("{}", file=sys.{})\n'.format(value, kwargs.get('outfile', 'stdout')))
                 f.write('        sys.exit(0)\n')
@@ -6223,7 +6225,8 @@ class NativeFileTests(BasePlatformTests):
     @skip_if_not_language('swift')
     def test_swift_compiler(self):
         wrapper = self.helper_create_binary_wrapper(
-            'swiftc', version='Swift 1.2345', outfile='stderr')
+            'swiftc', version='Swift 1.2345', outfile='stderr',
+            extra_args={'Xlinker': 'macosx_version. PROJECT:ld - 1.2.3'})
         env = get_fake_env()
         env.binaries.host.binaries['swift'] = wrapper
         compiler = env.detect_swift_compiler(MachineChoice.HOST)
diff --git a/test cases/common/152 shared module resolving symbol in executable/meson.build b/test cases/common/152 shared module resolving symbol in executable/meson.build
index 282a4d2..4e5188f 100644
--- a/test cases/common/152 shared module resolving symbol in executable/meson.build
+++ b/test cases/common/152 shared module resolving symbol in executable/meson.build
@@ -9,6 +9,11 @@ project('shared module resolving symbol in executable', 'c')
 # See testcase 125 for an example of the more complex portability gymnastics
 # required if we do not know (at link-time) what provides the symbol.
 
+cc = meson.get_compiler('c')
+if cc.get_id() == 'pgi'
+  error('MESON_SKIP_TEST PGI has its own unique set of macros that would need to be handled')
+endif
+
 dl = meson.get_compiler('c').find_library('dl', required: false)
 e = executable('prog', 'prog.c', dependencies: dl, export_dynamic: true)
 m = shared_module('module', 'module.c', link_with: e)
diff --git a/test cases/common/185 has link arg/meson.build b/test cases/common/185 has link arg/meson.build
index 10f2218..6bfbd59 100644
--- a/test cases/common/185 has link arg/meson.build
+++ b/test cases/common/185 has link arg/meson.build
@@ -8,15 +8,16 @@ if cc.get_argument_syntax() == 'msvc'
   useless = '/DEBUG'
   isnt_arg = '/iambroken'
 else
-  is_arg = '-Wl,-Lfoo'
-  useless = '-Wl,-Lbar'
+  is_arg = '-Wl,-L/tmp'
+  useless = '-Wl,-L/usr'
   isnt_arg = '-Wl,-iambroken'
 endif
 
 assert(cc.has_link_argument(is_arg), 'Arg that should have worked does not work.')
-assert(not cc.has_link_argument(isnt_arg), 'Arg that should be broken is not.')
-
 assert(cpp.has_link_argument(is_arg), 'Arg that should have worked does not work.')
+
+if cc.get_id() != 'pgi'
+assert(not cc.has_link_argument(isnt_arg), 'Arg that should be broken is not.')
 assert(not cpp.has_link_argument(isnt_arg), 'Arg that should be broken is not.')
 
 assert(cc.get_supported_link_arguments([is_arg, isnt_arg, useless]) == [is_arg, useless], 'Arg filtering returned different result.')
@@ -38,7 +39,9 @@ assert(l1.get(0) == is_arg, 'First supported returned wrong argument.')
 assert(l2.length() == 0, 'First supported did not return empty array.')
 
 assert(not cc.has_multi_link_arguments([isnt_arg, is_arg]), 'Arg that should be broken is not.')
-assert(cc.has_multi_link_arguments(is_arg), 'Arg that should have worked does not work.')
-assert(cc.has_multi_link_arguments([useless, is_arg]), 'Arg that should have worked does not work.')
 
 assert(not cc.has_link_argument('-Wl,-z,nodelete42'), 'Did not detect wrong -z linker argument')
+endif
+
+assert(cc.has_multi_link_arguments(is_arg), 'Arg that should have worked does not work.')
+assert(cc.has_multi_link_arguments([useless, is_arg]), 'Arg that should have worked does not work.')
diff --git a/test cases/common/203 function attributes/meson.build b/test cases/common/203 function attributes/meson.build
index 58ac7c8..43ed011 100644
--- a/test cases/common/203 function attributes/meson.build
+++ b/test cases/common/203 function attributes/meson.build
@@ -19,6 +19,10 @@ project('gcc func attributes', ['c', 'cpp'])
 c = meson.get_compiler('c')
 cpp = meson.get_compiler('cpp')
 
+if c.get_id() == 'pgi'
+  error('MESON_SKIP_TEST: PGI supports its own set of features, will need a seperate list for PGI to test it.')
+endif
+
 expected_result = not ['msvc', 'clang-cl', 'intel-cl'].contains(c.get_id())
 
 # Q: Why is ifunc not in this list or any of the below lists?