Patches to build a shared ELF libbfd.so

Patches to build a shared ELF libbfd.so

[H.J. Lu]

Hi,

I have a patch for gas-950304 to build a shared ELF library,
libbfd.so, which contains both libbfd and libopcode. It cuts
down the sizes of each ELF binary by several hundred Ks on x86.

But my patch is just a hack since there is no shared library
support in binutils. If anyone is interested, I will post
my patch. BTW, I think it is a very good test for the ELF
support in binutils if you use the binutils to assembler
and link itself.


-- 
H.J. Lu
NYNEX Science and Technology, Inc.			hjl@nynexst.com

Patches to build a shared ELF libbfd.so

[Mike Meissner]

| Hi,
| 
| I have a patch for gas-950304 to build a shared ELF library,
| libbfd.so, which contains both libbfd and libopcode. It cuts
| down the sizes of each ELF binary by several hundred Ks on x86.
| 
| But my patch is just a hack since there is no shared library
| support in binutils. If anyone is interested, I will post
| my patch. BTW, I think it is a very good test for the ELF
| support in binutils if you use the binutils to assembler
| and link itself.

As I recall, this was discussed last summer.  The problem with making
bfd a shared library is that the interfaces aren't as cut and dried as
one would like.  For example, when I was at OSF, we tried to shared
gdb's bfd with gas/ld in the OSF ODE build evironment.  However,
because we had not rev'ed GDB for awhile, the calling sequence for the
disassembling functions had changed, even though the name was the
same.  In the interest of expediency, I kept gdb's version of bfd in
the tree along with the assembler and linkers.

-- 
Michael Meissner, Cygnus Support (East Coast)
Suite 105, 48 Grove Street, Somerville, MA 02144, USA
meissner@cygnus.com,	617-629-3016 (office),	617-629-3010 (fax)

Re: Patches to build a shared ELF libbfd.so

[H.J. Lu]

> 
> | Hi,
> | 
> | I have a patch for gas-950304 to build a shared ELF library,
> | libbfd.so, which contains both libbfd and libopcode. It cuts
> | down the sizes of each ELF binary by several hundred Ks on x86.
> | 
> | But my patch is just a hack since there is no shared library
> | support in binutils. If anyone is interested, I will post
> | my patch. BTW, I think it is a very good test for the ELF
> | support in binutils if you use the binutils to assembler
> | and link itself.
> 
> As I recall, this was discussed last summer.  The problem with making
> bfd a shared library is that the interfaces aren't as cut and dried as

That is one reason why I said "there is no shared library support in
binutils." :-(.

> one would like.  For example, when I was at OSF, we tried to shared
> gdb's bfd with gas/ld in the OSF ODE build evironment.  However,
> because we had not rev'ed GDB for awhile, the calling sequence for the
> disassembling functions had changed, even though the name was the
> same.  In the interest of expediency, I kept gdb's version of bfd in
> the tree along with the assembler and linkers.
> 

Drop me a line if you are interested in fixing it. Hint: proper use of
bfd/VERSION and -soname.


-- 
H.J. Lu
NYNEX Science and Technology, Inc.			hjl@nynexst.com

Re: Patches to build a shared ELF libbfd.so

[Ian Lance Taylor]

   From: hjl@nynexst.com (H.J. Lu)
   Date: Sun, 5 Mar 95 11:01:29 EST

   BTW, I think it is a very good test for the ELF
   support in binutils if you use the binutils to assembler
   and link itself.

These are part of the standard tests of the assembler and linker,
incidentally, for those who are interested in running them.

In gas, do ``make bootstrap''.  CC must run gcc.  This runs a three
stage bootstrap.

In ld, do ``make check''.  You must have DejaGnu installed.  This runs
various tests, including three stage bootstraps using various
different options, and several shared library checks.

I run these tests regularly on ELF, and other, systems.

Ian