LD(I) 8/16/73 LD(I)
NAME
ld - link editor
SYNOPSIS
ld [ -sulxrnd ] name ...
DESCRIPTION
Ld combines several object programs into one; resolves
external references; and searches libraries. In the
simplest case the names of several object programs are
given, and d combines them, producing an object module which
can be either executed or become the input for a further ld
run. (In the latter case, the -r option must be given to
preserve the relocation bits.) The output of ld is left on
a.out. This file is executable only if no errors occurred
during the load.
The argument routines are concatenated in the order
specified. The entry point of the output is the beginning
of the first routine.
If any argument is a library, it is searched exactly once at
the point it is encountered in the argument list. Only
those routines defining an unresolved external reference are
loaded. If a routine from a library references another
routine in the library, the referenced routine must appear
after the referencing routine in the library. Thus the
order of programs within libraries is important.
Ld understands several flag arguments which are written
preceded by a `-'. Except for -l, they should appear before
the file names.
-s `squash' the output, that is, remove the symbol table
and relocation bits to save space (but impair the
usefulness of the debugger). This information can also
be removed by strip.
-u take the following argument as a symbol and enter it as
undefined in the symbol table. This is useful for
loading wholly from a library, since initially the
symbol table is empty and an unresolved reference is
needed to force the loading of the first routine.
-l This option is an abbreviation for a library name. -l
alone stands for `/lib/liba.a', which is the standard
system library for assembly language programs. -lx
stands for `/lib/libx.a' where x is any character.
There are libraries for Fortran (x = f), and C (x = c).
A library is searched when its name is encountered, so
the placement of a -l is significant.
-x do not preserve local (non-.globl) symbols in the
output symbol table; only enter external symbols. This
option saves some space in the output file.
-r generate relocation bits in the output file so that it
can be the subject of another ld run. This flag also
prevents final definitions from being given to common
symbols.
-d force definition of common storage even if the -r flag
is present (used for reloc (VIII)).
-n Arrange that when the output file is executed, the text
portion will be read-only and shared among all users
executing the file. This involves moving the data areas
up the the first possible 4K word boundary following the
end of the text.
FILES
/lib/lib?.a libraries
a.out output file
SEE ALSO
as(I), ar(I)
BUGS