Understanding the Go Compiler: The Linker

3 months ago

The linker combines separate object files into a single executable.
Symbol resolution connects cross-file references like function calls.
Relocation patches placeholder addresses in machine code with actual addresses.
Dead code elimination removes unused functions to keep binaries small.
Layout and executable generation organizes code and data into sections and segments.
Sections include .text (code), .rodata (read-only data), .data (initialized globals), and .bss (zero-initialized globals).
Segments group sections for memory mapping with appropriate permissions (W^X).
Go prefers static linking but supports dynamic linking with cgo.
Different build modes produce executables, static libraries, shared libraries, or plugins.
The entry point is runtime startup code, not main.main.

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