The process of translating source code written in high level to low level machine code is called as compilation. The compilation is done by a compiler.
The C compilation process consists of four stages
- Pre-processing
- Compilation
- Assembling
- Linking
Pre-processing
In this stage, the preprocessor performs tasks such as
- remove comments from the source code
- macro expansion
- expansion of included header files
To perform just pre-processing operation use the following command
gcc -E helloworld.c -o helloworld.i
After pre-processing, it generates a temporary file with .i extension. By convention, preprocessed files are given the file extension .i for C programs and .ii for C++ programs. Since, it inserts contents of header files to source code file. Preprocessed files are larger than the original source file.
The contents of the source file helloworld.c
#include <stdio.h>
#define STRING "Hello, World!"
int main()
{
printf("My first program - %s\n", STRING);
return 0;
}
Let’s look into the preprocessed file helloworld.i
# 1 "helloworld.c"
# 1 "<built-in>"
# 1 "<command-line>"
# 1 "/usr/include/stdc-predef.h" 1 3 4
# 1 "<command-line>" 2
# 1 "helloworld.c"
# 1 "/usr/include/stdio.h" 1 3 4
# 27 "/usr/include/stdio.h" 3 4
# 1 "/usr/include/features.h" 1 3 4
# 367 "/usr/include/features.h" 3 4
# 1 "/usr/include/x86_64-linux-gnu/sys/cdefs.h" 1 3 4
# 410 "/usr/include/x86_64-linux-gnu/sys/cdefs.h" 3 4
# 1 "/usr/include/x86_64-linux-gnu/bits/wordsize.h" 1 3 4
# 411 "/usr/include/x86_64-linux-gnu/sys/cdefs.h" 2 3 4
# 368 "/usr/include/features.h" 2 3 4
# 391 "/usr/include/features.h" 3 4
# 1 "/usr/include/x86_64-linux-gnu/gnu/stubs.h" 1 3 4
# 10 "/usr/include/x86_64-linux-gnu/gnu/stubs.h" 3 4
# 1 "/usr/include/x86_64-linux-gnu/gnu/stubs-64.h" 1 3 4
# 11 "/usr/include/x86_64-linux-gnu/gnu/stubs.h" 2 3 4
# 392 "/usr/include/features.h" 2 3 4
# 28 "/usr/include/stdio.h" 2 3 4
# 1 "/usr/lib/gcc/x86_64-linux-gnu/5/include/stddef.h" 1 3 4
# 216 "/usr/lib/gcc/x86_64-linux-gnu/5/include/stddef.h" 3 4
# 216 "/usr/lib/gcc/x86_64-linux-gnu/5/include/stddef.h" 3 4
typedef long unsigned int size_t;
# 34 "/usr/include/stdio.h" 2 3 4
# 1 "/usr/include/x86_64-linux-gnu/bits/types.h" 1 3 4
# 27 "/usr/include/x86_64-linux-gnu/bits/types.h" 3 4
# 1 "/usr/include/x86_64-linux-gnu/bits/wordsize.h" 1 3 4
# 28 "/usr/include/x86_64-linux-gnu/bits/types.h" 2 3 4
typedef unsigned char __u_char;
typedef unsigned short int __u_short;
typedef unsigned int __u_int;
typedef unsigned long int __u_long;
typedef signed char __int8_t;
typedef unsigned char __uint8_t;
typedef signed short int __int16_t;
typedef unsigned short int __uint16_t;
typedef signed int __int32_t;
typedef unsigned int __uint32_t;
typedef signed long int __int64_t;
typedef unsigned long int __uint64_t;
typedef long int __quad_t;
typedef unsigned long int __u_quad_t;
# 121 "/usr/include/x86_64-linux-gnu/bits/types.h" 3 4
# 1 "/usr/include/x86_64-linux-gnu/bits/typesizes.h" 1 3 4
# 122 "/usr/include/x86_64-linux-gnu/bits/types.h" 2 3 4
typedef unsigned long int __dev_t;
typedef unsigned int __uid_t;
typedef unsigned int __gid_t;
typedef unsigned long int __ino_t;
typedef unsigned long int __ino64_t;
typedef unsigned int __mode_t;
typedef unsigned long int __nlink_t;
typedef long int __off_t;
typedef long int __off64_t;
typedef int __pid_t;
typedef struct { int __val[2]; } __fsid_t;
typedef long int __clock_t;
typedef unsigned long int __rlim_t;
typedef unsigned long int __rlim64_t;
typedef unsigned int __id_t;
typedef long int __time_t;
typedef unsigned int __useconds_t;
typedef long int __suseconds_t;
typedef int __daddr_t;
typedef int __key_t;
typedef int __clockid_t;
typedef void * __timer_t;
typedef long int __blksize_t;
typedef long int __blkcnt_t;
typedef long int __blkcnt64_t;
typedef unsigned long int __fsblkcnt_t;
typedef unsigned long int __fsblkcnt64_t;
typedef unsigned long int __fsfilcnt_t;
typedef unsigned long int __fsfilcnt64_t;
typedef long int __fsword_t;
typedef long int __ssize_t;
typedef long int __syscall_slong_t;
typedef unsigned long int __syscall_ulong_t;
typedef __off64_t __loff_t;
typedef __quad_t *__qaddr_t;
typedef char *__caddr_t;
typedef long int __intptr_t;
typedef unsigned int __socklen_t;
# 36 "/usr/include/stdio.h" 2 3 4
# 44 "/usr/include/stdio.h" 3 4
struct _IO_FILE;
typedef struct _IO_FILE FILE;
# 64 "/usr/include/stdio.h" 3 4
typedef struct _IO_FILE __FILE;
# 74 "/usr/include/stdio.h" 3 4
# 1 "/usr/include/libio.h" 1 3 4
# 31 "/usr/include/libio.h" 3 4
# 1 "/usr/include/_G_config.h" 1 3 4
# 15 "/usr/include/_G_config.h" 3 4
# 1 "/usr/lib/gcc/x86_64-linux-gnu/5/include/stddef.h" 1 3 4
# 16 "/usr/include/_G_config.h" 2 3 4
# 1 "/usr/include/wchar.h" 1 3 4
# 82 "/usr/include/wchar.h" 3 4
typedef struct
{
int __count;
union
{
unsigned int __wch;
char __wchb[4];
} __value;
} __mbstate_t;
# 21 "/usr/include/_G_config.h" 2 3 4
typedef struct
{
__off_t __pos;
__mbstate_t __state;
} _G_fpos_t;
typedef struct
{
__off64_t __pos;
__mbstate_t __state;
} _G_fpos64_t;
# 32 "/usr/include/libio.h" 2 3 4
# 49 "/usr/include/libio.h" 3 4
# 1 "/usr/lib/gcc/x86_64-linux-gnu/5/include/stdarg.h" 1 3 4
# 40 "/usr/lib/gcc/x86_64-linux-gnu/5/include/stdarg.h" 3 4
typedef __builtin_va_list __gnuc_va_list;
# 50 "/usr/include/libio.h" 2 3 4
# 144 "/usr/include/libio.h" 3 4
struct _IO_jump_t; struct _IO_FILE;
typedef void _IO_lock_t;
struct _IO_marker {
struct _IO_marker *_next;
struct _IO_FILE *_sbuf;
int _pos;
# 173 "/usr/include/libio.h" 3 4
};
enum __codecvt_result
{
__codecvt_ok,
__codecvt_partial,
__codecvt_error,
__codecvt_noconv
};
# 241 "/usr/include/libio.h" 3 4
struct _IO_FILE {
int _flags;
char* _IO_read_ptr;
char* _IO_read_end;
char* _IO_read_base;
char* _IO_write_base;
char* _IO_write_ptr;
char* _IO_write_end;
char* _IO_buf_base;
char* _IO_buf_end;
char *_IO_save_base;
char *_IO_backup_base;
char *_IO_save_end;
struct _IO_marker *_markers;
struct _IO_FILE *_chain;
int _fileno;
int _flags2;
__off_t _old_offset;
unsigned short _cur_column;
signed char _vtable_offset;
char _shortbuf[1];
_IO_lock_t *_lock;
# 289 "/usr/include/libio.h" 3 4
__off64_t _offset;
void *__pad1;
void *__pad2;
void *__pad3;
void *__pad4;
size_t __pad5;
int _mode;
char _unused2[15 * sizeof (int) - 4 * sizeof (void *) - sizeof (size_t)];
};
typedef struct _IO_FILE _IO_FILE;
struct _IO_FILE_plus;
extern struct _IO_FILE_plus _IO_2_1_stdin_;
extern struct _IO_FILE_plus _IO_2_1_stdout_;
extern struct _IO_FILE_plus _IO_2_1_stderr_;
# 333 "/usr/include/libio.h" 3 4
typedef __ssize_t __io_read_fn (void *__cookie, char *__buf, size_t __nbytes);
typedef __ssize_t __io_write_fn (void *__cookie, const char *__buf,
size_t __n);
typedef int __io_seek_fn (void *__cookie, __off64_t *__pos, int __w);
typedef int __io_close_fn (void *__cookie);
# 385 "/usr/include/libio.h" 3 4
extern int __underflow (_IO_FILE *);
extern int __uflow (_IO_FILE *);
extern int __overflow (_IO_FILE *, int);
# 429 "/usr/include/libio.h" 3 4
extern int _IO_getc (_IO_FILE *__fp);
extern int _IO_putc (int __c, _IO_FILE *__fp);
extern int _IO_feof (_IO_FILE *__fp) __attribute__ ((__nothrow__ , __leaf__));
extern int _IO_ferror (_IO_FILE *__fp) __attribute__ ((__nothrow__ , __leaf__));
extern int _IO_peekc_locked (_IO_FILE *__fp);
extern void _IO_flockfile (_IO_FILE *) __attribute__ ((__nothrow__ , __leaf__));
extern void _IO_funlockfile (_IO_FILE *) __attribute__ ((__nothrow__ , __leaf__));
extern int _IO_ftrylockfile (_IO_FILE *) __attribute__ ((__nothrow__ , __leaf__));
# 459 "/usr/include/libio.h" 3 4
extern int _IO_vfscanf (_IO_FILE * __restrict, const char * __restrict,
__gnuc_va_list, int *__restrict);
extern int _IO_vfprintf (_IO_FILE *__restrict, const char *__restrict,
__gnuc_va_list);
extern __ssize_t _IO_padn (_IO_FILE *, int, __ssize_t);
extern size_t _IO_sgetn (_IO_FILE *, void *, size_t);
extern __off64_t _IO_seekoff (_IO_FILE *, __off64_t, int, int);
extern __off64_t _IO_seekpos (_IO_FILE *, __off64_t, int);
extern void _IO_free_backup_area (_IO_FILE *) __attribute__ ((__nothrow__ , __leaf__));
# 75 "/usr/include/stdio.h" 2 3 4
typedef __gnuc_va_list va_list;
# 90 "/usr/include/stdio.h" 3 4
typedef __off_t off_t;
# 102 "/usr/include/stdio.h" 3 4
typedef __ssize_t ssize_t;
typedef _G_fpos_t fpos_t;
# 164 "/usr/include/stdio.h" 3 4
# 1 "/usr/include/x86_64-linux-gnu/bits/stdio_lim.h" 1 3 4
# 165 "/usr/include/stdio.h" 2 3 4
extern struct _IO_FILE *stdin;
extern struct _IO_FILE *stdout;
extern struct _IO_FILE *stderr;
extern int remove (const char *__filename) __attribute__ ((__nothrow__ , __leaf__));
extern int rename (const char *__old, const char *__new) __attribute__ ((__nothrow__ , __leaf__));
extern int renameat (int __oldfd, const char *__old, int __newfd,
const char *__new) __attribute__ ((__nothrow__ , __leaf__));
extern FILE *tmpfile (void) ;
# 209 "/usr/include/stdio.h" 3 4
extern char *tmpnam (char *__s) __attribute__ ((__nothrow__ , __leaf__)) ;
extern char *tmpnam_r (char *__s) __attribute__ ((__nothrow__ , __leaf__)) ;
# 227 "/usr/include/stdio.h" 3 4
extern char *tempnam (const char *__dir, const char *__pfx)
__attribute__ ((__nothrow__ , __leaf__)) __attribute__ ((__malloc__)) ;
extern int fclose (FILE *__stream);
extern int fflush (FILE *__stream);
# 252 "/usr/include/stdio.h" 3 4
extern int fflush_unlocked (FILE *__stream);
# 266 "/usr/include/stdio.h" 3 4
extern FILE *fopen (const char *__restrict __filename,
const char *__restrict __modes) ;
extern FILE *freopen (const char *__restrict __filename,
const char *__restrict __modes,
FILE *__restrict __stream) ;
# 295 "/usr/include/stdio.h" 3 4
# 306 "/usr/include/stdio.h" 3 4
extern FILE *fdopen (int __fd, const char *__modes) __attribute__ ((__nothrow__ , __leaf__)) ;
# 319 "/usr/include/stdio.h" 3 4
extern FILE *fmemopen (void *__s, size_t __len, const char *__modes)
__attribute__ ((__nothrow__ , __leaf__)) ;
extern FILE *open_memstream (char **__bufloc, size_t *__sizeloc) __attribute__ ((__nothrow__ , __leaf__)) ;
extern void setbuf (FILE *__restrict __stream, char *__restrict __buf) __attribute__ ((__nothrow__ , __leaf__));
extern int setvbuf (FILE *__restrict __stream, char *__restrict __buf,
int __modes, size_t __n) __attribute__ ((__nothrow__ , __leaf__));
extern void setbuffer (FILE *__restrict __stream, char *__restrict __buf,
size_t __size) __attribute__ ((__nothrow__ , __leaf__));
extern void setlinebuf (FILE *__stream) __attribute__ ((__nothrow__ , __leaf__));
extern int fprintf (FILE *__restrict __stream,
const char *__restrict __format, ...);
extern int printf (const char *__restrict __format, ...);
extern int sprintf (char *__restrict __s,
const char *__restrict __format, ...) __attribute__ ((__nothrow__));
extern int vfprintf (FILE *__restrict __s, const char *__restrict __format,
__gnuc_va_list __arg);
extern int vprintf (const char *__restrict __format, __gnuc_va_list __arg);
extern int vsprintf (char *__restrict __s, const char *__restrict __format,
__gnuc_va_list __arg) __attribute__ ((__nothrow__));
extern int snprintf (char *__restrict __s, size_t __maxlen,
const char *__restrict __format, ...)
__attribute__ ((__nothrow__)) __attribute__ ((__format__ (__printf__, 3, 4)));
extern int vsnprintf (char *__restrict __s, size_t __maxlen,
const char *__restrict __format, __gnuc_va_list __arg)
__attribute__ ((__nothrow__)) __attribute__ ((__format__ (__printf__, 3, 0)));
# 412 "/usr/include/stdio.h" 3 4
extern int vdprintf (int __fd, const char *__restrict __fmt,
__gnuc_va_list __arg)
__attribute__ ((__format__ (__printf__, 2, 0)));
extern int dprintf (int __fd, const char *__restrict __fmt, ...)
__attribute__ ((__format__ (__printf__, 2, 3)));
extern int fscanf (FILE *__restrict __stream,
const char *__restrict __format, ...) ;
extern int scanf (const char *__restrict __format, ...) ;
extern int sscanf (const char *__restrict __s,
const char *__restrict __format, ...) __attribute__ ((__nothrow__ , __leaf__));
# 443 "/usr/include/stdio.h" 3 4
extern int fscanf (FILE *__restrict __stream, const char *__restrict __format, ...) __asm__ ("" "__isoc99_fscanf")
;
extern int scanf (const char *__restrict __format, ...) __asm__ ("" "__isoc99_scanf")
;
extern int sscanf (const char *__restrict __s, const char *__restrict __format, ...) __asm__ ("" "__isoc99_sscanf") __attribute__ ((__nothrow__ , __leaf__))
;
# 463 "/usr/include/stdio.h" 3 4
extern int vfscanf (FILE *__restrict __s, const char *__restrict __format,
__gnuc_va_list __arg)
__attribute__ ((__format__ (__scanf__, 2, 0))) ;
extern int vscanf (const char *__restrict __format, __gnuc_va_list __arg)
__attribute__ ((__format__ (__scanf__, 1, 0))) ;
extern int vsscanf (const char *__restrict __s,
const char *__restrict __format, __gnuc_va_list __arg)
__attribute__ ((__nothrow__ , __leaf__)) __attribute__ ((__format__ (__scanf__, 2, 0)));
# 494 "/usr/include/stdio.h" 3 4
extern int vfscanf (FILE *__restrict __s, const char *__restrict __format, __gnuc_va_list __arg) __asm__ ("" "__isoc99_vfscanf")
__attribute__ ((__format__ (__scanf__, 2, 0))) ;
extern int vscanf (const char *__restrict __format, __gnuc_va_list __arg) __asm__ ("" "__isoc99_vscanf")
__attribute__ ((__format__ (__scanf__, 1, 0))) ;
extern int vsscanf (const char *__restrict __s, const char *__restrict __format, __gnuc_va_list __arg) __asm__ ("" "__isoc99_vsscanf") __attribute__ ((__nothrow__ , __leaf__))
__attribute__ ((__format__ (__scanf__, 2, 0)));
# 522 "/usr/include/stdio.h" 3 4
extern int fgetc (FILE *__stream);
extern int getc (FILE *__stream);
extern int getchar (void);
# 550 "/usr/include/stdio.h" 3 4
extern int getc_unlocked (FILE *__stream);
extern int getchar_unlocked (void);
# 561 "/usr/include/stdio.h" 3 4
extern int fgetc_unlocked (FILE *__stream);
extern int fputc (int __c, FILE *__stream);
extern int putc (int __c, FILE *__stream);
extern int putchar (int __c);
# 594 "/usr/include/stdio.h" 3 4
extern int fputc_unlocked (int __c, FILE *__stream);
extern int putc_unlocked (int __c, FILE *__stream);
extern int putchar_unlocked (int __c);
extern int getw (FILE *__stream);
extern int putw (int __w, FILE *__stream);
extern char *fgets (char *__restrict __s, int __n, FILE *__restrict __stream)
;
# 640 "/usr/include/stdio.h" 3 4
# 665 "/usr/include/stdio.h" 3 4
extern __ssize_t __getdelim (char **__restrict __lineptr,
size_t *__restrict __n, int __delimiter,
FILE *__restrict __stream) ;
extern __ssize_t getdelim (char **__restrict __lineptr,
size_t *__restrict __n, int __delimiter,
FILE *__restrict __stream) ;
extern __ssize_t getline (char **__restrict __lineptr,
size_t *__restrict __n,
FILE *__restrict __stream) ;
extern int fputs (const char *__restrict __s, FILE *__restrict __stream);
extern int puts (const char *__s);
extern int ungetc (int __c, FILE *__stream);
extern size_t fread (void *__restrict __ptr, size_t __size,
size_t __n, FILE *__restrict __stream) ;
extern size_t fwrite (const void *__restrict __ptr, size_t __size,
size_t __n, FILE *__restrict __s);
# 737 "/usr/include/stdio.h" 3 4
extern size_t fread_unlocked (void *__restrict __ptr, size_t __size,
size_t __n, FILE *__restrict __stream) ;
extern size_t fwrite_unlocked (const void *__restrict __ptr, size_t __size,
size_t __n, FILE *__restrict __stream);
extern int fseek (FILE *__stream, long int __off, int __whence);
extern long int ftell (FILE *__stream) ;
extern void rewind (FILE *__stream);
# 773 "/usr/include/stdio.h" 3 4
extern int fseeko (FILE *__stream, __off_t __off, int __whence);
extern __off_t ftello (FILE *__stream) ;
# 792 "/usr/include/stdio.h" 3 4
extern int fgetpos (FILE *__restrict __stream, fpos_t *__restrict __pos);
extern int fsetpos (FILE *__stream, const fpos_t *__pos);
# 815 "/usr/include/stdio.h" 3 4
# 824 "/usr/include/stdio.h" 3 4
extern void clearerr (FILE *__stream) __attribute__ ((__nothrow__ , __leaf__));
extern int feof (FILE *__stream) __attribute__ ((__nothrow__ , __leaf__)) ;
extern int ferror (FILE *__stream) __attribute__ ((__nothrow__ , __leaf__)) ;
extern void clearerr_unlocked (FILE *__stream) __attribute__ ((__nothrow__ , __leaf__));
extern int feof_unlocked (FILE *__stream) __attribute__ ((__nothrow__ , __leaf__)) ;
extern int ferror_unlocked (FILE *__stream) __attribute__ ((__nothrow__ , __leaf__)) ;
extern void perror (const char *__s);
# 1 "/usr/include/x86_64-linux-gnu/bits/sys_errlist.h" 1 3 4
# 26 "/usr/include/x86_64-linux-gnu/bits/sys_errlist.h" 3 4
extern int sys_nerr;
extern const char *const sys_errlist[];
# 854 "/usr/include/stdio.h" 2 3 4
extern int fileno (FILE *__stream) __attribute__ ((__nothrow__ , __leaf__)) ;
extern int fileno_unlocked (FILE *__stream) __attribute__ ((__nothrow__ , __leaf__)) ;
# 872 "/usr/include/stdio.h" 3 4
extern FILE *popen (const char *__command, const char *__modes) ;
extern int pclose (FILE *__stream);
extern char *ctermid (char *__s) __attribute__ ((__nothrow__ , __leaf__));
# 912 "/usr/include/stdio.h" 3 4
extern void flockfile (FILE *__stream) __attribute__ ((__nothrow__ , __leaf__));
extern int ftrylockfile (FILE *__stream) __attribute__ ((__nothrow__ , __leaf__)) ;
extern void funlockfile (FILE *__stream) __attribute__ ((__nothrow__ , __leaf__));
# 942 "/usr/include/stdio.h" 3 4
# 2 "helloworld.c" 2
# 4 "helloworld.c"
int main()
{
printf("My first program - %s\n", "Hello, World!");
return 0;
}
You can notice that the statement #include <stdio.h> is replaced by its contents and macro STRING in printf("My first program - %s\n", STRING); is replaced by "Hello, World!"
The lines begin with #
# 1 "/usr/include/stdio.h" 1 3 4
# 27 "/usr/include/stdio.h" 3 4
# 1 "/usr/include/features.h" 1 3 4
# 367 "/usr/include/features.h" 3 4
# 1 "/usr/include/x86_64-linux-gnu/sys/cdefs.h" 1 3 4
# 410 "/usr/include/x86_64-linux-gnu/sys/cdefs.h" 3 4
# 1 "/usr/include/x86_64-linux-gnu/bits/wordsize.h" 1 3 4
# 411 "/usr/include/x86_64-linux-gnu/sys/cdefs.h" 2 3 4
# 368 "/usr/include/features.h" 2 3 4
are called linemarkers. Linemarkers are used to convey source file name and line number information in the form
linenum filename flags
They mean that the following line originated in file filename at line linenum. After the file name comes zero or more flags, which are ‘1’, ‘2’, ‘3’, or ‘4’. If there are multiple flags, spaces separate them. Here is what the flags mean:
- ‘1’ means the start of a new file
- ‘2’ means returning to a file (after having included another file)
- ‘3’ means the following text comes from a system header file, so certain warnings should be suppressed
- ‘4’ means the following text should be treated as being wrapped in an implicit
extern "C"block
The flag 1 in # 1 "/usr/include/stdio.h" 1 3 4 means the preprocessor start reading and pre-processing stdio.h header file located at /usr/include directory from line 1. The flag 3 in # 1 "/usr/include/stdio.h" 1 3 4 means the texts which don’t begin with # symbol on the next line are originated from stdio.h header file. The flag 4 in # 1 "/usr/include/stdio.h" 1 3 4 means to tell the compiler that the texts which don’t begin with # symbol on the next line are treated as an implicit extern "C" block.
On the line # 411 "/usr/include/x86_64-linux-gnu/sys/cdefs.h" 2 3 4, the flag 2 means the process of reading and pre-processing earlier included header file has finished and now it returns to the cdefs.h header file on line 411. The
flag 3 means the texts which don’t begin with # symbol on the next line are originated from cdefs.h header file. The flag 4 means to tell the compiler that the texts which don’t begin with # symbol on the next line are treated as an implicit extern "C" block.
If the flags on a linemarker are just 3 and 4 such as 27 "/usr/include/stdio.h" 3 4, it means that either it is a mark for macro expansion or a mark for header file expansion. If it is a header file expansion, on the next line you will find a linemarker which has flag 1 and line 1 such as # 1 "/usr/include/features.h" 1 3 4. If it is a macro expansion, on the next line you will find texts which don’t begin with # as the following
# 64 "/usr/include/stdio.h" 3 4
typedef struct _IO_FILE __FILE;
Compilation
In this stage, the compiler performs tasks such as
- check C program for syntax errors
- translate the preprocessed files into assembly language
- optionally optimize the translated code for better performance
To perform compilation operation use the following command
gcc -S helloworld.i -o helloworld.s
After compilation, it generates a temporary file with .s extension.
Let’s look into the compilation file helloworld.s
.file "helloworld.c"
.section .rodata
.LC0:
.string "Hello, World!"
.LC1:
.string "My first program - %s\n"
.text
.globl main
.type main, @function
main:
.LFB0:
.cfi_startproc
pushq %rbp
.cfi_def_cfa_offset 16
.cfi_offset 6, -16
movq %rsp, %rbp
.cfi_def_cfa_register 6
movl $.LC0, %esi
movl $.LC1, %edi
movl $0, %eax
call printf
movl $0, %eax
popq %rbp
.cfi_def_cfa 7, 8
ret
.cfi_endproc
.LFE0:
.size main, .-main
.ident "GCC: (Ubuntu 5.4.0-6ubuntu1~16.04.9) 5.4.0 20160609"
.section .note.GNU-stack,"",@progbits
Assembling
In this stage, the assembler translates the assemby file to machine code. After successful assembling, it generates a temporary file with .o extension (in Linux) or .obj (In Windows) known as object file.
To perform compilation operation use the following command
as helloworld.s -o helloworld.o
The generated object file can’t be viewed by text editors, you should use a hex editor.
Linking
The final stage of compiling process is producing a single executable program file by linking set of object files. An executable requires many external functions from system and C run-time libraries. The linker will resolve all these dependencies.
To perform static linking operation use the following command
ld -static -o helloworld -L`gcc -print-file-name=` /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/crt1.o /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/crti.o helloworld.o /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/crtn.o --start-group -lc -lgcc -lgcc_eh --end-group
To perform dynamic linking operation use the following command
ld -dynamic-linker /lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/ld-linux-x86-64.so.2 -o helloworld -L`gcc -print-file-name=` /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/crt1.o /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/crti.o helloworld.o /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/crtn.o --start-group -lc -lgcc -lgcc_eh --end-group
