.[8kvq965] ... files are unrelated to a.out.
as ken thompson's paper says
The object files are binary forms of assembly language,
similar to what might be passed between
the first and second passes of an assembler.
they contain target-dependent code but not precise machine instructions
(the loader makes the final choice of machine instructions).
one nice thing about the scheme is that in the compiler suite
only the loader knows or needs to know
the bit patterns and peculiar properties of the actual machine.
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Where should I look for the format of Plan 9 objects as created by the
compiler(s) and ready for linking? I'm hoping there is a place other
than the compiler sources that documents this intermediate format,
which I presume is not totally unlike a.out.
Also, while I'm asking, there must be more than a hint of ELF in the
Linux emulation code, can someone point me to the details? ELF is low
on my list of favourites, but there may be some useful shortcuts in
giving it a bit of recognition under Plan 9.
++L
PS: in case the context isn't obvious, GNU CC and C++ for Plan 9 are
the eventual objectives, I'm taking a slightly circular approach in an
attempt to understand David Hogan's work a lot better than I do now.
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