xref: /netbsd-src/lib/csu/README (revision daf6c4152fcddc27c445489775ed1f66ab4ea9a9)
1Overview of the common runtime support
2
3The common runtime support contains two modules, crtbegin and crtend.
4crtbegin is linked before all other object files of the program or
5dynamic library, crtend after all other object files.  They frame the
6lists of constructors, destructors, Java types and exception handling frames.
7
8If done correctly, crtend contains no code and is therefore position
9independent.  crtendS.o is therefore just a link to crtend.o.
10
11crtbegin should be position-independent code.  crtbeginT.o doesn't have
12to be PIC as it is statically linked.  The overhead is generally not
13worth the trouble though.
14
15
16Section types:
17.ctor: writeable
18.dtor: writeable
19.eh_frame: read-only if platform allows mixing read-only and read-write
20sections.  This is supported by GNU ld.
21.jcr: writeable
22.init: executable
23.fini: executable
24
25
26Non-local symbols:
27
28Weak references:
29- _Jv_RegisterClasses,
30- __cxa_finalize (crtbeginS.o)
31- __deregister_frame_info
32- __register_frame_info
33
34Hidden:
35- __dso_handle: pointer to self for crtbeginS.o, NULL otherwise.
36- __CTOR_LIST_END__
37
38
39Initialisation (called from .init):
40
411.  Check that the init code hasn't started already, otherwise bail out.
422.  If __register_frame_info is NULL, skip to 4
433.  Call __register_frame_info with start of .eh_frame as first argument
44    and a data object of at least 8 pointers as second argument.
454:  If _Jv_RegisterClasses is NULL, skip to 6
465:  Call _Jv_RegisterClasses with the first pointer of the .jcr section
47    as argument.
486:  Iterate from the end of the .ctor section to the start.  Skip the
49    terminating NULL and stop when reaching the starting (void *)-1 element.
50    Call the pointers as void (*)(void) functions.
51
52
53Deinitialisation (called from .fini):
54
551.  Check if the init code has already started, otherwise bail out.
562.  If this is not crtbeginS.o or __cxa_finalize is NULL, skip to 4.
573.  Call __cxa_finalize with a pointer into this Dynamic Shared Object (DSO)
58    as first argument.
594.  Iterate from the start of the .dtor section to the send.  Skip the
60    initial (void *)-1 and stop when reaching the terminating NULL element.
61    Call the pointers as void (*)(void) functions.
625.  If __deregister_frame_info is NULL, return.
636.  Call __deregister_frame_info with the start of .eh_frame as the argument.
64