Question

I know that source code can be compiled and linked to shared/static library or ELF executable files. And when program runs, it loads into memory and creates a process image according to ELF format. But I am not sure how programs loading shared libraries. How a linker looking for symbols in extern libraries and how the .a archive works. What else should I know if program runs on 64 bit OS?

I am trying to draw a whole picture of it. Can someone give a general talk about the whole thing and gives references/documents/llinks so I can study them one by one.

Thanks in advance.

I think my question can be described as:

Under Linux, How C++ source code becomes executable files or static/dynamic libraries. And how a program get loaded into memory when it runs. In GREATE details!

And how many tools I can use to examine/manipulate the Linux binary files(executable files and libraries)? I know some as “nm” “readelf”.

Answer 1

You could read:

• the Assembly HowTo
• From Powerup to Bash prompt
• Wikipedia about system calls, Linux kernel, Virtual memory, address space, Process, Compiler, Linker, Assembly language, GCC, ELF
• Levine’s book on Linkers and Loaders
• x86-84, notably about the x86-64 ABI specification
• the Advanced Linux Programming book
• several syscalls(2) man pages, notably intro(2), execve(2), mmap(2), fork(2)
• ELF virus writing howto
• GCC documentation (notably internals)
• Binutils documentation
• Program Library Howto
• Drepper’s paper: how to write shared libraries

and good books about Linux kernel & application programming.