[fpc-devel] elf load order

[Sven Barth]

On 16.03.2012 19:16, Andrew Haines wrote:
> Hi,
>
> I'm trying to figure out the order of events when an elf file is executed.
>
> I think that the _start symbol just points to the start of the .text
> section and crt1 is first followed by crti followed by crtbegin. After
> that I'm not sure.
>
> I am porting fpc to the xenon platform and it uses the elf file format
> for executables.
>
> I know that code in System.pp the begin end block at the end is being
> executed but when that procedure (PASCALMAIN?) exits, where is the next
> code begin executed?
>
> in my test program.pas the begin end block is not called afaict.
>
> I only have a putline method I wrote to debug. I can't currently follow
> the code with a debugger.

Take a look at e.g. $fpcdir/rtl/linux/i386/prt0.as. This contains the 
startup (and shutdown) code for Free Pascal executables on linux-i386 
that don't use libc. You'll see the call to PASCALMAIN there as well as 
the halt code after it (which is executed once PASCALMAIN returns).

Regards,
Sven