(ld.info.gz) BFD

 
 5 BFD
 *****
 
 The linker accesses object and archive files using the BFD libraries.
 These libraries allow the linker to use the same routines to operate on
 object files whatever the object file format.  A different object file
 format can be supported simply by creating a new BFD back end and adding
 it to the library.  To conserve runtime memory, however, the linker and
 associated tools are usually configured to support only a subset of the
 object file formats available.  You can use `objdump -i' (
 objdump (binutils.info)objdump.) to list all the formats available for
 your configuration.
 
    As with most implementations, BFD is a compromise between several
 conflicting requirements. The major factor influencing BFD design was
 efficiency: any time used converting between formats is time which
 would not have been spent had BFD not been involved. This is partly
 offset by abstraction payback; since BFD simplifies applications and
 back ends, more time and care may be spent optimizing algorithms for a
 greater speed.
 
    One minor artifact of the BFD solution which you should bear in mind
 is the potential for information loss.  There are two places where
 useful information can be lost using the BFD mechanism: during
 conversion and during output.  BFD information loss.
(ld.info.gz) BFD

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