Re: the "load" command and the .bss section

[Mike Frysinger <vapier at gentoo dot org>]

On Sunday 27 April 2008, Eli Zaretskii wrote:
> > From: Mike Frysinger <vapier@gentoo.org>
> > Date: Sun, 27 Apr 2008 17:45:37 -0400
> > Cc: gdb-patches@sourceware.org
> >
> > ah, now that i know the intentions, may i suggest the following to the
> > documentation.
>
> Thanks, but I'm afraid the text you suggested is not clear enough.
>
> > +The file is loaded according to the load addresses (rather than virtual)
> > as
>
> How is "load address" opposed to "virtual address"?  This requires
> explanation.
>
> > +is specified in the executable.  It is expected that the target system
> > will +do the actual relocation, and in the process, handle such things as
> > setup of +allocated sections (e.g. the bss).
>
> This is also too cryptic to be useful.  Can you (or someone else)
> suggest a more elaborate description?  E.g., what is ``relocation'' in
> this context? and what other things besides .bss are expected to be
> set up by loading?

the load description in general implies the reader already has higher 
knowledge of these details.  i dont see the changes i propose affecting this 
in any way.  i'm not sure expounding on the lower (and format-specific) 
details being appropriate in this context as the final decision is up to the 
target bfd, not gdb.

if someone else wants to expand the description, go for it, but i'm fine with 
the small additions i've contributed, and i think the issues raised here are 
unrelated to the new text.
-mike

Attachment: signature.asc
Description: This is a digitally signed message part.