From: khan AT xraylith DOT wisc DOT edu (Mumit Khan)
Subject: DLL initialization suggestion
25 Aug 1998 11:46:23 -0700
Message-ID: <9808251837.AA18913.cygnus.cygwin32.developers@modi.xraylith.wisc.edu>
To: cygwin32-developers AT cygnus DOT com

Currently correct user DLL initialization for cygwin32 is easy but
rather awkward using DECLARE_CYGWIN_DLL and so on (IMO of course).
May I suggest the following to take the burden off of the user?

Add the following files to libcygwin.a:
  
  file1: Instantiate DECLARE_CYGWIN_DLL with a local "Entry" which
    sets up the _hDllInstance_base and calls _DllMain AT 12.
  file2: Add a _DllMain AT 12 stub which can be overridden by the user.

Add add to *link and *startfile spec to gcc:
  
    *link:
    [...] %{mdll:--dll -e __cygwin32_dll_entry AT 12}

    *startfile:
    %{!mdll:crt0%O%s}

The startfile entry implies -nostartfiles when making dlls. Of course,
the user can override any or all of it (either by specifying a different
entry point and/or by providing the _DllMain AT 12 callback function).

If this is reasonable, I'll work up a patch.

Regards,
Mumit