From: Nate Eldredge <neldredge AT hmc DOT edu>
Newsgroups: comp.os.msdos.djgpp
Subject: Re: Linker trimming unused code/data
Date: Mon, 04 Oct 1999 14:11:51 -0700
Organization: Harvey Mudd College
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Eli Zaretskii wrote:
> 
> On Mon, 4 Oct 1999, Gautier wrote:
> 
> > > What you need to do is to divide a single module into several smaller
> > > modules.  Then the linker will only link in those modules which you
> > > actually need in your program.
> >
> > Of course - but in fact (after some inquiry etc.) the `ld' linker is almost
> > the only that can't do it itself!
> 
> If you think GNU ld should support this feature, I suggest posting to
> gnu.utils.bug (or write to its e-mail gateway, bug-gnu-utils AT gnu DOT org)
> where it will be seen by Binutils maintainer(s).

Note that some people might expect this behavior.  For instance, many
RCS-controlled projects insert a version string in each file like:

static char rcsid[] = "$$RCS$43278$foo$bar$baz";

Since this is compiled in to the binary, one can tell what version of
each source file went into a given binary.  If ld removed it, this would
break.
-- 

Nate Eldredge
neldredge AT hmc DOT edu