Discussion on Unix target files

Programs running in UNIX (R) systems adhere to a well-designed design called the destination file format. Learn more about the target file format and the tools that you can use to study the target files in your system.

The latest technology in computer programming combines a special kind of human nature with a special set of tools to produce a magical product, the software, that is very helpful to others. Computer programmers are a group of detail-oriented people who can handle all kinds of difficulties in computers. The computer's requirements are very harsh, and there is no tolerance for any deviations. There is no doubt that computer programs are very difficult to write, regardless of your personality and the kind of assistive tools you use in your work.

In unix® and linux®, everything is a file. You can assume that UNIX and Linux programming are actually code that handles a variety of files. The system is made up of many types of files, but the target file has a special design that provides flexibility and versatility.

The destination file is a roadmap that contains mnemonic symbols with additional addresses and values. These symbols can be used to name a variety of code snippets and data segments, both initialized and uninitialized. They can also be used to locate embedded debugging information, like the Semantic web, which is ideal for reading by programs.

Industry tools

Tools used in computer programming include code editors, such as VI or Emacs, that you can use to enter and edit instructions that you want your computer to perform when it finishes the task you need, as well as compilers and connectors that generate machine code that truly implements those goals.

Advanced tools, called the Integrated Debugging Environment (IDE), integrate the capabilities of different tools with a unified look. The IDE makes the boundaries between editors, compilers, connectors, and debuggers blurred. Therefore, in order to further study and understand the system, it is best to use these tools separately before using the integrated suite. (Note: The IDE is also often referred to as an integrated development environment.) ）

The compiler can convert the text you create in the Code Editor to the destination file. Initially, the target file is called the intermediate representation of the code because it acts as input to the connection editor (that is, the connector), and the connection editor eventually completes the entire task and generates the executable program as output.

The conversion process from code to executable code has been well defined and automated, and the target file is an organic link in the chain. In this conversion process, the target file is used as the image of the connection editor, enabling them to parse various symbols and connect different code and data segments together to form a unified whole.

History

There are many famous target file formats in the field of computer programming. The DOS series includes COM, obj, and EXE formats. UNIX and Linux use A.out, COFF, and Elf. Microsoft®windows® uses the portable execution file (PE) format, while the Macintosh uses PEF, Mach-o, and other file formats.