Fix grammatical errors
[binutils-gdb.git] / gas / doc / as.texinfo
1 \input texinfo @c -*-Texinfo-*-
2 @c Copyright 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000,
3 @c 2001
4 @c Free Software Foundation, Inc.
5 @c UPDATE!! On future updates--
6 @c (1) check for new machine-dep cmdline options in
7 @c md_parse_option definitions in config/tc-*.c
8 @c (2) for platform-specific directives, examine md_pseudo_op
9 @c in config/tc-*.c
10 @c (3) for object-format specific directives, examine obj_pseudo_op
11 @c in config/obj-*.c
12 @c (4) portable directives in potable[] in read.c
13 @c %**start of header
14 @setfilename as.info
15 @c ---config---
16 @c defaults, config file may override:
17 @set have-stabs
18 @c ---
19 @include asconfig.texi
20 @include gasver.texi
21 @c ---
22 @c man begin NAME
23 @ifset man
24 @c Configure for the generation of man pages
25 @set AS as
26 @set TARGET TARGET
27 @set GENERIC
28 @set A29K
29 @set ARC
30 @set ARM
31 @set D10V
32 @set D30V
33 @set H8/300
34 @set H8/500
35 @set HPPA
36 @set I370
37 @set I80386
38 @set I860
39 @set I960
40 @set M32R
41 @set M68HC11
42 @set M680X0
43 @set M880X0
44 @set MCORE
45 @set MIPS
46 @set PDP11
47 @set PJ
48 @set SH
49 @set SPARC
50 @set C54X
51 @set V850
52 @set VAX
53 @end ifset
54 @c man end
55 @c common OR combinations of conditions
56 @ifset AOUT
57 @set aout-bout
58 @end ifset
59 @ifset ARM/Thumb
60 @set ARM
61 @end ifset
62 @ifset BOUT
63 @set aout-bout
64 @end ifset
65 @ifset H8/300
66 @set H8
67 @end ifset
68 @ifset H8/500
69 @set H8
70 @end ifset
71 @ifset SH
72 @set H8
73 @end ifset
74 @ifset HPPA
75 @set abnormal-separator
76 @end ifset
77 @c ------------
78 @ifset GENERIC
79 @settitle Using @value{AS}
80 @end ifset
81 @ifclear GENERIC
82 @settitle Using @value{AS} (@value{TARGET})
83 @end ifclear
84 @setchapternewpage odd
85 @c %**end of header
86
87 @c @smallbook
88 @c @set SMALL
89 @c WARE! Some of the machine-dependent sections contain tables of machine
90 @c instructions. Except in multi-column format, these tables look silly.
91 @c Unfortunately, Texinfo doesn't have a general-purpose multi-col format, so
92 @c the multi-col format is faked within @example sections.
93 @c
94 @c Again unfortunately, the natural size that fits on a page, for these tables,
95 @c is different depending on whether or not smallbook is turned on.
96 @c This matters, because of order: text flow switches columns at each page
97 @c break.
98 @c
99 @c The format faked in this source works reasonably well for smallbook,
100 @c not well for the default large-page format. This manual expects that if you
101 @c turn on @smallbook, you will also uncomment the "@set SMALL" to enable the
102 @c tables in question. You can turn on one without the other at your
103 @c discretion, of course.
104 @ifinfo
105 @set SMALL
106 @c the insn tables look just as silly in info files regardless of smallbook,
107 @c might as well show 'em anyways.
108 @end ifinfo
109
110 @ifinfo
111 @format
112 START-INFO-DIR-ENTRY
113 * As: (as). The GNU assembler.
114 END-INFO-DIR-ENTRY
115 @end format
116 @end ifinfo
117
118 @finalout
119 @syncodeindex ky cp
120
121 @ifinfo
122 This file documents the GNU Assembler "@value{AS}".
123
124 @c man begin COPYRIGHT
125 Copyright (C) 1991, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 2000, 2001 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
126
127 Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document
128 under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.1
129 or any later version published by the Free Software Foundation;
130 with no Invariant Sections, with no Front-Cover Texts, and with no
131 Back-Cover Texts. A copy of the license is included in the
132 section entitled "GNU Free Documentation License".
133
134 @c man end
135
136 @ignore
137 Permission is granted to process this file through Tex and print the
138 results, provided the printed document carries copying permission
139 notice identical to this one except for the removal of this paragraph
140 (this paragraph not being relevant to the printed manual).
141
142 @end ignore
143 @end ifinfo
144
145 @titlepage
146 @title Using @value{AS}
147 @subtitle The @sc{gnu} Assembler
148 @ifclear GENERIC
149 @subtitle for the @value{TARGET} family
150 @end ifclear
151 @sp 1
152 @subtitle Version @value{VERSION}
153 @sp 1
154 @sp 13
155 The Free Software Foundation Inc. thanks The Nice Computer
156 Company of Australia for loaning Dean Elsner to write the
157 first (Vax) version of @code{as} for Project @sc{gnu}.
158 The proprietors, management and staff of TNCCA thank FSF for
159 distracting the boss while they got some work
160 done.
161 @sp 3
162 @author Dean Elsner, Jay Fenlason & friends
163 @page
164 @tex
165 {\parskip=0pt
166 \hfill {\it Using {\tt @value{AS}}}\par
167 \hfill Edited by Cygnus Support\par
168 }
169 %"boxit" macro for figures:
170 %Modified from Knuth's ``boxit'' macro from TeXbook (answer to exercise 21.3)
171 \gdef\boxit#1#2{\vbox{\hrule\hbox{\vrule\kern3pt
172 \vbox{\parindent=0pt\parskip=0pt\hsize=#1\kern3pt\strut\hfil
173 #2\hfil\strut\kern3pt}\kern3pt\vrule}\hrule}}%box with visible outline
174 \gdef\ibox#1#2{\hbox to #1{#2\hfil}\kern8pt}% invisible box
175 @end tex
176
177 @vskip 0pt plus 1filll
178 Copyright @copyright{} 1991, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 2000, 2001 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
179
180 Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document
181 under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.1
182 or any later version published by the Free Software Foundation;
183 with no Invariant Sections, with no Front-Cover Texts, and with no
184 Back-Cover Texts. A copy of the license is included in the
185 section entitled "GNU Free Documentation License".
186
187 @end titlepage
188
189 @ifinfo
190 @node Top
191 @top Using @value{AS}
192
193 This file is a user guide to the @sc{gnu} assembler @code{@value{AS}} version
194 @value{VERSION}.
195 @ifclear GENERIC
196 This version of the file describes @code{@value{AS}} configured to generate
197 code for @value{TARGET} architectures.
198 @end ifclear
199
200 This document is distributed under the terms of the GNU Free
201 Documentation License. A copy of the license is included in the
202 section entitled "GNU Free Documentation License".
203
204 @menu
205 * Overview:: Overview
206 * Invoking:: Command-Line Options
207 * Syntax:: Syntax
208 * Sections:: Sections and Relocation
209 * Symbols:: Symbols
210 * Expressions:: Expressions
211 * Pseudo Ops:: Assembler Directives
212 * Machine Dependencies:: Machine Dependent Features
213 * Reporting Bugs:: Reporting Bugs
214 * Acknowledgements:: Who Did What
215 * GNU Free Documentation License:: GNU Free Documentation License
216 * Index:: Index
217 @end menu
218 @end ifinfo
219
220 @node Overview
221 @chapter Overview
222 @iftex
223 This manual is a user guide to the @sc{gnu} assembler @code{@value{AS}}.
224 @ifclear GENERIC
225 This version of the manual describes @code{@value{AS}} configured to generate
226 code for @value{TARGET} architectures.
227 @end ifclear
228 @end iftex
229
230 @cindex invocation summary
231 @cindex option summary
232 @cindex summary of options
233 Here is a brief summary of how to invoke @code{@value{AS}}. For details,
234 @pxref{Invoking,,Comand-Line Options}.
235
236 @c man title AS the portable GNU assembler.
237
238 @c man begin SEEALSO
239 gcc(1), ld(1), and the Info entries for @file{binutils} and @file{ld}.
240 @c man end
241
242 @c We don't use deffn and friends for the following because they seem
243 @c to be limited to one line for the header.
244 @smallexample
245 @c man begin SYNOPSIS
246 @value{AS} [ -a[cdhlns][=file] ] [ -D ] [ --defsym @var{sym}=@var{val} ]
247 [ -f ] [ --gstabs ] [ --gdwarf2 ] [ --help ] [ -I @var{dir} ]
248 [ -J ] [ -K ] [ -L ]
249 [ --listing--lhs-width=NUM ][ --listing-lhs-width2=NUM ]
250 [ --listing-rhs-width=NUM ][ --listing-cont-lines=NUM ]
251 [ --keep-locals ] [ -o @var{objfile} ] [ -R ] [ --statistics ] [ -v ]
252 [ -version ] [ --version ] [ -W ] [ --warn ] [ --fatal-warnings ]
253 [ -w ] [ -x ] [ -Z ] [ --target-help ]
254 @ifset A29K
255 @c am29k has no machine-dependent assembler options
256 @end ifset
257 @ifset ARC
258 [ -marc[5|6|7|8] ]
259 [ -EB | -EL ]
260 @end ifset
261 @ifset ARM
262 [ -m[arm]1 | -m[arm]2 | -m[arm]250 | -m[arm]3 |
263 -m[arm]6 | -m[arm]60 | -m[arm]600 | -m[arm]610 |
264 -m[arm]620 | -m[arm]7[t][[d]m[i]][fe] | -m[arm]70 |
265 -m[arm]700 | -m[arm]710[c] | -m[arm]7100 |
266 -m[arm]7500 | -m[arm]8 | -m[arm]810 | -m[arm]9 |
267 -m[arm]920 | -m[arm]920t | -m[arm]9tdmi |
268 -mstrongarm | -mstrongarm110 | -mstrongarm1100 ]
269 [ -m[arm]v2 | -m[arm]v2a | -m[arm]v3 | -m[arm]v3m |
270 -m[arm]v4 | -m[arm]v4t | -m[arm]v5 | -[arm]v5t |
271 -[arm]v5te ]
272 [ -mthumb | -mall ]
273 [ -mfpa10 | -mfpa11 | -mfpe-old | -mno-fpu ]
274 [ -EB | -EL ]
275 [ -mapcs-32 | -mapcs-26 | -mapcs-float |
276 -mapcs-reentrant ]
277 [ -mthumb-interwork ] [ -moabi ] [ -k ]
278 @end ifset
279 @ifset D10V
280 [ -O ]
281 @end ifset
282 @ifset D30V
283 [ -O | -n | -N ]
284 @end ifset
285 @ifset H8
286 @c Hitachi family chips have no machine-dependent assembler options
287 @end ifset
288 @ifset HPPA
289 @c HPPA has no machine-dependent assembler options (yet).
290 @end ifset
291 @ifset PJ
292 [ -mb | -me ]
293 @end ifset
294 @ifset SPARC
295 @c The order here is important. See c-sparc.texi.
296 [ -Av6 | -Av7 | -Av8 | -Asparclet | -Asparclite
297 -Av8plus | -Av8plusa | -Av9 | -Av9a ]
298 [ -xarch=v8plus | -xarch=v8plusa ] [ -bump ]
299 [ -32 | -64 ]
300 @end ifset
301 @ifset TIC54X
302 [ -mcpu=54[123589] | -mcpu=54[56]lp ] [ -mfar-mode | -mf ]
303 [ -merrors-to-file <filename> | -me <filename> ]
304 @end ifset
305 @ifset Z8000
306 @c Z8000 has no machine-dependent assembler options
307 @end ifset
308 @ifset I960
309 @c see md_parse_option in tc-i960.c
310 [ -ACA | -ACA_A | -ACB | -ACC | -AKA | -AKB |
311 -AKC | -AMC ]
312 [ -b ] [ -no-relax ]
313 @end ifset
314 @ifset M32R
315 [ --m32rx | --[no-]warn-explicit-parallel-conflicts |
316 --W[n]p ]
317 @end ifset
318 @ifset M680X0
319 [ -l ] [ -m68000 | -m68010 | -m68020 | ... ]
320 @end ifset
321 @ifset MCORE
322 [ -jsri2bsr ] [ -sifilter ] [ -relax ]
323 [ -mcpu=[210|340] ]
324 @end ifset
325 @ifset M68HC11
326 [ -m68hc11 | -m68hc12 ]
327 [ --force-long-branchs ] [ --short-branchs ]
328 [ --strict-direct-mode ] [ --print-insn-syntax ]
329 [ --print-opcodes ] [ --generate-example ]
330 @end ifset
331 @ifset MIPS
332 [ -nocpp ] [ -EL ] [ -EB ] [ -G @var{num} ] [ -mcpu=@var{CPU} ]
333 [ -mips1 ] [ -mips2 ] [ -mips3 ] [ -mips4 ] [ -mips5 ]
334 [ -mips32 ] [ -mips64 ]
335 [ -m4650 ] [ -no-m4650 ]
336 [ --trap ] [ --break ] [ -n ]
337 [ --emulation=@var{name} ]
338 @end ifset
339 [ -- | @var{files} @dots{} ]
340 @c man end
341 @end smallexample
342
343 @c man begin OPTIONS
344
345 @table @code
346 @item -a[cdhlmns]
347 Turn on listings, in any of a variety of ways:
348
349 @table @code
350 @item -ac
351 omit false conditionals
352
353 @item -ad
354 omit debugging directives
355
356 @item -ah
357 include high-level source
358
359 @item -al
360 include assembly
361
362 @item -am
363 include macro expansions
364
365 @item -an
366 omit forms processing
367
368 @item -as
369 include symbols
370
371 @item =file
372 set the name of the listing file
373 @end table
374
375 You may combine these options; for example, use @samp{-aln} for assembly
376 listing without forms processing. The @samp{=file} option, if used, must be
377 the last one. By itself, @samp{-a} defaults to @samp{-ahls}.
378
379 @item -D
380 Ignored. This option is accepted for script compatibility with calls to
381 other assemblers.
382
383 @item --defsym @var{sym}=@var{value}
384 Define the symbol @var{sym} to be @var{value} before assembling the input file.
385 @var{value} must be an integer constant. As in C, a leading @samp{0x}
386 indicates a hexadecimal value, and a leading @samp{0} indicates an octal value.
387
388 @item -f
389 ``fast''---skip whitespace and comment preprocessing (assume source is
390 compiler output).
391
392 @item --gstabs
393 Generate stabs debugging information for each assembler line. This
394 may help debugging assembler code, if the debugger can handle it.
395
396 @item --gdwarf2
397 Generate DWARF2 debugging information for each assembler line. This
398 may help debugging assembler code, if the debugger can handle it. Note - this
399 option is only supported by some targets, not all of them.
400
401 @item --help
402 Print a summary of the command line options and exit.
403
404 @item --target-help
405 Print a summary of all target specific options and exit.
406
407 @item -I @var{dir}
408 Add directory @var{dir} to the search list for @code{.include} directives.
409
410 @item -J
411 Don't warn about signed overflow.
412
413 @item -K
414 @ifclear DIFF-TBL-KLUGE
415 This option is accepted but has no effect on the @value{TARGET} family.
416 @end ifclear
417 @ifset DIFF-TBL-KLUGE
418 Issue warnings when difference tables altered for long displacements.
419 @end ifset
420
421 @item -L
422 @itemx --keep-locals
423 Keep (in the symbol table) local symbols. On traditional a.out systems
424 these start with @samp{L}, but different systems have different local
425 label prefixes.
426
427 @item --listing-lhs-width=@var{number}
428 Set the maximum width, in words, of the output data column for an assembler
429 listing to @var{number}.
430
431 @item --listing-lhs-width2=@var{number}
432 Set the maximum width, in words, of the output data column for continuation
433 lines in an assembler listing to @var{number}.
434
435 @item --listing-rhs-width=@var{number}
436 Set the maximum width of an input source line, as displayed in a listing, to
437 @var{number} bytes.
438
439 @item --listing-cont-lines=@var{number}
440 Set the maximum number of lines printed in a listing for a single line of input
441 to @var{number} + 1.
442
443 @item -o @var{objfile}
444 Name the object-file output from @code{@value{AS}} @var{objfile}.
445
446 @item -R
447 Fold the data section into the text section.
448
449 @item --statistics
450 Print the maximum space (in bytes) and total time (in seconds) used by
451 assembly.
452
453 @item --strip-local-absolute
454 Remove local absolute symbols from the outgoing symbol table.
455
456 @item -v
457 @itemx -version
458 Print the @code{as} version.
459
460 @item --version
461 Print the @code{as} version and exit.
462
463 @item -W
464 @itemx --no-warn
465 Suppress warning messages.
466
467 @item --fatal-warnings
468 Treat warnings as errors.
469
470 @item --warn
471 Don't suppress warning messages or treat them as errors.
472
473 @item -w
474 Ignored.
475
476 @item -x
477 Ignored.
478
479 @item -Z
480 Generate an object file even after errors.
481
482 @item -- | @var{files} @dots{}
483 Standard input, or source files to assemble.
484
485 @end table
486
487 @ifset ARC
488 The following options are available when @value{AS} is configured for
489 an ARC processor.
490
491 @table @code
492 @item -marc[5|6|7|8]
493 This option selects the core processor variant.
494 @item -EB | -EL
495 Select either big-endian (-EB) or little-endian (-EL) output.
496 @end table
497 @end ifset
498
499 @ifset ARM
500 The following options are available when @value{AS} is configured for the ARM
501 processor family.
502
503 @table @code
504 @item -m[arm][1|2|3|6|7|8|9][...]
505 Specify which ARM processor variant is the target.
506 @item -m[arm]v[2|2a|3|3m|4|4t|5|5t]
507 Specify which ARM architecture variant is used by the target.
508 @item -mthumb | -mall
509 Enable or disable Thumb only instruction decoding.
510 @item -mfpa10 | -mfpa11 | -mfpe-old | -mno-fpu
511 Select which Floating Point architecture is the target.
512 @item -mapcs-32 | -mapcs-26 | -mapcs-float | -mapcs-reentrant | -moabi
513 Select which procedure calling convention is in use.
514 @item -EB | -EL
515 Select either big-endian (-EB) or little-endian (-EL) output.
516 @item -mthumb-interwork
517 Specify that the code has been generated with interworking between Thumb and
518 ARM code in mind.
519 @item -k
520 Specify that PIC code has been generated.
521 @end table
522 @end ifset
523
524 @ifset D10V
525 The following options are available when @value{AS} is configured for
526 a D10V processor.
527 @table @code
528 @cindex D10V optimization
529 @cindex optimization, D10V
530 @item -O
531 Optimize output by parallelizing instructions.
532 @end table
533 @end ifset
534
535 @ifset D30V
536 The following options are available when @value{AS} is configured for a D30V
537 processor.
538 @table @code
539 @cindex D30V optimization
540 @cindex optimization, D30V
541 @item -O
542 Optimize output by parallelizing instructions.
543
544 @cindex D30V nops
545 @item -n
546 Warn when nops are generated.
547
548 @cindex D30V nops after 32-bit multiply
549 @item -N
550 Warn when a nop after a 32-bit multiply instruction is generated.
551 @end table
552 @end ifset
553
554 @ifset I960
555 The following options are available when @value{AS} is configured for the
556 Intel 80960 processor.
557
558 @table @code
559 @item -ACA | -ACA_A | -ACB | -ACC | -AKA | -AKB | -AKC | -AMC
560 Specify which variant of the 960 architecture is the target.
561
562 @item -b
563 Add code to collect statistics about branches taken.
564
565 @item -no-relax
566 Do not alter compare-and-branch instructions for long displacements;
567 error if necessary.
568
569 @end table
570 @end ifset
571
572 @ifset M32R
573 The following options are available when @value{AS} is configured for the
574 Mitsubishi M32R series.
575
576 @table @code
577
578 @item --m32rx
579 Specify which processor in the M32R family is the target. The default
580 is normally the M32R, but this option changes it to the M32RX.
581
582 @item --warn-explicit-parallel-conflicts or --Wp
583 Produce warning messages when questionable parallel constructs are
584 encountered.
585
586 @item --no-warn-explicit-parallel-conflicts or --Wnp
587 Do not produce warning messages when questionable parallel constructs are
588 encountered.
589
590 @end table
591 @end ifset
592
593 @ifset M680X0
594 The following options are available when @value{AS} is configured for the
595 Motorola 68000 series.
596
597 @table @code
598
599 @item -l
600 Shorten references to undefined symbols, to one word instead of two.
601
602 @item -m68000 | -m68008 | -m68010 | -m68020 | -m68030
603 @itemx | -m68040 | -m68060 | -m68302 | -m68331 | -m68332
604 @itemx | -m68333 | -m68340 | -mcpu32 | -m5200
605 Specify what processor in the 68000 family is the target. The default
606 is normally the 68020, but this can be changed at configuration time.
607
608 @item -m68881 | -m68882 | -mno-68881 | -mno-68882
609 The target machine does (or does not) have a floating-point coprocessor.
610 The default is to assume a coprocessor for 68020, 68030, and cpu32. Although
611 the basic 68000 is not compatible with the 68881, a combination of the
612 two can be specified, since it's possible to do emulation of the
613 coprocessor instructions with the main processor.
614
615 @item -m68851 | -mno-68851
616 The target machine does (or does not) have a memory-management
617 unit coprocessor. The default is to assume an MMU for 68020 and up.
618
619 @end table
620 @end ifset
621
622 @ifset PDP11
623
624 For details about the PDP-11 machine dependent features options,
625 see @ref{PDP-11-Options}.
626
627 @table @code
628 @item -mpic | -mno-pic
629 Generate position-independent (or position-dependent) code. The
630 default is @code{-mpic}.
631
632 @item -mall
633 @itemx -mall-extensions
634 Enable all instruction set extensions. This is the default.
635
636 @item -mno-extensions
637 Disable all instruction set extensions.
638
639 @item -m@var{extension} | -mno-@var{extension}
640 Enable (or disable) a particular instruction set extension.
641
642 @item -m@var{cpu}
643 Enable the instruction set extensions supported by a particular CPU, and
644 disable all other extensions.
645
646 @item -m@var{machine}
647 Enable the instruction set extensions supported by a particular machine
648 model, and disable all other extensions.
649 @end table
650
651 @end ifset
652
653 @ifset PJ
654 The following options are available when @value{AS} is configured for
655 a picoJava processor.
656
657 @table @code
658
659 @cindex PJ endianness
660 @cindex endianness, PJ
661 @cindex big endian output, PJ
662 @item -mb
663 Generate ``big endian'' format output.
664
665 @cindex little endian output, PJ
666 @item -ml
667 Generate ``little endian'' format output.
668
669 @end table
670 @end ifset
671
672 @ifset M68HC11
673 The following options are available when @value{AS} is configured for the
674 Motorola 68HC11 or 68HC12 series.
675
676 @table @code
677
678 @item -m68hc11 | -m68hc12
679 Specify what processor is the target. The default is
680 defined by the configuration option when building the assembler.
681
682 @item --force-long-branchs
683 Relative branches are turned into absolute ones. This concerns
684 conditional branches, unconditional branches and branches to a
685 sub routine.
686
687 @item -S | --short-branchs
688 Do not turn relative branchs into absolute ones
689 when the offset is out of range.
690
691 @item --strict-direct-mode
692 Do not turn the direct addressing mode into extended addressing mode
693 when the instruction does not support direct addressing mode.
694
695 @item --print-insn-syntax
696 Print the syntax of instruction in case of error.
697
698 @item --print-opcodes
699 print the list of instructions with syntax and then exit.
700
701 @item --generate-example
702 print an example of instruction for each possible instruction and then exit.
703 This option is only useful for testing @code{@value{AS}}.
704
705 @end table
706 @end ifset
707
708 @ifset SPARC
709 The following options are available when @code{@value{AS}} is configured
710 for the SPARC architecture:
711
712 @table @code
713 @item -Av6 | -Av7 | -Av8 | -Asparclet | -Asparclite
714 @itemx -Av8plus | -Av8plusa | -Av9 | -Av9a
715 Explicitly select a variant of the SPARC architecture.
716
717 @samp{-Av8plus} and @samp{-Av8plusa} select a 32 bit environment.
718 @samp{-Av9} and @samp{-Av9a} select a 64 bit environment.
719
720 @samp{-Av8plusa} and @samp{-Av9a} enable the SPARC V9 instruction set with
721 UltraSPARC extensions.
722
723 @item -xarch=v8plus | -xarch=v8plusa
724 For compatibility with the Solaris v9 assembler. These options are
725 equivalent to -Av8plus and -Av8plusa, respectively.
726
727 @item -bump
728 Warn when the assembler switches to another architecture.
729 @end table
730 @end ifset
731
732 @ifset TIC54X
733 The following options are available when @value{AS} is configured for the 'c54x
734 architecture.
735
736 @table @code
737 @item -mfar-mode
738 Enable extended addressing mode. All addresses and relocations will assume
739 extended addressing (usually 23 bits).
740 @item -mcpu=@var{CPU_VERSION}
741 Sets the CPU version being compiled for.
742 @item -merrors-to-file @var{FILENAME}
743 Redirect error output to a file, for broken systems which don't support such
744 behaviour in the shell.
745 @end table
746 @end ifset
747
748 @ifset MIPS
749 The following options are available when @value{AS} is configured for
750 a MIPS processor.
751
752 @table @code
753 @item -G @var{num}
754 This option sets the largest size of an object that can be referenced
755 implicitly with the @code{gp} register. It is only accepted for targets that
756 use ECOFF format, such as a DECstation running Ultrix. The default value is 8.
757
758 @cindex MIPS endianness
759 @cindex endianness, MIPS
760 @cindex big endian output, MIPS
761 @item -EB
762 Generate ``big endian'' format output.
763
764 @cindex little endian output, MIPS
765 @item -EL
766 Generate ``little endian'' format output.
767
768 @cindex MIPS ISA
769 @item -mips1
770 @itemx -mips2
771 @itemx -mips3
772 @itemx -mips4
773 @itemx -mips32
774 Generate code for a particular MIPS Instruction Set Architecture level.
775 @samp{-mips1} corresponds to the @sc{r2000} and @sc{r3000} processors,
776 @samp{-mips2} to the @sc{r6000} processor, and @samp{-mips3} to the @sc{r4000}
777 processor.
778 @samp{-mips5}, @samp{-mips32}, and @samp{-mips64} correspond
779 to generic @sc{MIPS V}, @sc{MIPS32}, and @sc{MIPS64} ISA
780 processors, respectively.
781
782 @item -m4650
783 @itemx -no-m4650
784 Generate code for the MIPS @sc{r4650} chip. This tells the assembler to accept
785 the @samp{mad} and @samp{madu} instruction, and to not schedule @samp{nop}
786 instructions around accesses to the @samp{HI} and @samp{LO} registers.
787 @samp{-no-m4650} turns off this option.
788
789 @item -mcpu=@var{CPU}
790 Generate code for a particular MIPS cpu. It is exactly equivalent to
791 @samp{-m@var{cpu}}, except that there are more value of @var{cpu}
792 understood.
793
794 @cindex emulation
795 @item --emulation=@var{name}
796 This option causes @code{@value{AS}} to emulate @code{@value{AS}} configured
797 for some other target, in all respects, including output format (choosing
798 between ELF and ECOFF only), handling of pseudo-opcodes which may generate
799 debugging information or store symbol table information, and default
800 endianness. The available configuration names are: @samp{mipsecoff},
801 @samp{mipself}, @samp{mipslecoff}, @samp{mipsbecoff}, @samp{mipslelf},
802 @samp{mipsbelf}. The first two do not alter the default endianness from that
803 of the primary target for which the assembler was configured; the others change
804 the default to little- or big-endian as indicated by the @samp{b} or @samp{l}
805 in the name. Using @samp{-EB} or @samp{-EL} will override the endianness
806 selection in any case.
807
808 This option is currently supported only when the primary target
809 @code{@value{AS}} is configured for is a MIPS ELF or ECOFF target.
810 Furthermore, the primary target or others specified with
811 @samp{--enable-targets=@dots{}} at configuration time must include support for
812 the other format, if both are to be available. For example, the Irix 5
813 configuration includes support for both.
814
815 Eventually, this option will support more configurations, with more
816 fine-grained control over the assembler's behavior, and will be supported for
817 more processors.
818
819 @item -nocpp
820 @code{@value{AS}} ignores this option. It is accepted for compatibility with
821 the native tools.
822
823 @need 900
824 @item --trap
825 @itemx --no-trap
826 @itemx --break
827 @itemx --no-break
828 Control how to deal with multiplication overflow and division by zero.
829 @samp{--trap} or @samp{--no-break} (which are synonyms) take a trap exception
830 (and only work for Instruction Set Architecture level 2 and higher);
831 @samp{--break} or @samp{--no-trap} (also synonyms, and the default) take a
832 break exception.
833
834 @item -n
835 When this option is used, @code{@value{AS}} will issue a warning every
836 time it generates a nop instruction from a macro.
837 @end table
838 @end ifset
839
840 @ifset MCORE
841 The following options are available when @value{AS} is configured for
842 an MCore processor.
843
844 @table @code
845 @item -jsri2bsr
846 @itemx -nojsri2bsr
847 Enable or disable the JSRI to BSR transformation. By default this is enabled.
848 The command line option @samp{-nojsri2bsr} can be used to disable it.
849
850 @item -sifilter
851 @itemx -nosifilter
852 Enable or disable the silicon filter behaviour. By default this is disabled.
853 The default can be overridden by the @samp{-sifilter} command line option.
854
855 @item -relax
856 Alter jump instructions for long displacements.
857
858 @item -mcpu=[210|340]
859 Select the cpu type on the target hardware. This controls which instructions
860 can be assembled.
861
862 @item -EB
863 Assemble for a big endian target.
864
865 @item -EL
866 Assemble for a little endian target.
867
868 @end table
869 @end ifset
870
871 @c man end
872
873 @menu
874 * Manual:: Structure of this Manual
875 * GNU Assembler:: The GNU Assembler
876 * Object Formats:: Object File Formats
877 * Command Line:: Command Line
878 * Input Files:: Input Files
879 * Object:: Output (Object) File
880 * Errors:: Error and Warning Messages
881 @end menu
882
883 @node Manual
884 @section Structure of this Manual
885
886 @cindex manual, structure and purpose
887 This manual is intended to describe what you need to know to use
888 @sc{gnu} @code{@value{AS}}. We cover the syntax expected in source files, including
889 notation for symbols, constants, and expressions; the directives that
890 @code{@value{AS}} understands; and of course how to invoke @code{@value{AS}}.
891
892 @ifclear GENERIC
893 We also cover special features in the @value{TARGET}
894 configuration of @code{@value{AS}}, including assembler directives.
895 @end ifclear
896 @ifset GENERIC
897 This manual also describes some of the machine-dependent features of
898 various flavors of the assembler.
899 @end ifset
900
901 @cindex machine instructions (not covered)
902 On the other hand, this manual is @emph{not} intended as an introduction
903 to programming in assembly language---let alone programming in general!
904 In a similar vein, we make no attempt to introduce the machine
905 architecture; we do @emph{not} describe the instruction set, standard
906 mnemonics, registers or addressing modes that are standard to a
907 particular architecture.
908 @ifset GENERIC
909 You may want to consult the manufacturer's
910 machine architecture manual for this information.
911 @end ifset
912 @ifclear GENERIC
913 @ifset H8/300
914 For information on the H8/300 machine instruction set, see @cite{H8/300
915 Series Programming Manual} (Hitachi ADE--602--025). For the H8/300H,
916 see @cite{H8/300H Series Programming Manual} (Hitachi).
917 @end ifset
918 @ifset H8/500
919 For information on the H8/500 machine instruction set, see @cite{H8/500
920 Series Programming Manual} (Hitachi M21T001).
921 @end ifset
922 @ifset SH
923 For information on the Hitachi SH machine instruction set, see
924 @cite{SH-Microcomputer User's Manual} (Hitachi Micro Systems, Inc.).
925 @end ifset
926 @ifset Z8000
927 For information on the Z8000 machine instruction set, see @cite{Z8000 CPU Technical Manual}
928 @end ifset
929 @end ifclear
930
931 @c I think this is premature---doc@cygnus.com, 17jan1991
932 @ignore
933 Throughout this manual, we assume that you are running @dfn{GNU},
934 the portable operating system from the @dfn{Free Software
935 Foundation, Inc.}. This restricts our attention to certain kinds of
936 computer (in particular, the kinds of computers that @sc{gnu} can run on);
937 once this assumption is granted examples and definitions need less
938 qualification.
939
940 @code{@value{AS}} is part of a team of programs that turn a high-level
941 human-readable series of instructions into a low-level
942 computer-readable series of instructions. Different versions of
943 @code{@value{AS}} are used for different kinds of computer.
944 @end ignore
945
946 @c There used to be a section "Terminology" here, which defined
947 @c "contents", "byte", "word", and "long". Defining "word" to any
948 @c particular size is confusing when the .word directive may generate 16
949 @c bits on one machine and 32 bits on another; in general, for the user
950 @c version of this manual, none of these terms seem essential to define.
951 @c They were used very little even in the former draft of the manual;
952 @c this draft makes an effort to avoid them (except in names of
953 @c directives).
954
955 @node GNU Assembler
956 @section The GNU Assembler
957
958 @c man begin DESCRIPTION
959
960 @sc{gnu} @code{as} is really a family of assemblers.
961 @ifclear GENERIC
962 This manual describes @code{@value{AS}}, a member of that family which is
963 configured for the @value{TARGET} architectures.
964 @end ifclear
965 If you use (or have used) the @sc{gnu} assembler on one architecture, you
966 should find a fairly similar environment when you use it on another
967 architecture. Each version has much in common with the others,
968 including object file formats, most assembler directives (often called
969 @dfn{pseudo-ops}) and assembler syntax.@refill
970
971 @cindex purpose of @sc{gnu} assembler
972 @code{@value{AS}} is primarily intended to assemble the output of the
973 @sc{gnu} C compiler @code{@value{GCC}} for use by the linker
974 @code{@value{LD}}. Nevertheless, we've tried to make @code{@value{AS}}
975 assemble correctly everything that other assemblers for the same
976 machine would assemble.
977 @ifset VAX
978 Any exceptions are documented explicitly (@pxref{Machine Dependencies}).
979 @end ifset
980 @ifset M680X0
981 @c This remark should appear in generic version of manual; assumption
982 @c here is that generic version sets M680x0.
983 This doesn't mean @code{@value{AS}} always uses the same syntax as another
984 assembler for the same architecture; for example, we know of several
985 incompatible versions of 680x0 assembly language syntax.
986 @end ifset
987
988 @c man end
989
990 Unlike older assemblers, @code{@value{AS}} is designed to assemble a source
991 program in one pass of the source file. This has a subtle impact on the
992 @kbd{.org} directive (@pxref{Org,,@code{.org}}).
993
994 @node Object Formats
995 @section Object File Formats
996
997 @cindex object file format
998 The @sc{gnu} assembler can be configured to produce several alternative
999 object file formats. For the most part, this does not affect how you
1000 write assembly language programs; but directives for debugging symbols
1001 are typically different in different file formats. @xref{Symbol
1002 Attributes,,Symbol Attributes}.
1003 @ifclear GENERIC
1004 @ifclear MULTI-OBJ
1005 On the @value{TARGET}, @code{@value{AS}} is configured to produce
1006 @value{OBJ-NAME} format object files.
1007 @end ifclear
1008 @c The following should exhaust all configs that set MULTI-OBJ, ideally
1009 @ifset A29K
1010 On the @value{TARGET}, @code{@value{AS}} can be configured to produce either
1011 @code{a.out} or COFF format object files.
1012 @end ifset
1013 @ifset I960
1014 On the @value{TARGET}, @code{@value{AS}} can be configured to produce either
1015 @code{b.out} or COFF format object files.
1016 @end ifset
1017 @ifset HPPA
1018 On the @value{TARGET}, @code{@value{AS}} can be configured to produce either
1019 SOM or ELF format object files.
1020 @end ifset
1021 @end ifclear
1022
1023 @node Command Line
1024 @section Command Line
1025
1026 @cindex command line conventions
1027
1028 After the program name @code{@value{AS}}, the command line may contain
1029 options and file names. Options may appear in any order, and may be
1030 before, after, or between file names. The order of file names is
1031 significant.
1032
1033 @cindex standard input, as input file
1034 @kindex --
1035 @file{--} (two hyphens) by itself names the standard input file
1036 explicitly, as one of the files for @code{@value{AS}} to assemble.
1037
1038 @cindex options, command line
1039 Except for @samp{--} any command line argument that begins with a
1040 hyphen (@samp{-}) is an option. Each option changes the behavior of
1041 @code{@value{AS}}. No option changes the way another option works. An
1042 option is a @samp{-} followed by one or more letters; the case of
1043 the letter is important. All options are optional.
1044
1045 Some options expect exactly one file name to follow them. The file
1046 name may either immediately follow the option's letter (compatible
1047 with older assemblers) or it may be the next command argument (@sc{gnu}
1048 standard). These two command lines are equivalent:
1049
1050 @smallexample
1051 @value{AS} -o my-object-file.o mumble.s
1052 @value{AS} -omy-object-file.o mumble.s
1053 @end smallexample
1054
1055 @node Input Files
1056 @section Input Files
1057
1058 @cindex input
1059 @cindex source program
1060 @cindex files, input
1061 We use the phrase @dfn{source program}, abbreviated @dfn{source}, to
1062 describe the program input to one run of @code{@value{AS}}. The program may
1063 be in one or more files; how the source is partitioned into files
1064 doesn't change the meaning of the source.
1065
1066 @c I added "con" prefix to "catenation" just to prove I can overcome my
1067 @c APL training... doc@cygnus.com
1068 The source program is a concatenation of the text in all the files, in the
1069 order specified.
1070
1071 @c man begin DESCRIPTION
1072 Each time you run @code{@value{AS}} it assembles exactly one source
1073 program. The source program is made up of one or more files.
1074 (The standard input is also a file.)
1075
1076 You give @code{@value{AS}} a command line that has zero or more input file
1077 names. The input files are read (from left file name to right). A
1078 command line argument (in any position) that has no special meaning
1079 is taken to be an input file name.
1080
1081 If you give @code{@value{AS}} no file names it attempts to read one input file
1082 from the @code{@value{AS}} standard input, which is normally your terminal. You
1083 may have to type @key{ctl-D} to tell @code{@value{AS}} there is no more program
1084 to assemble.
1085
1086 Use @samp{--} if you need to explicitly name the standard input file
1087 in your command line.
1088
1089 If the source is empty, @code{@value{AS}} produces a small, empty object
1090 file.
1091
1092 @c man end
1093
1094 @subheading Filenames and Line-numbers
1095
1096 @cindex input file linenumbers
1097 @cindex line numbers, in input files
1098 There are two ways of locating a line in the input file (or files) and
1099 either may be used in reporting error messages. One way refers to a line
1100 number in a physical file; the other refers to a line number in a
1101 ``logical'' file. @xref{Errors, ,Error and Warning Messages}.
1102
1103 @dfn{Physical files} are those files named in the command line given
1104 to @code{@value{AS}}.
1105
1106 @dfn{Logical files} are simply names declared explicitly by assembler
1107 directives; they bear no relation to physical files. Logical file names help
1108 error messages reflect the original source file, when @code{@value{AS}} source
1109 is itself synthesized from other files. @code{@value{AS}} understands the
1110 @samp{#} directives emitted by the @code{@value{GCC}} preprocessor. See also
1111 @ref{File,,@code{.file}}.
1112
1113 @node Object
1114 @section Output (Object) File
1115
1116 @cindex object file
1117 @cindex output file
1118 @kindex a.out
1119 @kindex .o
1120 Every time you run @code{@value{AS}} it produces an output file, which is
1121 your assembly language program translated into numbers. This file
1122 is the object file. Its default name is
1123 @ifclear BOUT
1124 @code{a.out}.
1125 @end ifclear
1126 @ifset BOUT
1127 @ifset GENERIC
1128 @code{a.out}, or
1129 @end ifset
1130 @code{b.out} when @code{@value{AS}} is configured for the Intel 80960.
1131 @end ifset
1132 You can give it another name by using the @code{-o} option. Conventionally,
1133 object file names end with @file{.o}. The default name is used for historical
1134 reasons: older assemblers were capable of assembling self-contained programs
1135 directly into a runnable program. (For some formats, this isn't currently
1136 possible, but it can be done for the @code{a.out} format.)
1137
1138 @cindex linker
1139 @kindex ld
1140 The object file is meant for input to the linker @code{@value{LD}}. It contains
1141 assembled program code, information to help @code{@value{LD}} integrate
1142 the assembled program into a runnable file, and (optionally) symbolic
1143 information for the debugger.
1144
1145 @c link above to some info file(s) like the description of a.out.
1146 @c don't forget to describe @sc{gnu} info as well as Unix lossage.
1147
1148 @node Errors
1149 @section Error and Warning Messages
1150
1151 @c man begin DESCRIPTION
1152
1153 @cindex error messages
1154 @cindex warning messages
1155 @cindex messages from assembler
1156 @code{@value{AS}} may write warnings and error messages to the standard error
1157 file (usually your terminal). This should not happen when a compiler
1158 runs @code{@value{AS}} automatically. Warnings report an assumption made so
1159 that @code{@value{AS}} could keep assembling a flawed program; errors report a
1160 grave problem that stops the assembly.
1161
1162 @c man end
1163
1164 @cindex format of warning messages
1165 Warning messages have the format
1166
1167 @smallexample
1168 file_name:@b{NNN}:Warning Message Text
1169 @end smallexample
1170
1171 @noindent
1172 @cindex line numbers, in warnings/errors
1173 (where @b{NNN} is a line number). If a logical file name has been given
1174 (@pxref{File,,@code{.file}}) it is used for the filename, otherwise the name of
1175 the current input file is used. If a logical line number was given
1176 @ifset GENERIC
1177 (@pxref{Line,,@code{.line}})
1178 @end ifset
1179 @ifclear GENERIC
1180 @ifclear A29K
1181 (@pxref{Line,,@code{.line}})
1182 @end ifclear
1183 @ifset A29K
1184 (@pxref{Ln,,@code{.ln}})
1185 @end ifset
1186 @end ifclear
1187 then it is used to calculate the number printed,
1188 otherwise the actual line in the current source file is printed. The
1189 message text is intended to be self explanatory (in the grand Unix
1190 tradition).
1191
1192 @cindex format of error messages
1193 Error messages have the format
1194 @smallexample
1195 file_name:@b{NNN}:FATAL:Error Message Text
1196 @end smallexample
1197 The file name and line number are derived as for warning
1198 messages. The actual message text may be rather less explanatory
1199 because many of them aren't supposed to happen.
1200
1201 @node Invoking
1202 @chapter Command-Line Options
1203
1204 @cindex options, all versions of assembler
1205 This chapter describes command-line options available in @emph{all}
1206 versions of the @sc{gnu} assembler; @pxref{Machine Dependencies}, for options specific
1207 @ifclear GENERIC
1208 to the @value{TARGET}.
1209 @end ifclear
1210 @ifset GENERIC
1211 to particular machine architectures.
1212 @end ifset
1213
1214 @c man begin DESCRIPTION
1215
1216 If you are invoking @code{@value{AS}} via the @sc{gnu} C compiler (version 2),
1217 you can use the @samp{-Wa} option to pass arguments through to the assembler.
1218 The assembler arguments must be separated from each other (and the @samp{-Wa})
1219 by commas. For example:
1220
1221 @smallexample
1222 gcc -c -g -O -Wa,-alh,-L file.c
1223 @end smallexample
1224
1225 @noindent
1226 This passes two options to the assembler: @samp{-alh} (emit a listing to
1227 standard output with with high-level and assembly source) and @samp{-L} (retain
1228 local symbols in the symbol table).
1229
1230 Usually you do not need to use this @samp{-Wa} mechanism, since many compiler
1231 command-line options are automatically passed to the assembler by the compiler.
1232 (You can call the @sc{gnu} compiler driver with the @samp{-v} option to see
1233 precisely what options it passes to each compilation pass, including the
1234 assembler.)
1235
1236 @c man end
1237
1238 @menu
1239 * a:: -a[cdhlns] enable listings
1240 * D:: -D for compatibility
1241 * f:: -f to work faster
1242 * I:: -I for .include search path
1243 @ifclear DIFF-TBL-KLUGE
1244 * K:: -K for compatibility
1245 @end ifclear
1246 @ifset DIFF-TBL-KLUGE
1247 * K:: -K for difference tables
1248 @end ifset
1249
1250 * L:: -L to retain local labels
1251 * listing:: --listing-XXX to configure listing output
1252 * M:: -M or --mri to assemble in MRI compatibility mode
1253 * MD:: --MD for dependency tracking
1254 * o:: -o to name the object file
1255 * R:: -R to join data and text sections
1256 * statistics:: --statistics to see statistics about assembly
1257 * traditional-format:: --traditional-format for compatible output
1258 * v:: -v to announce version
1259 * W:: -W, --no-warn, --warn, --fatal-warnings to control warnings
1260 * Z:: -Z to make object file even after errors
1261 @end menu
1262
1263 @node a
1264 @section Enable Listings: @code{-a[cdhlns]}
1265
1266 @kindex -a
1267 @kindex -ac
1268 @kindex -ad
1269 @kindex -ah
1270 @kindex -al
1271 @kindex -an
1272 @kindex -as
1273 @cindex listings, enabling
1274 @cindex assembly listings, enabling
1275
1276 These options enable listing output from the assembler. By itself,
1277 @samp{-a} requests high-level, assembly, and symbols listing.
1278 You can use other letters to select specific options for the list:
1279 @samp{-ah} requests a high-level language listing,
1280 @samp{-al} requests an output-program assembly listing, and
1281 @samp{-as} requests a symbol table listing.
1282 High-level listings require that a compiler debugging option like
1283 @samp{-g} be used, and that assembly listings (@samp{-al}) be requested
1284 also.
1285
1286 Use the @samp{-ac} option to omit false conditionals from a listing. Any lines
1287 which are not assembled because of a false @code{.if} (or @code{.ifdef}, or any
1288 other conditional), or a true @code{.if} followed by an @code{.else}, will be
1289 omitted from the listing.
1290
1291 Use the @samp{-ad} option to omit debugging directives from the
1292 listing.
1293
1294 Once you have specified one of these options, you can further control
1295 listing output and its appearance using the directives @code{.list},
1296 @code{.nolist}, @code{.psize}, @code{.eject}, @code{.title}, and
1297 @code{.sbttl}.
1298 The @samp{-an} option turns off all forms processing.
1299 If you do not request listing output with one of the @samp{-a} options, the
1300 listing-control directives have no effect.
1301
1302 The letters after @samp{-a} may be combined into one option,
1303 @emph{e.g.}, @samp{-aln}.
1304
1305 Note if the assembler source is coming from the standard input (eg because it
1306 is being created by @code{@value{GCC}} and the @samp{-pipe} command line switch
1307 is being used) then the listing will not contain any comments or preprocessor
1308 directives. This is because the listing code buffers input source lines from
1309 stdin only after they have been preprocessed by the assembler. This reduces
1310 memory usage and makes the code more efficient.
1311
1312 @node D
1313 @section @code{-D}
1314
1315 @kindex -D
1316 This option has no effect whatsoever, but it is accepted to make it more
1317 likely that scripts written for other assemblers also work with
1318 @code{@value{AS}}.
1319
1320 @node f
1321 @section Work Faster: @code{-f}
1322
1323 @kindex -f
1324 @cindex trusted compiler
1325 @cindex faster processing (@code{-f})
1326 @samp{-f} should only be used when assembling programs written by a
1327 (trusted) compiler. @samp{-f} stops the assembler from doing whitespace
1328 and comment preprocessing on
1329 the input file(s) before assembling them. @xref{Preprocessing,
1330 ,Preprocessing}.
1331
1332 @quotation
1333 @emph{Warning:} if you use @samp{-f} when the files actually need to be
1334 preprocessed (if they contain comments, for example), @code{@value{AS}} does
1335 not work correctly.
1336 @end quotation
1337
1338 @node I
1339 @section @code{.include} search path: @code{-I} @var{path}
1340
1341 @kindex -I @var{path}
1342 @cindex paths for @code{.include}
1343 @cindex search path for @code{.include}
1344 @cindex @code{include} directive search path
1345 Use this option to add a @var{path} to the list of directories
1346 @code{@value{AS}} searches for files specified in @code{.include}
1347 directives (@pxref{Include,,@code{.include}}). You may use @code{-I} as
1348 many times as necessary to include a variety of paths. The current
1349 working directory is always searched first; after that, @code{@value{AS}}
1350 searches any @samp{-I} directories in the same order as they were
1351 specified (left to right) on the command line.
1352
1353 @node K
1354 @section Difference Tables: @code{-K}
1355
1356 @kindex -K
1357 @ifclear DIFF-TBL-KLUGE
1358 On the @value{TARGET} family, this option is allowed, but has no effect. It is
1359 permitted for compatibility with the @sc{gnu} assembler on other platforms,
1360 where it can be used to warn when the assembler alters the machine code
1361 generated for @samp{.word} directives in difference tables. The @value{TARGET}
1362 family does not have the addressing limitations that sometimes lead to this
1363 alteration on other platforms.
1364 @end ifclear
1365
1366 @ifset DIFF-TBL-KLUGE
1367 @cindex difference tables, warning
1368 @cindex warning for altered difference tables
1369 @code{@value{AS}} sometimes alters the code emitted for directives of the form
1370 @samp{.word @var{sym1}-@var{sym2}}; @pxref{Word,,@code{.word}}.
1371 You can use the @samp{-K} option if you want a warning issued when this
1372 is done.
1373 @end ifset
1374
1375 @node L
1376 @section Include Local Labels: @code{-L}
1377
1378 @kindex -L
1379 @cindex local labels, retaining in output
1380 Labels beginning with @samp{L} (upper case only) are called @dfn{local
1381 labels}. @xref{Symbol Names}. Normally you do not see such labels when
1382 debugging, because they are intended for the use of programs (like
1383 compilers) that compose assembler programs, not for your notice.
1384 Normally both @code{@value{AS}} and @code{@value{LD}} discard such labels, so you do not
1385 normally debug with them.
1386
1387 This option tells @code{@value{AS}} to retain those @samp{L@dots{}} symbols
1388 in the object file. Usually if you do this you also tell the linker
1389 @code{@value{LD}} to preserve symbols whose names begin with @samp{L}.
1390
1391 By default, a local label is any label beginning with @samp{L}, but each
1392 target is allowed to redefine the local label prefix.
1393 @ifset HPPA
1394 On the HPPA local labels begin with @samp{L$}.
1395 @end ifset
1396
1397 @node listing
1398 @section Configuringh listing output: @code{--listing}
1399
1400 The listing feature of the assembler can be enabled via the command line switch
1401 @samp{-a} (@pxref{a}). This feature combines the input source file(s) with a
1402 hex dump of the corresponding locations in the output object file, and displays
1403 them as a listing file. The format of this listing can be controlled by pseudo
1404 ops inside the assembler source (@pxref{List} @pxref{Title} @pxref{Sbttl}
1405 @pxref{Psize} @pxref{Eject}) and also by the following switches:
1406
1407 @table @code
1408 @item --listing-lhs-width=@samp{number}
1409 @kindex --listing-lhs-width
1410 @cindex Width of first line disassembly output
1411 Sets the maximum width, in words, of the first line of the hex byte dump. This
1412 dump appears on the left hand side of the listing output.
1413
1414 @item --listing-lhs-width2=@samp{number}
1415 @kindex --listing-lhs-width2
1416 @cindex Width of continuation lines of disassembly output
1417 Sets the maximum width, in words, of any further lines of the hex byte dump for
1418 a given inut source line. If this value is not specified, it defaults to being
1419 the same as the value specified for @samp{--listing-lhs-width}. If neither
1420 switch is used the default is to one.
1421
1422 @item --listing-rhs-width=@samp{number}
1423 @kindex --listing-rhs-width
1424 @cindex Width of source line output
1425 Sets the maximum width, in characters, of the source line that is displayed
1426 alongside the hex dump. The default value for this parameter is 100. The
1427 source line is displayed on the right hand side of the listing output.
1428
1429 @item --listing-cont-lines=@samp{number}
1430 @kindex --listing-cont-lines
1431 @cindex Maximum number of continuation lines
1432 Sets the maximum number of continuation lines of hex dump that will be
1433 displayed for a given single line of source input. The default value is 4.
1434 @end table
1435
1436 @node M
1437 @section Assemble in MRI Compatibility Mode: @code{-M}
1438
1439 @kindex -M
1440 @cindex MRI compatibility mode
1441 The @code{-M} or @code{--mri} option selects MRI compatibility mode. This
1442 changes the syntax and pseudo-op handling of @code{@value{AS}} to make it
1443 compatible with the @code{ASM68K} or the @code{ASM960} (depending upon the
1444 configured target) assembler from Microtec Research. The exact nature of the
1445 MRI syntax will not be documented here; see the MRI manuals for more
1446 information. Note in particular that the handling of macros and macro
1447 arguments is somewhat different. The purpose of this option is to permit
1448 assembling existing MRI assembler code using @code{@value{AS}}.
1449
1450 The MRI compatibility is not complete. Certain operations of the MRI assembler
1451 depend upon its object file format, and can not be supported using other object
1452 file formats. Supporting these would require enhancing each object file format
1453 individually. These are:
1454
1455 @itemize @bullet
1456 @item global symbols in common section
1457
1458 The m68k MRI assembler supports common sections which are merged by the linker.
1459 Other object file formats do not support this. @code{@value{AS}} handles
1460 common sections by treating them as a single common symbol. It permits local
1461 symbols to be defined within a common section, but it can not support global
1462 symbols, since it has no way to describe them.
1463
1464 @item complex relocations
1465
1466 The MRI assemblers support relocations against a negated section address, and
1467 relocations which combine the start addresses of two or more sections. These
1468 are not support by other object file formats.
1469
1470 @item @code{END} pseudo-op specifying start address
1471
1472 The MRI @code{END} pseudo-op permits the specification of a start address.
1473 This is not supported by other object file formats. The start address may
1474 instead be specified using the @code{-e} option to the linker, or in a linker
1475 script.
1476
1477 @item @code{IDNT}, @code{.ident} and @code{NAME} pseudo-ops
1478
1479 The MRI @code{IDNT}, @code{.ident} and @code{NAME} pseudo-ops assign a module
1480 name to the output file. This is not supported by other object file formats.
1481
1482 @item @code{ORG} pseudo-op
1483
1484 The m68k MRI @code{ORG} pseudo-op begins an absolute section at a given
1485 address. This differs from the usual @code{@value{AS}} @code{.org} pseudo-op,
1486 which changes the location within the current section. Absolute sections are
1487 not supported by other object file formats. The address of a section may be
1488 assigned within a linker script.
1489 @end itemize
1490
1491 There are some other features of the MRI assembler which are not supported by
1492 @code{@value{AS}}, typically either because they are difficult or because they
1493 seem of little consequence. Some of these may be supported in future releases.
1494
1495 @itemize @bullet
1496
1497 @item EBCDIC strings
1498
1499 EBCDIC strings are not supported.
1500
1501 @item packed binary coded decimal
1502
1503 Packed binary coded decimal is not supported. This means that the @code{DC.P}
1504 and @code{DCB.P} pseudo-ops are not supported.
1505
1506 @item @code{FEQU} pseudo-op
1507
1508 The m68k @code{FEQU} pseudo-op is not supported.
1509
1510 @item @code{NOOBJ} pseudo-op
1511
1512 The m68k @code{NOOBJ} pseudo-op is not supported.
1513
1514 @item @code{OPT} branch control options
1515
1516 The m68k @code{OPT} branch control options---@code{B}, @code{BRS}, @code{BRB},
1517 @code{BRL}, and @code{BRW}---are ignored. @code{@value{AS}} automatically
1518 relaxes all branches, whether forward or backward, to an appropriate size, so
1519 these options serve no purpose.
1520
1521 @item @code{OPT} list control options
1522
1523 The following m68k @code{OPT} list control options are ignored: @code{C},
1524 @code{CEX}, @code{CL}, @code{CRE}, @code{E}, @code{G}, @code{I}, @code{M},
1525 @code{MEX}, @code{MC}, @code{MD}, @code{X}.
1526
1527 @item other @code{OPT} options
1528
1529 The following m68k @code{OPT} options are ignored: @code{NEST}, @code{O},
1530 @code{OLD}, @code{OP}, @code{P}, @code{PCO}, @code{PCR}, @code{PCS}, @code{R}.
1531
1532 @item @code{OPT} @code{D} option is default
1533
1534 The m68k @code{OPT} @code{D} option is the default, unlike the MRI assembler.
1535 @code{OPT NOD} may be used to turn it off.
1536
1537 @item @code{XREF} pseudo-op.
1538
1539 The m68k @code{XREF} pseudo-op is ignored.
1540
1541 @item @code{.debug} pseudo-op
1542
1543 The i960 @code{.debug} pseudo-op is not supported.
1544
1545 @item @code{.extended} pseudo-op
1546
1547 The i960 @code{.extended} pseudo-op is not supported.
1548
1549 @item @code{.list} pseudo-op.
1550
1551 The various options of the i960 @code{.list} pseudo-op are not supported.
1552
1553 @item @code{.optimize} pseudo-op
1554
1555 The i960 @code{.optimize} pseudo-op is not supported.
1556
1557 @item @code{.output} pseudo-op
1558
1559 The i960 @code{.output} pseudo-op is not supported.
1560
1561 @item @code{.setreal} pseudo-op
1562
1563 The i960 @code{.setreal} pseudo-op is not supported.
1564
1565 @end itemize
1566
1567 @node MD
1568 @section Dependency tracking: @code{--MD}
1569
1570 @kindex --MD
1571 @cindex dependency tracking
1572 @cindex make rules
1573
1574 @code{@value{AS}} can generate a dependency file for the file it creates. This
1575 file consists of a single rule suitable for @code{make} describing the
1576 dependencies of the main source file.
1577
1578 The rule is written to the file named in its argument.
1579
1580 This feature is used in the automatic updating of makefiles.
1581
1582 @node o
1583 @section Name the Object File: @code{-o}
1584
1585 @kindex -o
1586 @cindex naming object file
1587 @cindex object file name
1588 There is always one object file output when you run @code{@value{AS}}. By
1589 default it has the name
1590 @ifset GENERIC
1591 @ifset I960
1592 @file{a.out} (or @file{b.out}, for Intel 960 targets only).
1593 @end ifset
1594 @ifclear I960
1595 @file{a.out}.
1596 @end ifclear
1597 @end ifset
1598 @ifclear GENERIC
1599 @ifset I960
1600 @file{b.out}.
1601 @end ifset
1602 @ifclear I960
1603 @file{a.out}.
1604 @end ifclear
1605 @end ifclear
1606 You use this option (which takes exactly one filename) to give the
1607 object file a different name.
1608
1609 Whatever the object file is called, @code{@value{AS}} overwrites any
1610 existing file of the same name.
1611
1612 @node R
1613 @section Join Data and Text Sections: @code{-R}
1614
1615 @kindex -R
1616 @cindex data and text sections, joining
1617 @cindex text and data sections, joining
1618 @cindex joining text and data sections
1619 @cindex merging text and data sections
1620 @code{-R} tells @code{@value{AS}} to write the object file as if all
1621 data-section data lives in the text section. This is only done at
1622 the very last moment: your binary data are the same, but data
1623 section parts are relocated differently. The data section part of
1624 your object file is zero bytes long because all its bytes are
1625 appended to the text section. (@xref{Sections,,Sections and Relocation}.)
1626
1627 When you specify @code{-R} it would be possible to generate shorter
1628 address displacements (because we do not have to cross between text and
1629 data section). We refrain from doing this simply for compatibility with
1630 older versions of @code{@value{AS}}. In future, @code{-R} may work this way.
1631
1632 @ifset COFF
1633 When @code{@value{AS}} is configured for COFF output,
1634 this option is only useful if you use sections named @samp{.text} and
1635 @samp{.data}.
1636 @end ifset
1637
1638 @ifset HPPA
1639 @code{-R} is not supported for any of the HPPA targets. Using
1640 @code{-R} generates a warning from @code{@value{AS}}.
1641 @end ifset
1642
1643 @node statistics
1644 @section Display Assembly Statistics: @code{--statistics}
1645
1646 @kindex --statistics
1647 @cindex statistics, about assembly
1648 @cindex time, total for assembly
1649 @cindex space used, maximum for assembly
1650 Use @samp{--statistics} to display two statistics about the resources used by
1651 @code{@value{AS}}: the maximum amount of space allocated during the assembly
1652 (in bytes), and the total execution time taken for the assembly (in @sc{cpu}
1653 seconds).
1654
1655 @node traditional-format
1656 @section Compatible output: @code{--traditional-format}
1657
1658 @kindex --traditional-format
1659 For some targets, the output of @code{@value{AS}} is different in some ways
1660 from the output of some existing assembler. This switch requests
1661 @code{@value{AS}} to use the traditional format instead.
1662
1663 For example, it disables the exception frame optimizations which
1664 @code{@value{AS}} normally does by default on @code{@value{GCC}} output.
1665
1666 @node v
1667 @section Announce Version: @code{-v}
1668
1669 @kindex -v
1670 @kindex -version
1671 @cindex assembler version
1672 @cindex version of assembler
1673 You can find out what version of as is running by including the
1674 option @samp{-v} (which you can also spell as @samp{-version}) on the
1675 command line.
1676
1677 @node W
1678 @section Control Warnings: @code{-W}, @code{--warn}, @code{--no-warn}, @code{--fatal-warnings}
1679
1680 @code{@value{AS}} should never give a warning or error message when
1681 assembling compiler output. But programs written by people often
1682 cause @code{@value{AS}} to give a warning that a particular assumption was
1683 made. All such warnings are directed to the standard error file.
1684
1685 @kindex @samp{-W}
1686 @kindex @samp{--no-warn}
1687 @cindex suppressing warnings
1688 @cindex warnings, suppressing
1689 If you use the @code{-W} and @code{--no-warn} options, no warnings are issued.
1690 This only affects the warning messages: it does not change any particular of
1691 how @code{@value{AS}} assembles your file. Errors, which stop the assembly,
1692 are still reported.
1693
1694 @kindex @samp{--fatal-warnings}
1695 @cindex errors, caused by warnings
1696 @cindex warnings, causing error
1697 If you use the @code{--fatal-warnings} option, @code{@value{AS}} considers
1698 files that generate warnings to be in error.
1699
1700 @kindex @samp{--warn}
1701 @cindex warnings, switching on
1702 You can switch these options off again by specifying @code{--warn}, which
1703 causes warnings to be output as usual.
1704
1705 @node Z
1706 @section Generate Object File in Spite of Errors: @code{-Z}
1707 @cindex object file, after errors
1708 @cindex errors, continuing after
1709 After an error message, @code{@value{AS}} normally produces no output. If for
1710 some reason you are interested in object file output even after
1711 @code{@value{AS}} gives an error message on your program, use the @samp{-Z}
1712 option. If there are any errors, @code{@value{AS}} continues anyways, and
1713 writes an object file after a final warning message of the form @samp{@var{n}
1714 errors, @var{m} warnings, generating bad object file.}
1715
1716 @node Syntax
1717 @chapter Syntax
1718
1719 @cindex machine-independent syntax
1720 @cindex syntax, machine-independent
1721 This chapter describes the machine-independent syntax allowed in a
1722 source file. @code{@value{AS}} syntax is similar to what many other
1723 assemblers use; it is inspired by the BSD 4.2
1724 @ifclear VAX
1725 assembler.
1726 @end ifclear
1727 @ifset VAX
1728 assembler, except that @code{@value{AS}} does not assemble Vax bit-fields.
1729 @end ifset
1730
1731 @menu
1732 * Preprocessing:: Preprocessing
1733 * Whitespace:: Whitespace
1734 * Comments:: Comments
1735 * Symbol Intro:: Symbols
1736 * Statements:: Statements
1737 * Constants:: Constants
1738 @end menu
1739
1740 @node Preprocessing
1741 @section Preprocessing
1742
1743 @cindex preprocessing
1744 The @code{@value{AS}} internal preprocessor:
1745 @itemize @bullet
1746 @cindex whitespace, removed by preprocessor
1747 @item
1748 adjusts and removes extra whitespace. It leaves one space or tab before
1749 the keywords on a line, and turns any other whitespace on the line into
1750 a single space.
1751
1752 @cindex comments, removed by preprocessor
1753 @item
1754 removes all comments, replacing them with a single space, or an
1755 appropriate number of newlines.
1756
1757 @cindex constants, converted by preprocessor
1758 @item
1759 converts character constants into the appropriate numeric values.
1760 @end itemize
1761
1762 It does not do macro processing, include file handling, or
1763 anything else you may get from your C compiler's preprocessor. You can
1764 do include file processing with the @code{.include} directive
1765 (@pxref{Include,,@code{.include}}). You can use the @sc{gnu} C compiler driver
1766 to get other ``CPP'' style preprocessing, by giving the input file a
1767 @samp{.S} suffix. @xref{Overall Options,, Options Controlling the Kind of
1768 Output, gcc.info, Using GNU CC}.
1769
1770 Excess whitespace, comments, and character constants
1771 cannot be used in the portions of the input text that are not
1772 preprocessed.
1773
1774 @cindex turning preprocessing on and off
1775 @cindex preprocessing, turning on and off
1776 @kindex #NO_APP
1777 @kindex #APP
1778 If the first line of an input file is @code{#NO_APP} or if you use the
1779 @samp{-f} option, whitespace and comments are not removed from the input file.
1780 Within an input file, you can ask for whitespace and comment removal in
1781 specific portions of the by putting a line that says @code{#APP} before the
1782 text that may contain whitespace or comments, and putting a line that says
1783 @code{#NO_APP} after this text. This feature is mainly intend to support
1784 @code{asm} statements in compilers whose output is otherwise free of comments
1785 and whitespace.
1786
1787 @node Whitespace
1788 @section Whitespace
1789
1790 @cindex whitespace
1791 @dfn{Whitespace} is one or more blanks or tabs, in any order.
1792 Whitespace is used to separate symbols, and to make programs neater for
1793 people to read. Unless within character constants
1794 (@pxref{Characters,,Character Constants}), any whitespace means the same
1795 as exactly one space.
1796
1797 @node Comments
1798 @section Comments
1799
1800 @cindex comments
1801 There are two ways of rendering comments to @code{@value{AS}}. In both
1802 cases the comment is equivalent to one space.
1803
1804 Anything from @samp{/*} through the next @samp{*/} is a comment.
1805 This means you may not nest these comments.
1806
1807 @smallexample
1808 /*
1809 The only way to include a newline ('\n') in a comment
1810 is to use this sort of comment.
1811 */
1812
1813 /* This sort of comment does not nest. */
1814 @end smallexample
1815
1816 @cindex line comment character
1817 Anything from the @dfn{line comment} character to the next newline
1818 is considered a comment and is ignored. The line comment character is
1819 @ifset A29K
1820 @samp{;} for the AMD 29K family;
1821 @end ifset
1822 @ifset ARC
1823 @samp{;} on the ARC;
1824 @end ifset
1825 @ifset ARM
1826 @samp{@@} on the ARM;
1827 @end ifset
1828 @ifset H8/300
1829 @samp{;} for the H8/300 family;
1830 @end ifset
1831 @ifset H8/500
1832 @samp{!} for the H8/500 family;
1833 @end ifset
1834 @ifset HPPA
1835 @samp{;} for the HPPA;
1836 @end ifset
1837 @ifset I80386
1838 @samp{#} on the i386 and x86-64;
1839 @end ifset
1840 @ifset I960
1841 @samp{#} on the i960;
1842 @end ifset
1843 @ifset PDP11
1844 @samp{;} for the PDP-11;
1845 @end ifset
1846 @ifset PJ
1847 @samp{;} for picoJava;
1848 @end ifset
1849 @ifset SH
1850 @samp{!} for the Hitachi SH;
1851 @end ifset
1852 @ifset SPARC
1853 @samp{!} on the SPARC;
1854 @end ifset
1855 @ifset M32R
1856 @samp{#} on the m32r;
1857 @end ifset
1858 @ifset M680X0
1859 @samp{|} on the 680x0;
1860 @end ifset
1861 @ifset M68HC11
1862 @samp{#} on the 68HC11 and 68HC12;
1863 @end ifset
1864 @ifset M880X0
1865 @samp{;} on the M880x0;
1866 @end ifset
1867 @ifset VAX
1868 @samp{#} on the Vax;
1869 @end ifset
1870 @ifset Z8000
1871 @samp{!} for the Z8000;
1872 @end ifset
1873 @ifset V850
1874 @samp{#} on the V850;
1875 @end ifset
1876 see @ref{Machine Dependencies}. @refill
1877 @c FIXME What about i860?
1878
1879 @ifset GENERIC
1880 On some machines there are two different line comment characters. One
1881 character only begins a comment if it is the first non-whitespace character on
1882 a line, while the other always begins a comment.
1883 @end ifset
1884
1885 @ifset V850
1886 The V850 assembler also supports a double dash as starting a comment that
1887 extends to the end of the line.
1888
1889 @samp{--};
1890 @end ifset
1891
1892 @kindex #
1893 @cindex lines starting with @code{#}
1894 @cindex logical line numbers
1895 To be compatible with past assemblers, lines that begin with @samp{#} have a
1896 special interpretation. Following the @samp{#} should be an absolute
1897 expression (@pxref{Expressions}): the logical line number of the @emph{next}
1898 line. Then a string (@pxref{Strings,, Strings}) is allowed: if present it is a
1899 new logical file name. The rest of the line, if any, should be whitespace.
1900
1901 If the first non-whitespace characters on the line are not numeric,
1902 the line is ignored. (Just like a comment.)
1903
1904 @smallexample
1905 # This is an ordinary comment.
1906 # 42-6 "new_file_name" # New logical file name
1907 # This is logical line # 36.
1908 @end smallexample
1909 This feature is deprecated, and may disappear from future versions
1910 of @code{@value{AS}}.
1911
1912 @node Symbol Intro
1913 @section Symbols
1914
1915 @cindex characters used in symbols
1916 @ifclear SPECIAL-SYMS
1917 A @dfn{symbol} is one or more characters chosen from the set of all
1918 letters (both upper and lower case), digits and the three characters
1919 @samp{_.$}.
1920 @end ifclear
1921 @ifset SPECIAL-SYMS
1922 @ifclear GENERIC
1923 @ifset H8
1924 A @dfn{symbol} is one or more characters chosen from the set of all
1925 letters (both upper and lower case), digits and the three characters
1926 @samp{._$}. (Save that, on the H8/300 only, you may not use @samp{$} in
1927 symbol names.)
1928 @end ifset
1929 @end ifclear
1930 @end ifset
1931 @ifset GENERIC
1932 On most machines, you can also use @code{$} in symbol names; exceptions
1933 are noted in @ref{Machine Dependencies}.
1934 @end ifset
1935 No symbol may begin with a digit. Case is significant.
1936 There is no length limit: all characters are significant. Symbols are
1937 delimited by characters not in that set, or by the beginning of a file
1938 (since the source program must end with a newline, the end of a file is
1939 not a possible symbol delimiter). @xref{Symbols}.
1940 @cindex length of symbols
1941
1942 @node Statements
1943 @section Statements
1944
1945 @cindex statements, structure of
1946 @cindex line separator character
1947 @cindex statement separator character
1948 @ifclear GENERIC
1949 @ifclear abnormal-separator
1950 A @dfn{statement} ends at a newline character (@samp{\n}) or at a
1951 semicolon (@samp{;}). The newline or semicolon is considered part of
1952 the preceding statement. Newlines and semicolons within character
1953 constants are an exception: they do not end statements.
1954 @end ifclear
1955 @ifset abnormal-separator
1956 @ifset A29K
1957 A @dfn{statement} ends at a newline character (@samp{\n}) or an ``at''
1958 sign (@samp{@@}). The newline or at sign is considered part of the
1959 preceding statement. Newlines and at signs within character constants
1960 are an exception: they do not end statements.
1961 @end ifset
1962 @ifset HPPA
1963 A @dfn{statement} ends at a newline character (@samp{\n}) or an exclamation
1964 point (@samp{!}). The newline or exclamation point is considered part of the
1965 preceding statement. Newlines and exclamation points within character
1966 constants are an exception: they do not end statements.
1967 @end ifset
1968 @ifset H8
1969 A @dfn{statement} ends at a newline character (@samp{\n}); or (for the
1970 H8/300) a dollar sign (@samp{$}); or (for the
1971 Hitachi-SH or the
1972 H8/500) a semicolon
1973 (@samp{;}). The newline or separator character is considered part of
1974 the preceding statement. Newlines and separators within character
1975 constants are an exception: they do not end statements.
1976 @end ifset
1977 @end ifset
1978 @end ifclear
1979 @ifset GENERIC
1980 A @dfn{statement} ends at a newline character (@samp{\n}) or line
1981 separator character. (The line separator is usually @samp{;}, unless
1982 this conflicts with the comment character; @pxref{Machine Dependencies}.) The
1983 newline or separator character is considered part of the preceding
1984 statement. Newlines and separators within character constants are an
1985 exception: they do not end statements.
1986 @end ifset
1987
1988 @cindex newline, required at file end
1989 @cindex EOF, newline must precede
1990 It is an error to end any statement with end-of-file: the last
1991 character of any input file should be a newline.@refill
1992
1993 An empty statement is allowed, and may include whitespace. It is ignored.
1994
1995 @cindex instructions and directives
1996 @cindex directives and instructions
1997 @c "key symbol" is not used elsewhere in the document; seems pedantic to
1998 @c @defn{} it in that case, as was done previously... doc@cygnus.com,
1999 @c 13feb91.
2000 A statement begins with zero or more labels, optionally followed by a
2001 key symbol which determines what kind of statement it is. The key
2002 symbol determines the syntax of the rest of the statement. If the
2003 symbol begins with a dot @samp{.} then the statement is an assembler
2004 directive: typically valid for any computer. If the symbol begins with
2005 a letter the statement is an assembly language @dfn{instruction}: it
2006 assembles into a machine language instruction.
2007 @ifset GENERIC
2008 Different versions of @code{@value{AS}} for different computers
2009 recognize different instructions. In fact, the same symbol may
2010 represent a different instruction in a different computer's assembly
2011 language.@refill
2012 @end ifset
2013
2014 @cindex @code{:} (label)
2015 @cindex label (@code{:})
2016 A label is a symbol immediately followed by a colon (@code{:}).
2017 Whitespace before a label or after a colon is permitted, but you may not
2018 have whitespace between a label's symbol and its colon. @xref{Labels}.
2019
2020 @ifset HPPA
2021 For HPPA targets, labels need not be immediately followed by a colon, but
2022 the definition of a label must begin in column zero. This also implies that
2023 only one label may be defined on each line.
2024 @end ifset
2025
2026 @smallexample
2027 label: .directive followed by something
2028 another_label: # This is an empty statement.
2029 instruction operand_1, operand_2, @dots{}
2030 @end smallexample
2031
2032 @node Constants
2033 @section Constants
2034
2035 @cindex constants
2036 A constant is a number, written so that its value is known by
2037 inspection, without knowing any context. Like this:
2038 @smallexample
2039 @group
2040 .byte 74, 0112, 092, 0x4A, 0X4a, 'J, '\J # All the same value.
2041 .ascii "Ring the bell\7" # A string constant.
2042 .octa 0x123456789abcdef0123456789ABCDEF0 # A bignum.
2043 .float 0f-314159265358979323846264338327\
2044 95028841971.693993751E-40 # - pi, a flonum.
2045 @end group
2046 @end smallexample
2047
2048 @menu
2049 * Characters:: Character Constants
2050 * Numbers:: Number Constants
2051 @end menu
2052
2053 @node Characters
2054 @subsection Character Constants
2055
2056 @cindex character constants
2057 @cindex constants, character
2058 There are two kinds of character constants. A @dfn{character} stands
2059 for one character in one byte and its value may be used in
2060 numeric expressions. String constants (properly called string
2061 @emph{literals}) are potentially many bytes and their values may not be
2062 used in arithmetic expressions.
2063
2064 @menu
2065 * Strings:: Strings
2066 * Chars:: Characters
2067 @end menu
2068
2069 @node Strings
2070 @subsubsection Strings
2071
2072 @cindex string constants
2073 @cindex constants, string
2074 A @dfn{string} is written between double-quotes. It may contain
2075 double-quotes or null characters. The way to get special characters
2076 into a string is to @dfn{escape} these characters: precede them with
2077 a backslash @samp{\} character. For example @samp{\\} represents
2078 one backslash: the first @code{\} is an escape which tells
2079 @code{@value{AS}} to interpret the second character literally as a backslash
2080 (which prevents @code{@value{AS}} from recognizing the second @code{\} as an
2081 escape character). The complete list of escapes follows.
2082
2083 @cindex escape codes, character
2084 @cindex character escape codes
2085 @table @kbd
2086 @c @item \a
2087 @c Mnemonic for ACKnowledge; for ASCII this is octal code 007.
2088 @c
2089 @cindex @code{\b} (backspace character)
2090 @cindex backspace (@code{\b})
2091 @item \b
2092 Mnemonic for backspace; for ASCII this is octal code 010.
2093
2094 @c @item \e
2095 @c Mnemonic for EOText; for ASCII this is octal code 004.
2096 @c
2097 @cindex @code{\f} (formfeed character)
2098 @cindex formfeed (@code{\f})
2099 @item \f
2100 Mnemonic for FormFeed; for ASCII this is octal code 014.
2101
2102 @cindex @code{\n} (newline character)
2103 @cindex newline (@code{\n})
2104 @item \n
2105 Mnemonic for newline; for ASCII this is octal code 012.
2106
2107 @c @item \p
2108 @c Mnemonic for prefix; for ASCII this is octal code 033, usually known as @code{escape}.
2109 @c
2110 @cindex @code{\r} (carriage return character)
2111 @cindex carriage return (@code{\r})
2112 @item \r
2113 Mnemonic for carriage-Return; for ASCII this is octal code 015.
2114
2115 @c @item \s
2116 @c Mnemonic for space; for ASCII this is octal code 040. Included for compliance with
2117 @c other assemblers.
2118 @c
2119 @cindex @code{\t} (tab)
2120 @cindex tab (@code{\t})
2121 @item \t
2122 Mnemonic for horizontal Tab; for ASCII this is octal code 011.
2123
2124 @c @item \v
2125 @c Mnemonic for Vertical tab; for ASCII this is octal code 013.
2126 @c @item \x @var{digit} @var{digit} @var{digit}
2127 @c A hexadecimal character code. The numeric code is 3 hexadecimal digits.
2128 @c
2129 @cindex @code{\@var{ddd}} (octal character code)
2130 @cindex octal character code (@code{\@var{ddd}})
2131 @item \ @var{digit} @var{digit} @var{digit}
2132 An octal character code. The numeric code is 3 octal digits.
2133 For compatibility with other Unix systems, 8 and 9 are accepted as digits:
2134 for example, @code{\008} has the value 010, and @code{\009} the value 011.
2135
2136 @cindex @code{\@var{xd...}} (hex character code)
2137 @cindex hex character code (@code{\@var{xd...}})
2138 @item \@code{x} @var{hex-digits...}
2139 A hex character code. All trailing hex digits are combined. Either upper or
2140 lower case @code{x} works.
2141
2142 @cindex @code{\\} (@samp{\} character)
2143 @cindex backslash (@code{\\})
2144 @item \\
2145 Represents one @samp{\} character.
2146
2147 @c @item \'
2148 @c Represents one @samp{'} (accent acute) character.
2149 @c This is needed in single character literals
2150 @c (@xref{Characters,,Character Constants}.) to represent
2151 @c a @samp{'}.
2152 @c
2153 @cindex @code{\"} (doublequote character)
2154 @cindex doublequote (@code{\"})
2155 @item \"
2156 Represents one @samp{"} character. Needed in strings to represent
2157 this character, because an unescaped @samp{"} would end the string.
2158
2159 @item \ @var{anything-else}
2160 Any other character when escaped by @kbd{\} gives a warning, but
2161 assembles as if the @samp{\} was not present. The idea is that if
2162 you used an escape sequence you clearly didn't want the literal
2163 interpretation of the following character. However @code{@value{AS}} has no
2164 other interpretation, so @code{@value{AS}} knows it is giving you the wrong
2165 code and warns you of the fact.
2166 @end table
2167
2168 Which characters are escapable, and what those escapes represent,
2169 varies widely among assemblers. The current set is what we think
2170 the BSD 4.2 assembler recognizes, and is a subset of what most C
2171 compilers recognize. If you are in doubt, do not use an escape
2172 sequence.
2173
2174 @node Chars
2175 @subsubsection Characters
2176
2177 @cindex single character constant
2178 @cindex character, single
2179 @cindex constant, single character
2180 A single character may be written as a single quote immediately
2181 followed by that character. The same escapes apply to characters as
2182 to strings. So if you want to write the character backslash, you
2183 must write @kbd{'\\} where the first @code{\} escapes the second
2184 @code{\}. As you can see, the quote is an acute accent, not a
2185 grave accent. A newline
2186 @ifclear GENERIC
2187 @ifclear abnormal-separator
2188 (or semicolon @samp{;})
2189 @end ifclear
2190 @ifset abnormal-separator
2191 @ifset A29K
2192 (or at sign @samp{@@})
2193 @end ifset
2194 @ifset H8
2195 (or dollar sign @samp{$}, for the H8/300; or semicolon @samp{;} for the
2196 Hitachi SH or
2197 H8/500)
2198 @end ifset
2199 @end ifset
2200 @end ifclear
2201 immediately following an acute accent is taken as a literal character
2202 and does not count as the end of a statement. The value of a character
2203 constant in a numeric expression is the machine's byte-wide code for
2204 that character. @code{@value{AS}} assumes your character code is ASCII:
2205 @kbd{'A} means 65, @kbd{'B} means 66, and so on. @refill
2206
2207 @node Numbers
2208 @subsection Number Constants
2209
2210 @cindex constants, number
2211 @cindex number constants
2212 @code{@value{AS}} distinguishes three kinds of numbers according to how they
2213 are stored in the target machine. @emph{Integers} are numbers that
2214 would fit into an @code{int} in the C language. @emph{Bignums} are
2215 integers, but they are stored in more than 32 bits. @emph{Flonums}
2216 are floating point numbers, described below.
2217
2218 @menu
2219 * Integers:: Integers
2220 * Bignums:: Bignums
2221 * Flonums:: Flonums
2222 @ifclear GENERIC
2223 @ifset I960
2224 * Bit Fields:: Bit Fields
2225 @end ifset
2226 @end ifclear
2227 @end menu
2228
2229 @node Integers
2230 @subsubsection Integers
2231 @cindex integers
2232 @cindex constants, integer
2233
2234 @cindex binary integers
2235 @cindex integers, binary
2236 A binary integer is @samp{0b} or @samp{0B} followed by zero or more of
2237 the binary digits @samp{01}.
2238
2239 @cindex octal integers
2240 @cindex integers, octal
2241 An octal integer is @samp{0} followed by zero or more of the octal
2242 digits (@samp{01234567}).
2243
2244 @cindex decimal integers
2245 @cindex integers, decimal
2246 A decimal integer starts with a non-zero digit followed by zero or
2247 more digits (@samp{0123456789}).
2248
2249 @cindex hexadecimal integers
2250 @cindex integers, hexadecimal
2251 A hexadecimal integer is @samp{0x} or @samp{0X} followed by one or
2252 more hexadecimal digits chosen from @samp{0123456789abcdefABCDEF}.
2253
2254 Integers have the usual values. To denote a negative integer, use
2255 the prefix operator @samp{-} discussed under expressions
2256 (@pxref{Prefix Ops,,Prefix Operators}).
2257
2258 @node Bignums
2259 @subsubsection Bignums
2260
2261 @cindex bignums
2262 @cindex constants, bignum
2263 A @dfn{bignum} has the same syntax and semantics as an integer
2264 except that the number (or its negative) takes more than 32 bits to
2265 represent in binary. The distinction is made because in some places
2266 integers are permitted while bignums are not.
2267
2268 @node Flonums
2269 @subsubsection Flonums
2270 @cindex flonums
2271 @cindex floating point numbers
2272 @cindex constants, floating point
2273
2274 @cindex precision, floating point
2275 A @dfn{flonum} represents a floating point number. The translation is
2276 indirect: a decimal floating point number from the text is converted by
2277 @code{@value{AS}} to a generic binary floating point number of more than
2278 sufficient precision. This generic floating point number is converted
2279 to a particular computer's floating point format (or formats) by a
2280 portion of @code{@value{AS}} specialized to that computer.
2281
2282 A flonum is written by writing (in order)
2283 @itemize @bullet
2284 @item
2285 The digit @samp{0}.
2286 @ifset HPPA
2287 (@samp{0} is optional on the HPPA.)
2288 @end ifset
2289
2290 @item
2291 A letter, to tell @code{@value{AS}} the rest of the number is a flonum.
2292 @ifset GENERIC
2293 @kbd{e} is recommended. Case is not important.
2294 @ignore
2295 @c FIXME: verify if flonum syntax really this vague for most cases
2296 (Any otherwise illegal letter works here, but that might be changed. Vax BSD
2297 4.2 assembler seems to allow any of @samp{defghDEFGH}.)
2298 @end ignore
2299
2300 On the H8/300, H8/500,
2301 Hitachi SH,
2302 and AMD 29K architectures, the letter must be
2303 one of the letters @samp{DFPRSX} (in upper or lower case).
2304
2305 On the ARC, the letter must be one of the letters @samp{DFRS}
2306 (in upper or lower case).
2307
2308 On the Intel 960 architecture, the letter must be
2309 one of the letters @samp{DFT} (in upper or lower case).
2310
2311 On the HPPA architecture, the letter must be @samp{E} (upper case only).
2312 @end ifset
2313 @ifclear GENERIC
2314 @ifset A29K
2315 One of the letters @samp{DFPRSX} (in upper or lower case).
2316 @end ifset
2317 @ifset ARC
2318 One of the letters @samp{DFRS} (in upper or lower case).
2319 @end ifset
2320 @ifset H8
2321 One of the letters @samp{DFPRSX} (in upper or lower case).
2322 @end ifset
2323 @ifset HPPA
2324 The letter @samp{E} (upper case only).
2325 @end ifset
2326 @ifset I960
2327 One of the letters @samp{DFT} (in upper or lower case).
2328 @end ifset
2329 @end ifclear
2330
2331 @item
2332 An optional sign: either @samp{+} or @samp{-}.
2333
2334 @item
2335 An optional @dfn{integer part}: zero or more decimal digits.
2336
2337 @item
2338 An optional @dfn{fractional part}: @samp{.} followed by zero
2339 or more decimal digits.
2340
2341 @item
2342 An optional exponent, consisting of:
2343
2344 @itemize @bullet
2345 @item
2346 An @samp{E} or @samp{e}.
2347 @c I can't find a config where "EXP_CHARS" is other than 'eE', but in
2348 @c principle this can perfectly well be different on different targets.
2349 @item
2350 Optional sign: either @samp{+} or @samp{-}.
2351 @item
2352 One or more decimal digits.
2353 @end itemize
2354
2355 @end itemize
2356
2357 At least one of the integer part or the fractional part must be
2358 present. The floating point number has the usual base-10 value.
2359
2360 @code{@value{AS}} does all processing using integers. Flonums are computed
2361 independently of any floating point hardware in the computer running
2362 @code{@value{AS}}.
2363
2364 @ifclear GENERIC
2365 @ifset I960
2366 @c Bit fields are written as a general facility but are also controlled
2367 @c by a conditional-compilation flag---which is as of now (21mar91)
2368 @c turned on only by the i960 config of GAS.
2369 @node Bit Fields
2370 @subsubsection Bit Fields
2371
2372 @cindex bit fields
2373 @cindex constants, bit field
2374 You can also define numeric constants as @dfn{bit fields}.
2375 specify two numbers separated by a colon---
2376 @example
2377 @var{mask}:@var{value}
2378 @end example
2379 @noindent
2380 @code{@value{AS}} applies a bitwise @sc{and} between @var{mask} and
2381 @var{value}.
2382
2383 The resulting number is then packed
2384 @ifset GENERIC
2385 @c this conditional paren in case bit fields turned on elsewhere than 960
2386 (in host-dependent byte order)
2387 @end ifset
2388 into a field whose width depends on which assembler directive has the
2389 bit-field as its argument. Overflow (a result from the bitwise and
2390 requiring more binary digits to represent) is not an error; instead,
2391 more constants are generated, of the specified width, beginning with the
2392 least significant digits.@refill
2393
2394 The directives @code{.byte}, @code{.hword}, @code{.int}, @code{.long},
2395 @code{.short}, and @code{.word} accept bit-field arguments.
2396 @end ifset
2397 @end ifclear
2398
2399 @node Sections
2400 @chapter Sections and Relocation
2401 @cindex sections
2402 @cindex relocation
2403
2404 @menu
2405 * Secs Background:: Background
2406 * Ld Sections:: Linker Sections
2407 * As Sections:: Assembler Internal Sections
2408 * Sub-Sections:: Sub-Sections
2409 * bss:: bss Section
2410 @end menu
2411
2412 @node Secs Background
2413 @section Background
2414
2415 Roughly, a section is a range of addresses, with no gaps; all data
2416 ``in'' those addresses is treated the same for some particular purpose.
2417 For example there may be a ``read only'' section.
2418
2419 @cindex linker, and assembler
2420 @cindex assembler, and linker
2421 The linker @code{@value{LD}} reads many object files (partial programs) and
2422 combines their contents to form a runnable program. When @code{@value{AS}}
2423 emits an object file, the partial program is assumed to start at address 0.
2424 @code{@value{LD}} assigns the final addresses for the partial program, so that
2425 different partial programs do not overlap. This is actually an
2426 oversimplification, but it suffices to explain how @code{@value{AS}} uses
2427 sections.
2428
2429 @code{@value{LD}} moves blocks of bytes of your program to their run-time
2430 addresses. These blocks slide to their run-time addresses as rigid
2431 units; their length does not change and neither does the order of bytes
2432 within them. Such a rigid unit is called a @emph{section}. Assigning
2433 run-time addresses to sections is called @dfn{relocation}. It includes
2434 the task of adjusting mentions of object-file addresses so they refer to
2435 the proper run-time addresses.
2436 @ifset H8
2437 For the H8/300 and H8/500,
2438 and for the Hitachi SH,
2439 @code{@value{AS}} pads sections if needed to
2440 ensure they end on a word (sixteen bit) boundary.
2441 @end ifset
2442
2443 @cindex standard assembler sections
2444 An object file written by @code{@value{AS}} has at least three sections, any
2445 of which may be empty. These are named @dfn{text}, @dfn{data} and
2446 @dfn{bss} sections.
2447
2448 @ifset COFF
2449 @ifset GENERIC
2450 When it generates COFF output,
2451 @end ifset
2452 @code{@value{AS}} can also generate whatever other named sections you specify
2453 using the @samp{.section} directive (@pxref{Section,,@code{.section}}).
2454 If you do not use any directives that place output in the @samp{.text}
2455 or @samp{.data} sections, these sections still exist, but are empty.
2456 @end ifset
2457
2458 @ifset HPPA
2459 @ifset GENERIC
2460 When @code{@value{AS}} generates SOM or ELF output for the HPPA,
2461 @end ifset
2462 @code{@value{AS}} can also generate whatever other named sections you
2463 specify using the @samp{.space} and @samp{.subspace} directives. See
2464 @cite{HP9000 Series 800 Assembly Language Reference Manual}
2465 (HP 92432-90001) for details on the @samp{.space} and @samp{.subspace}
2466 assembler directives.
2467
2468 @ifset SOM
2469 Additionally, @code{@value{AS}} uses different names for the standard
2470 text, data, and bss sections when generating SOM output. Program text
2471 is placed into the @samp{$CODE$} section, data into @samp{$DATA$}, and
2472 BSS into @samp{$BSS$}.
2473 @end ifset
2474 @end ifset
2475
2476 Within the object file, the text section starts at address @code{0}, the
2477 data section follows, and the bss section follows the data section.
2478
2479 @ifset HPPA
2480 When generating either SOM or ELF output files on the HPPA, the text
2481 section starts at address @code{0}, the data section at address
2482 @code{0x4000000}, and the bss section follows the data section.
2483 @end ifset
2484
2485 To let @code{@value{LD}} know which data changes when the sections are
2486 relocated, and how to change that data, @code{@value{AS}} also writes to the
2487 object file details of the relocation needed. To perform relocation
2488 @code{@value{LD}} must know, each time an address in the object
2489 file is mentioned:
2490 @itemize @bullet
2491 @item
2492 Where in the object file is the beginning of this reference to
2493 an address?
2494 @item
2495 How long (in bytes) is this reference?
2496 @item
2497 Which section does the address refer to? What is the numeric value of
2498 @display
2499 (@var{address}) @minus{} (@var{start-address of section})?
2500 @end display
2501 @item
2502 Is the reference to an address ``Program-Counter relative''?
2503 @end itemize
2504
2505 @cindex addresses, format of
2506 @cindex section-relative addressing
2507 In fact, every address @code{@value{AS}} ever uses is expressed as
2508 @display
2509 (@var{section}) + (@var{offset into section})
2510 @end display
2511 @noindent
2512 Further, most expressions @code{@value{AS}} computes have this section-relative
2513 nature.
2514 @ifset SOM
2515 (For some object formats, such as SOM for the HPPA, some expressions are
2516 symbol-relative instead.)
2517 @end ifset
2518
2519 In this manual we use the notation @{@var{secname} @var{N}@} to mean ``offset
2520 @var{N} into section @var{secname}.''
2521
2522 Apart from text, data and bss sections you need to know about the
2523 @dfn{absolute} section. When @code{@value{LD}} mixes partial programs,
2524 addresses in the absolute section remain unchanged. For example, address
2525 @code{@{absolute 0@}} is ``relocated'' to run-time address 0 by
2526 @code{@value{LD}}. Although the linker never arranges two partial programs'
2527 data sections with overlapping addresses after linking, @emph{by definition}
2528 their absolute sections must overlap. Address @code{@{absolute@ 239@}} in one
2529 part of a program is always the same address when the program is running as
2530 address @code{@{absolute@ 239@}} in any other part of the program.
2531
2532 The idea of sections is extended to the @dfn{undefined} section. Any
2533 address whose section is unknown at assembly time is by definition
2534 rendered @{undefined @var{U}@}---where @var{U} is filled in later.
2535 Since numbers are always defined, the only way to generate an undefined
2536 address is to mention an undefined symbol. A reference to a named
2537 common block would be such a symbol: its value is unknown at assembly
2538 time so it has section @emph{undefined}.
2539
2540 By analogy the word @emph{section} is used to describe groups of sections in
2541 the linked program. @code{@value{LD}} puts all partial programs' text
2542 sections in contiguous addresses in the linked program. It is
2543 customary to refer to the @emph{text section} of a program, meaning all
2544 the addresses of all partial programs' text sections. Likewise for
2545 data and bss sections.
2546
2547 Some sections are manipulated by @code{@value{LD}}; others are invented for
2548 use of @code{@value{AS}} and have no meaning except during assembly.
2549
2550 @node Ld Sections
2551 @section Linker Sections
2552 @code{@value{LD}} deals with just four kinds of sections, summarized below.
2553
2554 @table @strong
2555
2556 @ifset COFF
2557 @cindex named sections
2558 @cindex sections, named
2559 @item named sections
2560 @end ifset
2561 @ifset aout-bout
2562 @cindex text section
2563 @cindex data section
2564 @itemx text section
2565 @itemx data section
2566 @end ifset
2567 These sections hold your program. @code{@value{AS}} and @code{@value{LD}} treat them as
2568 separate but equal sections. Anything you can say of one section is
2569 true another.
2570 @ifset aout-bout
2571 When the program is running, however, it is
2572 customary for the text section to be unalterable. The
2573 text section is often shared among processes: it contains
2574 instructions, constants and the like. The data section of a running
2575 program is usually alterable: for example, C variables would be stored
2576 in the data section.
2577 @end ifset
2578
2579 @cindex bss section
2580 @item bss section
2581 This section contains zeroed bytes when your program begins running. It
2582 is used to hold uninitialized variables or common storage. The length of
2583 each partial program's bss section is important, but because it starts
2584 out containing zeroed bytes there is no need to store explicit zero
2585 bytes in the object file. The bss section was invented to eliminate
2586 those explicit zeros from object files.
2587
2588 @cindex absolute section
2589 @item absolute section
2590 Address 0 of this section is always ``relocated'' to runtime address 0.
2591 This is useful if you want to refer to an address that @code{@value{LD}} must
2592 not change when relocating. In this sense we speak of absolute
2593 addresses being ``unrelocatable'': they do not change during relocation.
2594
2595 @cindex undefined section
2596 @item undefined section
2597 This ``section'' is a catch-all for address references to objects not in
2598 the preceding sections.
2599 @c FIXME: ref to some other doc on obj-file formats could go here.
2600 @end table
2601
2602 @cindex relocation example
2603 An idealized example of three relocatable sections follows.
2604 @ifset COFF
2605 The example uses the traditional section names @samp{.text} and @samp{.data}.
2606 @end ifset
2607 Memory addresses are on the horizontal axis.
2608
2609 @c TEXI2ROFF-KILL
2610 @ifinfo
2611 @c END TEXI2ROFF-KILL
2612 @smallexample
2613 +-----+----+--+
2614 partial program # 1: |ttttt|dddd|00|
2615 +-----+----+--+
2616
2617 text data bss
2618 seg. seg. seg.
2619
2620 +---+---+---+
2621 partial program # 2: |TTT|DDD|000|
2622 +---+---+---+
2623
2624 +--+---+-----+--+----+---+-----+~~
2625 linked program: | |TTT|ttttt| |dddd|DDD|00000|
2626 +--+---+-----+--+----+---+-----+~~
2627
2628 addresses: 0 @dots{}
2629 @end smallexample
2630 @c TEXI2ROFF-KILL
2631 @end ifinfo
2632 @need 5000
2633 @tex
2634
2635 \line{\it Partial program \#1: \hfil}
2636 \line{\ibox{2.5cm}{\tt text}\ibox{2cm}{\tt data}\ibox{1cm}{\tt bss}\hfil}
2637 \line{\boxit{2.5cm}{\tt ttttt}\boxit{2cm}{\tt dddd}\boxit{1cm}{\tt 00}\hfil}
2638
2639 \line{\it Partial program \#2: \hfil}
2640 \line{\ibox{1cm}{\tt text}\ibox{1.5cm}{\tt data}\ibox{1cm}{\tt bss}\hfil}
2641 \line{\boxit{1cm}{\tt TTT}\boxit{1.5cm}{\tt DDDD}\boxit{1cm}{\tt 000}\hfil}
2642
2643 \line{\it linked program: \hfil}
2644 \line{\ibox{.5cm}{}\ibox{1cm}{\tt text}\ibox{2.5cm}{}\ibox{.75cm}{}\ibox{2cm}{\tt data}\ibox{1.5cm}{}\ibox{2cm}{\tt bss}\hfil}
2645 \line{\boxit{.5cm}{}\boxit{1cm}{\tt TTT}\boxit{2.5cm}{\tt
2646 ttttt}\boxit{.75cm}{}\boxit{2cm}{\tt dddd}\boxit{1.5cm}{\tt
2647 DDDD}\boxit{2cm}{\tt 00000}\ \dots\hfil}
2648
2649 \line{\it addresses: \hfil}
2650 \line{0\dots\hfil}
2651
2652 @end tex
2653 @c END TEXI2ROFF-KILL
2654
2655 @node As Sections
2656 @section Assembler Internal Sections
2657
2658 @cindex internal assembler sections
2659 @cindex sections in messages, internal
2660 These sections are meant only for the internal use of @code{@value{AS}}. They
2661 have no meaning at run-time. You do not really need to know about these
2662 sections for most purposes; but they can be mentioned in @code{@value{AS}}
2663 warning messages, so it might be helpful to have an idea of their
2664 meanings to @code{@value{AS}}. These sections are used to permit the
2665 value of every expression in your assembly language program to be a
2666 section-relative address.
2667
2668 @table @b
2669 @cindex assembler internal logic error
2670 @item ASSEMBLER-INTERNAL-LOGIC-ERROR!
2671 An internal assembler logic error has been found. This means there is a
2672 bug in the assembler.
2673
2674 @cindex expr (internal section)
2675 @item expr section
2676 The assembler stores complex expression internally as combinations of
2677 symbols. When it needs to represent an expression as a symbol, it puts
2678 it in the expr section.
2679 @c FIXME item debug
2680 @c FIXME item transfer[t] vector preload
2681 @c FIXME item transfer[t] vector postload
2682 @c FIXME item register
2683 @end table
2684
2685 @node Sub-Sections
2686 @section Sub-Sections
2687
2688 @cindex numbered subsections
2689 @cindex grouping data
2690 @ifset aout-bout
2691 Assembled bytes
2692 @ifset COFF
2693 conventionally
2694 @end ifset
2695 fall into two sections: text and data.
2696 @end ifset
2697 You may have separate groups of
2698 @ifset GENERIC
2699 data in named sections
2700 @end ifset
2701 @ifclear GENERIC
2702 @ifclear aout-bout
2703 data in named sections
2704 @end ifclear
2705 @ifset aout-bout
2706 text or data
2707 @end ifset
2708 @end ifclear
2709 that you want to end up near to each other in the object file, even though they
2710 are not contiguous in the assembler source. @code{@value{AS}} allows you to
2711 use @dfn{subsections} for this purpose. Within each section, there can be
2712 numbered subsections with values from 0 to 8192. Objects assembled into the
2713 same subsection go into the object file together with other objects in the same
2714 subsection. For example, a compiler might want to store constants in the text
2715 section, but might not want to have them interspersed with the program being
2716 assembled. In this case, the compiler could issue a @samp{.text 0} before each
2717 section of code being output, and a @samp{.text 1} before each group of
2718 constants being output.
2719
2720 Subsections are optional. If you do not use subsections, everything
2721 goes in subsection number zero.
2722
2723 @ifset GENERIC
2724 Each subsection is zero-padded up to a multiple of four bytes.
2725 (Subsections may be padded a different amount on different flavors
2726 of @code{@value{AS}}.)
2727 @end ifset
2728 @ifclear GENERIC
2729 @ifset H8
2730 On the H8/300 and H8/500 platforms, each subsection is zero-padded to a word
2731 boundary (two bytes).
2732 The same is true on the Hitachi SH.
2733 @end ifset
2734 @ifset I960
2735 @c FIXME section padding (alignment)?
2736 @c Rich Pixley says padding here depends on target obj code format; that
2737 @c doesn't seem particularly useful to say without further elaboration,
2738 @c so for now I say nothing about it. If this is a generic BFD issue,
2739 @c these paragraphs might need to vanish from this manual, and be
2740 @c discussed in BFD chapter of binutils (or some such).
2741 @end ifset
2742 @ifset A29K
2743 On the AMD 29K family, no particular padding is added to section or
2744 subsection sizes; @value{AS} forces no alignment on this platform.
2745 @end ifset
2746 @end ifclear
2747
2748 Subsections appear in your object file in numeric order, lowest numbered
2749 to highest. (All this to be compatible with other people's assemblers.)
2750 The object file contains no representation of subsections; @code{@value{LD}} and
2751 other programs that manipulate object files see no trace of them.
2752 They just see all your text subsections as a text section, and all your
2753 data subsections as a data section.
2754
2755 To specify which subsection you want subsequent statements assembled
2756 into, use a numeric argument to specify it, in a @samp{.text
2757 @var{expression}} or a @samp{.data @var{expression}} statement.
2758 @ifset COFF
2759 @ifset GENERIC
2760 When generating COFF output, you
2761 @end ifset
2762 @ifclear GENERIC
2763 You
2764 @end ifclear
2765 can also use an extra subsection
2766 argument with arbitrary named sections: @samp{.section @var{name},
2767 @var{expression}}.
2768 @end ifset
2769 @var{Expression} should be an absolute expression.
2770 (@xref{Expressions}.) If you just say @samp{.text} then @samp{.text 0}
2771 is assumed. Likewise @samp{.data} means @samp{.data 0}. Assembly
2772 begins in @code{text 0}. For instance:
2773 @smallexample
2774 .text 0 # The default subsection is text 0 anyway.
2775 .ascii "This lives in the first text subsection. *"
2776 .text 1
2777 .ascii "But this lives in the second text subsection."
2778 .data 0
2779 .ascii "This lives in the data section,"
2780 .ascii "in the first data subsection."
2781 .text 0
2782 .ascii "This lives in the first text section,"
2783 .ascii "immediately following the asterisk (*)."
2784 @end smallexample
2785
2786 Each section has a @dfn{location counter} incremented by one for every byte
2787 assembled into that section. Because subsections are merely a convenience
2788 restricted to @code{@value{AS}} there is no concept of a subsection location
2789 counter. There is no way to directly manipulate a location counter---but the
2790 @code{.align} directive changes it, and any label definition captures its
2791 current value. The location counter of the section where statements are being
2792 assembled is said to be the @dfn{active} location counter.
2793
2794 @node bss
2795 @section bss Section
2796
2797 @cindex bss section
2798 @cindex common variable storage
2799 The bss section is used for local common variable storage.
2800 You may allocate address space in the bss section, but you may
2801 not dictate data to load into it before your program executes. When
2802 your program starts running, all the contents of the bss
2803 section are zeroed bytes.
2804
2805 The @code{.lcomm} pseudo-op defines a symbol in the bss section; see
2806 @ref{Lcomm,,@code{.lcomm}}.
2807
2808 The @code{.comm} pseudo-op may be used to declare a common symbol, which is
2809 another form of uninitialized symbol; see @xref{Comm,,@code{.comm}}.
2810
2811 @ifset GENERIC
2812 When assembling for a target which supports multiple sections, such as ELF or
2813 COFF, you may switch into the @code{.bss} section and define symbols as usual;
2814 see @ref{Section,,@code{.section}}. You may only assemble zero values into the
2815 section. Typically the section will only contain symbol definitions and
2816 @code{.skip} directives (@pxref{Skip,,@code{.skip}}).
2817 @end ifset
2818
2819 @node Symbols
2820 @chapter Symbols
2821
2822 @cindex symbols
2823 Symbols are a central concept: the programmer uses symbols to name
2824 things, the linker uses symbols to link, and the debugger uses symbols
2825 to debug.
2826
2827 @quotation
2828 @cindex debuggers, and symbol order
2829 @emph{Warning:} @code{@value{AS}} does not place symbols in the object file in
2830 the same order they were declared. This may break some debuggers.
2831 @end quotation
2832
2833 @menu
2834 * Labels:: Labels
2835 * Setting Symbols:: Giving Symbols Other Values
2836 * Symbol Names:: Symbol Names
2837 * Dot:: The Special Dot Symbol
2838 * Symbol Attributes:: Symbol Attributes
2839 @end menu
2840
2841 @node Labels
2842 @section Labels
2843
2844 @cindex labels
2845 A @dfn{label} is written as a symbol immediately followed by a colon
2846 @samp{:}. The symbol then represents the current value of the
2847 active location counter, and is, for example, a suitable instruction
2848 operand. You are warned if you use the same symbol to represent two
2849 different locations: the first definition overrides any other
2850 definitions.
2851
2852 @ifset HPPA
2853 On the HPPA, the usual form for a label need not be immediately followed by a
2854 colon, but instead must start in column zero. Only one label may be defined on
2855 a single line. To work around this, the HPPA version of @code{@value{AS}} also
2856 provides a special directive @code{.label} for defining labels more flexibly.
2857 @end ifset
2858
2859 @node Setting Symbols
2860 @section Giving Symbols Other Values
2861
2862 @cindex assigning values to symbols
2863 @cindex symbol values, assigning
2864 A symbol can be given an arbitrary value by writing a symbol, followed
2865 by an equals sign @samp{=}, followed by an expression
2866 (@pxref{Expressions}). This is equivalent to using the @code{.set}
2867 directive. @xref{Set,,@code{.set}}.
2868
2869 @node Symbol Names
2870 @section Symbol Names
2871
2872 @cindex symbol names
2873 @cindex names, symbol
2874 @ifclear SPECIAL-SYMS
2875 Symbol names begin with a letter or with one of @samp{._}. On most
2876 machines, you can also use @code{$} in symbol names; exceptions are
2877 noted in @ref{Machine Dependencies}. That character may be followed by any
2878 string of digits, letters, dollar signs (unless otherwise noted in
2879 @ref{Machine Dependencies}), and underscores.
2880 @end ifclear
2881 @ifset A29K
2882 For the AMD 29K family, @samp{?} is also allowed in the
2883 body of a symbol name, though not at its beginning.
2884 @end ifset
2885
2886 @ifset SPECIAL-SYMS
2887 @ifset H8
2888 Symbol names begin with a letter or with one of @samp{._}. On the
2889 Hitachi SH or the
2890 H8/500, you can also use @code{$} in symbol names. That character may
2891 be followed by any string of digits, letters, dollar signs (save on the
2892 H8/300), and underscores.
2893 @end ifset
2894 @end ifset
2895
2896 Case of letters is significant: @code{foo} is a different symbol name
2897 than @code{Foo}.
2898
2899 Each symbol has exactly one name. Each name in an assembly language program
2900 refers to exactly one symbol. You may use that symbol name any number of times
2901 in a program.
2902
2903 @subheading Local Symbol Names
2904
2905 @cindex local symbol names
2906 @cindex symbol names, local
2907 @cindex temporary symbol names
2908 @cindex symbol names, temporary
2909 Local symbols help compilers and programmers use names temporarily.
2910 There are ten local symbol names, which are re-used throughout the
2911 program. You may refer to them using the names @samp{0} @samp{1}
2912 @dots{} @samp{9}. To define a local symbol, write a label of the form
2913 @samp{@b{N}:} (where @b{N} represents any digit). To refer to the most
2914 recent previous definition of that symbol write @samp{@b{N}b}, using the
2915 same digit as when you defined the label. To refer to the next
2916 definition of a local label, write @samp{@b{N}f}---where @b{N} gives you
2917 a choice of 10 forward references. The @samp{b} stands for
2918 ``backwards'' and the @samp{f} stands for ``forwards''.
2919
2920 Local symbols are not emitted by the current @sc{gnu} C compiler.
2921
2922 There is no restriction on how you can use these labels, but
2923 remember that at any point in the assembly you can refer to at most
2924 10 prior local labels and to at most 10 forward local labels.
2925
2926 Local symbol names are only a notation device. They are immediately
2927 transformed into more conventional symbol names before the assembler
2928 uses them. The symbol names stored in the symbol table, appearing in
2929 error messages and optionally emitted to the object file have these
2930 parts:
2931
2932 @table @code
2933 @item L
2934 All local labels begin with @samp{L}. Normally both @code{@value{AS}} and
2935 @code{@value{LD}} forget symbols that start with @samp{L}. These labels are
2936 used for symbols you are never intended to see. If you use the
2937 @samp{-L} option then @code{@value{AS}} retains these symbols in the
2938 object file. If you also instruct @code{@value{LD}} to retain these symbols,
2939 you may use them in debugging.
2940
2941 @item @var{digit}
2942 If the label is written @samp{0:} then the digit is @samp{0}.
2943 If the label is written @samp{1:} then the digit is @samp{1}.
2944 And so on up through @samp{9:}.
2945
2946 @item @kbd{C-A}
2947 This unusual character is included so you do not accidentally invent
2948 a symbol of the same name. The character has ASCII value
2949 @samp{\001}.
2950
2951 @item @emph{ordinal number}
2952 This is a serial number to keep the labels distinct. The first
2953 @samp{0:} gets the number @samp{1}; The 15th @samp{0:} gets the
2954 number @samp{15}; @emph{etc.}. Likewise for the other labels @samp{1:}
2955 through @samp{9:}.
2956 @end table
2957
2958 For instance, the first @code{1:} is named @code{L1@kbd{C-A}1}, the 44th
2959 @code{3:} is named @code{L3@kbd{C-A}44}.
2960
2961 @node Dot
2962 @section The Special Dot Symbol
2963
2964 @cindex dot (symbol)
2965 @cindex @code{.} (symbol)
2966 @cindex current address
2967 @cindex location counter
2968 The special symbol @samp{.} refers to the current address that
2969 @code{@value{AS}} is assembling into. Thus, the expression @samp{melvin:
2970 .long .} defines @code{melvin} to contain its own address.
2971 Assigning a value to @code{.} is treated the same as a @code{.org}
2972 directive. Thus, the expression @samp{.=.+4} is the same as saying
2973 @ifclear no-space-dir
2974 @samp{.space 4}.
2975 @end ifclear
2976 @ifset no-space-dir
2977 @ifset A29K
2978 @samp{.block 4}.
2979 @end ifset
2980 @end ifset
2981
2982 @node Symbol Attributes
2983 @section Symbol Attributes
2984
2985 @cindex symbol attributes
2986 @cindex attributes, symbol
2987 Every symbol has, as well as its name, the attributes ``Value'' and
2988 ``Type''. Depending on output format, symbols can also have auxiliary
2989 attributes.
2990 @ifset INTERNALS
2991 The detailed definitions are in @file{a.out.h}.
2992 @end ifset
2993
2994 If you use a symbol without defining it, @code{@value{AS}} assumes zero for
2995 all these attributes, and probably won't warn you. This makes the
2996 symbol an externally defined symbol, which is generally what you
2997 would want.
2998
2999 @menu
3000 * Symbol Value:: Value
3001 * Symbol Type:: Type
3002 @ifset aout-bout
3003 @ifset GENERIC
3004 * a.out Symbols:: Symbol Attributes: @code{a.out}
3005 @end ifset
3006 @ifclear GENERIC
3007 @ifclear BOUT
3008 * a.out Symbols:: Symbol Attributes: @code{a.out}
3009 @end ifclear
3010 @ifset BOUT
3011 * a.out Symbols:: Symbol Attributes: @code{a.out}, @code{b.out}
3012 @end ifset
3013 @end ifclear
3014 @end ifset
3015 @ifset COFF
3016 * COFF Symbols:: Symbol Attributes for COFF
3017 @end ifset
3018 @ifset SOM
3019 * SOM Symbols:: Symbol Attributes for SOM
3020 @end ifset
3021 @end menu
3022
3023 @node Symbol Value
3024 @subsection Value
3025
3026 @cindex value of a symbol
3027 @cindex symbol value
3028 The value of a symbol is (usually) 32 bits. For a symbol which labels a
3029 location in the text, data, bss or absolute sections the value is the
3030 number of addresses from the start of that section to the label.
3031 Naturally for text, data and bss sections the value of a symbol changes
3032 as @code{@value{LD}} changes section base addresses during linking. Absolute
3033 symbols' values do not change during linking: that is why they are
3034 called absolute.
3035
3036 The value of an undefined symbol is treated in a special way. If it is
3037 0 then the symbol is not defined in this assembler source file, and
3038 @code{@value{LD}} tries to determine its value from other files linked into the
3039 same program. You make this kind of symbol simply by mentioning a symbol
3040 name without defining it. A non-zero value represents a @code{.comm}
3041 common declaration. The value is how much common storage to reserve, in
3042 bytes (addresses). The symbol refers to the first address of the
3043 allocated storage.
3044
3045 @node Symbol Type
3046 @subsection Type
3047
3048 @cindex type of a symbol
3049 @cindex symbol type
3050 The type attribute of a symbol contains relocation (section)
3051 information, any flag settings indicating that a symbol is external, and
3052 (optionally), other information for linkers and debuggers. The exact
3053 format depends on the object-code output format in use.
3054
3055 @ifset aout-bout
3056 @ifclear GENERIC
3057 @ifset BOUT
3058 @c The following avoids a "widow" subsection title. @group would be
3059 @c better if it were available outside examples.
3060 @need 1000
3061 @node a.out Symbols
3062 @subsection Symbol Attributes: @code{a.out}, @code{b.out}
3063
3064 @cindex @code{b.out} symbol attributes
3065 @cindex symbol attributes, @code{b.out}
3066 These symbol attributes appear only when @code{@value{AS}} is configured for
3067 one of the Berkeley-descended object output formats---@code{a.out} or
3068 @code{b.out}.
3069
3070 @end ifset
3071 @ifclear BOUT
3072 @node a.out Symbols
3073 @subsection Symbol Attributes: @code{a.out}
3074
3075 @cindex @code{a.out} symbol attributes
3076 @cindex symbol attributes, @code{a.out}
3077
3078 @end ifclear
3079 @end ifclear
3080 @ifset GENERIC
3081 @node a.out Symbols
3082 @subsection Symbol Attributes: @code{a.out}
3083
3084 @cindex @code{a.out} symbol attributes
3085 @cindex symbol attributes, @code{a.out}
3086
3087 @end ifset
3088 @menu
3089 * Symbol Desc:: Descriptor
3090 * Symbol Other:: Other
3091 @end menu
3092
3093 @node Symbol Desc
3094 @subsubsection Descriptor
3095
3096 @cindex descriptor, of @code{a.out} symbol
3097 This is an arbitrary 16-bit value. You may establish a symbol's
3098 descriptor value by using a @code{.desc} statement
3099 (@pxref{Desc,,@code{.desc}}). A descriptor value means nothing to
3100 @code{@value{AS}}.
3101
3102 @node Symbol Other
3103 @subsubsection Other
3104
3105 @cindex other attribute, of @code{a.out} symbol
3106 This is an arbitrary 8-bit value. It means nothing to @code{@value{AS}}.
3107 @end ifset
3108
3109 @ifset COFF
3110 @node COFF Symbols
3111 @subsection Symbol Attributes for COFF
3112
3113 @cindex COFF symbol attributes
3114 @cindex symbol attributes, COFF
3115
3116 The COFF format supports a multitude of auxiliary symbol attributes;
3117 like the primary symbol attributes, they are set between @code{.def} and
3118 @code{.endef} directives.
3119
3120 @subsubsection Primary Attributes
3121
3122 @cindex primary attributes, COFF symbols
3123 The symbol name is set with @code{.def}; the value and type,
3124 respectively, with @code{.val} and @code{.type}.
3125
3126 @subsubsection Auxiliary Attributes
3127
3128 @cindex auxiliary attributes, COFF symbols
3129 The @code{@value{AS}} directives @code{.dim}, @code{.line}, @code{.scl},
3130 @code{.size}, and @code{.tag} can generate auxiliary symbol table
3131 information for COFF.
3132 @end ifset
3133
3134 @ifset SOM
3135 @node SOM Symbols
3136 @subsection Symbol Attributes for SOM
3137
3138 @cindex SOM symbol attributes
3139 @cindex symbol attributes, SOM
3140
3141 The SOM format for the HPPA supports a multitude of symbol attributes set with
3142 the @code{.EXPORT} and @code{.IMPORT} directives.
3143
3144 The attributes are described in @cite{HP9000 Series 800 Assembly
3145 Language Reference Manual} (HP 92432-90001) under the @code{IMPORT} and
3146 @code{EXPORT} assembler directive documentation.
3147 @end ifset
3148
3149 @node Expressions
3150 @chapter Expressions
3151
3152 @cindex expressions
3153 @cindex addresses
3154 @cindex numeric values
3155 An @dfn{expression} specifies an address or numeric value.
3156 Whitespace may precede and/or follow an expression.
3157
3158 The result of an expression must be an absolute number, or else an offset into
3159 a particular section. If an expression is not absolute, and there is not
3160 enough information when @code{@value{AS}} sees the expression to know its
3161 section, a second pass over the source program might be necessary to interpret
3162 the expression---but the second pass is currently not implemented.
3163 @code{@value{AS}} aborts with an error message in this situation.
3164
3165 @menu
3166 * Empty Exprs:: Empty Expressions
3167 * Integer Exprs:: Integer Expressions
3168 @end menu
3169
3170 @node Empty Exprs
3171 @section Empty Expressions
3172
3173 @cindex empty expressions
3174 @cindex expressions, empty
3175 An empty expression has no value: it is just whitespace or null.
3176 Wherever an absolute expression is required, you may omit the
3177 expression, and @code{@value{AS}} assumes a value of (absolute) 0. This
3178 is compatible with other assemblers.
3179
3180 @node Integer Exprs
3181 @section Integer Expressions
3182
3183 @cindex integer expressions
3184 @cindex expressions, integer
3185 An @dfn{integer expression} is one or more @emph{arguments} delimited
3186 by @emph{operators}.
3187
3188 @menu
3189 * Arguments:: Arguments
3190 * Operators:: Operators
3191 * Prefix Ops:: Prefix Operators
3192 * Infix Ops:: Infix Operators
3193 @end menu
3194
3195 @node Arguments
3196 @subsection Arguments
3197
3198 @cindex expression arguments
3199 @cindex arguments in expressions
3200 @cindex operands in expressions
3201 @cindex arithmetic operands
3202 @dfn{Arguments} are symbols, numbers or subexpressions. In other
3203 contexts arguments are sometimes called ``arithmetic operands''. In
3204 this manual, to avoid confusing them with the ``instruction operands'' of
3205 the machine language, we use the term ``argument'' to refer to parts of
3206 expressions only, reserving the word ``operand'' to refer only to machine
3207 instruction operands.
3208
3209 Symbols are evaluated to yield @{@var{section} @var{NNN}@} where
3210 @var{section} is one of text, data, bss, absolute,
3211 or undefined. @var{NNN} is a signed, 2's complement 32 bit
3212 integer.
3213
3214 Numbers are usually integers.
3215
3216 A number can be a flonum or bignum. In this case, you are warned
3217 that only the low order 32 bits are used, and @code{@value{AS}} pretends
3218 these 32 bits are an integer. You may write integer-manipulating
3219 instructions that act on exotic constants, compatible with other
3220 assemblers.
3221
3222 @cindex subexpressions
3223 Subexpressions are a left parenthesis @samp{(} followed by an integer
3224 expression, followed by a right parenthesis @samp{)}; or a prefix
3225 operator followed by an argument.
3226
3227 @node Operators
3228 @subsection Operators
3229
3230 @cindex operators, in expressions
3231 @cindex arithmetic functions
3232 @cindex functions, in expressions
3233 @dfn{Operators} are arithmetic functions, like @code{+} or @code{%}. Prefix
3234 operators are followed by an argument. Infix operators appear
3235 between their arguments. Operators may be preceded and/or followed by
3236 whitespace.
3237
3238 @node Prefix Ops
3239 @subsection Prefix Operator
3240
3241 @cindex prefix operators
3242 @code{@value{AS}} has the following @dfn{prefix operators}. They each take
3243 one argument, which must be absolute.
3244
3245 @c the tex/end tex stuff surrounding this small table is meant to make
3246 @c it align, on the printed page, with the similar table in the next
3247 @c section (which is inside an enumerate).
3248 @tex
3249 \global\advance\leftskip by \itemindent
3250 @end tex
3251
3252 @table @code
3253 @item -
3254 @dfn{Negation}. Two's complement negation.
3255 @item ~
3256 @dfn{Complementation}. Bitwise not.
3257 @end table
3258
3259 @tex
3260 \global\advance\leftskip by -\itemindent
3261 @end tex
3262
3263 @node Infix Ops
3264 @subsection Infix Operators
3265
3266 @cindex infix operators
3267 @cindex operators, permitted arguments
3268 @dfn{Infix operators} take two arguments, one on either side. Operators
3269 have precedence, but operations with equal precedence are performed left
3270 to right. Apart from @code{+} or @code{-}, both arguments must be
3271 absolute, and the result is absolute.
3272
3273 @enumerate
3274 @cindex operator precedence
3275 @cindex precedence of operators
3276
3277 @item
3278 Highest Precedence
3279
3280 @table @code
3281 @item *
3282 @dfn{Multiplication}.
3283
3284 @item /
3285 @dfn{Division}. Truncation is the same as the C operator @samp{/}
3286
3287 @item %
3288 @dfn{Remainder}.
3289
3290 @item <
3291 @itemx <<
3292 @dfn{Shift Left}. Same as the C operator @samp{<<}.
3293
3294 @item >
3295 @itemx >>
3296 @dfn{Shift Right}. Same as the C operator @samp{>>}.
3297 @end table
3298
3299 @item
3300 Intermediate precedence
3301
3302 @table @code
3303 @item |
3304
3305 @dfn{Bitwise Inclusive Or}.
3306
3307 @item &
3308 @dfn{Bitwise And}.
3309
3310 @item ^
3311 @dfn{Bitwise Exclusive Or}.
3312
3313 @item !
3314 @dfn{Bitwise Or Not}.
3315 @end table
3316
3317 @item
3318 Low Precedence
3319
3320 @table @code
3321 @cindex addition, permitted arguments
3322 @cindex plus, permitted arguments
3323 @cindex arguments for addition
3324 @item +
3325 @dfn{Addition}. If either argument is absolute, the result has the section of
3326 the other argument. You may not add together arguments from different
3327 sections.
3328
3329 @cindex subtraction, permitted arguments
3330 @cindex minus, permitted arguments
3331 @cindex arguments for subtraction
3332 @item -
3333 @dfn{Subtraction}. If the right argument is absolute, the
3334 result has the section of the left argument.
3335 If both arguments are in the same section, the result is absolute.
3336 You may not subtract arguments from different sections.
3337 @c FIXME is there still something useful to say about undefined - undefined ?
3338
3339 @cindex comparison expressions
3340 @cindex expressions, comparison
3341 @item ==
3342 @dfn{Is Equal To}
3343 @item <>
3344 @dfn{Is Not Equal To}
3345 @item <
3346 @dfn{Is Less Than}
3347 @itemx >
3348 @dfn{Is Greater Than}
3349 @itemx >=
3350 @dfn{Is Greater Than Or Equal To}
3351 @itemx <=
3352 @dfn{Is Less Than Or Equal To}
3353
3354 The comparison operators can be used as infix operators. A true results has a
3355 value of -1 whereas a false result has a value of 0. Note, these operators
3356 perform signed comparisons.
3357 @end table
3358
3359 @item Lowest Precedence
3360
3361 @table @code
3362 @item &&
3363 @dfn{Logical And}.
3364
3365 @item ||
3366 @dfn{Logical Or}.
3367
3368 These two logical operations can be used to combine the results of sub
3369 expressions. Note, unlike the comparison operators a true result returns a
3370 value of 1 but a false results does still return 0. Also note that the logical
3371 or operator has a slightly lower precedence than logical and.
3372
3373 @end table
3374 @end enumerate
3375
3376 In short, it's only meaningful to add or subtract the @emph{offsets} in an
3377 address; you can only have a defined section in one of the two arguments.
3378
3379 @node Pseudo Ops
3380 @chapter Assembler Directives
3381
3382 @cindex directives, machine independent
3383 @cindex pseudo-ops, machine independent
3384 @cindex machine independent directives
3385 All assembler directives have names that begin with a period (@samp{.}).
3386 The rest of the name is letters, usually in lower case.
3387
3388 This chapter discusses directives that are available regardless of the
3389 target machine configuration for the @sc{gnu} assembler.
3390 @ifset GENERIC
3391 Some machine configurations provide additional directives.
3392 @xref{Machine Dependencies}.
3393 @end ifset
3394 @ifclear GENERIC
3395 @ifset machine-directives
3396 @xref{Machine Dependencies} for additional directives.
3397 @end ifset
3398 @end ifclear
3399
3400 @menu
3401 * Abort:: @code{.abort}
3402 @ifset COFF
3403 * ABORT:: @code{.ABORT}
3404 @end ifset
3405
3406 * Align:: @code{.align @var{abs-expr} , @var{abs-expr}}
3407 * Ascii:: @code{.ascii "@var{string}"}@dots{}
3408 * Asciz:: @code{.asciz "@var{string}"}@dots{}
3409 * Balign:: @code{.balign @var{abs-expr} , @var{abs-expr}}
3410 * Byte:: @code{.byte @var{expressions}}
3411 * Comm:: @code{.comm @var{symbol} , @var{length} }
3412 * Data:: @code{.data @var{subsection}}
3413 @ifset COFF
3414 * Def:: @code{.def @var{name}}
3415 @end ifset
3416 @ifset aout-bout
3417 * Desc:: @code{.desc @var{symbol}, @var{abs-expression}}
3418 @end ifset
3419 @ifset COFF
3420 * Dim:: @code{.dim}
3421 @end ifset
3422
3423 * Double:: @code{.double @var{flonums}}
3424 * Eject:: @code{.eject}
3425 * Else:: @code{.else}
3426 * Elseif:: @code{.elseif}
3427 * End:: @code{.end}
3428 @ifset COFF
3429 * Endef:: @code{.endef}
3430 @end ifset
3431
3432 * Endfunc:: @code{.endfunc}
3433 * Endif:: @code{.endif}
3434 * Equ:: @code{.equ @var{symbol}, @var{expression}}
3435 * Equiv:: @code{.equiv @var{symbol}, @var{expression}}
3436 * Err:: @code{.err}
3437 * Exitm:: @code{.exitm}
3438 * Extern:: @code{.extern}
3439 * Fail:: @code{.fail}
3440 @ifclear no-file-dir
3441 * File:: @code{.file @var{string}}
3442 @end ifclear
3443
3444 * Fill:: @code{.fill @var{repeat} , @var{size} , @var{value}}
3445 * Float:: @code{.float @var{flonums}}
3446 * Func:: @code{.func}
3447 * Global:: @code{.global @var{symbol}}, @code{.globl @var{symbol}}
3448 @ifset ELF
3449 * Hidden:: @code{.hidden @var{names}}
3450 @end ifset
3451
3452 * hword:: @code{.hword @var{expressions}}
3453 * Ident:: @code{.ident}
3454 * If:: @code{.if @var{absolute expression}}
3455 * Incbin:: @code{.incbin "@var{file}"[,@var{skip}[,@var{count}]]}
3456 * Include:: @code{.include "@var{file}"}
3457 * Int:: @code{.int @var{expressions}}
3458 @ifset ELF
3459 * Internal:: @code{.internal @var{names}}
3460 @end ifset
3461
3462 * Irp:: @code{.irp @var{symbol},@var{values}}@dots{}
3463 * Irpc:: @code{.irpc @var{symbol},@var{values}}@dots{}
3464 * Lcomm:: @code{.lcomm @var{symbol} , @var{length}}
3465 * Lflags:: @code{.lflags}
3466 @ifclear no-line-dir
3467 * Line:: @code{.line @var{line-number}}
3468 @end ifclear
3469
3470 * Ln:: @code{.ln @var{line-number}}
3471 * Linkonce:: @code{.linkonce [@var{type}]}
3472 * List:: @code{.list}
3473 * Long:: @code{.long @var{expressions}}
3474 @ignore
3475 * Lsym:: @code{.lsym @var{symbol}, @var{expression}}
3476 @end ignore
3477
3478 * Macro:: @code{.macro @var{name} @var{args}}@dots{}
3479 * MRI:: @code{.mri @var{val}}
3480 * Nolist:: @code{.nolist}
3481 * Octa:: @code{.octa @var{bignums}}
3482 * Org:: @code{.org @var{new-lc} , @var{fill}}
3483 * P2align:: @code{.p2align @var{abs-expr} , @var{abs-expr}}
3484 @ifset ELF
3485 * PopSection:: @code{.popsection}
3486 * Previous:: @code{.previous}
3487 @end ifset
3488
3489 * Print:: @code{.print @var{string}}
3490 @ifset ELF
3491 * Protected:: @code{.protected @var{names}}
3492 @end ifset
3493
3494 * Psize:: @code{.psize @var{lines}, @var{columns}}
3495 * Purgem:: @code{.purgem @var{name}}
3496 @ifset ELF
3497 * PushSection:: @code{.pushsection @var{name}}
3498 @end ifset
3499
3500 * Quad:: @code{.quad @var{bignums}}
3501 * Rept:: @code{.rept @var{count}}
3502 * Sbttl:: @code{.sbttl "@var{subheading}"}
3503 @ifset COFF
3504 * Scl:: @code{.scl @var{class}}
3505 * Section:: @code{.section @var{name}, @var{subsection}}
3506 @end ifset
3507
3508 * Set:: @code{.set @var{symbol}, @var{expression}}
3509 * Short:: @code{.short @var{expressions}}
3510 * Single:: @code{.single @var{flonums}}
3511 * Size:: @code{.size [@var{name} , @var{expression}]}
3512 * Skip:: @code{.skip @var{size} , @var{fill}}
3513 * Sleb128:: @code{.sleb128 @var{expressions}}
3514 * Space:: @code{.space @var{size} , @var{fill}}
3515 @ifset have-stabs
3516 * Stab:: @code{.stabd, .stabn, .stabs}
3517 @end ifset
3518
3519 * String:: @code{.string "@var{str}"}
3520 * Struct:: @code{.struct @var{expression}}
3521 @ifset ELF
3522 * SubSection:: @code{.subsection}
3523 * Symver:: @code{.symver @var{name},@var{name2@@nodename}}
3524 @end ifset
3525
3526 @ifset COFF
3527 * Tag:: @code{.tag @var{structname}}
3528 @end ifset
3529
3530 * Text:: @code{.text @var{subsection}}
3531 * Title:: @code{.title "@var{heading}"}
3532 * Type:: @code{.type <@var{int} | @var{name} , @var{type description}>}
3533 * Uleb128:: @code{.uleb128 @var{expressions}}
3534 @ifset COFF
3535 * Val:: @code{.val @var{addr}}
3536 @end ifset
3537
3538 @ifset ELF
3539 * Version:: @code{.version "@var{string}"}
3540 * VTableEntry:: @code{.vtable_entry @var{table}, @var{offset}}
3541 * VTableInherit:: @code{.vtable_inherit @var{child}, @var{parent}}
3542 * Weak:: @code{.weak @var{names}}
3543 @end ifset
3544
3545 * Word:: @code{.word @var{expressions}}
3546 * Deprecated:: Deprecated Directives
3547 @end menu
3548
3549 @node Abort
3550 @section @code{.abort}
3551
3552 @cindex @code{abort} directive
3553 @cindex stopping the assembly
3554 This directive stops the assembly immediately. It is for
3555 compatibility with other assemblers. The original idea was that the
3556 assembly language source would be piped into the assembler. If the sender
3557 of the source quit, it could use this directive tells @code{@value{AS}} to
3558 quit also. One day @code{.abort} will not be supported.
3559
3560 @ifset COFF
3561 @node ABORT
3562 @section @code{.ABORT}
3563
3564 @cindex @code{ABORT} directive
3565 When producing COFF output, @code{@value{AS}} accepts this directive as a
3566 synonym for @samp{.abort}.
3567
3568 @ifset BOUT
3569 When producing @code{b.out} output, @code{@value{AS}} accepts this directive,
3570 but ignores it.
3571 @end ifset
3572 @end ifset
3573
3574 @node Align
3575 @section @code{.align @var{abs-expr}, @var{abs-expr}, @var{abs-expr}}
3576
3577 @cindex padding the location counter
3578 @cindex @code{align} directive
3579 Pad the location counter (in the current subsection) to a particular storage
3580 boundary. The first expression (which must be absolute) is the alignment
3581 required, as described below.
3582
3583 The second expression (also absolute) gives the fill value to be stored in the
3584 padding bytes. It (and the comma) may be omitted. If it is omitted, the
3585 padding bytes are normally zero. However, on some systems, if the section is
3586 marked as containing code and the fill value is omitted, the space is filled
3587 with no-op instructions.
3588
3589 The third expression is also absolute, and is also optional. If it is present,
3590 it is the maximum number of bytes that should be skipped by this alignment
3591 directive. If doing the alignment would require skipping more bytes than the
3592 specified maximum, then the alignment is not done at all. You can omit the
3593 fill value (the second argument) entirely by simply using two commas after the
3594 required alignment; this can be useful if you want the alignment to be filled
3595 with no-op instructions when appropriate.
3596
3597 The way the required alignment is specified varies from system to system.
3598 For the a29k, hppa, m68k, m88k, w65, sparc, and Hitachi SH, and i386 using ELF
3599 format,
3600 the first expression is the
3601 alignment request in bytes. For example @samp{.align 8} advances
3602 the location counter until it is a multiple of 8. If the location counter
3603 is already a multiple of 8, no change is needed.
3604
3605 For other systems, including the i386 using a.out format, and the arm and
3606 strongarm, it is the
3607 number of low-order zero bits the location counter must have after
3608 advancement. For example @samp{.align 3} advances the location
3609 counter until it a multiple of 8. If the location counter is already a
3610 multiple of 8, no change is needed.
3611
3612 This inconsistency is due to the different behaviors of the various
3613 native assemblers for these systems which GAS must emulate.
3614 GAS also provides @code{.balign} and @code{.p2align} directives,
3615 described later, which have a consistent behavior across all
3616 architectures (but are specific to GAS).
3617
3618 @node Ascii
3619 @section @code{.ascii "@var{string}"}@dots{}
3620
3621 @cindex @code{ascii} directive
3622 @cindex string literals
3623 @code{.ascii} expects zero or more string literals (@pxref{Strings})
3624 separated by commas. It assembles each string (with no automatic
3625 trailing zero byte) into consecutive addresses.
3626
3627 @node Asciz
3628 @section @code{.asciz "@var{string}"}@dots{}
3629
3630 @cindex @code{asciz} directive
3631 @cindex zero-terminated strings
3632 @cindex null-terminated strings
3633 @code{.asciz} is just like @code{.ascii}, but each string is followed by
3634 a zero byte. The ``z'' in @samp{.asciz} stands for ``zero''.
3635
3636 @node Balign
3637 @section @code{.balign[wl] @var{abs-expr}, @var{abs-expr}, @var{abs-expr}}
3638
3639 @cindex padding the location counter given number of bytes
3640 @cindex @code{balign} directive
3641 Pad the location counter (in the current subsection) to a particular
3642 storage boundary. The first expression (which must be absolute) is the
3643 alignment request in bytes. For example @samp{.balign 8} advances
3644 the location counter until it is a multiple of 8. If the location counter
3645 is already a multiple of 8, no change is needed.
3646
3647 The second expression (also absolute) gives the fill value to be stored in the
3648 padding bytes. It (and the comma) may be omitted. If it is omitted, the
3649 padding bytes are normally zero. However, on some systems, if the section is
3650 marked as containing code and the fill value is omitted, the space is filled
3651 with no-op instructions.
3652
3653 The third expression is also absolute, and is also optional. If it is present,
3654 it is the maximum number of bytes that should be skipped by this alignment
3655 directive. If doing the alignment would require skipping more bytes than the
3656 specified maximum, then the alignment is not done at all. You can omit the
3657 fill value (the second argument) entirely by simply using two commas after the
3658 required alignment; this can be useful if you want the alignment to be filled
3659 with no-op instructions when appropriate.
3660
3661 @cindex @code{balignw} directive
3662 @cindex @code{balignl} directive
3663 The @code{.balignw} and @code{.balignl} directives are variants of the
3664 @code{.balign} directive. The @code{.balignw} directive treats the fill
3665 pattern as a two byte word value. The @code{.balignl} directives treats the
3666 fill pattern as a four byte longword value. For example, @code{.balignw
3667 4,0x368d} will align to a multiple of 4. If it skips two bytes, they will be
3668 filled in with the value 0x368d (the exact placement of the bytes depends upon
3669 the endianness of the processor). If it skips 1 or 3 bytes, the fill value is
3670 undefined.
3671
3672 @node Byte
3673 @section @code{.byte @var{expressions}}
3674
3675 @cindex @code{byte} directive
3676 @cindex integers, one byte
3677 @code{.byte} expects zero or more expressions, separated by commas.
3678 Each expression is assembled into the next byte.
3679
3680 @node Comm
3681 @section @code{.comm @var{symbol} , @var{length} }
3682
3683 @cindex @code{comm} directive
3684 @cindex symbol, common
3685 @code{.comm} declares a common symbol named @var{symbol}. When linking, a
3686 common symbol in one object file may be merged with a defined or common symbol
3687 of the same name in another object file. If @code{@value{LD}} does not see a
3688 definition for the symbol--just one or more common symbols--then it will
3689 allocate @var{length} bytes of uninitialized memory. @var{length} must be an
3690 absolute expression. If @code{@value{LD}} sees multiple common symbols with
3691 the same name, and they do not all have the same size, it will allocate space
3692 using the largest size.
3693
3694 @ifset ELF
3695 When using ELF, the @code{.comm} directive takes an optional third argument.
3696 This is the desired alignment of the symbol, specified as a byte boundary (for
3697 example, an alignment of 16 means that the least significant 4 bits of the
3698 address should be zero). The alignment must be an absolute expression, and it
3699 must be a power of two. If @code{@value{LD}} allocates uninitialized memory
3700 for the common symbol, it will use the alignment when placing the symbol. If
3701 no alignment is specified, @code{@value{AS}} will set the alignment to the
3702 largest power of two less than or equal to the size of the symbol, up to a
3703 maximum of 16.
3704 @end ifset
3705
3706 @ifset HPPA
3707 The syntax for @code{.comm} differs slightly on the HPPA. The syntax is
3708 @samp{@var{symbol} .comm, @var{length}}; @var{symbol} is optional.
3709 @end ifset
3710
3711 @node Data
3712 @section @code{.data @var{subsection}}
3713
3714 @cindex @code{data} directive
3715 @code{.data} tells @code{@value{AS}} to assemble the following statements onto the
3716 end of the data subsection numbered @var{subsection} (which is an
3717 absolute expression). If @var{subsection} is omitted, it defaults
3718 to zero.
3719
3720 @ifset COFF
3721 @node Def
3722 @section @code{.def @var{name}}
3723
3724 @cindex @code{def} directive
3725 @cindex COFF symbols, debugging
3726 @cindex debugging COFF symbols
3727 Begin defining debugging information for a symbol @var{name}; the
3728 definition extends until the @code{.endef} directive is encountered.
3729 @ifset BOUT
3730
3731 This directive is only observed when @code{@value{AS}} is configured for COFF
3732 format output; when producing @code{b.out}, @samp{.def} is recognized,
3733 but ignored.
3734 @end ifset
3735 @end ifset
3736
3737 @ifset aout-bout
3738 @node Desc
3739 @section @code{.desc @var{symbol}, @var{abs-expression}}
3740
3741 @cindex @code{desc} directive
3742 @cindex COFF symbol descriptor
3743 @cindex symbol descriptor, COFF
3744 This directive sets the descriptor of the symbol (@pxref{Symbol Attributes})
3745 to the low 16 bits of an absolute expression.
3746
3747 @ifset COFF
3748 The @samp{.desc} directive is not available when @code{@value{AS}} is
3749 configured for COFF output; it is only for @code{a.out} or @code{b.out}
3750 object format. For the sake of compatibility, @code{@value{AS}} accepts
3751 it, but produces no output, when configured for COFF.
3752 @end ifset
3753 @end ifset
3754
3755 @ifset COFF
3756 @node Dim
3757 @section @code{.dim}
3758
3759 @cindex @code{dim} directive
3760 @cindex COFF auxiliary symbol information
3761 @cindex auxiliary symbol information, COFF
3762 This directive is generated by compilers to include auxiliary debugging
3763 information in the symbol table. It is only permitted inside
3764 @code{.def}/@code{.endef} pairs.
3765 @ifset BOUT
3766
3767 @samp{.dim} is only meaningful when generating COFF format output; when
3768 @code{@value{AS}} is generating @code{b.out}, it accepts this directive but
3769 ignores it.
3770 @end ifset
3771 @end ifset
3772
3773 @node Double
3774 @section @code{.double @var{flonums}}
3775
3776 @cindex @code{double} directive
3777 @cindex floating point numbers (double)
3778 @code{.double} expects zero or more flonums, separated by commas. It
3779 assembles floating point numbers.
3780 @ifset GENERIC
3781 The exact kind of floating point numbers emitted depends on how
3782 @code{@value{AS}} is configured. @xref{Machine Dependencies}.
3783 @end ifset
3784 @ifclear GENERIC
3785 @ifset IEEEFLOAT
3786 On the @value{TARGET} family @samp{.double} emits 64-bit floating-point numbers
3787 in @sc{ieee} format.
3788 @end ifset
3789 @end ifclear
3790
3791 @node Eject
3792 @section @code{.eject}
3793
3794 @cindex @code{eject} directive
3795 @cindex new page, in listings
3796 @cindex page, in listings
3797 @cindex listing control: new page
3798 Force a page break at this point, when generating assembly listings.
3799
3800 @node Else
3801 @section @code{.else}
3802
3803 @cindex @code{else} directive
3804 @code{.else} is part of the @code{@value{AS}} support for conditional
3805 assembly; @pxref{If,,@code{.if}}. It marks the beginning of a section
3806 of code to be assembled if the condition for the preceding @code{.if}
3807 was false.
3808
3809 @node Elseif
3810 @section @code{.elseif}
3811
3812 @cindex @code{elseif} directive
3813 @code{.elseif} is part of the @code{@value{AS}} support for conditional
3814 assembly; @pxref{If,,@code{.if}}. It is shorthand for beginning a new
3815 @code{.if} block that would otherwise fill the entire @code{.else} section.
3816
3817 @node End
3818 @section @code{.end}
3819
3820 @cindex @code{end} directive
3821 @code{.end} marks the end of the assembly file. @code{@value{AS}} does not
3822 process anything in the file past the @code{.end} directive.
3823
3824 @ifset COFF
3825 @node Endef
3826 @section @code{.endef}
3827
3828 @cindex @code{endef} directive
3829 This directive flags the end of a symbol definition begun with
3830 @code{.def}.
3831 @ifset BOUT
3832
3833 @samp{.endef} is only meaningful when generating COFF format output; if
3834 @code{@value{AS}} is configured to generate @code{b.out}, it accepts this
3835 directive but ignores it.
3836 @end ifset
3837 @end ifset
3838
3839 @node Endfunc
3840 @section @code{.endfunc}
3841 @cindex @code{endfunc} directive
3842 @code{.endfunc} marks the end of a function specified with @code{.func}.
3843
3844 @node Endif
3845 @section @code{.endif}
3846
3847 @cindex @code{endif} directive
3848 @code{.endif} is part of the @code{@value{AS}} support for conditional assembly;
3849 it marks the end of a block of code that is only assembled
3850 conditionally. @xref{If,,@code{.if}}.
3851
3852 @node Equ
3853 @section @code{.equ @var{symbol}, @var{expression}}
3854
3855 @cindex @code{equ} directive
3856 @cindex assigning values to symbols
3857 @cindex symbols, assigning values to
3858 This directive sets the value of @var{symbol} to @var{expression}.
3859 It is synonymous with @samp{.set}; @pxref{Set,,@code{.set}}.
3860
3861 @ifset HPPA
3862 The syntax for @code{equ} on the HPPA is
3863 @samp{@var{symbol} .equ @var{expression}}.
3864 @end ifset
3865
3866 @node Equiv
3867 @section @code{.equiv @var{symbol}, @var{expression}}
3868 @cindex @code{equiv} directive
3869 The @code{.equiv} directive is like @code{.equ} and @code{.set}, except that
3870 the assembler will signal an error if @var{symbol} is already defined.
3871
3872 Except for the contents of the error message, this is roughly equivalent to
3873 @smallexample
3874 .ifdef SYM
3875 .err
3876 .endif
3877 .equ SYM,VAL
3878 @end smallexample
3879
3880 @node Err
3881 @section @code{.err}
3882 @cindex @code{err} directive
3883 If @code{@value{AS}} assembles a @code{.err} directive, it will print an error
3884 message and, unless the @code{-Z} option was used, it will not generate an
3885 object file. This can be used to signal error an conditionally compiled code.
3886
3887 @node Exitm
3888 @section @code{.exitm}
3889 Exit early from the current macro definition. @xref{Macro}.
3890
3891 @node Extern
3892 @section @code{.extern}
3893
3894 @cindex @code{extern} directive
3895 @code{.extern} is accepted in the source program---for compatibility
3896 with other assemblers---but it is ignored. @code{@value{AS}} treats
3897 all undefined symbols as external.
3898
3899 @node Fail
3900 @section @code{.fail @var{expression}}
3901
3902 @cindex @code{fail} directive
3903 Generates an error or a warning. If the value of the @var{expression} is 500
3904 or more, @code{@value{AS}} will print a warning message. If the value is less
3905 than 500, @code{@value{AS}} will print an error message. The message will
3906 include the value of @var{expression}. This can occasionally be useful inside
3907 complex nested macros or conditional assembly.
3908
3909 @ifclear no-file-dir
3910 @node File
3911 @section @code{.file @var{string}}
3912
3913 @cindex @code{file} directive
3914 @cindex logical file name
3915 @cindex file name, logical
3916 @code{.file} tells @code{@value{AS}} that we are about to start a new logical
3917 file. @var{string} is the new file name. In general, the filename is
3918 recognized whether or not it is surrounded by quotes @samp{"}; but if you wish
3919 to specify an empty file name, you must give the quotes--@code{""}. This
3920 statement may go away in future: it is only recognized to be compatible with
3921 old @code{@value{AS}} programs.
3922 @ifset A29K
3923 In some configurations of @code{@value{AS}}, @code{.file} has already been
3924 removed to avoid conflicts with other assemblers. @xref{Machine Dependencies}.
3925 @end ifset
3926 @end ifclear
3927
3928 @node Fill
3929 @section @code{.fill @var{repeat} , @var{size} , @var{value}}
3930
3931 @cindex @code{fill} directive
3932 @cindex writing patterns in memory
3933 @cindex patterns, writing in memory
3934 @var{repeat}, @var{size} and @var{value} are absolute expressions.
3935 This emits @var{repeat} copies of @var{size} bytes. @var{Repeat}
3936 may be zero or more. @var{Size} may be zero or more, but if it is
3937 more than 8, then it is deemed to have the value 8, compatible with
3938 other people's assemblers. The contents of each @var{repeat} bytes
3939 is taken from an 8-byte number. The highest order 4 bytes are
3940 zero. The lowest order 4 bytes are @var{value} rendered in the
3941 byte-order of an integer on the computer @code{@value{AS}} is assembling for.
3942 Each @var{size} bytes in a repetition is taken from the lowest order
3943 @var{size} bytes of this number. Again, this bizarre behavior is
3944 compatible with other people's assemblers.
3945
3946 @var{size} and @var{value} are optional.
3947 If the second comma and @var{value} are absent, @var{value} is
3948 assumed zero. If the first comma and following tokens are absent,
3949 @var{size} is assumed to be 1.
3950
3951 @node Float
3952 @section @code{.float @var{flonums}}
3953
3954 @cindex floating point numbers (single)
3955 @cindex @code{float} directive
3956 This directive assembles zero or more flonums, separated by commas. It
3957 has the same effect as @code{.single}.
3958 @ifset GENERIC
3959 The exact kind of floating point numbers emitted depends on how
3960 @code{@value{AS}} is configured.
3961 @xref{Machine Dependencies}.
3962 @end ifset
3963 @ifclear GENERIC
3964 @ifset IEEEFLOAT
3965 On the @value{TARGET} family, @code{.float} emits 32-bit floating point numbers
3966 in @sc{ieee} format.
3967 @end ifset
3968 @end ifclear
3969
3970 @node Func
3971 @section @code{.func @var{name}[,@var{label}]}
3972 @cindex @code{func} directive
3973 @code{.func} emits debugging information to denote function @var{name}, and
3974 is ignored unless the file is assembled with debugging enabled.
3975 Only @samp{--gstabs} is currently supported.
3976 @var{label} is the entry point of the function and if omitted @var{name}
3977 prepended with the @samp{leading char} is used.
3978 @samp{leading char} is usually @code{_} or nothing, depending on the target.
3979 All functions are currently defined to have @code{void} return type.
3980 The function must be terminated with @code{.endfunc}.
3981
3982 @node Global
3983 @section @code{.global @var{symbol}}, @code{.globl @var{symbol}}
3984
3985 @cindex @code{global} directive
3986 @cindex symbol, making visible to linker
3987 @code{.global} makes the symbol visible to @code{@value{LD}}. If you define
3988 @var{symbol} in your partial program, its value is made available to
3989 other partial programs that are linked with it. Otherwise,
3990 @var{symbol} takes its attributes from a symbol of the same name
3991 from another file linked into the same program.
3992
3993 Both spellings (@samp{.globl} and @samp{.global}) are accepted, for
3994 compatibility with other assemblers.
3995
3996 @ifset HPPA
3997 On the HPPA, @code{.global} is not always enough to make it accessible to other
3998 partial programs. You may need the HPPA-only @code{.EXPORT} directive as well.
3999 @xref{HPPA Directives,, HPPA Assembler Directives}.
4000 @end ifset
4001
4002 @ifset ELF
4003 @node Hidden
4004 @section @code{.hidden @var{names}}
4005
4006 @cindex @code{.hidden} directive
4007 @cindex Visibility
4008 This one of the ELF visibility directives. The other two are
4009 @code{.internal} (@pxref{Internal,,@code{.internal}}) and
4010 @code{.protected} (@pxref{Protected,,@code{.protected}}).
4011
4012 This directive overrides the named symbols default visibility (which is set by
4013 their binding: local, global or weak). The directive sets the visibility to
4014 @code{hidden} which means that the symbols are not visible to other components.
4015 Such symbols are always considered to be @code{protected} as well.
4016 @end ifset
4017
4018 @node hword
4019 @section @code{.hword @var{expressions}}
4020
4021 @cindex @code{hword} directive
4022 @cindex integers, 16-bit
4023 @cindex numbers, 16-bit
4024 @cindex sixteen bit integers
4025 This expects zero or more @var{expressions}, and emits
4026 a 16 bit number for each.
4027
4028 @ifset GENERIC
4029 This directive is a synonym for @samp{.short}; depending on the target
4030 architecture, it may also be a synonym for @samp{.word}.
4031 @end ifset
4032 @ifclear GENERIC
4033 @ifset W32
4034 This directive is a synonym for @samp{.short}.
4035 @end ifset
4036 @ifset W16
4037 This directive is a synonym for both @samp{.short} and @samp{.word}.
4038 @end ifset
4039 @end ifclear
4040
4041 @node Ident
4042 @section @code{.ident}
4043
4044 @cindex @code{ident} directive
4045 This directive is used by some assemblers to place tags in object files.
4046 @code{@value{AS}} simply accepts the directive for source-file
4047 compatibility with such assemblers, but does not actually emit anything
4048 for it.
4049
4050 @node If
4051 @section @code{.if @var{absolute expression}}
4052
4053 @cindex conditional assembly
4054 @cindex @code{if} directive
4055 @code{.if} marks the beginning of a section of code which is only
4056 considered part of the source program being assembled if the argument
4057 (which must be an @var{absolute expression}) is non-zero. The end of
4058 the conditional section of code must be marked by @code{.endif}
4059 (@pxref{Endif,,@code{.endif}}); optionally, you may include code for the
4060 alternative condition, flagged by @code{.else} (@pxref{Else,,@code{.else}}).
4061 If you have several conditions to check, @code{.elseif} may be used to avoid
4062 nesting blocks if/else within each subsequent @code{.else} block.
4063
4064 The following variants of @code{.if} are also supported:
4065 @table @code
4066 @cindex @code{ifdef} directive
4067 @item .ifdef @var{symbol}
4068 Assembles the following section of code if the specified @var{symbol}
4069 has been defined.
4070
4071 @cindex @code{ifc} directive
4072 @item .ifc @var{string1},@var{string2}
4073 Assembles the following section of code if the two strings are the same. The
4074 strings may be optionally quoted with single quotes. If they are not quoted,
4075 the first string stops at the first comma, and the second string stops at the
4076 end of the line. Strings which contain whitespace should be quoted. The
4077 string comparison is case sensitive.
4078
4079 @cindex @code{ifeq} directive
4080 @item .ifeq @var{absolute expression}
4081 Assembles the following section of code if the argument is zero.
4082
4083 @cindex @code{ifeqs} directive
4084 @item .ifeqs @var{string1},@var{string2}
4085 Another form of @code{.ifc}. The strings must be quoted using double quotes.
4086
4087 @cindex @code{ifge} directive
4088 @item .ifge @var{absolute expression}
4089 Assembles the following section of code if the argument is greater than or
4090 equal to zero.
4091
4092 @cindex @code{ifgt} directive
4093 @item .ifgt @var{absolute expression}
4094 Assembles the following section of code if the argument is greater than zero.
4095
4096 @cindex @code{ifle} directive
4097 @item .ifle @var{absolute expression}
4098 Assembles the following section of code if the argument is less than or equal
4099 to zero.
4100
4101 @cindex @code{iflt} directive
4102 @item .iflt @var{absolute expression}
4103 Assembles the following section of code if the argument is less than zero.
4104
4105 @cindex @code{ifnc} directive
4106 @item .ifnc @var{string1},@var{string2}.
4107 Like @code{.ifc}, but the sense of the test is reversed: this assembles the
4108 following section of code if the two strings are not the same.
4109
4110 @cindex @code{ifndef} directive
4111 @cindex @code{ifnotdef} directive
4112 @item .ifndef @var{symbol}
4113 @itemx .ifnotdef @var{symbol}
4114 Assembles the following section of code if the specified @var{symbol}
4115 has not been defined. Both spelling variants are equivalent.
4116
4117 @cindex @code{ifne} directive
4118 @item .ifne @var{absolute expression}
4119 Assembles the following section of code if the argument is not equal to zero
4120 (in other words, this is equivalent to @code{.if}).
4121
4122 @cindex @code{ifnes} directive
4123 @item .ifnes @var{string1},@var{string2}
4124 Like @code{.ifeqs}, but the sense of the test is reversed: this assembles the
4125 following section of code if the two strings are not the same.
4126 @end table
4127
4128 @node Incbin
4129 @section @code{.incbin "@var{file}"[,@var{skip}[,@var{count}]]}
4130
4131 @cindex @code{incbin} directive
4132 @cindex binary files, including
4133 The @code{incbin} directive includes @var{file} verbatim at the current
4134 location. You can control the search paths used with the @samp{-I} command-line
4135 option (@pxref{Invoking,,Command-Line Options}). Quotation marks are required
4136 around @var{file}.
4137
4138 The @var{skip} argument skips a number of bytes from the start of the
4139 @var{file}. The @var{count} argument indicates the maximum number of bytes to
4140 read. Note that the data is not aligned in any way, so it is the user's
4141 responsibility to make sure that proper alignment is provided both before and
4142 after the @code{incbin} directive.
4143
4144 @node Include
4145 @section @code{.include "@var{file}"}
4146
4147 @cindex @code{include} directive
4148 @cindex supporting files, including
4149 @cindex files, including
4150 This directive provides a way to include supporting files at specified
4151 points in your source program. The code from @var{file} is assembled as
4152 if it followed the point of the @code{.include}; when the end of the
4153 included file is reached, assembly of the original file continues. You
4154 can control the search paths used with the @samp{-I} command-line option
4155 (@pxref{Invoking,,Command-Line Options}). Quotation marks are required
4156 around @var{file}.
4157
4158 @node Int
4159 @section @code{.int @var{expressions}}
4160
4161 @cindex @code{int} directive
4162 @cindex integers, 32-bit
4163 Expect zero or more @var{expressions}, of any section, separated by commas.
4164 For each expression, emit a number that, at run time, is the value of that
4165 expression. The byte order and bit size of the number depends on what kind
4166 of target the assembly is for.
4167
4168 @ifclear GENERIC
4169 @ifset H8
4170 On the H8/500 and most forms of the H8/300, @code{.int} emits 16-bit
4171 integers. On the H8/300H and the Hitachi SH, however, @code{.int} emits
4172 32-bit integers.
4173 @end ifset
4174 @end ifclear
4175
4176 @ifset ELF
4177 @node Internal
4178 @section @code{.internal @var{names}}
4179
4180 @cindex @code{.internal} directive
4181 @cindex Visibility
4182 This one of the ELF visibility directives. The other two are
4183 @code{.hidden} (@pxref{Hidden,,@code{.hidden}}) and
4184 @code{.protected} (@pxref{Protected,,@code{.protected}}).
4185
4186 This directive overrides the named symbols default visibility (which is set by
4187 their binding: local, global or weak). The directive sets the visibility to
4188 @code{internal} which means that the symbols are considered to be @code{hidden}
4189 (ie not visible to other components), and that some extra, processor specific
4190 processing must also be performed upon the symbols as well.
4191 @end ifset
4192
4193 @node Irp
4194 @section @code{.irp @var{symbol},@var{values}}@dots{}
4195
4196 @cindex @code{irp} directive
4197 Evaluate a sequence of statements assigning different values to @var{symbol}.
4198 The sequence of statements starts at the @code{.irp} directive, and is
4199 terminated by an @code{.endr} directive. For each @var{value}, @var{symbol} is
4200 set to @var{value}, and the sequence of statements is assembled. If no
4201 @var{value} is listed, the sequence of statements is assembled once, with
4202 @var{symbol} set to the null string. To refer to @var{symbol} within the
4203 sequence of statements, use @var{\symbol}.
4204
4205 For example, assembling
4206
4207 @example
4208 .irp param,1,2,3
4209 move d\param,sp@@-
4210 .endr
4211 @end example
4212
4213 is equivalent to assembling
4214
4215 @example
4216 move d1,sp@@-
4217 move d2,sp@@-
4218 move d3,sp@@-
4219 @end example
4220
4221 @node Irpc
4222 @section @code{.irpc @var{symbol},@var{values}}@dots{}
4223
4224 @cindex @code{irpc} directive
4225 Evaluate a sequence of statements assigning different values to @var{symbol}.
4226 The sequence of statements starts at the @code{.irpc} directive, and is
4227 terminated by an @code{.endr} directive. For each character in @var{value},
4228 @var{symbol} is set to the character, and the sequence of statements is
4229 assembled. If no @var{value} is listed, the sequence of statements is
4230 assembled once, with @var{symbol} set to the null string. To refer to
4231 @var{symbol} within the sequence of statements, use @var{\symbol}.
4232
4233 For example, assembling
4234
4235 @example
4236 .irpc param,123
4237 move d\param,sp@@-
4238 .endr
4239 @end example
4240
4241 is equivalent to assembling
4242
4243 @example
4244 move d1,sp@@-
4245 move d2,sp@@-
4246 move d3,sp@@-
4247 @end example
4248
4249 @node Lcomm
4250 @section @code{.lcomm @var{symbol} , @var{length}}
4251
4252 @cindex @code{lcomm} directive
4253 @cindex local common symbols
4254 @cindex symbols, local common
4255 Reserve @var{length} (an absolute expression) bytes for a local common
4256 denoted by @var{symbol}. The section and value of @var{symbol} are
4257 those of the new local common. The addresses are allocated in the bss
4258 section, so that at run-time the bytes start off zeroed. @var{Symbol}
4259 is not declared global (@pxref{Global,,@code{.global}}), so is normally
4260 not visible to @code{@value{LD}}.
4261
4262 @ifset GENERIC
4263 Some targets permit a third argument to be used with @code{.lcomm}. This
4264 argument specifies the desired alignment of the symbol in the bss section.
4265 @end ifset
4266
4267 @ifset HPPA
4268 The syntax for @code{.lcomm} differs slightly on the HPPA. The syntax is
4269 @samp{@var{symbol} .lcomm, @var{length}}; @var{symbol} is optional.
4270 @end ifset
4271
4272 @node Lflags
4273 @section @code{.lflags}
4274
4275 @cindex @code{lflags} directive (ignored)
4276 @code{@value{AS}} accepts this directive, for compatibility with other
4277 assemblers, but ignores it.
4278
4279 @ifclear no-line-dir
4280 @node Line
4281 @section @code{.line @var{line-number}}
4282
4283 @cindex @code{line} directive
4284 @end ifclear
4285 @ifset no-line-dir
4286 @node Ln
4287 @section @code{.ln @var{line-number}}
4288
4289 @cindex @code{ln} directive
4290 @end ifset
4291 @cindex logical line number
4292 @ifset aout-bout
4293 Change the logical line number. @var{line-number} must be an absolute
4294 expression. The next line has that logical line number. Therefore any other
4295 statements on the current line (after a statement separator character) are
4296 reported as on logical line number @var{line-number} @minus{} 1. One day
4297 @code{@value{AS}} will no longer support this directive: it is recognized only
4298 for compatibility with existing assembler programs.
4299
4300 @ifset GENERIC
4301 @ifset A29K
4302 @emph{Warning:} In the AMD29K configuration of @value{AS}, this command is
4303 not available; use the synonym @code{.ln} in that context.
4304 @end ifset
4305 @end ifset
4306 @end ifset
4307
4308 @ifclear no-line-dir
4309 Even though this is a directive associated with the @code{a.out} or
4310 @code{b.out} object-code formats, @code{@value{AS}} still recognizes it
4311 when producing COFF output, and treats @samp{.line} as though it
4312 were the COFF @samp{.ln} @emph{if} it is found outside a
4313 @code{.def}/@code{.endef} pair.
4314
4315 Inside a @code{.def}, @samp{.line} is, instead, one of the directives
4316 used by compilers to generate auxiliary symbol information for
4317 debugging.
4318 @end ifclear
4319
4320 @node Linkonce
4321 @section @code{.linkonce [@var{type}]}
4322 @cindex COMDAT
4323 @cindex @code{linkonce} directive
4324 @cindex common sections
4325 Mark the current section so that the linker only includes a single copy of it.
4326 This may be used to include the same section in several different object files,
4327 but ensure that the linker will only include it once in the final output file.
4328 The @code{.linkonce} pseudo-op must be used for each instance of the section.
4329 Duplicate sections are detected based on the section name, so it should be
4330 unique.
4331
4332 This directive is only supported by a few object file formats; as of this
4333 writing, the only object file format which supports it is the Portable
4334 Executable format used on Windows NT.
4335
4336 The @var{type} argument is optional. If specified, it must be one of the
4337 following strings. For example:
4338 @smallexample
4339 .linkonce same_size
4340 @end smallexample
4341 Not all types may be supported on all object file formats.
4342
4343 @table @code
4344 @item discard
4345 Silently discard duplicate sections. This is the default.
4346
4347 @item one_only
4348 Warn if there are duplicate sections, but still keep only one copy.
4349
4350 @item same_size
4351 Warn if any of the duplicates have different sizes.
4352
4353 @item same_contents
4354 Warn if any of the duplicates do not have exactly the same contents.
4355 @end table
4356
4357 @node Ln
4358 @section @code{.ln @var{line-number}}
4359
4360 @cindex @code{ln} directive
4361 @ifclear no-line-dir
4362 @samp{.ln} is a synonym for @samp{.line}.
4363 @end ifclear
4364 @ifset no-line-dir
4365 Tell @code{@value{AS}} to change the logical line number. @var{line-number}
4366 must be an absolute expression. The next line has that logical
4367 line number, so any other statements on the current line (after a
4368 statement separator character @code{;}) are reported as on logical
4369 line number @var{line-number} @minus{} 1.
4370 @ifset BOUT
4371
4372 This directive is accepted, but ignored, when @code{@value{AS}} is
4373 configured for @code{b.out}; its effect is only associated with COFF
4374 output format.
4375 @end ifset
4376 @end ifset
4377
4378 @node MRI
4379 @section @code{.mri @var{val}}
4380
4381 @cindex @code{mri} directive
4382 @cindex MRI mode, temporarily
4383 If @var{val} is non-zero, this tells @code{@value{AS}} to enter MRI mode. If
4384 @var{val} is zero, this tells @code{@value{AS}} to exit MRI mode. This change
4385 affects code assembled until the next @code{.mri} directive, or until the end
4386 of the file. @xref{M, MRI mode, MRI mode}.
4387
4388 @node List
4389 @section @code{.list}
4390
4391 @cindex @code{list} directive
4392 @cindex listing control, turning on
4393 Control (in conjunction with the @code{.nolist} directive) whether or
4394 not assembly listings are generated. These two directives maintain an
4395 internal counter (which is zero initially). @code{.list} increments the
4396 counter, and @code{.nolist} decrements it. Assembly listings are
4397 generated whenever the counter is greater than zero.
4398
4399 By default, listings are disabled. When you enable them (with the
4400 @samp{-a} command line option; @pxref{Invoking,,Command-Line Options}),
4401 the initial value of the listing counter is one.
4402
4403 @node Long
4404 @section @code{.long @var{expressions}}
4405
4406 @cindex @code{long} directive
4407 @code{.long} is the same as @samp{.int}, @pxref{Int,,@code{.int}}.
4408
4409 @ignore
4410 @c no one seems to know what this is for or whether this description is
4411 @c what it really ought to do
4412 @node Lsym
4413 @section @code{.lsym @var{symbol}, @var{expression}}
4414
4415 @cindex @code{lsym} directive
4416 @cindex symbol, not referenced in assembly
4417 @code{.lsym} creates a new symbol named @var{symbol}, but does not put it in
4418 the hash table, ensuring it cannot be referenced by name during the
4419 rest of the assembly. This sets the attributes of the symbol to be
4420 the same as the expression value:
4421 @smallexample
4422 @var{other} = @var{descriptor} = 0
4423 @var{type} = @r{(section of @var{expression})}
4424 @var{value} = @var{expression}
4425 @end smallexample
4426 @noindent
4427 The new symbol is not flagged as external.
4428 @end ignore
4429
4430 @node Macro
4431 @section @code{.macro}
4432
4433 @cindex macros
4434 The commands @code{.macro} and @code{.endm} allow you to define macros that
4435 generate assembly output. For example, this definition specifies a macro
4436 @code{sum} that puts a sequence of numbers into memory:
4437
4438 @example
4439 .macro sum from=0, to=5
4440 .long \from
4441 .if \to-\from
4442 sum "(\from+1)",\to
4443 .endif
4444 .endm
4445 @end example
4446
4447 @noindent
4448 With that definition, @samp{SUM 0,5} is equivalent to this assembly input:
4449
4450 @example
4451 .long 0
4452 .long 1
4453 .long 2
4454 .long 3
4455 .long 4
4456 .long 5
4457 @end example
4458
4459 @ftable @code
4460 @item .macro @var{macname}
4461 @itemx .macro @var{macname} @var{macargs} @dots{}
4462 @cindex @code{macro} directive
4463 Begin the definition of a macro called @var{macname}. If your macro
4464 definition requires arguments, specify their names after the macro name,
4465 separated by commas or spaces. You can supply a default value for any
4466 macro argument by following the name with @samp{=@var{deflt}}. For
4467 example, these are all valid @code{.macro} statements:
4468
4469 @table @code
4470 @item .macro comm
4471 Begin the definition of a macro called @code{comm}, which takes no
4472 arguments.
4473
4474 @item .macro plus1 p, p1
4475 @itemx .macro plus1 p p1
4476 Either statement begins the definition of a macro called @code{plus1},
4477 which takes two arguments; within the macro definition, write
4478 @samp{\p} or @samp{\p1} to evaluate the arguments.
4479
4480 @item .macro reserve_str p1=0 p2
4481 Begin the definition of a macro called @code{reserve_str}, with two
4482 arguments. The first argument has a default value, but not the second.
4483 After the definition is complete, you can call the macro either as
4484 @samp{reserve_str @var{a},@var{b}} (with @samp{\p1} evaluating to
4485 @var{a} and @samp{\p2} evaluating to @var{b}), or as @samp{reserve_str
4486 ,@var{b}} (with @samp{\p1} evaluating as the default, in this case
4487 @samp{0}, and @samp{\p2} evaluating to @var{b}).
4488 @end table
4489
4490 When you call a macro, you can specify the argument values either by
4491 position, or by keyword. For example, @samp{sum 9,17} is equivalent to
4492 @samp{sum to=17, from=9}.
4493
4494 @item .endm
4495 @cindex @code{endm} directive
4496 Mark the end of a macro definition.
4497
4498 @item .exitm
4499 @cindex @code{exitm} directive
4500 Exit early from the current macro definition.
4501
4502 @cindex number of macros executed
4503 @cindex macros, count executed
4504 @item \@@
4505 @code{@value{AS}} maintains a counter of how many macros it has
4506 executed in this pseudo-variable; you can copy that number to your
4507 output with @samp{\@@}, but @emph{only within a macro definition}.
4508
4509 @ignore
4510 @item LOCAL @var{name} [ , @dots{} ]
4511 @emph{Warning: @code{LOCAL} is only available if you select ``alternate
4512 macro syntax'' with @samp{-a} or @samp{--alternate}.} @xref{Alternate,,
4513 Alternate macro syntax}.
4514
4515 Generate a string replacement for each of the @var{name} arguments, and
4516 replace any instances of @var{name} in each macro expansion. The
4517 replacement string is unique in the assembly, and different for each
4518 separate macro expansion. @code{LOCAL} allows you to write macros that
4519 define symbols, without fear of conflict between separate macro expansions.
4520 @end ignore
4521 @end ftable
4522
4523 @node Nolist
4524 @section @code{.nolist}
4525
4526 @cindex @code{nolist} directive
4527 @cindex listing control, turning off
4528 Control (in conjunction with the @code{.list} directive) whether or
4529 not assembly listings are generated. These two directives maintain an
4530 internal counter (which is zero initially). @code{.list} increments the
4531 counter, and @code{.nolist} decrements it. Assembly listings are
4532 generated whenever the counter is greater than zero.
4533
4534 @node Octa
4535 @section @code{.octa @var{bignums}}
4536
4537 @c FIXME: double size emitted for "octa" on i960, others? Or warn?
4538 @cindex @code{octa} directive
4539 @cindex integer, 16-byte
4540 @cindex sixteen byte integer
4541 This directive expects zero or more bignums, separated by commas. For each
4542 bignum, it emits a 16-byte integer.
4543
4544 The term ``octa'' comes from contexts in which a ``word'' is two bytes;
4545 hence @emph{octa}-word for 16 bytes.
4546
4547 @node Org
4548 @section @code{.org @var{new-lc} , @var{fill}}
4549
4550 @cindex @code{org} directive
4551 @cindex location counter, advancing
4552 @cindex advancing location counter
4553 @cindex current address, advancing
4554 Advance the location counter of the current section to
4555 @var{new-lc}. @var{new-lc} is either an absolute expression or an
4556 expression with the same section as the current subsection. That is,
4557 you can't use @code{.org} to cross sections: if @var{new-lc} has the
4558 wrong section, the @code{.org} directive is ignored. To be compatible
4559 with former assemblers, if the section of @var{new-lc} is absolute,
4560 @code{@value{AS}} issues a warning, then pretends the section of @var{new-lc}
4561 is the same as the current subsection.
4562
4563 @code{.org} may only increase the location counter, or leave it
4564 unchanged; you cannot use @code{.org} to move the location counter
4565 backwards.
4566
4567 @c double negative used below "not undefined" because this is a specific
4568 @c reference to "undefined" (as SEG_UNKNOWN is called in this manual)
4569 @c section. doc@cygnus.com 18feb91
4570 Because @code{@value{AS}} tries to assemble programs in one pass, @var{new-lc}
4571 may not be undefined. If you really detest this restriction we eagerly await
4572 a chance to share your improved assembler.
4573
4574 Beware that the origin is relative to the start of the section, not
4575 to the start of the subsection. This is compatible with other
4576 people's assemblers.
4577
4578 When the location counter (of the current subsection) is advanced, the
4579 intervening bytes are filled with @var{fill} which should be an
4580 absolute expression. If the comma and @var{fill} are omitted,
4581 @var{fill} defaults to zero.
4582
4583 @node P2align
4584 @section @code{.p2align[wl] @var{abs-expr}, @var{abs-expr}, @var{abs-expr}}
4585
4586 @cindex padding the location counter given a power of two
4587 @cindex @code{p2align} directive
4588 Pad the location counter (in the current subsection) to a particular
4589 storage boundary. The first expression (which must be absolute) is the
4590 number of low-order zero bits the location counter must have after
4591 advancement. For example @samp{.p2align 3} advances the location
4592 counter until it a multiple of 8. If the location counter is already a
4593 multiple of 8, no change is needed.
4594
4595 The second expression (also absolute) gives the fill value to be stored in the
4596 padding bytes. It (and the comma) may be omitted. If it is omitted, the
4597 padding bytes are normally zero. However, on some systems, if the section is
4598 marked as containing code and the fill value is omitted, the space is filled
4599 with no-op instructions.
4600
4601 The third expression is also absolute, and is also optional. If it is present,
4602 it is the maximum number of bytes that should be skipped by this alignment
4603 directive. If doing the alignment would require skipping more bytes than the
4604 specified maximum, then the alignment is not done at all. You can omit the
4605 fill value (the second argument) entirely by simply using two commas after the
4606 required alignment; this can be useful if you want the alignment to be filled
4607 with no-op instructions when appropriate.
4608
4609 @cindex @code{p2alignw} directive
4610 @cindex @code{p2alignl} directive
4611 The @code{.p2alignw} and @code{.p2alignl} directives are variants of the
4612 @code{.p2align} directive. The @code{.p2alignw} directive treats the fill
4613 pattern as a two byte word value. The @code{.p2alignl} directives treats the
4614 fill pattern as a four byte longword value. For example, @code{.p2alignw
4615 2,0x368d} will align to a multiple of 4. If it skips two bytes, they will be
4616 filled in with the value 0x368d (the exact placement of the bytes depends upon
4617 the endianness of the processor). If it skips 1 or 3 bytes, the fill value is
4618 undefined.
4619
4620 @ifset ELF
4621 @node Previous
4622 @section @code{.previous}
4623
4624 @cindex @code{.previous} directive
4625 @cindex Section Stack
4626 This is one of the ELF section stack manipulation directives. The others are
4627 @code{.section} (@pxref{Section}), @code{.subsection} (@pxref{SubSection}),
4628 @code{.pushsection} (@pxref{PushSection}), and @code{.popsection}
4629 (@pxref{PopSection}).
4630
4631 This directive swaps the current section (and subsection) with most recently
4632 referenced section (and subsection) prior to this one. Multiple
4633 @code{.previous} directives in a row will flip between two sections (and their
4634 subsections).
4635
4636 In terms of the section stack, this directive swaps the current section with
4637 the top section on the section stack.
4638 @end ifset
4639
4640 @ifset ELF
4641 @node PopSection
4642 @section @code{.popsection}
4643
4644 @cindex @code{.popsection} directive
4645 @cindex Section Stack
4646 This is one of the ELF section stack manipulation directives. The others are
4647 @code{.section} (@pxref{Section}), @code{.subsection} (@pxref{SubSection}),
4648 @code{.pushsection} (@pxref{PushSection}), and @code{.previous}
4649 (@pxref{Previous}).
4650
4651 This directive replaces the current section (and subsection) with the top
4652 section (and subsection) on the section stack. This section is popped off the
4653 stack.
4654 @end ifset
4655
4656 @node Print
4657 @section @code{.print @var{string}}
4658
4659 @cindex @code{print} directive
4660 @code{@value{AS}} will print @var{string} on the standard output during
4661 assembly. You must put @var{string} in double quotes.
4662
4663 @ifset ELF
4664 @node Protected
4665 @section @code{.protected @var{names}}
4666
4667 @cindex @code{.protected} directive
4668 @cindex Visibility
4669 This one of the ELF visibility directives. The other two are
4670 @code{.hidden} (@pxref{Hidden}) and @code{.internal} (@pxref{Internal}).
4671
4672 This directive overrides the named symbols default visibility (which is set by
4673 their binding: local, global or weak). The directive sets the visibility to
4674 @code{protected} which means that any references to the symbols from within the
4675 components that defines them must be resolved to the definition in that
4676 component, even if a definition in another component would normally preempt
4677 this.
4678 @end ifset
4679
4680 @node Psize
4681 @section @code{.psize @var{lines} , @var{columns}}
4682
4683 @cindex @code{psize} directive
4684 @cindex listing control: paper size
4685 @cindex paper size, for listings
4686 Use this directive to declare the number of lines---and, optionally, the
4687 number of columns---to use for each page, when generating listings.
4688
4689 If you do not use @code{.psize}, listings use a default line-count
4690 of 60. You may omit the comma and @var{columns} specification; the
4691 default width is 200 columns.
4692
4693 @code{@value{AS}} generates formfeeds whenever the specified number of
4694 lines is exceeded (or whenever you explicitly request one, using
4695 @code{.eject}).
4696
4697 If you specify @var{lines} as @code{0}, no formfeeds are generated save
4698 those explicitly specified with @code{.eject}.
4699
4700 @node Purgem
4701 @section @code{.purgem @var{name}}
4702
4703 @cindex @code{purgem} directive
4704 Undefine the macro @var{name}, so that later uses of the string will not be
4705 expanded. @xref{Macro}.
4706
4707 @ifset ELF
4708 @node PushSection
4709 @section @code{.pushsection @var{name} , @var{subsection}}
4710
4711 @cindex @code{.pushsection} directive
4712 @cindex Section Stack
4713 This is one of the ELF section stack manipulation directives. The others are
4714 @code{.section} (@pxref{Section}), @code{.subsection} (@pxref{SubSection}),
4715 @code{.popsection} (@pxref{PopSection}), and @code{.previous}
4716 (@pxref{Previous}).
4717
4718 This directive is a synonym for @code{.section}. It pushes the current section
4719 (and subsection) onto the top of the section stack, and then replaces the
4720 current section and subsection with @code{name} and @code{subsection}.
4721 @end ifset
4722
4723 @node Quad
4724 @section @code{.quad @var{bignums}}
4725
4726 @cindex @code{quad} directive
4727 @code{.quad} expects zero or more bignums, separated by commas. For
4728 each bignum, it emits
4729 @ifclear bignum-16
4730 an 8-byte integer. If the bignum won't fit in 8 bytes, it prints a
4731 warning message; and just takes the lowest order 8 bytes of the bignum.
4732 @cindex eight-byte integer
4733 @cindex integer, 8-byte
4734
4735 The term ``quad'' comes from contexts in which a ``word'' is two bytes;
4736 hence @emph{quad}-word for 8 bytes.
4737 @end ifclear
4738 @ifset bignum-16
4739 a 16-byte integer. If the bignum won't fit in 16 bytes, it prints a
4740 warning message; and just takes the lowest order 16 bytes of the bignum.
4741 @cindex sixteen-byte integer
4742 @cindex integer, 16-byte
4743 @end ifset
4744
4745 @node Rept
4746 @section @code{.rept @var{count}}
4747
4748 @cindex @code{rept} directive
4749 Repeat the sequence of lines between the @code{.rept} directive and the next
4750 @code{.endr} directive @var{count} times.
4751
4752 For example, assembling
4753
4754 @example
4755 .rept 3
4756 .long 0
4757 .endr
4758 @end example
4759
4760 is equivalent to assembling
4761
4762 @example
4763 .long 0
4764 .long 0
4765 .long 0
4766 @end example
4767
4768 @node Sbttl
4769 @section @code{.sbttl "@var{subheading}"}
4770
4771 @cindex @code{sbttl} directive
4772 @cindex subtitles for listings
4773 @cindex listing control: subtitle
4774 Use @var{subheading} as the title (third line, immediately after the
4775 title line) when generating assembly listings.
4776
4777 This directive affects subsequent pages, as well as the current page if
4778 it appears within ten lines of the top of a page.
4779
4780 @ifset COFF
4781 @node Scl
4782 @section @code{.scl @var{class}}
4783
4784 @cindex @code{scl} directive
4785 @cindex symbol storage class (COFF)
4786 @cindex COFF symbol storage class
4787 Set the storage-class value for a symbol. This directive may only be
4788 used inside a @code{.def}/@code{.endef} pair. Storage class may flag
4789 whether a symbol is static or external, or it may record further
4790 symbolic debugging information.
4791 @ifset BOUT
4792
4793 The @samp{.scl} directive is primarily associated with COFF output; when
4794 configured to generate @code{b.out} output format, @code{@value{AS}}
4795 accepts this directive but ignores it.
4796 @end ifset
4797 @end ifset
4798
4799 @node Section
4800 @section @code{.section @var{name}} (COFF version)
4801
4802 @cindex @code{section} directive
4803 @cindex named section
4804 Use the @code{.section} directive to assemble the following code into a section
4805 named @var{name}.
4806
4807 This directive is only supported for targets that actually support arbitrarily
4808 named sections; on @code{a.out} targets, for example, it is not accepted, even
4809 with a standard @code{a.out} section name.
4810
4811 For COFF targets, the @code{.section} directive is used in one of the following
4812 ways:
4813
4814 @smallexample
4815 .section @var{name}[, "@var{flags}"]
4816 .section @var{name}[, @var{subsegment}]
4817 @end smallexample
4818
4819 If the optional argument is quoted, it is taken as flags to use for the
4820 section. Each flag is a single character. The following flags are recognized:
4821 @table @code
4822 @item b
4823 bss section (uninitialized data)
4824 @item n
4825 section is not loaded
4826 @item w
4827 writable section
4828 @item d
4829 data section
4830 @item r
4831 read-only section
4832 @item x
4833 executable section
4834 @item s
4835 shared section (meaningful for PE targets)
4836 @end table
4837
4838 If no flags are specified, the default flags depend upon the section name. If
4839 the section name is not recognized, the default will be for the section to be
4840 loaded and writable. Note the @code{n} and @code{w} flags remove attributes
4841 from the section, rather than adding them, so if they are used on their own it
4842 will be as if no flags had been specified at all.
4843
4844 If the optional argument to the @code{.section} directive is not quoted, it is
4845 taken as a subsegment number (@pxref{Sub-Sections}).
4846
4847
4848 @section @code{.section @var{name}} (ELF version)
4849
4850 @cindex @code{section} directive
4851 @cindex named section
4852 @ifset ELF
4853 @cindex Section Stack
4854 This is one of the ELF section stack manipulation directives. The others are
4855 @code{.subsection} (@pxref{SubSection}), @code{.pushsection}
4856 (@pxref{PushSection}), @code{.popsection} (@pxref{PopSection}), and
4857 @code{.previous} (@pxref{Previous}).
4858 @end ifset
4859
4860 For ELF targets, the @code{.section} directive is used like this:
4861
4862 @smallexample
4863 .section @var{name} [, "@var{flags}"[, @@@var{type}]]
4864 @end smallexample
4865
4866 The optional @var{flags} argument is a quoted string which may contain any
4867 combination of the following characters:
4868 @table @code
4869 @item a
4870 section is allocatable
4871 @item w
4872 section is writable
4873 @item x
4874 section is executable
4875 @end table
4876
4877 The optional @var{type} argument may contain one of the following constants:
4878 @table @code
4879 @item @@progbits
4880 section contains data
4881 @item @@nobits
4882 section does not contain data (i.e., section only occupies space)
4883 @end table
4884
4885 If no flags are specified, the default flags depend upon the section name. If
4886 the section name is not recognized, the default will be for the section to have
4887 none of the above flags: it will not be allocated in memory, nor writable, nor
4888 executable. The section will contain data.
4889
4890 For ELF targets, the assembler supports another type of @code{.section}
4891 directive for compatibility with the Solaris assembler:
4892
4893 @smallexample
4894 .section "@var{name}"[, @var{flags}...]
4895 @end smallexample
4896
4897 Note that the section name is quoted. There may be a sequence of comma
4898 separated flags:
4899 @table @code
4900 @item #alloc
4901 section is allocatable
4902 @item #write
4903 section is writable
4904 @item #execinstr
4905 section is executable
4906 @end table
4907
4908 This directive replaces the current section and subsection. The replaced
4909 section and subsection are pushed onto the section stack. See the contents of
4910 the gas testsuite directory @code{gas/testsuite/gas/elf} for some examples of
4911 how this directive and the other section stack directives work.
4912
4913 @node Set
4914 @section @code{.set @var{symbol}, @var{expression}}
4915
4916 @cindex @code{set} directive
4917 @cindex symbol value, setting
4918 Set the value of @var{symbol} to @var{expression}. This
4919 changes @var{symbol}'s value and type to conform to
4920 @var{expression}. If @var{symbol} was flagged as external, it remains
4921 flagged (@pxref{Symbol Attributes}).
4922
4923 You may @code{.set} a symbol many times in the same assembly.
4924
4925 If you @code{.set} a global symbol, the value stored in the object
4926 file is the last value stored into it.
4927
4928 @ifset HPPA
4929 The syntax for @code{set} on the HPPA is
4930 @samp{@var{symbol} .set @var{expression}}.
4931 @end ifset
4932
4933 @node Short
4934 @section @code{.short @var{expressions}}
4935
4936 @cindex @code{short} directive
4937 @ifset GENERIC
4938 @code{.short} is normally the same as @samp{.word}.
4939 @xref{Word,,@code{.word}}.
4940
4941 In some configurations, however, @code{.short} and @code{.word} generate
4942 numbers of different lengths; @pxref{Machine Dependencies}.
4943 @end ifset
4944 @ifclear GENERIC
4945 @ifset W16
4946 @code{.short} is the same as @samp{.word}. @xref{Word,,@code{.word}}.
4947 @end ifset
4948 @ifset W32
4949 This expects zero or more @var{expressions}, and emits
4950 a 16 bit number for each.
4951 @end ifset
4952 @end ifclear
4953
4954 @node Single
4955 @section @code{.single @var{flonums}}
4956
4957 @cindex @code{single} directive
4958 @cindex floating point numbers (single)
4959 This directive assembles zero or more flonums, separated by commas. It
4960 has the same effect as @code{.float}.
4961 @ifset GENERIC
4962 The exact kind of floating point numbers emitted depends on how
4963 @code{@value{AS}} is configured. @xref{Machine Dependencies}.
4964 @end ifset
4965 @ifclear GENERIC
4966 @ifset IEEEFLOAT
4967 On the @value{TARGET} family, @code{.single} emits 32-bit floating point
4968 numbers in @sc{ieee} format.
4969 @end ifset
4970 @end ifclear
4971
4972 @node Size
4973 @section @code{.size} (COFF version)
4974
4975 @cindex @code{size} directive
4976 This directive is generated by compilers to include auxiliary debugging
4977 information in the symbol table. It is only permitted inside
4978 @code{.def}/@code{.endef} pairs.
4979
4980 @ifset BOUT
4981 @samp{.size} is only meaningful when generating COFF format output; when
4982 @code{@value{AS}} is generating @code{b.out}, it accepts this directive but
4983 ignores it.
4984 @end ifset
4985
4986 @section @code{.size @var{name} , @var{expression}} (ELF version)
4987 @cindex @code{size} directive
4988
4989 This directive is used to set the size associated with a symbol @var{name}.
4990 The size in bytes is computed from @var{expression} which can make use of label
4991 arithmetic. This directive is typically used to set the size of function
4992 symbols.
4993
4994 @node Sleb128
4995 @section @code{.sleb128 @var{expressions}}
4996
4997 @cindex @code{sleb128} directive
4998 @var{sleb128} stands for ``signed little endian base 128.'' This is a
4999 compact, variable length representation of numbers used by the DWARF
5000 symbolic debugging format. @xref{Uleb128,@code{.uleb128}}.
5001
5002 @ifclear no-space-dir
5003 @node Skip
5004 @section @code{.skip @var{size} , @var{fill}}
5005
5006 @cindex @code{skip} directive
5007 @cindex filling memory
5008 This directive emits @var{size} bytes, each of value @var{fill}. Both
5009 @var{size} and @var{fill} are absolute expressions. If the comma and
5010 @var{fill} are omitted, @var{fill} is assumed to be zero. This is the same as
5011 @samp{.space}.
5012
5013 @node Space
5014 @section @code{.space @var{size} , @var{fill}}
5015
5016 @cindex @code{space} directive
5017 @cindex filling memory
5018 This directive emits @var{size} bytes, each of value @var{fill}. Both
5019 @var{size} and @var{fill} are absolute expressions. If the comma
5020 and @var{fill} are omitted, @var{fill} is assumed to be zero. This is the same
5021 as @samp{.skip}.
5022
5023 @ifset HPPA
5024 @quotation
5025 @emph{Warning:} @code{.space} has a completely different meaning for HPPA
5026 targets; use @code{.block} as a substitute. See @cite{HP9000 Series 800
5027 Assembly Language Reference Manual} (HP 92432-90001) for the meaning of the
5028 @code{.space} directive. @xref{HPPA Directives,,HPPA Assembler Directives},
5029 for a summary.
5030 @end quotation
5031 @end ifset
5032 @end ifclear
5033
5034 @ifset A29K
5035 @ifclear GENERIC
5036 @node Space
5037 @section @code{.space}
5038 @cindex @code{space} directive
5039 @end ifclear
5040 On the AMD 29K, this directive is ignored; it is accepted for
5041 compatibility with other AMD 29K assemblers.
5042
5043 @quotation
5044 @emph{Warning:} In most versions of the @sc{gnu} assembler, the directive
5045 @code{.space} has the effect of @code{.block} @xref{Machine Dependencies}.
5046 @end quotation
5047 @end ifset
5048
5049 @ifset have-stabs
5050 @node Stab
5051 @section @code{.stabd, .stabn, .stabs}
5052
5053 @cindex symbolic debuggers, information for
5054 @cindex @code{stab@var{x}} directives
5055 There are three directives that begin @samp{.stab}.
5056 All emit symbols (@pxref{Symbols}), for use by symbolic debuggers.
5057 The symbols are not entered in the @code{@value{AS}} hash table: they
5058 cannot be referenced elsewhere in the source file.
5059 Up to five fields are required:
5060
5061 @table @var
5062 @item string
5063 This is the symbol's name. It may contain any character except
5064 @samp{\000}, so is more general than ordinary symbol names. Some
5065 debuggers used to code arbitrarily complex structures into symbol names
5066 using this field.
5067
5068 @item type
5069 An absolute expression. The symbol's type is set to the low 8 bits of
5070 this expression. Any bit pattern is permitted, but @code{@value{LD}}
5071 and debuggers choke on silly bit patterns.
5072
5073 @item other
5074 An absolute expression. The symbol's ``other'' attribute is set to the
5075 low 8 bits of this expression.
5076
5077 @item desc
5078 An absolute expression. The symbol's descriptor is set to the low 16
5079 bits of this expression.
5080
5081 @item value
5082 An absolute expression which becomes the symbol's value.
5083 @end table
5084
5085 If a warning is detected while reading a @code{.stabd}, @code{.stabn},
5086 or @code{.stabs} statement, the symbol has probably already been created;
5087 you get a half-formed symbol in your object file. This is
5088 compatible with earlier assemblers!
5089
5090 @table @code
5091 @cindex @code{stabd} directive
5092 @item .stabd @var{type} , @var{other} , @var{desc}
5093
5094 The ``name'' of the symbol generated is not even an empty string.
5095 It is a null pointer, for compatibility. Older assemblers used a
5096 null pointer so they didn't waste space in object files with empty
5097 strings.
5098
5099 The symbol's value is set to the location counter,
5100 relocatably. When your program is linked, the value of this symbol
5101 is the address of the location counter when the @code{.stabd} was
5102 assembled.
5103
5104 @cindex @code{stabn} directive
5105 @item .stabn @var{type} , @var{other} , @var{desc} , @var{value}
5106 The name of the symbol is set to the empty string @code{""}.
5107
5108 @cindex @code{stabs} directive
5109 @item .stabs @var{string} , @var{type} , @var{other} , @var{desc} , @var{value}
5110 All five fields are specified.
5111 @end table
5112 @end ifset
5113 @c end have-stabs
5114
5115 @node String
5116 @section @code{.string} "@var{str}"
5117
5118 @cindex string, copying to object file
5119 @cindex @code{string} directive
5120
5121 Copy the characters in @var{str} to the object file. You may specify more than
5122 one string to copy, separated by commas. Unless otherwise specified for a
5123 particular machine, the assembler marks the end of each string with a 0 byte.
5124 You can use any of the escape sequences described in @ref{Strings,,Strings}.
5125
5126 @node Struct
5127 @section @code{.struct @var{expression}}
5128
5129 @cindex @code{struct} directive
5130 Switch to the absolute section, and set the section offset to @var{expression},
5131 which must be an absolute expression. You might use this as follows:
5132 @smallexample
5133 .struct 0
5134 field1:
5135 .struct field1 + 4
5136 field2:
5137 .struct field2 + 4
5138 field3:
5139 @end smallexample
5140 This would define the symbol @code{field1} to have the value 0, the symbol
5141 @code{field2} to have the value 4, and the symbol @code{field3} to have the
5142 value 8. Assembly would be left in the absolute section, and you would need to
5143 use a @code{.section} directive of some sort to change to some other section
5144 before further assembly.
5145
5146 @ifset ELF
5147 @node SubSection
5148 @section @code{.subsection @var{name}}
5149
5150 @cindex @code{.subsection} directive
5151 @cindex Section Stack
5152 This is one of the ELF section stack manipulation directives. The others are
5153 @code{.section} (@pxref{Section}), @code{.pushsection} (@pxref{PushSection}),
5154 @code{.popsection} (@pxref{PopSection}), and @code{.previous}
5155 (@pxref{Previous}).
5156
5157 This directive replaces the current subsection with @code{name}. The current
5158 section is not changed. The replaced subsection is put onto the section stack
5159 in place of the then current top of stack subsection.
5160 @end ifset
5161
5162 @ifset ELF
5163 @node Symver
5164 @section @code{.symver}
5165 @cindex @code{symver} directive
5166 @cindex symbol versioning
5167 @cindex versions of symbols
5168 Use the @code{.symver} directive to bind symbols to specific version nodes
5169 within a source file. This is only supported on ELF platforms, and is
5170 typically used when assembling files to be linked into a shared library.
5171 There are cases where it may make sense to use this in objects to be bound
5172 into an application itself so as to override a versioned symbol from a
5173 shared library.
5174
5175 For ELF targets, the @code{.symver} directive can be used like this:
5176 @smallexample
5177 .symver @var{name}, @var{name2@@nodename}
5178 @end smallexample
5179 If the symbol @var{name} is defined within the file
5180 being assembled, the @code{.symver} directive effectively creates a symbol
5181 alias with the name @var{name2@@nodename}, and in fact the main reason that we
5182 just don't try and create a regular alias is that the @var{@@} character isn't
5183 permitted in symbol names. The @var{name2} part of the name is the actual name
5184 of the symbol by which it will be externally referenced. The name @var{name}
5185 itself is merely a name of convenience that is used so that it is possible to
5186 have definitions for multiple versions of a function within a single source
5187 file, and so that the compiler can unambiguously know which version of a
5188 function is being mentioned. The @var{nodename} portion of the alias should be
5189 the name of a node specified in the version script supplied to the linker when
5190 building a shared library. If you are attempting to override a versioned
5191 symbol from a shared library, then @var{nodename} should correspond to the
5192 nodename of the symbol you are trying to override.
5193
5194 If the symbol @var{name} is not defined within the file being assembled, all
5195 references to @var{name} will be changed to @var{name2@@nodename}. If no
5196 reference to @var{name} is made, @var{name2@@nodename} will be removed from the
5197 symbol table.
5198
5199 Another usage of the @code{.symver} directive is:
5200 @smallexample
5201 .symver @var{name}, @var{name2@@@@nodename}
5202 @end smallexample
5203 In this case, the symbol @var{name} must exist and be defined within
5204 the file being assembled. It is similar to @var{name2@@nodename}. The
5205 difference is @var{name2@@@@nodename} will also be used to resolve
5206 references to @var{name2} by the linker.
5207
5208 The third usage of the @code{.symver} directive is:
5209 @smallexample
5210 .symver @var{name}, @var{name2@@@@@@nodename}
5211 @end smallexample
5212 When @var{name} is not defined within the
5213 file being assembled, it is treated as @var{name2@@nodename}. When
5214 @var{name} is defined within the file being assembled, the symbol
5215 name, @var{name}, will be changed to @var{name2@@@@nodename}.
5216 @end ifset
5217
5218 @ifset COFF
5219 @node Tag
5220 @section @code{.tag @var{structname}}
5221
5222 @cindex COFF structure debugging
5223 @cindex structure debugging, COFF
5224 @cindex @code{tag} directive
5225 This directive is generated by compilers to include auxiliary debugging
5226 information in the symbol table. It is only permitted inside
5227 @code{.def}/@code{.endef} pairs. Tags are used to link structure
5228 definitions in the symbol table with instances of those structures.
5229 @ifset BOUT
5230
5231 @samp{.tag} is only used when generating COFF format output; when
5232 @code{@value{AS}} is generating @code{b.out}, it accepts this directive but
5233 ignores it.
5234 @end ifset
5235 @end ifset
5236
5237 @node Text
5238 @section @code{.text @var{subsection}}
5239
5240 @cindex @code{text} directive
5241 Tells @code{@value{AS}} to assemble the following statements onto the end of
5242 the text subsection numbered @var{subsection}, which is an absolute
5243 expression. If @var{subsection} is omitted, subsection number zero
5244 is used.
5245
5246 @node Title
5247 @section @code{.title "@var{heading}"}
5248
5249 @cindex @code{title} directive
5250 @cindex listing control: title line
5251 Use @var{heading} as the title (second line, immediately after the
5252 source file name and pagenumber) when generating assembly listings.
5253
5254 This directive affects subsequent pages, as well as the current page if
5255 it appears within ten lines of the top of a page.
5256
5257 @node Type
5258 @section @code{.type @var{int}} (COFF version)
5259
5260 @cindex COFF symbol type
5261 @cindex symbol type, COFF
5262 @cindex @code{type} directive
5263 This directive, permitted only within @code{.def}/@code{.endef} pairs,
5264 records the integer @var{int} as the type attribute of a symbol table entry.
5265
5266 @ifset BOUT
5267 @samp{.type} is associated only with COFF format output; when
5268 @code{@value{AS}} is configured for @code{b.out} output, it accepts this
5269 directive but ignores it.
5270 @end ifset
5271
5272 @section @code{.type @var{name} , @var{type description}} (ELF version)
5273
5274 @cindex ELF symbol type
5275 @cindex symbol type, ELF
5276 @cindex @code{type} directive
5277 This directive is used to set the type of symbol @var{name} to be either a
5278 function symbol or an object symbol. There are five different syntaxes
5279 supported for the @var{type description} field, in order to provide
5280 compatibility with various other assemblers. The syntaxes supported are:
5281
5282 @smallexample
5283 .type <name>,#function
5284 .type <name>,#object
5285
5286 .type <name>,@@function
5287 .type <name>,@@object
5288
5289 .type <name>,%function
5290 .type <name>,%object
5291
5292 .type <name>,"function"
5293 .type <name>,"object"
5294
5295 .type <name> STT_FUNCTION
5296 .type <name> STT_OBJECT
5297 @end smallexample
5298
5299 @node Uleb128
5300 @section @code{.uleb128 @var{expressions}}
5301
5302 @cindex @code{uleb128} directive
5303 @var{uleb128} stands for ``unsigned little endian base 128.'' This is a
5304 compact, variable length representation of numbers used by the DWARF
5305 symbolic debugging format. @xref{Sleb128,@code{.sleb128}}.
5306
5307 @ifset COFF
5308 @node Val
5309 @section @code{.val @var{addr}}
5310
5311 @cindex @code{val} directive
5312 @cindex COFF value attribute
5313 @cindex value attribute, COFF
5314 This directive, permitted only within @code{.def}/@code{.endef} pairs,
5315 records the address @var{addr} as the value attribute of a symbol table
5316 entry.
5317 @ifset BOUT
5318
5319 @samp{.val} is used only for COFF output; when @code{@value{AS}} is
5320 configured for @code{b.out}, it accepts this directive but ignores it.
5321 @end ifset
5322 @end ifset
5323
5324 @ifset ELF
5325 @node Version
5326 @section @code{.version "@var{string}"}
5327
5328 @cindex @code{.version}
5329 This directive creates a @code{.note} section and places into it an ELF
5330 formatted note of type NT_VERSION. The note's name is set to @code{string}.
5331 @end ifset
5332
5333 @ifset ELF
5334 @node VTableEntry
5335 @section @code{.vtable_entry @var{table}, @var{offset}}
5336
5337 @cindex @code{.vtable_entry}
5338 This directive finds or creates a symbol @code{table} and creates a
5339 @code{VTABLE_ENTRY} relocation for it with an addend of @code{offset}.
5340
5341 @node VTableInherit
5342 @section @code{.vtable_inherit @var{child}, @var{parent}}
5343
5344 @cindex @code{.vtable_inherit}
5345 This directive finds the symbol @code{child} and finds or creates the symbol
5346 @code{parent} and then creates a @code{VTABLE_INHERIT} relocation for the
5347 parent whose addend is the value of the child symbol. As a special case the
5348 parent name of @code{0} is treated as refering the @code{*ABS*} section.
5349 @end ifset
5350
5351 @ifset ELF
5352 @node Weak
5353 @section @code{.weak @var{names}}
5354
5355 @cindex @code{.weak}
5356 This directive sets the weak attribute on the comma separated list of symbol
5357 @code{names}. If the symbols do not already exist, they will be created.
5358 @end ifset
5359
5360 @node Word
5361 @section @code{.word @var{expressions}}
5362
5363 @cindex @code{word} directive
5364 This directive expects zero or more @var{expressions}, of any section,
5365 separated by commas.
5366 @ifclear GENERIC
5367 @ifset W32
5368 For each expression, @code{@value{AS}} emits a 32-bit number.
5369 @end ifset
5370 @ifset W16
5371 For each expression, @code{@value{AS}} emits a 16-bit number.
5372 @end ifset
5373 @end ifclear
5374 @ifset GENERIC
5375
5376 The size of the number emitted, and its byte order,
5377 depend on what target computer the assembly is for.
5378 @end ifset
5379
5380 @c on amd29k, i960, sparc the "special treatment to support compilers" doesn't
5381 @c happen---32-bit addressability, period; no long/short jumps.
5382 @ifset DIFF-TBL-KLUGE
5383 @cindex difference tables altered
5384 @cindex altered difference tables
5385 @quotation
5386 @emph{Warning: Special Treatment to support Compilers}
5387 @end quotation
5388
5389 @ifset GENERIC
5390 Machines with a 32-bit address space, but that do less than 32-bit
5391 addressing, require the following special treatment. If the machine of
5392 interest to you does 32-bit addressing (or doesn't require it;
5393 @pxref{Machine Dependencies}), you can ignore this issue.
5394
5395 @end ifset
5396 In order to assemble compiler output into something that works,
5397 @code{@value{AS}} occasionally does strange things to @samp{.word} directives.
5398 Directives of the form @samp{.word sym1-sym2} are often emitted by
5399 compilers as part of jump tables. Therefore, when @code{@value{AS}} assembles a
5400 directive of the form @samp{.word sym1-sym2}, and the difference between
5401 @code{sym1} and @code{sym2} does not fit in 16 bits, @code{@value{AS}}
5402 creates a @dfn{secondary jump table}, immediately before the next label.
5403 This secondary jump table is preceded by a short-jump to the
5404 first byte after the secondary table. This short-jump prevents the flow
5405 of control from accidentally falling into the new table. Inside the
5406 table is a long-jump to @code{sym2}. The original @samp{.word}
5407 contains @code{sym1} minus the address of the long-jump to
5408 @code{sym2}.
5409
5410 If there were several occurrences of @samp{.word sym1-sym2} before the
5411 secondary jump table, all of them are adjusted. If there was a
5412 @samp{.word sym3-sym4}, that also did not fit in sixteen bits, a
5413 long-jump to @code{sym4} is included in the secondary jump table,
5414 and the @code{.word} directives are adjusted to contain @code{sym3}
5415 minus the address of the long-jump to @code{sym4}; and so on, for as many
5416 entries in the original jump table as necessary.
5417
5418 @ifset INTERNALS
5419 @emph{This feature may be disabled by compiling @code{@value{AS}} with the
5420 @samp{-DWORKING_DOT_WORD} option.} This feature is likely to confuse
5421 assembly language programmers.
5422 @end ifset
5423 @end ifset
5424 @c end DIFF-TBL-KLUGE
5425
5426 @node Deprecated
5427 @section Deprecated Directives
5428
5429 @cindex deprecated directives
5430 @cindex obsolescent directives
5431 One day these directives won't work.
5432 They are included for compatibility with older assemblers.
5433 @table @t
5434 @item .abort
5435 @item .line
5436 @end table
5437
5438 @ifset GENERIC
5439 @node Machine Dependencies
5440 @chapter Machine Dependent Features
5441
5442 @cindex machine dependencies
5443 The machine instruction sets are (almost by definition) different on
5444 each machine where @code{@value{AS}} runs. Floating point representations
5445 vary as well, and @code{@value{AS}} often supports a few additional
5446 directives or command-line options for compatibility with other
5447 assemblers on a particular platform. Finally, some versions of
5448 @code{@value{AS}} support special pseudo-instructions for branch
5449 optimization.
5450
5451 This chapter discusses most of these differences, though it does not
5452 include details on any machine's instruction set. For details on that
5453 subject, see the hardware manufacturer's manual.
5454
5455 @menu
5456 @ifset A29K
5457 * AMD29K-Dependent:: AMD 29K Dependent Features
5458 @end ifset
5459 @ifset ARC
5460 * ARC-Dependent:: ARC Dependent Features
5461 @end ifset
5462 @ifset ARM
5463 * ARM-Dependent:: ARM Dependent Features
5464 @end ifset
5465 @ifset D10V
5466 * D10V-Dependent:: D10V Dependent Features
5467 @end ifset
5468 @ifset D30V
5469 * D30V-Dependent:: D30V Dependent Features
5470 @end ifset
5471 @ifset H8/300
5472 * H8/300-Dependent:: Hitachi H8/300 Dependent Features
5473 @end ifset
5474 @ifset H8/500
5475 * H8/500-Dependent:: Hitachi H8/500 Dependent Features
5476 @end ifset
5477 @ifset HPPA
5478 * HPPA-Dependent:: HPPA Dependent Features
5479 @end ifset
5480 @ifset I370
5481 * ESA/390-Dependent:: IBM ESA/390 Dependent Features
5482 @end ifset
5483 @ifset I80386
5484 * i386-Dependent:: Intel 80386 and AMD x86-64 Dependent Features
5485 @end ifset
5486 @ifset I860
5487 * i860-Dependent:: Intel 80860 Dependent Features
5488 @end ifset
5489 @ifset I960
5490 * i960-Dependent:: Intel 80960 Dependent Features
5491 @end ifset
5492 @ifset M32R
5493 * M32R-Dependent:: M32R Dependent Features
5494 @end ifset
5495 @ifset M680X0
5496 * M68K-Dependent:: M680x0 Dependent Features
5497 @end ifset
5498 @ifset M68HC11
5499 * M68HC11-Dependent:: M68HC11 and 68HC12 Dependent Features
5500 @end ifset
5501 @ifset M880X0
5502 * M88K-Dependent:: M880x0 Dependent Features
5503 @end ifset
5504 @ifset MIPS
5505 * MIPS-Dependent:: MIPS Dependent Features
5506 @end ifset
5507 @ifset SH
5508 * SH-Dependent:: Hitachi SH Dependent Features
5509 @end ifset
5510 @ifset PDP11
5511 * PDP-11-Dependent:: PDP-11 Dependent Features
5512 @end ifset
5513 @ifset PJ
5514 * PJ-Dependent:: picoJava Dependent Features
5515 @end ifset
5516 @ifset SPARC
5517 * Sparc-Dependent:: SPARC Dependent Features
5518 @end ifset
5519 @ifset TIC54X
5520 * TIC54X-Dependent:: TI TMS320C54x Dependent Features
5521 @end ifset
5522 @ifset V850
5523 * V850-Dependent:: V850 Dependent Features
5524 @end ifset
5525 @ifset Z8000
5526 * Z8000-Dependent:: Z8000 Dependent Features
5527 @end ifset
5528 @ifset VAX
5529 * Vax-Dependent:: VAX Dependent Features
5530 @end ifset
5531 @end menu
5532
5533 @lowersections
5534 @end ifset
5535
5536 @c The following major nodes are *sections* in the GENERIC version, *chapters*
5537 @c in single-cpu versions. This is mainly achieved by @lowersections. There is a
5538 @c peculiarity: to preserve cross-references, there must be a node called
5539 @c "Machine Dependencies". Hence the conditional nodenames in each
5540 @c major node below. Node defaulting in makeinfo requires adjacency of
5541 @c node and sectioning commands; hence the repetition of @chapter BLAH
5542 @c in both conditional blocks.
5543
5544 @ifset ARC
5545 @include c-arc.texi
5546 @end ifset
5547
5548 @ifset A29K
5549 @include c-a29k.texi
5550 @end ifset
5551
5552 @ifset ARM
5553 @include c-arm.texi
5554 @end ifset
5555
5556 @ifset Hitachi-all
5557 @ifclear GENERIC
5558 @node Machine Dependencies
5559 @chapter Machine Dependent Features
5560
5561 The machine instruction sets are different on each Hitachi chip family,
5562 and there are also some syntax differences among the families. This
5563 chapter describes the specific @code{@value{AS}} features for each
5564 family.
5565
5566 @menu
5567 * H8/300-Dependent:: Hitachi H8/300 Dependent Features
5568 * H8/500-Dependent:: Hitachi H8/500 Dependent Features
5569 * SH-Dependent:: Hitachi SH Dependent Features
5570 @end menu
5571 @lowersections
5572 @end ifclear
5573 @end ifset
5574
5575 @ifset D10V
5576 @include c-d10v.texi
5577 @end ifset
5578
5579 @ifset D30V
5580 @include c-d30v.texi
5581 @end ifset
5582
5583 @ifset H8/300
5584 @include c-h8300.texi
5585 @end ifset
5586
5587 @ifset H8/500
5588 @include c-h8500.texi
5589 @end ifset
5590
5591 @ifset HPPA
5592 @include c-hppa.texi
5593 @end ifset
5594
5595 @ifset I370
5596 @include c-i370.texi
5597 @end ifset
5598
5599 @ifset I80386
5600 @include c-i386.texi
5601 @end ifset
5602
5603 @ifset I860
5604 @include c-i860.texi
5605 @end ifset
5606
5607 @ifset I960
5608 @include c-i960.texi
5609 @end ifset
5610
5611 @ifset M32R
5612 @include c-m32r.texi
5613 @end ifset
5614
5615 @ifset M680X0
5616 @include c-m68k.texi
5617 @end ifset
5618
5619 @ifset M68HC11
5620 @include c-m68hc11.texi
5621 @end ifset
5622
5623 @ifset M880X0
5624 @include c-m88k.texi
5625 @end ifset
5626
5627 @ifset MIPS
5628 @include c-mips.texi
5629 @end ifset
5630
5631 @ifset NS32K
5632 @include c-ns32k.texi
5633 @end ifset
5634
5635 @ifset PDP11
5636 @include c-pdp11.texi
5637 @end ifset
5638
5639 @ifset PJ
5640 @include c-pj.texi
5641 @end ifset
5642
5643 @ifset SH
5644 @include c-sh.texi
5645 @end ifset
5646
5647 @ifset SPARC
5648 @include c-sparc.texi
5649 @end ifset
5650
5651 @ifset TIC54X
5652 @include c-tic54x.texi
5653 @end ifset
5654
5655 @ifset Z8000
5656 @include c-z8k.texi
5657 @end ifset
5658
5659 @ifset VAX
5660 @include c-vax.texi
5661 @end ifset
5662
5663 @ifset V850
5664 @include c-v850.texi
5665 @end ifset
5666
5667 @ifset GENERIC
5668 @c reverse effect of @down at top of generic Machine-Dep chapter
5669 @raisesections
5670 @end ifset
5671
5672 @node Reporting Bugs
5673 @chapter Reporting Bugs
5674 @cindex bugs in assembler
5675 @cindex reporting bugs in assembler
5676
5677 Your bug reports play an essential role in making @code{@value{AS}} reliable.
5678
5679 Reporting a bug may help you by bringing a solution to your problem, or it may
5680 not. But in any case the principal function of a bug report is to help the
5681 entire community by making the next version of @code{@value{AS}} work better.
5682 Bug reports are your contribution to the maintenance of @code{@value{AS}}.
5683
5684 In order for a bug report to serve its purpose, you must include the
5685 information that enables us to fix the bug.
5686
5687 @menu
5688 * Bug Criteria:: Have you found a bug?
5689 * Bug Reporting:: How to report bugs
5690 @end menu
5691
5692 @node Bug Criteria
5693 @section Have you found a bug?
5694 @cindex bug criteria
5695
5696 If you are not sure whether you have found a bug, here are some guidelines:
5697
5698 @itemize @bullet
5699 @cindex fatal signal
5700 @cindex assembler crash
5701 @cindex crash of assembler
5702 @item
5703 If the assembler gets a fatal signal, for any input whatever, that is a
5704 @code{@value{AS}} bug. Reliable assemblers never crash.
5705
5706 @cindex error on valid input
5707 @item
5708 If @code{@value{AS}} produces an error message for valid input, that is a bug.
5709
5710 @cindex invalid input
5711 @item
5712 If @code{@value{AS}} does not produce an error message for invalid input, that
5713 is a bug. However, you should note that your idea of ``invalid input'' might
5714 be our idea of ``an extension'' or ``support for traditional practice''.
5715
5716 @item
5717 If you are an experienced user of assemblers, your suggestions for improvement
5718 of @code{@value{AS}} are welcome in any case.
5719 @end itemize
5720
5721 @node Bug Reporting
5722 @section How to report bugs
5723 @cindex bug reports
5724 @cindex assembler bugs, reporting
5725
5726 A number of companies and individuals offer support for @sc{gnu} products. If
5727 you obtained @code{@value{AS}} from a support organization, we recommend you
5728 contact that organization first.
5729
5730 You can find contact information for many support companies and
5731 individuals in the file @file{etc/SERVICE} in the @sc{gnu} Emacs
5732 distribution.
5733
5734 In any event, we also recommend that you send bug reports for @code{@value{AS}}
5735 to @samp{bug-binutils@@gnu.org}.
5736
5737 The fundamental principle of reporting bugs usefully is this:
5738 @strong{report all the facts}. If you are not sure whether to state a
5739 fact or leave it out, state it!
5740
5741 Often people omit facts because they think they know what causes the problem
5742 and assume that some details do not matter. Thus, you might assume that the
5743 name of a symbol you use in an example does not matter. Well, probably it does
5744 not, but one cannot be sure. Perhaps the bug is a stray memory reference which
5745 happens to fetch from the location where that name is stored in memory;
5746 perhaps, if the name were different, the contents of that location would fool
5747 the assembler into doing the right thing despite the bug. Play it safe and
5748 give a specific, complete example. That is the easiest thing for you to do,
5749 and the most helpful.
5750
5751 Keep in mind that the purpose of a bug report is to enable us to fix the bug if
5752 it is new to us. Therefore, always write your bug reports on the assumption
5753 that the bug has not been reported previously.
5754
5755 Sometimes people give a few sketchy facts and ask, ``Does this ring a
5756 bell?'' Those bug reports are useless, and we urge everyone to
5757 @emph{refuse to respond to them} except to chide the sender to report
5758 bugs properly.
5759
5760 To enable us to fix the bug, you should include all these things:
5761
5762 @itemize @bullet
5763 @item
5764 The version of @code{@value{AS}}. @code{@value{AS}} announces it if you start
5765 it with the @samp{--version} argument.
5766
5767 Without this, we will not know whether there is any point in looking for
5768 the bug in the current version of @code{@value{AS}}.
5769
5770 @item
5771 Any patches you may have applied to the @code{@value{AS}} source.
5772
5773 @item
5774 The type of machine you are using, and the operating system name and
5775 version number.
5776
5777 @item
5778 What compiler (and its version) was used to compile @code{@value{AS}}---e.g.
5779 ``@code{gcc-2.7}''.
5780
5781 @item
5782 The command arguments you gave the assembler to assemble your example and
5783 observe the bug. To guarantee you will not omit something important, list them
5784 all. A copy of the Makefile (or the output from make) is sufficient.
5785
5786 If we were to try to guess the arguments, we would probably guess wrong
5787 and then we might not encounter the bug.
5788
5789 @item
5790 A complete input file that will reproduce the bug. If the bug is observed when
5791 the assembler is invoked via a compiler, send the assembler source, not the
5792 high level language source. Most compilers will produce the assembler source
5793 when run with the @samp{-S} option. If you are using @code{@value{GCC}}, use
5794 the options @samp{-v --save-temps}; this will save the assembler source in a
5795 file with an extension of @file{.s}, and also show you exactly how
5796 @code{@value{AS}} is being run.
5797
5798 @item
5799 A description of what behavior you observe that you believe is
5800 incorrect. For example, ``It gets a fatal signal.''
5801
5802 Of course, if the bug is that @code{@value{AS}} gets a fatal signal, then we
5803 will certainly notice it. But if the bug is incorrect output, we might not
5804 notice unless it is glaringly wrong. You might as well not give us a chance to
5805 make a mistake.
5806
5807 Even if the problem you experience is a fatal signal, you should still say so
5808 explicitly. Suppose something strange is going on, such as, your copy of
5809 @code{@value{AS}} is out of synch, or you have encountered a bug in the C
5810 library on your system. (This has happened!) Your copy might crash and ours
5811 would not. If you told us to expect a crash, then when ours fails to crash, we
5812 would know that the bug was not happening for us. If you had not told us to
5813 expect a crash, then we would not be able to draw any conclusion from our
5814 observations.
5815
5816 @item
5817 If you wish to suggest changes to the @code{@value{AS}} source, send us context
5818 diffs, as generated by @code{diff} with the @samp{-u}, @samp{-c}, or @samp{-p}
5819 option. Always send diffs from the old file to the new file. If you even
5820 discuss something in the @code{@value{AS}} source, refer to it by context, not
5821 by line number.
5822
5823 The line numbers in our development sources will not match those in your
5824 sources. Your line numbers would convey no useful information to us.
5825 @end itemize
5826
5827 Here are some things that are not necessary:
5828
5829 @itemize @bullet
5830 @item
5831 A description of the envelope of the bug.
5832
5833 Often people who encounter a bug spend a lot of time investigating
5834 which changes to the input file will make the bug go away and which
5835 changes will not affect it.
5836
5837 This is often time consuming and not very useful, because the way we
5838 will find the bug is by running a single example under the debugger
5839 with breakpoints, not by pure deduction from a series of examples.
5840 We recommend that you save your time for something else.
5841
5842 Of course, if you can find a simpler example to report @emph{instead}
5843 of the original one, that is a convenience for us. Errors in the
5844 output will be easier to spot, running under the debugger will take
5845 less time, and so on.
5846
5847 However, simplification is not vital; if you do not want to do this,
5848 report the bug anyway and send us the entire test case you used.
5849
5850 @item
5851 A patch for the bug.
5852
5853 A patch for the bug does help us if it is a good one. But do not omit
5854 the necessary information, such as the test case, on the assumption that
5855 a patch is all we need. We might see problems with your patch and decide
5856 to fix the problem another way, or we might not understand it at all.
5857
5858 Sometimes with a program as complicated as @code{@value{AS}} it is very hard to
5859 construct an example that will make the program follow a certain path through
5860 the code. If you do not send us the example, we will not be able to construct
5861 one, so we will not be able to verify that the bug is fixed.
5862
5863 And if we cannot understand what bug you are trying to fix, or why your
5864 patch should be an improvement, we will not install it. A test case will
5865 help us to understand.
5866
5867 @item
5868 A guess about what the bug is or what it depends on.
5869
5870 Such guesses are usually wrong. Even we cannot guess right about such
5871 things without first using the debugger to find the facts.
5872 @end itemize
5873
5874 @node Acknowledgements
5875 @chapter Acknowledgements
5876
5877 If you have contributed to @code{@value{AS}} and your name isn't listed here,
5878 it is not meant as a slight. We just don't know about it. Send mail to the
5879 maintainer, and we'll correct the situation. Currently
5880 @c (January 1994),
5881 the maintainer is Ken Raeburn (email address @code{raeburn@@cygnus.com}).
5882
5883 Dean Elsner wrote the original @sc{gnu} assembler for the VAX.@footnote{Any
5884 more details?}
5885
5886 Jay Fenlason maintained GAS for a while, adding support for GDB-specific debug
5887 information and the 68k series machines, most of the preprocessing pass, and
5888 extensive changes in @file{messages.c}, @file{input-file.c}, @file{write.c}.
5889
5890 K. Richard Pixley maintained GAS for a while, adding various enhancements and
5891 many bug fixes, including merging support for several processors, breaking GAS
5892 up to handle multiple object file format back ends (including heavy rewrite,
5893 testing, an integration of the coff and b.out back ends), adding configuration
5894 including heavy testing and verification of cross assemblers and file splits
5895 and renaming, converted GAS to strictly ANSI C including full prototypes, added
5896 support for m680[34]0 and cpu32, did considerable work on i960 including a COFF
5897 port (including considerable amounts of reverse engineering), a SPARC opcode
5898 file rewrite, DECstation, rs6000, and hp300hpux host ports, updated ``know''
5899 assertions and made them work, much other reorganization, cleanup, and lint.
5900
5901 Ken Raeburn wrote the high-level BFD interface code to replace most of the code
5902 in format-specific I/O modules.
5903
5904 The original VMS support was contributed by David L. Kashtan. Eric Youngdale
5905 has done much work with it since.
5906
5907 The Intel 80386 machine description was written by Eliot Dresselhaus.
5908
5909 Minh Tran-Le at IntelliCorp contributed some AIX 386 support.
5910
5911 The Motorola 88k machine description was contributed by Devon Bowen of Buffalo
5912 University and Torbjorn Granlund of the Swedish Institute of Computer Science.
5913
5914 Keith Knowles at the Open Software Foundation wrote the original MIPS back end
5915 (@file{tc-mips.c}, @file{tc-mips.h}), and contributed Rose format support
5916 (which hasn't been merged in yet). Ralph Campbell worked with the MIPS code to
5917 support a.out format.
5918
5919 Support for the Zilog Z8k and Hitachi H8/300 and H8/500 processors (tc-z8k,
5920 tc-h8300, tc-h8500), and IEEE 695 object file format (obj-ieee), was written by
5921 Steve Chamberlain of Cygnus Support. Steve also modified the COFF back end to
5922 use BFD for some low-level operations, for use with the H8/300 and AMD 29k
5923 targets.
5924
5925 John Gilmore built the AMD 29000 support, added @code{.include} support, and
5926 simplified the configuration of which versions accept which directives. He
5927 updated the 68k machine description so that Motorola's opcodes always produced
5928 fixed-size instructions (e.g. @code{jsr}), while synthetic instructions
5929 remained shrinkable (@code{jbsr}). John fixed many bugs, including true tested
5930 cross-compilation support, and one bug in relaxation that took a week and
5931 required the proverbial one-bit fix.
5932
5933 Ian Lance Taylor of Cygnus Support merged the Motorola and MIT syntax for the
5934 68k, completed support for some COFF targets (68k, i386 SVR3, and SCO Unix),
5935 added support for MIPS ECOFF and ELF targets, wrote the initial RS/6000 and
5936 PowerPC assembler, and made a few other minor patches.
5937
5938 Steve Chamberlain made @code{@value{AS}} able to generate listings.
5939
5940 Hewlett-Packard contributed support for the HP9000/300.
5941
5942 Jeff Law wrote GAS and BFD support for the native HPPA object format (SOM)
5943 along with a fairly extensive HPPA testsuite (for both SOM and ELF object
5944 formats). This work was supported by both the Center for Software Science at
5945 the University of Utah and Cygnus Support.
5946
5947 Support for ELF format files has been worked on by Mark Eichin of Cygnus
5948 Support (original, incomplete implementation for SPARC), Pete Hoogenboom and
5949 Jeff Law at the University of Utah (HPPA mainly), Michael Meissner of the Open
5950 Software Foundation (i386 mainly), and Ken Raeburn of Cygnus Support (sparc,
5951 and some initial 64-bit support).
5952
5953 Linas Vepstas added GAS support for the ESA/390 "IBM 370" architecture.
5954
5955 Richard Henderson rewrote the Alpha assembler. Klaus Kaempf wrote GAS and BFD
5956 support for openVMS/Alpha.
5957
5958 Timothy Wall, Michael Hayes, and Greg Smart contributed to the various tic*
5959 flavors.
5960
5961 Several engineers at Cygnus Support have also provided many small bug fixes and
5962 configuration enhancements.
5963
5964 Many others have contributed large or small bugfixes and enhancements. If
5965 you have contributed significant work and are not mentioned on this list, and
5966 want to be, let us know. Some of the history has been lost; we are not
5967 intentionally leaving anyone out.
5968
5969 @node GNU Free Documentation License
5970 @chapter GNU Free Documentation License
5971
5972 GNU Free Documentation License
5973
5974 Version 1.1, March 2000
5975
5976 Copyright (C) 2000 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
5977 59 Temple Place, Suite 330, Boston, MA 02111-1307 USA
5978
5979 Everyone is permitted to copy and distribute verbatim copies
5980 of this license document, but changing it is not allowed.
5981
5982
5983 0. PREAMBLE
5984
5985 The purpose of this License is to make a manual, textbook, or other
5986 written document "free" in the sense of freedom: to assure everyone
5987 the effective freedom to copy and redistribute it, with or without
5988 modifying it, either commercially or noncommercially. Secondarily,
5989 this License preserves for the author and publisher a way to get
5990 credit for their work, while not being considered responsible for
5991 modifications made by others.
5992
5993 This License is a kind of "copyleft", which means that derivative
5994 works of the document must themselves be free in the same sense. It
5995 complements the GNU General Public License, which is a copyleft
5996 license designed for free software.
5997
5998 We have designed this License in order to use it for manuals for free
5999 software, because free software needs free documentation: a free
6000 program should come with manuals providing the same freedoms that the
6001 software does. But this License is not limited to software manuals;
6002 it can be used for any textual work, regardless of subject matter or
6003 whether it is published as a printed book. We recommend this License
6004 principally for works whose purpose is instruction or reference.
6005
6006
6007 1. APPLICABILITY AND DEFINITIONS
6008
6009 This License applies to any manual or other work that contains a
6010 notice placed by the copyright holder saying it can be distributed
6011 under the terms of this License. The "Document", below, refers to any
6012 such manual or work. Any member of the public is a licensee, and is
6013 addressed as "you".
6014
6015 A "Modified Version" of the Document means any work containing the
6016 Document or a portion of it, either copied verbatim, or with
6017 modifications and/or translated into another language.
6018
6019 A "Secondary Section" is a named appendix or a front-matter section of
6020 the Document that deals exclusively with the relationship of the
6021 publishers or authors of the Document to the Document's overall subject
6022 (or to related matters) and contains nothing that could fall directly
6023 within that overall subject. (For example, if the Document is in part a
6024 textbook of mathematics, a Secondary Section may not explain any
6025 mathematics.) The relationship could be a matter of historical
6026 connection with the subject or with related matters, or of legal,
6027 commercial, philosophical, ethical or political position regarding
6028 them.
6029
6030 The "Invariant Sections" are certain Secondary Sections whose titles
6031 are designated, as being those of Invariant Sections, in the notice
6032 that says that the Document is released under this License.
6033
6034 The "Cover Texts" are certain short passages of text that are listed,
6035 as Front-Cover Texts or Back-Cover Texts, in the notice that says that
6036 the Document is released under this License.
6037
6038 A "Transparent" copy of the Document means a machine-readable copy,
6039 represented in a format whose specification is available to the
6040 general public, whose contents can be viewed and edited directly and
6041 straightforwardly with generic text editors or (for images composed of
6042 pixels) generic paint programs or (for drawings) some widely available
6043 drawing editor, and that is suitable for input to text formatters or
6044 for automatic translation to a variety of formats suitable for input
6045 to text formatters. A copy made in an otherwise Transparent file
6046 format whose markup has been designed to thwart or discourage
6047 subsequent modification by readers is not Transparent. A copy that is
6048 not "Transparent" is called "Opaque".
6049
6050 Examples of suitable formats for Transparent copies include plain
6051 ASCII without markup, Texinfo input format, LaTeX input format, SGML
6052 or XML using a publicly available DTD, and standard-conforming simple
6053 HTML designed for human modification. Opaque formats include
6054 PostScript, PDF, proprietary formats that can be read and edited only
6055 by proprietary word processors, SGML or XML for which the DTD and/or
6056 processing tools are not generally available, and the
6057 machine-generated HTML produced by some word processors for output
6058 purposes only.
6059
6060 The "Title Page" means, for a printed book, the title page itself,
6061 plus such following pages as are needed to hold, legibly, the material
6062 this License requires to appear in the title page. For works in
6063 formats which do not have any title page as such, "Title Page" means
6064 the text near the most prominent appearance of the work's title,
6065 preceding the beginning of the body of the text.
6066
6067
6068 2. VERBATIM COPYING
6069
6070 You may copy and distribute the Document in any medium, either
6071 commercially or noncommercially, provided that this License, the
6072 copyright notices, and the license notice saying this License applies
6073 to the Document are reproduced in all copies, and that you add no other
6074 conditions whatsoever to those of this License. You may not use
6075 technical measures to obstruct or control the reading or further
6076 copying of the copies you make or distribute. However, you may accept
6077 compensation in exchange for copies. If you distribute a large enough
6078 number of copies you must also follow the conditions in section 3.
6079
6080 You may also lend copies, under the same conditions stated above, and
6081 you may publicly display copies.
6082
6083
6084 3. COPYING IN QUANTITY
6085
6086 If you publish printed copies of the Document numbering more than 100,
6087 and the Document's license notice requires Cover Texts, you must enclose
6088 the copies in covers that carry, clearly and legibly, all these Cover
6089 Texts: Front-Cover Texts on the front cover, and Back-Cover Texts on
6090 the back cover. Both covers must also clearly and legibly identify
6091 you as the publisher of these copies. The front cover must present
6092 the full title with all words of the title equally prominent and
6093 visible. You may add other material on the covers in addition.
6094 Copying with changes limited to the covers, as long as they preserve
6095 the title of the Document and satisfy these conditions, can be treated
6096 as verbatim copying in other respects.
6097
6098 If the required texts for either cover are too voluminous to fit
6099 legibly, you should put the first ones listed (as many as fit
6100 reasonably) on the actual cover, and continue the rest onto adjacent
6101 pages.
6102
6103 If you publish or distribute Opaque copies of the Document numbering
6104 more than 100, you must either include a machine-readable Transparent
6105 copy along with each Opaque copy, or state in or with each Opaque copy
6106 a publicly-accessible computer-network location containing a complete
6107 Transparent copy of the Document, free of added material, which the
6108 general network-using public has access to download anonymously at no
6109 charge using public-standard network protocols. If you use the latter
6110 option, you must take reasonably prudent steps, when you begin
6111 distribution of Opaque copies in quantity, to ensure that this
6112 Transparent copy will remain thus accessible at the stated location
6113 until at least one year after the last time you distribute an Opaque
6114 copy (directly or through your agents or retailers) of that edition to
6115 the public.
6116
6117 It is requested, but not required, that you contact the authors of the
6118 Document well before redistributing any large number of copies, to give
6119 them a chance to provide you with an updated version of the Document.
6120
6121
6122 4. MODIFICATIONS
6123
6124 You may copy and distribute a Modified Version of the Document under
6125 the conditions of sections 2 and 3 above, provided that you release
6126 the Modified Version under precisely this License, with the Modified
6127 Version filling the role of the Document, thus licensing distribution
6128 and modification of the Modified Version to whoever possesses a copy
6129 of it. In addition, you must do these things in the Modified Version:
6130
6131 A. Use in the Title Page (and on the covers, if any) a title distinct
6132 from that of the Document, and from those of previous versions
6133 (which should, if there were any, be listed in the History section
6134 of the Document). You may use the same title as a previous version
6135 if the original publisher of that version gives permission.
6136 B. List on the Title Page, as authors, one or more persons or entities
6137 responsible for authorship of the modifications in the Modified
6138 Version, together with at least five of the principal authors of the
6139 Document (all of its principal authors, if it has less than five).
6140 C. State on the Title page the name of the publisher of the
6141 Modified Version, as the publisher.
6142 D. Preserve all the copyright notices of the Document.
6143 E. Add an appropriate copyright notice for your modifications
6144 adjacent to the other copyright notices.
6145 F. Include, immediately after the copyright notices, a license notice
6146 giving the public permission to use the Modified Version under the
6147 terms of this License, in the form shown in the Addendum below.
6148 G. Preserve in that license notice the full lists of Invariant Sections
6149 and required Cover Texts given in the Document's license notice.
6150 H. Include an unaltered copy of this License.
6151 I. Preserve the section entitled "History", and its title, and add to
6152 it an item stating at least the title, year, new authors, and
6153 publisher of the Modified Version as given on the Title Page. If
6154 there is no section entitled "History" in the Document, create one
6155 stating the title, year, authors, and publisher of the Document as
6156 given on its Title Page, then add an item describing the Modified
6157 Version as stated in the previous sentence.
6158 J. Preserve the network location, if any, given in the Document for
6159 public access to a Transparent copy of the Document, and likewise
6160 the network locations given in the Document for previous versions
6161 it was based on. These may be placed in the "History" section.
6162 You may omit a network location for a work that was published at
6163 least four years before the Document itself, or if the original
6164 publisher of the version it refers to gives permission.
6165 K. In any section entitled "Acknowledgements" or "Dedications",
6166 preserve the section's title, and preserve in the section all the
6167 substance and tone of each of the contributor acknowledgements
6168 and/or dedications given therein.
6169 L. Preserve all the Invariant Sections of the Document,
6170 unaltered in their text and in their titles. Section numbers
6171 or the equivalent are not considered part of the section titles.
6172 M. Delete any section entitled "Endorsements". Such a section
6173 may not be included in the Modified Version.
6174 N. Do not retitle any existing section as "Endorsements"
6175 or to conflict in title with any Invariant Section.
6176
6177 If the Modified Version includes new front-matter sections or
6178 appendices that qualify as Secondary Sections and contain no material
6179 copied from the Document, you may at your option designate some or all
6180 of these sections as invariant. To do this, add their titles to the
6181 list of Invariant Sections in the Modified Version's license notice.
6182 These titles must be distinct from any other section titles.
6183
6184 You may add a section entitled "Endorsements", provided it contains
6185 nothing but endorsements of your Modified Version by various
6186 parties--for example, statements of peer review or that the text has
6187 been approved by an organization as the authoritative definition of a
6188 standard.
6189
6190 You may add a passage of up to five words as a Front-Cover Text, and a
6191 passage of up to 25 words as a Back-Cover Text, to the end of the list
6192 of Cover Texts in the Modified Version. Only one passage of
6193 Front-Cover Text and one of Back-Cover Text may be added by (or
6194 through arrangements made by) any one entity. If the Document already
6195 includes a cover text for the same cover, previously added by you or
6196 by arrangement made by the same entity you are acting on behalf of,
6197 you may not add another; but you may replace the old one, on explicit
6198 permission from the previous publisher that added the old one.
6199
6200 The author(s) and publisher(s) of the Document do not by this License
6201 give permission to use their names for publicity for or to assert or
6202 imply endorsement of any Modified Version.
6203
6204
6205 5. COMBINING DOCUMENTS
6206
6207 You may combine the Document with other documents released under this
6208 License, under the terms defined in section 4 above for modified
6209 versions, provided that you include in the combination all of the
6210 Invariant Sections of all of the original documents, unmodified, and
6211 list them all as Invariant Sections of your combined work in its
6212 license notice.
6213
6214 The combined work need only contain one copy of this License, and
6215 multiple identical Invariant Sections may be replaced with a single
6216 copy. If there are multiple Invariant Sections with the same name but
6217 different contents, make the title of each such section unique by
6218 adding at the end of it, in parentheses, the name of the original
6219 author or publisher of that section if known, or else a unique number.
6220 Make the same adjustment to the section titles in the list of
6221 Invariant Sections in the license notice of the combined work.
6222
6223 In the combination, you must combine any sections entitled "History"
6224 in the various original documents, forming one section entitled
6225 "History"; likewise combine any sections entitled "Acknowledgements",
6226 and any sections entitled "Dedications". You must delete all sections
6227 entitled "Endorsements."
6228
6229
6230 6. COLLECTIONS OF DOCUMENTS
6231
6232 You may make a collection consisting of the Document and other documents
6233 released under this License, and replace the individual copies of this
6234 License in the various documents with a single copy that is included in
6235 the collection, provided that you follow the rules of this License for
6236 verbatim copying of each of the documents in all other respects.
6237
6238 You may extract a single document from such a collection, and distribute
6239 it individually under this License, provided you insert a copy of this
6240 License into the extracted document, and follow this License in all
6241 other respects regarding verbatim copying of that document.
6242
6243
6244 7. AGGREGATION WITH INDEPENDENT WORKS
6245
6246 A compilation of the Document or its derivatives with other separate
6247 and independent documents or works, in or on a volume of a storage or
6248 distribution medium, does not as a whole count as a Modified Version
6249 of the Document, provided no compilation copyright is claimed for the
6250 compilation. Such a compilation is called an "aggregate", and this
6251 License does not apply to the other self-contained works thus compiled
6252 with the Document, on account of their being thus compiled, if they
6253 are not themselves derivative works of the Document.
6254
6255 If the Cover Text requirement of section 3 is applicable to these
6256 copies of the Document, then if the Document is less than one quarter
6257 of the entire aggregate, the Document's Cover Texts may be placed on
6258 covers that surround only the Document within the aggregate.
6259 Otherwise they must appear on covers around the whole aggregate.
6260
6261
6262 8. TRANSLATION
6263
6264 Translation is considered a kind of modification, so you may
6265 distribute translations of the Document under the terms of section 4.
6266 Replacing Invariant Sections with translations requires special
6267 permission from their copyright holders, but you may include
6268 translations of some or all Invariant Sections in addition to the
6269 original versions of these Invariant Sections. You may include a
6270 translation of this License provided that you also include the
6271 original English version of this License. In case of a disagreement
6272 between the translation and the original English version of this
6273 License, the original English version will prevail.
6274
6275
6276 9. TERMINATION
6277
6278 You may not copy, modify, sublicense, or distribute the Document except
6279 as expressly provided for under this License. Any other attempt to
6280 copy, modify, sublicense or distribute the Document is void, and will
6281 automatically terminate your rights under this License. However,
6282 parties who have received copies, or rights, from you under this
6283 License will not have their licenses terminated so long as such
6284 parties remain in full compliance.
6285
6286
6287 10. FUTURE REVISIONS OF THIS LICENSE
6288
6289 The Free Software Foundation may publish new, revised versions
6290 of the GNU Free Documentation License from time to time. Such new
6291 versions will be similar in spirit to the present version, but may
6292 differ in detail to address new problems or concerns. See
6293 http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/.
6294
6295 Each version of the License is given a distinguishing version number.
6296 If the Document specifies that a particular numbered version of this
6297 License "or any later version" applies to it, you have the option of
6298 following the terms and conditions either of that specified version or
6299 of any later version that has been published (not as a draft) by the
6300 Free Software Foundation. If the Document does not specify a version
6301 number of this License, you may choose any version ever published (not
6302 as a draft) by the Free Software Foundation.
6303
6304
6305 ADDENDUM: How to use this License for your documents
6306
6307 To use this License in a document you have written, include a copy of
6308 the License in the document and put the following copyright and
6309 license notices just after the title page:
6310
6311 @smallexample
6312 Copyright (c) YEAR YOUR NAME.
6313 Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document
6314 under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.1
6315 or any later version published by the Free Software Foundation;
6316 with the Invariant Sections being LIST THEIR TITLES, with the
6317 Front-Cover Texts being LIST, and with the Back-Cover Texts being LIST.
6318 A copy of the license is included in the section entitled "GNU
6319 Free Documentation License".
6320 @end smallexample
6321
6322 If you have no Invariant Sections, write "with no Invariant Sections"
6323 instead of saying which ones are invariant. If you have no
6324 Front-Cover Texts, write "no Front-Cover Texts" instead of
6325 "Front-Cover Texts being LIST"; likewise for Back-Cover Texts.
6326
6327 If your document contains nontrivial examples of program code, we
6328 recommend releasing these examples in parallel under your choice of
6329 free software license, such as the GNU General Public License,
6330 to permit their use in free software.
6331
6332 @node Index
6333 @unnumbered Index
6334
6335 @printindex cp
6336
6337 @contents
6338 @bye
6339 @c Local Variables:
6340 @c fill-column: 79
6341 @c End: