[llvm-dev] lld: ELF/COFF main() interface

[Rafael Espíndola via llvm-dev]

On 26 January 2016 at 00:01, Yaron Keren via llvm-dev
<llvm-dev at lists.llvm.org> wrote:
> The context issue may be solved by making all functions and context data
> members of a class. Sort of having the convenience of global variables
> accessible from all linker functions but without the regular global variable
> problems of initializing and re-entry. so the class is suitable aspart of a
> library. Most clang and LLVM classes works this way, not passing contexts
> around.

That is a way to solve the global variable problem. The bigger problem
is the error handling. We can use a diagnostic handler instead of
calling exit, but we would still need to assume that the handler
doesn't return or we would get error_code spaghetti.

The main point is that the linker is still evolving. Case in point: we
are experimenting on ways to change relocation application to better
handle possible optimizations and requirements of other ABIs. Had this
already been exposed by a library interface such experiments would be
far harder.

Postponing features is a pretty reasonable thing for a new project.
For example, we will probably implement -r, but right now there are
other features we want to get designed first. If someone figures out
how to make lld a library without a big cost, awesome, but it is not
the priority right now.

Cheers,
Rafael