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From: wrc@cs.rit.edu (Warren R Carithers)
Newsgroups: comp.compilers
Subject: Re: Linkers & Loaders, books & article references sought
Keywords: linker, bibliography
Message-ID: <9101241703.AA10237@kansas.rit.edu>
Date: 24 Jan 91 17:03:37 GMT
References: <9101240056.16069@munnari.oz.au>
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Reply-To: wrc@cs.rit.edu (Warren R Carithers)
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The only real discussions of linkers and loaders which I have run across are
chapters in these books:

	"System Software: An Introduction to Systems Programming", Second
		Edition, Leland Beck; Addison-Wesley, 1990;
		ISBN 0-201-50945-8

	"Program Translation Fundamentals: Methods and Issues", Peter
		Calingaert; Computer Science Press, 1988; 
		ISBN 0-88175-096-4

Beck discusses distinctions between linkers and loaders, dynamic loading, 
linker/loader design options, etc., and has three case studies (System/370
linkage editor, VAX linker, and CYBER loader).  This chapter is ~50 pp.,
and includes diagrams and algorithms to support the discussion.

Calingaert has a smaller discussion (~25 pp.) of the same issues.  This
text also includes some additional discussion (e.g., the Transfer Vector
technique) not explicitly mentioned in Beck.

I use Beck in my Language Processors class, primarily for the case studies
included in each chapter.  I have also received comments from students to the 
effect that Beck's presentation is slightly more readable.

----
Warren R. Carithers, Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester NY 14623-0887
Internet:  wrc@cs.rit.edu, wrcics@ultb.isc.rit.edu	(716) 475-2288
UUCP:	   {allegra,rutgers}!rochester!rit!wrc 
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