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252b5132 1\input texinfo @c -*-Texinfo-*-
f7e42eb4 2@c Copyright 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000,
ad22bfe8 3@c 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007
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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---
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16@macro gcctabopt{body}
17@code{\body\}
18@end macro
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19@c defaults, config file may override:
20@set have-stabs
21@c ---
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22@c man begin NAME
23@c ---
252b5132 24@include asconfig.texi
c428fa83 25@include bfdver.texi
252b5132 26@c ---
0285c67d 27@c man end
4a4c4a1d 28@c ---
252b5132 29@c common OR combinations of conditions
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30@ifset COFF
31@set COFF-ELF
32@end ifset
33@ifset ELF
34@set COFF-ELF
35@end ifset
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36@ifset AOUT
37@set aout-bout
38@end ifset
39@ifset ARM/Thumb
40@set ARM
41@end ifset
42@ifset BOUT
43@set aout-bout
44@end ifset
45@ifset H8/300
46@set H8
47@end ifset
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48@ifset SH
49@set H8
50@end ifset
51@ifset HPPA
52@set abnormal-separator
53@end ifset
54@c ------------
55@ifset GENERIC
56@settitle Using @value{AS}
57@end ifset
58@ifclear GENERIC
59@settitle Using @value{AS} (@value{TARGET})
60@end ifclear
61@setchapternewpage odd
62@c %**end of header
63
64@c @smallbook
65@c @set SMALL
66@c WARE! Some of the machine-dependent sections contain tables of machine
67@c instructions. Except in multi-column format, these tables look silly.
68@c Unfortunately, Texinfo doesn't have a general-purpose multi-col format, so
69@c the multi-col format is faked within @example sections.
70@c
71@c Again unfortunately, the natural size that fits on a page, for these tables,
72@c is different depending on whether or not smallbook is turned on.
73@c This matters, because of order: text flow switches columns at each page
74@c break.
75@c
76@c The format faked in this source works reasonably well for smallbook,
77@c not well for the default large-page format. This manual expects that if you
78@c turn on @smallbook, you will also uncomment the "@set SMALL" to enable the
79@c tables in question. You can turn on one without the other at your
80@c discretion, of course.
81@ifinfo
82@set SMALL
83@c the insn tables look just as silly in info files regardless of smallbook,
84@c might as well show 'em anyways.
85@end ifinfo
86
87@ifinfo
88@format
89START-INFO-DIR-ENTRY
90* As: (as). The GNU assembler.
59455fb1 91* Gas: (as). The GNU assembler.
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92END-INFO-DIR-ENTRY
93@end format
94@end ifinfo
95
96@finalout
97@syncodeindex ky cp
98
99@ifinfo
100This file documents the GNU Assembler "@value{AS}".
101
0285c67d 102@c man begin COPYRIGHT
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103Copyright (C) 1991, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 2000, 2001, 2002,
1042006, 2007 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
252b5132 105
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106Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document
107under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.1
108or any later version published by the Free Software Foundation;
109with no Invariant Sections, with no Front-Cover Texts, and with no
110Back-Cover Texts. A copy of the license is included in the
c1253627 111section entitled ``GNU Free Documentation License''.
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112
113@c man end
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114
115@ignore
116Permission is granted to process this file through Tex and print the
117results, provided the printed document carries copying permission
118notice identical to this one except for the removal of this paragraph
119(this paragraph not being relevant to the printed manual).
120
121@end ignore
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122@end ifinfo
123
124@titlepage
125@title Using @value{AS}
126@subtitle The @sc{gnu} Assembler
127@ifclear GENERIC
128@subtitle for the @value{TARGET} family
129@end ifclear
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130@ifset VERSION_PACKAGE
131@sp 1
132@subtitle @value{VERSION_PACKAGE}
133@end ifset
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134@sp 1
135@subtitle Version @value{VERSION}
136@sp 1
137@sp 13
b45619c0 138The Free Software Foundation Inc.@: thanks The Nice Computer
252b5132 139Company of Australia for loaning Dean Elsner to write the
a4fb0134 140first (Vax) version of @command{as} for Project @sc{gnu}.
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141The proprietors, management and staff of TNCCA thank FSF for
142distracting the boss while they got some work
143done.
144@sp 3
145@author Dean Elsner, Jay Fenlason & friends
146@page
147@tex
148{\parskip=0pt
149\hfill {\it Using {\tt @value{AS}}}\par
150\hfill Edited by Cygnus Support\par
151}
152%"boxit" macro for figures:
153%Modified from Knuth's ``boxit'' macro from TeXbook (answer to exercise 21.3)
154\gdef\boxit#1#2{\vbox{\hrule\hbox{\vrule\kern3pt
155 \vbox{\parindent=0pt\parskip=0pt\hsize=#1\kern3pt\strut\hfil
156#2\hfil\strut\kern3pt}\kern3pt\vrule}\hrule}}%box with visible outline
157\gdef\ibox#1#2{\hbox to #1{#2\hfil}\kern8pt}% invisible box
158@end tex
159
160@vskip 0pt plus 1filll
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161Copyright @copyright{} 1991, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 2000, 2001, 2002,
1622006, 2007 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
252b5132 163
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164 Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document
165 under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.1
166 or any later version published by the Free Software Foundation;
167 with no Invariant Sections, with no Front-Cover Texts, and with no
168 Back-Cover Texts. A copy of the license is included in the
c1253627 169 section entitled ``GNU Free Documentation License''.
252b5132 170
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171@end titlepage
172
2e64b665 173@ifnottex
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174@node Top
175@top Using @value{AS}
176
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177This file is a user guide to the @sc{gnu} assembler @command{@value{AS}}
178@ifset VERSION_PACKAGE
179@value{VERSION_PACKAGE}
180@end ifset
181version @value{VERSION}.
252b5132 182@ifclear GENERIC
a4fb0134 183This version of the file describes @command{@value{AS}} configured to generate
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184code for @value{TARGET} architectures.
185@end ifclear
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186
187This document is distributed under the terms of the GNU Free
188Documentation License. A copy of the license is included in the
c1253627 189section entitled ``GNU Free Documentation License''.
cf055d54 190
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191@menu
192* Overview:: Overview
193* Invoking:: Command-Line Options
194* Syntax:: Syntax
195* Sections:: Sections and Relocation
196* Symbols:: Symbols
197* Expressions:: Expressions
198* Pseudo Ops:: Assembler Directives
199* Machine Dependencies:: Machine Dependent Features
200* Reporting Bugs:: Reporting Bugs
201* Acknowledgements:: Who Did What
cf055d54 202* GNU Free Documentation License:: GNU Free Documentation License
28c9d252 203* AS Index:: AS Index
252b5132 204@end menu
2e64b665 205@end ifnottex
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206
207@node Overview
208@chapter Overview
209@iftex
a4fb0134 210This manual is a user guide to the @sc{gnu} assembler @command{@value{AS}}.
252b5132 211@ifclear GENERIC
a4fb0134 212This version of the manual describes @command{@value{AS}} configured to generate
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213code for @value{TARGET} architectures.
214@end ifclear
215@end iftex
216
217@cindex invocation summary
218@cindex option summary
219@cindex summary of options
a4fb0134 220Here is a brief summary of how to invoke @command{@value{AS}}. For details,
96e9638b 221see @ref{Invoking,,Command-Line Options}.
252b5132 222
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223@c man title AS the portable GNU assembler.
224
a4fb0134 225@ignore
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226@c man begin SEEALSO
227gcc(1), ld(1), and the Info entries for @file{binutils} and @file{ld}.
228@c man end
a4fb0134 229@end ignore
0285c67d 230
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231@c We don't use deffn and friends for the following because they seem
232@c to be limited to one line for the header.
233@smallexample
0285c67d 234@c man begin SYNOPSIS
caa32fe5 235@value{AS} [@b{-a}[@b{cdhlns}][=@var{file}]] [@b{--alternate}] [@b{-D}]
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236 [@b{--defsym} @var{sym}=@var{val}] [@b{-f}] [@b{-g}] [@b{--gstabs}]
237 [@b{--gstabs+}] [@b{--gdwarf-2}] [@b{--help}] [@b{-I} @var{dir}] [@b{-J}]
238 [@b{-K}] [@b{-L}] [@b{--listing-lhs-width}=@var{NUM}]
239 [@b{--listing-lhs-width2}=@var{NUM}] [@b{--listing-rhs-width}=@var{NUM}]
240 [@b{--listing-cont-lines}=@var{NUM}] [@b{--keep-locals}] [@b{-o}
241 @var{objfile}] [@b{-R}] [@b{--reduce-memory-overheads}] [@b{--statistics}]
242 [@b{-v}] [@b{-version}] [@b{--version}] [@b{-W}] [@b{--warn}]
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243 [@b{--fatal-warnings}] [@b{-w}] [@b{-x}] [@b{-Z}] [@b{@@@var{FILE}}]
244 [@b{--target-help}] [@var{target-options}]
245 [@b{--}|@var{files} @dots{}]
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246@c
247@c Target dependent options are listed below. Keep the list sorted.
248@c Add an empty line for separation.
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249@ifset ALPHA
250
251@emph{Target Alpha options:}
252 [@b{-m@var{cpu}}]
253 [@b{-mdebug} | @b{-no-mdebug}]
254 [@b{-relax}] [@b{-g}] [@b{-G@var{size}}]
255 [@b{-F}] [@b{-32addr}]
256@end ifset
252b5132 257@ifset ARC
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258
259@emph{Target ARC options:}
260 [@b{-marc[5|6|7|8]}]
261 [@b{-EB}|@b{-EL}]
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262@end ifset
263@ifset ARM
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264
265@emph{Target ARM options:}
03b1477f 266@c Don't document the deprecated options
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267 [@b{-mcpu}=@var{processor}[+@var{extension}@dots{}]]
268 [@b{-march}=@var{architecture}[+@var{extension}@dots{}]]
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269 [@b{-mfpu}=@var{floating-point-format}]
270 [@b{-mfloat-abi}=@var{abi}]
d507cf36 271 [@b{-meabi}=@var{ver}]
03b1477f 272 [@b{-mthumb}]
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273 [@b{-EB}|@b{-EL}]
274 [@b{-mapcs-32}|@b{-mapcs-26}|@b{-mapcs-float}|
275 @b{-mapcs-reentrant}]
7f266840 276 [@b{-mthumb-interwork}] [@b{-k}]
252b5132 277@end ifset
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HPN
278@ifset CRIS
279
280@emph{Target CRIS options:}
281 [@b{--underscore} | @b{--no-underscore}]
282 [@b{--pic}] [@b{-N}]
283 [@b{--emulation=criself} | @b{--emulation=crisaout}]
ae57792d 284 [@b{--march=v0_v10} | @b{--march=v10} | @b{--march=v32} | @b{--march=common_v10_v32}]
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285@c Deprecated -- deliberately not documented.
286@c [@b{-h}] [@b{-H}]
287@end ifset
252b5132 288@ifset D10V
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289
290@emph{Target D10V options:}
291 [@b{-O}]
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292@end ifset
293@ifset D30V
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294
295@emph{Target D30V options:}
296 [@b{-O}|@b{-n}|@b{-N}]
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297@end ifset
298@ifset H8
c2dcd04e 299@c Renesas family chips have no machine-dependent assembler options
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300@end ifset
301@ifset HPPA
302@c HPPA has no machine-dependent assembler options (yet).
303@end ifset
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304@ifset I80386
305
306@emph{Target i386 options:}
12b55ccc 307 [@b{--32}|@b{--64}] [@b{-n}]
9103f4f4 308 [@b{-march}=@var{CPU}] [@b{-mtune}=@var{CPU}]
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309@end ifset
310@ifset I960
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311
312@emph{Target i960 options:}
252b5132 313@c see md_parse_option in tc-i960.c
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314 [@b{-ACA}|@b{-ACA_A}|@b{-ACB}|@b{-ACC}|@b{-AKA}|@b{-AKB}|
315 @b{-AKC}|@b{-AMC}]
316 [@b{-b}] [@b{-no-relax}]
252b5132 317@end ifset
587fe2b3 318@ifset IA64
a4fb0134 319
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320@emph{Target IA-64 options:}
321 [@b{-mconstant-gp}|@b{-mauto-pic}]
322 [@b{-milp32}|@b{-milp64}|@b{-mlp64}|@b{-mp64}]
323 [@b{-mle}|@b{mbe}]
8c2fda1d 324 [@b{-mtune=itanium1}|@b{-mtune=itanium2}]
970d6792 325 [@b{-munwind-check=warning}|@b{-munwind-check=error}]
91d777ee 326 [@b{-mhint.b=ok}|@b{-mhint.b=warning}|@b{-mhint.b=error}]
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327 [@b{-x}|@b{-xexplicit}] [@b{-xauto}] [@b{-xdebug}]
328@end ifset
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329@ifset IP2K
330
331@emph{Target IP2K options:}
332 [@b{-mip2022}|@b{-mip2022ext}]
333@end ifset
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334@ifset M32C
335
336@emph{Target M32C options:}
337 [@b{-m32c}|@b{-m16c}]
338@end ifset
587fe2b3 339@ifset M32R
9e32ca89 340
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341@emph{Target M32R options:}
342 [@b{--m32rx}|@b{--[no-]warn-explicit-parallel-conflicts}|
587fe2b3 343 @b{--W[n]p}]
ec694b89 344@end ifset
252b5132 345@ifset M680X0
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346
347@emph{Target M680X0 options:}
348 [@b{-l}] [@b{-m68000}|@b{-m68010}|@b{-m68020}|@dots{}]
252b5132 349@end ifset
60bcf0fa 350@ifset M68HC11
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351
352@emph{Target M68HC11 options:}
d01030e6 353 [@b{-m68hc11}|@b{-m68hc12}|@b{-m68hcs12}]
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354 [@b{-mshort}|@b{-mlong}]
355 [@b{-mshort-double}|@b{-mlong-double}]
1370e33d 356 [@b{--force-long-branches}] [@b{--short-branches}]
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357 [@b{--strict-direct-mode}] [@b{--print-insn-syntax}]
358 [@b{--print-opcodes}] [@b{--generate-example}]
359@end ifset
360@ifset MCORE
361
362@emph{Target MCORE options:}
363 [@b{-jsri2bsr}] [@b{-sifilter}] [@b{-relax}]
364 [@b{-mcpu=[210|340]}]
60bcf0fa 365@end ifset
252b5132 366@ifset MIPS
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367
368@emph{Target MIPS options:}
78849248 369 [@b{-nocpp}] [@b{-EL}] [@b{-EB}] [@b{-O}[@var{optimization level}]]
437ee9d5 370 [@b{-g}[@var{debug level}]] [@b{-G} @var{num}] [@b{-KPIC}] [@b{-call_shared}]
1ffcab4b 371 [@b{-non_shared}] [@b{-xgot}]
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372 [@b{-mabi}=@var{ABI}] [@b{-32}] [@b{-n32}] [@b{-64}] [@b{-mfp32}] [@b{-mgp32}]
373 [@b{-march}=@var{CPU}] [@b{-mtune}=@var{CPU}] [@b{-mips1}] [@b{-mips2}]
af7ee8bf 374 [@b{-mips3}] [@b{-mips4}] [@b{-mips5}] [@b{-mips32}] [@b{-mips32r2}]
5f74bc13 375 [@b{-mips64}] [@b{-mips64r2}]
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TS
376 [@b{-construct-floats}] [@b{-no-construct-floats}]
377 [@b{-trap}] [@b{-no-break}] [@b{-break}] [@b{-no-trap}]
378 [@b{-mfix7000}] [@b{-mno-fix7000}]
379 [@b{-mips16}] [@b{-no-mips16}]
e16bfa71 380 [@b{-msmartmips}] [@b{-mno-smartmips}]
1f25f5d3 381 [@b{-mips3d}] [@b{-no-mips3d}]
deec1734 382 [@b{-mdmx}] [@b{-no-mdmx}]
2ef2b9ae 383 [@b{-mdsp}] [@b{-mno-dsp}]
8b082fb1 384 [@b{-mdspr2}] [@b{-mno-dspr2}]
ef2e4d86 385 [@b{-mmt}] [@b{-mno-mt}]
ecb4347a 386 [@b{-mdebug}] [@b{-no-mdebug}]
dcd410fe 387 [@b{-mpdr}] [@b{-mno-pdr}]
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388@end ifset
389@ifset MMIX
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390
391@emph{Target MMIX options:}
392 [@b{--fixed-special-register-names}] [@b{--globalize-symbols}]
393 [@b{--gnu-syntax}] [@b{--relax}] [@b{--no-predefined-symbols}]
394 [@b{--no-expand}] [@b{--no-merge-gregs}] [@b{-x}]
973eb340 395 [@b{--linker-allocated-gregs}]
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396@end ifset
397@ifset PDP11
398
399@emph{Target PDP11 options:}
400 [@b{-mpic}|@b{-mno-pic}] [@b{-mall}] [@b{-mno-extensions}]
401 [@b{-m}@var{extension}|@b{-mno-}@var{extension}]
402 [@b{-m}@var{cpu}] [@b{-m}@var{machine}]
403@end ifset
404@ifset PJ
405
406@emph{Target picoJava options:}
407 [@b{-mb}|@b{-me}]
408@end ifset
409@ifset PPC
410
411@emph{Target PowerPC options:}
412 [@b{-mpwrx}|@b{-mpwr2}|@b{-mpwr}|@b{-m601}|@b{-mppc}|@b{-mppc32}|@b{-m603}|@b{-m604}|
413 @b{-m403}|@b{-m405}|@b{-mppc64}|@b{-m620}|@b{-mppc64bridge}|@b{-mbooke}|
414 @b{-mbooke32}|@b{-mbooke64}]
415 [@b{-mcom}|@b{-many}|@b{-maltivec}] [@b{-memb}]
416 [@b{-mregnames}|@b{-mno-regnames}]
417 [@b{-mrelocatable}|@b{-mrelocatable-lib}]
418 [@b{-mlittle}|@b{-mlittle-endian}|@b{-mbig}|@b{-mbig-endian}]
419 [@b{-msolaris}|@b{-mno-solaris}]
420@end ifset
421@ifset SPARC
422
423@emph{Target SPARC options:}
424@c The order here is important. See c-sparc.texi.
425 [@b{-Av6}|@b{-Av7}|@b{-Av8}|@b{-Asparclet}|@b{-Asparclite}
426 @b{-Av8plus}|@b{-Av8plusa}|@b{-Av9}|@b{-Av9a}]
427 [@b{-xarch=v8plus}|@b{-xarch=v8plusa}] [@b{-bump}]
428 [@b{-32}|@b{-64}]
429@end ifset
430@ifset TIC54X
431
432@emph{Target TIC54X options:}
433 [@b{-mcpu=54[123589]}|@b{-mcpu=54[56]lp}] [@b{-mfar-mode}|@b{-mf}]
434 [@b{-merrors-to-file} @var{<filename>}|@b{-me} @var{<filename>}]
435@end ifset
3c9b82ba
NC
436
437@ifset Z80
438
439@emph{Target Z80 options:}
440 [@b{-z80}] [@b{-r800}]
441 [@b{ -ignore-undocumented-instructions}] [@b{-Wnud}]
442 [@b{ -ignore-unportable-instructions}] [@b{-Wnup}]
443 [@b{ -warn-undocumented-instructions}] [@b{-Wud}]
444 [@b{ -warn-unportable-instructions}] [@b{-Wup}]
445 [@b{ -forbid-undocumented-instructions}] [@b{-Fud}]
446 [@b{ -forbid-unportable-instructions}] [@b{-Fup}]
447@end ifset
448
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449@ifset Z8000
450@c Z8000 has no machine-dependent assembler options
252b5132 451@end ifset
e0001a05
NC
452@ifset XTENSA
453
454@emph{Target Xtensa options:}
43cd72b9 455 [@b{--[no-]text-section-literals}] [@b{--[no-]absolute-literals}]
e0001a05 456 [@b{--[no-]target-align}] [@b{--[no-]longcalls}]
43cd72b9 457 [@b{--[no-]transform}]
9456465c 458 [@b{--rename-section} @var{oldname}=@var{newname}]
e0001a05 459@end ifset
0285c67d 460@c man end
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461@end smallexample
462
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463@c man begin OPTIONS
464
a4fb0134 465@table @gcctabopt
38fc1cb1 466@include at-file.texi
a0b7da79 467
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468@item -a[cdhlmns]
469Turn on listings, in any of a variety of ways:
470
a4fb0134 471@table @gcctabopt
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472@item -ac
473omit false conditionals
474
475@item -ad
476omit debugging directives
477
478@item -ah
479include high-level source
480
481@item -al
482include assembly
483
484@item -am
485include macro expansions
486
487@item -an
488omit forms processing
489
490@item -as
491include symbols
492
493@item =file
494set the name of the listing file
495@end table
496
497You may combine these options; for example, use @samp{-aln} for assembly
498listing without forms processing. The @samp{=file} option, if used, must be
499the last one. By itself, @samp{-a} defaults to @samp{-ahls}.
500
caa32fe5 501@item --alternate
96e9638b
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502Begin in alternate macro mode.
503@ifclear man
504@xref{Altmacro,,@code{.altmacro}}.
505@end ifclear
caa32fe5 506
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507@item -D
508Ignored. This option is accepted for script compatibility with calls to
509other assemblers.
510
511@item --defsym @var{sym}=@var{value}
512Define the symbol @var{sym} to be @var{value} before assembling the input file.
513@var{value} must be an integer constant. As in C, a leading @samp{0x}
bf083c64
NC
514indicates a hexadecimal value, and a leading @samp{0} indicates an octal
515value. The value of the symbol can be overridden inside a source file via the
516use of a @code{.set} pseudo-op.
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517
518@item -f
519``fast''---skip whitespace and comment preprocessing (assume source is
520compiler output).
521
329e276d
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522@item -g
523@itemx --gen-debug
524Generate debugging information for each assembler source line using whichever
525debug format is preferred by the target. This currently means either STABS,
526ECOFF or DWARF2.
527
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528@item --gstabs
529Generate stabs debugging information for each assembler line. This
530may help debugging assembler code, if the debugger can handle it.
531
05da4302
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532@item --gstabs+
533Generate stabs debugging information for each assembler line, with GNU
534extensions that probably only gdb can handle, and that could make other
535debuggers crash or refuse to read your program. This
536may help debugging assembler code. Currently the only GNU extension is
537the location of the current working directory at assembling time.
538
329e276d 539@item --gdwarf-2
cdf82bcf 540Generate DWARF2 debugging information for each assembler line. This
c1253627 541may help debugging assembler code, if the debugger can handle it. Note---this
85a39694 542option is only supported by some targets, not all of them.
cdf82bcf 543
252b5132
RH
544@item --help
545Print a summary of the command line options and exit.
546
ea20a7da
CC
547@item --target-help
548Print a summary of all target specific options and exit.
549
252b5132
RH
550@item -I @var{dir}
551Add directory @var{dir} to the search list for @code{.include} directives.
552
553@item -J
554Don't warn about signed overflow.
555
556@item -K
557@ifclear DIFF-TBL-KLUGE
558This option is accepted but has no effect on the @value{TARGET} family.
559@end ifclear
560@ifset DIFF-TBL-KLUGE
561Issue warnings when difference tables altered for long displacements.
562@end ifset
563
564@item -L
565@itemx --keep-locals
ba83aca1
BW
566Keep (in the symbol table) local symbols. These symbols start with
567system-specific local label prefixes, typically @samp{.L} for ELF systems
568or @samp{L} for traditional a.out systems.
569@ifclear man
570@xref{Symbol Names}.
571@end ifclear
252b5132 572
c3a27914
NC
573@item --listing-lhs-width=@var{number}
574Set the maximum width, in words, of the output data column for an assembler
575listing to @var{number}.
576
577@item --listing-lhs-width2=@var{number}
578Set the maximum width, in words, of the output data column for continuation
579lines in an assembler listing to @var{number}.
580
581@item --listing-rhs-width=@var{number}
582Set the maximum width of an input source line, as displayed in a listing, to
583@var{number} bytes.
584
585@item --listing-cont-lines=@var{number}
586Set the maximum number of lines printed in a listing for a single line of input
587to @var{number} + 1.
588
252b5132 589@item -o @var{objfile}
a4fb0134 590Name the object-file output from @command{@value{AS}} @var{objfile}.
252b5132
RH
591
592@item -R
593Fold the data section into the text section.
594
4bdd3565
NC
595@kindex --hash-size=@var{number}
596Set the default size of GAS's hash tables to a prime number close to
597@var{number}. Increasing this value can reduce the length of time it takes the
598assembler to perform its tasks, at the expense of increasing the assembler's
599memory requirements. Similarly reducing this value can reduce the memory
600requirements at the expense of speed.
601
602@item --reduce-memory-overheads
603This option reduces GAS's memory requirements, at the expense of making the
604assembly processes slower. Currently this switch is a synonym for
605@samp{--hash-size=4051}, but in the future it may have other effects as well.
606
252b5132
RH
607@item --statistics
608Print the maximum space (in bytes) and total time (in seconds) used by
609assembly.
610
611@item --strip-local-absolute
612Remove local absolute symbols from the outgoing symbol table.
613
614@item -v
615@itemx -version
a4fb0134 616Print the @command{as} version.
252b5132
RH
617
618@item --version
a4fb0134 619Print the @command{as} version and exit.
252b5132
RH
620
621@item -W
2bdd6cf5 622@itemx --no-warn
252b5132
RH
623Suppress warning messages.
624
2bdd6cf5
GK
625@item --fatal-warnings
626Treat warnings as errors.
627
628@item --warn
629Don't suppress warning messages or treat them as errors.
630
252b5132
RH
631@item -w
632Ignored.
633
634@item -x
635Ignored.
636
637@item -Z
638Generate an object file even after errors.
639
640@item -- | @var{files} @dots{}
641Standard input, or source files to assemble.
642
643@end table
644
645@ifset ARC
646The following options are available when @value{AS} is configured for
647an ARC processor.
648
a4fb0134 649@table @gcctabopt
0d2bcfaf
NC
650@item -marc[5|6|7|8]
651This option selects the core processor variant.
652@item -EB | -EL
653Select either big-endian (-EB) or little-endian (-EL) output.
252b5132
RH
654@end table
655@end ifset
656
657@ifset ARM
658The following options are available when @value{AS} is configured for the ARM
659processor family.
660
a4fb0134 661@table @gcctabopt
92081f48 662@item -mcpu=@var{processor}[+@var{extension}@dots{}]
cdf82bcf 663Specify which ARM processor variant is the target.
92081f48 664@item -march=@var{architecture}[+@var{extension}@dots{}]
cdf82bcf 665Specify which ARM architecture variant is used by the target.
03b1477f 666@item -mfpu=@var{floating-point-format}
a349d9dd 667Select which Floating Point architecture is the target.
33a392fb
PB
668@item -mfloat-abi=@var{abi}
669Select which floating point ABI is in use.
03b1477f
RE
670@item -mthumb
671Enable Thumb only instruction decoding.
7f266840 672@item -mapcs-32 | -mapcs-26 | -mapcs-float | -mapcs-reentrant
252b5132
RH
673Select which procedure calling convention is in use.
674@item -EB | -EL
675Select either big-endian (-EB) or little-endian (-EL) output.
cdf82bcf
NC
676@item -mthumb-interwork
677Specify that the code has been generated with interworking between Thumb and
678ARM code in mind.
679@item -k
680Specify that PIC code has been generated.
252b5132
RH
681@end table
682@end ifset
683
328eb32e
HPN
684@ifset CRIS
685See the info pages for documentation of the CRIS-specific options.
686@end ifset
687
252b5132
RH
688@ifset D10V
689The following options are available when @value{AS} is configured for
690a D10V processor.
a4fb0134 691@table @gcctabopt
252b5132
RH
692@cindex D10V optimization
693@cindex optimization, D10V
694@item -O
695Optimize output by parallelizing instructions.
696@end table
697@end ifset
698
699@ifset D30V
700The following options are available when @value{AS} is configured for a D30V
701processor.
a4fb0134 702@table @gcctabopt
252b5132
RH
703@cindex D30V optimization
704@cindex optimization, D30V
705@item -O
706Optimize output by parallelizing instructions.
707
708@cindex D30V nops
709@item -n
710Warn when nops are generated.
711
712@cindex D30V nops after 32-bit multiply
713@item -N
714Warn when a nop after a 32-bit multiply instruction is generated.
715@end table
716@end ifset
717
718@ifset I960
719The following options are available when @value{AS} is configured for the
720Intel 80960 processor.
721
a4fb0134 722@table @gcctabopt
252b5132
RH
723@item -ACA | -ACA_A | -ACB | -ACC | -AKA | -AKB | -AKC | -AMC
724Specify which variant of the 960 architecture is the target.
725
726@item -b
727Add code to collect statistics about branches taken.
728
729@item -no-relax
730Do not alter compare-and-branch instructions for long displacements;
731error if necessary.
732
733@end table
734@end ifset
735
a40cbfa3
NC
736@ifset IP2K
737The following options are available when @value{AS} is configured for the
ec88d317 738Ubicom IP2K series.
a40cbfa3
NC
739
740@table @gcctabopt
741
742@item -mip2022ext
743Specifies that the extended IP2022 instructions are allowed.
744
745@item -mip2022
8dfa0188 746Restores the default behaviour, which restricts the permitted instructions to
a40cbfa3
NC
747just the basic IP2022 ones.
748
749@end table
750@end ifset
751
49f58d10
JB
752@ifset M32C
753The following options are available when @value{AS} is configured for the
754Renesas M32C and M16C processors.
755
756@table @gcctabopt
757
758@item -m32c
759Assemble M32C instructions.
760
761@item -m16c
762Assemble M16C instructions (the default).
763
764@end table
765@end ifset
766
ec694b89
NC
767@ifset M32R
768The following options are available when @value{AS} is configured for the
26597c86 769Renesas M32R (formerly Mitsubishi M32R) series.
ec694b89 770
a4fb0134 771@table @gcctabopt
ec694b89
NC
772
773@item --m32rx
774Specify which processor in the M32R family is the target. The default
775is normally the M32R, but this option changes it to the M32RX.
776
777@item --warn-explicit-parallel-conflicts or --Wp
778Produce warning messages when questionable parallel constructs are
779encountered.
780
781@item --no-warn-explicit-parallel-conflicts or --Wnp
782Do not produce warning messages when questionable parallel constructs are
783encountered.
784
785@end table
786@end ifset
252b5132
RH
787
788@ifset M680X0
789The following options are available when @value{AS} is configured for the
790Motorola 68000 series.
791
a4fb0134 792@table @gcctabopt
252b5132
RH
793
794@item -l
795Shorten references to undefined symbols, to one word instead of two.
796
0285c67d
NC
797@item -m68000 | -m68008 | -m68010 | -m68020 | -m68030
798@itemx | -m68040 | -m68060 | -m68302 | -m68331 | -m68332
799@itemx | -m68333 | -m68340 | -mcpu32 | -m5200
252b5132
RH
800Specify what processor in the 68000 family is the target. The default
801is normally the 68020, but this can be changed at configuration time.
802
803@item -m68881 | -m68882 | -mno-68881 | -mno-68882
804The target machine does (or does not) have a floating-point coprocessor.
805The default is to assume a coprocessor for 68020, 68030, and cpu32. Although
806the basic 68000 is not compatible with the 68881, a combination of the
807two can be specified, since it's possible to do emulation of the
808coprocessor instructions with the main processor.
809
810@item -m68851 | -mno-68851
811The target machine does (or does not) have a memory-management
812unit coprocessor. The default is to assume an MMU for 68020 and up.
813
814@end table
815@end ifset
816
e135f41b
NC
817@ifset PDP11
818
819For details about the PDP-11 machine dependent features options,
820see @ref{PDP-11-Options}.
821
a4fb0134 822@table @gcctabopt
e135f41b
NC
823@item -mpic | -mno-pic
824Generate position-independent (or position-dependent) code. The
a4fb0134 825default is @option{-mpic}.
e135f41b
NC
826
827@item -mall
828@itemx -mall-extensions
829Enable all instruction set extensions. This is the default.
830
831@item -mno-extensions
832Disable all instruction set extensions.
833
834@item -m@var{extension} | -mno-@var{extension}
835Enable (or disable) a particular instruction set extension.
836
837@item -m@var{cpu}
838Enable the instruction set extensions supported by a particular CPU, and
839disable all other extensions.
840
841@item -m@var{machine}
842Enable the instruction set extensions supported by a particular machine
843model, and disable all other extensions.
844@end table
845
846@end ifset
847
041dd5a9
ILT
848@ifset PJ
849The following options are available when @value{AS} is configured for
850a picoJava processor.
851
a4fb0134 852@table @gcctabopt
041dd5a9
ILT
853
854@cindex PJ endianness
855@cindex endianness, PJ
856@cindex big endian output, PJ
857@item -mb
858Generate ``big endian'' format output.
859
860@cindex little endian output, PJ
861@item -ml
862Generate ``little endian'' format output.
863
864@end table
865@end ifset
866
60bcf0fa
NC
867@ifset M68HC11
868The following options are available when @value{AS} is configured for the
869Motorola 68HC11 or 68HC12 series.
870
a4fb0134 871@table @gcctabopt
60bcf0fa 872
d01030e6 873@item -m68hc11 | -m68hc12 | -m68hcs12
60bcf0fa
NC
874Specify what processor is the target. The default is
875defined by the configuration option when building the assembler.
876
2f904664
SC
877@item -mshort
878Specify to use the 16-bit integer ABI.
879
880@item -mlong
881Specify to use the 32-bit integer ABI.
882
883@item -mshort-double
884Specify to use the 32-bit double ABI.
885
886@item -mlong-double
887Specify to use the 64-bit double ABI.
888
1370e33d 889@item --force-long-branches
60bcf0fa
NC
890Relative branches are turned into absolute ones. This concerns
891conditional branches, unconditional branches and branches to a
892sub routine.
893
1370e33d
NC
894@item -S | --short-branches
895Do not turn relative branches into absolute ones
60bcf0fa
NC
896when the offset is out of range.
897
898@item --strict-direct-mode
899Do not turn the direct addressing mode into extended addressing mode
900when the instruction does not support direct addressing mode.
901
902@item --print-insn-syntax
903Print the syntax of instruction in case of error.
904
905@item --print-opcodes
906print the list of instructions with syntax and then exit.
907
908@item --generate-example
909print an example of instruction for each possible instruction and then exit.
a4fb0134 910This option is only useful for testing @command{@value{AS}}.
60bcf0fa
NC
911
912@end table
913@end ifset
914
252b5132 915@ifset SPARC
a4fb0134 916The following options are available when @command{@value{AS}} is configured
252b5132
RH
917for the SPARC architecture:
918
a4fb0134 919@table @gcctabopt
252b5132
RH
920@item -Av6 | -Av7 | -Av8 | -Asparclet | -Asparclite
921@itemx -Av8plus | -Av8plusa | -Av9 | -Av9a
922Explicitly select a variant of the SPARC architecture.
923
924@samp{-Av8plus} and @samp{-Av8plusa} select a 32 bit environment.
925@samp{-Av9} and @samp{-Av9a} select a 64 bit environment.
926
927@samp{-Av8plusa} and @samp{-Av9a} enable the SPARC V9 instruction set with
928UltraSPARC extensions.
929
930@item -xarch=v8plus | -xarch=v8plusa
931For compatibility with the Solaris v9 assembler. These options are
932equivalent to -Av8plus and -Av8plusa, respectively.
933
934@item -bump
935Warn when the assembler switches to another architecture.
936@end table
937@end ifset
938
39bec121
TW
939@ifset TIC54X
940The following options are available when @value{AS} is configured for the 'c54x
941architecture.
942
a4fb0134 943@table @gcctabopt
39bec121
TW
944@item -mfar-mode
945Enable extended addressing mode. All addresses and relocations will assume
946extended addressing (usually 23 bits).
947@item -mcpu=@var{CPU_VERSION}
948Sets the CPU version being compiled for.
949@item -merrors-to-file @var{FILENAME}
950Redirect error output to a file, for broken systems which don't support such
951behaviour in the shell.
952@end table
953@end ifset
954
252b5132
RH
955@ifset MIPS
956The following options are available when @value{AS} is configured for
437ee9d5 957a @sc{mips} processor.
252b5132 958
a4fb0134 959@table @gcctabopt
252b5132
RH
960@item -G @var{num}
961This option sets the largest size of an object that can be referenced
962implicitly with the @code{gp} register. It is only accepted for targets that
963use ECOFF format, such as a DECstation running Ultrix. The default value is 8.
964
965@cindex MIPS endianness
966@cindex endianness, MIPS
967@cindex big endian output, MIPS
968@item -EB
969Generate ``big endian'' format output.
970
971@cindex little endian output, MIPS
972@item -EL
973Generate ``little endian'' format output.
974
975@cindex MIPS ISA
976@item -mips1
977@itemx -mips2
978@itemx -mips3
e7af610e 979@itemx -mips4
437ee9d5 980@itemx -mips5
e7af610e 981@itemx -mips32
af7ee8bf 982@itemx -mips32r2
4058e45f 983@itemx -mips64
5f74bc13 984@itemx -mips64r2
437ee9d5
TS
985Generate code for a particular @sc{mips} Instruction Set Architecture level.
986@samp{-mips1} is an alias for @samp{-march=r3000}, @samp{-mips2} is an
987alias for @samp{-march=r6000}, @samp{-mips3} is an alias for
988@samp{-march=r4000} and @samp{-mips4} is an alias for @samp{-march=r8000}.
5f74bc13
CD
989@samp{-mips5}, @samp{-mips32}, @samp{-mips32r2}, @samp{-mips64}, and
990@samp{-mips64r2}
af7ee8bf 991correspond to generic
5f74bc13
CD
992@samp{MIPS V}, @samp{MIPS32}, @samp{MIPS32 Release 2}, @samp{MIPS64},
993and @samp{MIPS64 Release 2}
994ISA processors, respectively.
437ee9d5
TS
995
996@item -march=@var{CPU}
997Generate code for a particular @sc{mips} cpu.
998
999@item -mtune=@var{cpu}
1000Schedule and tune for a particular @sc{mips} cpu.
1001
1002@item -mfix7000
1003@itemx -mno-fix7000
1004Cause nops to be inserted if the read of the destination register
1005of an mfhi or mflo instruction occurs in the following two instructions.
1006
ecb4347a
DJ
1007@item -mdebug
1008@itemx -no-mdebug
1009Cause stabs-style debugging output to go into an ECOFF-style .mdebug
1010section instead of the standard ELF .stabs sections.
1011
dcd410fe
RO
1012@item -mpdr
1013@itemx -mno-pdr
1014Control generation of @code{.pdr} sections.
1015
437ee9d5
TS
1016@item -mgp32
1017@itemx -mfp32
1018The register sizes are normally inferred from the ISA and ABI, but these
1019flags force a certain group of registers to be treated as 32 bits wide at
1020all times. @samp{-mgp32} controls the size of general-purpose registers
1021and @samp{-mfp32} controls the size of floating-point registers.
1022
1023@item -mips16
1024@itemx -no-mips16
1025Generate code for the MIPS 16 processor. This is equivalent to putting
1026@code{.set mips16} at the start of the assembly file. @samp{-no-mips16}
1027turns off this option.
252b5132 1028
e16bfa71
TS
1029@item -msmartmips
1030@itemx -mno-smartmips
1031Enables the SmartMIPS extension to the MIPS32 instruction set. This is
1032equivalent to putting @code{.set smartmips} at the start of the assembly file.
1033@samp{-mno-smartmips} turns off this option.
1034
1f25f5d3
CD
1035@item -mips3d
1036@itemx -no-mips3d
1037Generate code for the MIPS-3D Application Specific Extension.
1038This tells the assembler to accept MIPS-3D instructions.
1039@samp{-no-mips3d} turns off this option.
1040
deec1734
CD
1041@item -mdmx
1042@itemx -no-mdmx
1043Generate code for the MDMX Application Specific Extension.
1044This tells the assembler to accept MDMX instructions.
1045@samp{-no-mdmx} turns off this option.
1046
2ef2b9ae
CF
1047@item -mdsp
1048@itemx -mno-dsp
8b082fb1
TS
1049Generate code for the DSP Release 1 Application Specific Extension.
1050This tells the assembler to accept DSP Release 1 instructions.
2ef2b9ae
CF
1051@samp{-mno-dsp} turns off this option.
1052
8b082fb1
TS
1053@item -mdspr2
1054@itemx -mno-dspr2
1055Generate code for the DSP Release 2 Application Specific Extension.
1056This option implies -mdsp.
1057This tells the assembler to accept DSP Release 2 instructions.
1058@samp{-mno-dspr2} turns off this option.
1059
ef2e4d86
CF
1060@item -mmt
1061@itemx -mno-mt
1062Generate code for the MT Application Specific Extension.
1063This tells the assembler to accept MT instructions.
1064@samp{-mno-mt} turns off this option.
1065
437ee9d5
TS
1066@item --construct-floats
1067@itemx --no-construct-floats
1068The @samp{--no-construct-floats} option disables the construction of
1069double width floating point constants by loading the two halves of the
1070value into the two single width floating point registers that make up
1071the double width register. By default @samp{--construct-floats} is
1072selected, allowing construction of these floating point constants.
252b5132
RH
1073
1074@cindex emulation
1075@item --emulation=@var{name}
a4fb0134 1076This option causes @command{@value{AS}} to emulate @command{@value{AS}} configured
252b5132
RH
1077for some other target, in all respects, including output format (choosing
1078between ELF and ECOFF only), handling of pseudo-opcodes which may generate
1079debugging information or store symbol table information, and default
1080endianness. The available configuration names are: @samp{mipsecoff},
1081@samp{mipself}, @samp{mipslecoff}, @samp{mipsbecoff}, @samp{mipslelf},
1082@samp{mipsbelf}. The first two do not alter the default endianness from that
1083of the primary target for which the assembler was configured; the others change
1084the default to little- or big-endian as indicated by the @samp{b} or @samp{l}
1085in the name. Using @samp{-EB} or @samp{-EL} will override the endianness
1086selection in any case.
1087
1088This option is currently supported only when the primary target
437ee9d5 1089@command{@value{AS}} is configured for is a @sc{mips} ELF or ECOFF target.
252b5132
RH
1090Furthermore, the primary target or others specified with
1091@samp{--enable-targets=@dots{}} at configuration time must include support for
1092the other format, if both are to be available. For example, the Irix 5
1093configuration includes support for both.
1094
1095Eventually, this option will support more configurations, with more
1096fine-grained control over the assembler's behavior, and will be supported for
1097more processors.
1098
1099@item -nocpp
a4fb0134 1100@command{@value{AS}} ignores this option. It is accepted for compatibility with
252b5132
RH
1101the native tools.
1102
252b5132
RH
1103@item --trap
1104@itemx --no-trap
1105@itemx --break
1106@itemx --no-break
1107Control how to deal with multiplication overflow and division by zero.
1108@samp{--trap} or @samp{--no-break} (which are synonyms) take a trap exception
1109(and only work for Instruction Set Architecture level 2 and higher);
1110@samp{--break} or @samp{--no-trap} (also synonyms, and the default) take a
1111break exception.
63486801
L
1112
1113@item -n
a4fb0134 1114When this option is used, @command{@value{AS}} will issue a warning every
63486801 1115time it generates a nop instruction from a macro.
252b5132
RH
1116@end table
1117@end ifset
1118
1119@ifset MCORE
1120The following options are available when @value{AS} is configured for
1121an MCore processor.
1122
a4fb0134 1123@table @gcctabopt
252b5132
RH
1124@item -jsri2bsr
1125@itemx -nojsri2bsr
1126Enable or disable the JSRI to BSR transformation. By default this is enabled.
1127The command line option @samp{-nojsri2bsr} can be used to disable it.
1128
1129@item -sifilter
1130@itemx -nosifilter
1131Enable or disable the silicon filter behaviour. By default this is disabled.
a349d9dd 1132The default can be overridden by the @samp{-sifilter} command line option.
252b5132
RH
1133
1134@item -relax
1135Alter jump instructions for long displacements.
1136
ec694b89
NC
1137@item -mcpu=[210|340]
1138Select the cpu type on the target hardware. This controls which instructions
1139can be assembled.
1140
1141@item -EB
1142Assemble for a big endian target.
1143
1144@item -EL
1145Assemble for a little endian target.
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RH
1146
1147@end table
1148@end ifset
1149
3c3bdf30
NC
1150@ifset MMIX
1151See the info pages for documentation of the MMIX-specific options.
1152@end ifset
1153
e0001a05
NC
1154@ifset XTENSA
1155The following options are available when @value{AS} is configured for
1156an Xtensa processor.
1157
1158@table @gcctabopt
e0001a05
NC
1159@item --text-section-literals | --no-text-section-literals
1160With @option{--text-@-section-@-literals}, literal pools are interspersed
1161in the text section. The default is
1162@option{--no-@-text-@-section-@-literals}, which places literals in a
43cd72b9
BW
1163separate section in the output file. These options only affect literals
1164referenced via PC-relative @code{L32R} instructions; literals for
1165absolute mode @code{L32R} instructions are handled separately.
1166
1167@item --absolute-literals | --no-absolute-literals
1168Indicate to the assembler whether @code{L32R} instructions use absolute
1169or PC-relative addressing. The default is to assume absolute addressing
1170if the Xtensa processor includes the absolute @code{L32R} addressing
1171option. Otherwise, only the PC-relative @code{L32R} mode can be used.
e0001a05
NC
1172
1173@item --target-align | --no-target-align
1174Enable or disable automatic alignment to reduce branch penalties at the
1175expense of some code density. The default is @option{--target-@-align}.
1176
1177@item --longcalls | --no-longcalls
1178Enable or disable transformation of call instructions to allow calls
1179across a greater range of addresses. The default is
1180@option{--no-@-longcalls}.
43cd72b9
BW
1181
1182@item --transform | --no-transform
1183Enable or disable all assembler transformations of Xtensa instructions.
1184The default is @option{--transform};
1185@option{--no-transform} should be used only in the rare cases when the
1186instructions must be exactly as specified in the assembly source.
e0001a05
NC
1187@end table
1188@end ifset
1189
3c9b82ba
NC
1190@ifset Z80
1191The following options are available when @value{AS} is configured for
1192a Z80 family processor.
1193@table @gcctabopt
1194@item -z80
1195Assemble for Z80 processor.
1196@item -r800
1197Assemble for R800 processor.
1198@item -ignore-undocumented-instructions
1199@itemx -Wnud
1200Assemble undocumented Z80 instructions that also work on R800 without warning.
1201@item -ignore-unportable-instructions
1202@itemx -Wnup
1203Assemble all undocumented Z80 instructions without warning.
1204@item -warn-undocumented-instructions
1205@itemx -Wud
1206Issue a warning for undocumented Z80 instructions that also work on R800.
1207@item -warn-unportable-instructions
1208@itemx -Wup
b45619c0 1209Issue a warning for undocumented Z80 instructions that do not work on R800.
3c9b82ba
NC
1210@item -forbid-undocumented-instructions
1211@itemx -Fud
1212Treat all undocumented instructions as errors.
1213@item -forbid-unportable-instructions
1214@itemx -Fup
b45619c0 1215Treat undocumented Z80 instructions that do not work on R800 as errors.
3c9b82ba
NC
1216@end table
1217@end ifset
1218
0285c67d
NC
1219@c man end
1220
252b5132
RH
1221@menu
1222* Manual:: Structure of this Manual
1223* GNU Assembler:: The GNU Assembler
1224* Object Formats:: Object File Formats
1225* Command Line:: Command Line
1226* Input Files:: Input Files
1227* Object:: Output (Object) File
1228* Errors:: Error and Warning Messages
1229@end menu
1230
1231@node Manual
1232@section Structure of this Manual
1233
1234@cindex manual, structure and purpose
1235This manual is intended to describe what you need to know to use
a4fb0134 1236@sc{gnu} @command{@value{AS}}. We cover the syntax expected in source files, including
252b5132 1237notation for symbols, constants, and expressions; the directives that
a4fb0134 1238@command{@value{AS}} understands; and of course how to invoke @command{@value{AS}}.
252b5132
RH
1239
1240@ifclear GENERIC
1241We also cover special features in the @value{TARGET}
a4fb0134 1242configuration of @command{@value{AS}}, including assembler directives.
252b5132
RH
1243@end ifclear
1244@ifset GENERIC
1245This manual also describes some of the machine-dependent features of
1246various flavors of the assembler.
1247@end ifset
1248
1249@cindex machine instructions (not covered)
1250On the other hand, this manual is @emph{not} intended as an introduction
1251to programming in assembly language---let alone programming in general!
1252In a similar vein, we make no attempt to introduce the machine
1253architecture; we do @emph{not} describe the instruction set, standard
1254mnemonics, registers or addressing modes that are standard to a
1255particular architecture.
1256@ifset GENERIC
1257You may want to consult the manufacturer's
1258machine architecture manual for this information.
1259@end ifset
1260@ifclear GENERIC
1261@ifset H8/300
1262For information on the H8/300 machine instruction set, see @cite{H8/300
c2dcd04e
NC
1263Series Programming Manual}. For the H8/300H, see @cite{H8/300H Series
1264Programming Manual} (Renesas).
252b5132 1265@end ifset
252b5132 1266@ifset SH
ef230218
JR
1267For information on the Renesas (formerly Hitachi) / SuperH SH machine instruction set,
1268see @cite{SH-Microcomputer User's Manual} (Renesas) or
1269@cite{SH-4 32-bit CPU Core Architecture} (SuperH) and
1270@cite{SuperH (SH) 64-Bit RISC Series} (SuperH).
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RH
1271@end ifset
1272@ifset Z8000
1273For information on the Z8000 machine instruction set, see @cite{Z8000 CPU Technical Manual}
1274@end ifset
1275@end ifclear
1276
1277@c I think this is premature---doc@cygnus.com, 17jan1991
1278@ignore
1279Throughout this manual, we assume that you are running @dfn{GNU},
1280the portable operating system from the @dfn{Free Software
1281Foundation, Inc.}. This restricts our attention to certain kinds of
1282computer (in particular, the kinds of computers that @sc{gnu} can run on);
1283once this assumption is granted examples and definitions need less
1284qualification.
1285
a4fb0134 1286@command{@value{AS}} is part of a team of programs that turn a high-level
252b5132
RH
1287human-readable series of instructions into a low-level
1288computer-readable series of instructions. Different versions of
a4fb0134 1289@command{@value{AS}} are used for different kinds of computer.
252b5132
RH
1290@end ignore
1291
1292@c There used to be a section "Terminology" here, which defined
1293@c "contents", "byte", "word", and "long". Defining "word" to any
1294@c particular size is confusing when the .word directive may generate 16
1295@c bits on one machine and 32 bits on another; in general, for the user
1296@c version of this manual, none of these terms seem essential to define.
1297@c They were used very little even in the former draft of the manual;
1298@c this draft makes an effort to avoid them (except in names of
1299@c directives).
1300
1301@node GNU Assembler
1302@section The GNU Assembler
1303
0285c67d
NC
1304@c man begin DESCRIPTION
1305
a4fb0134 1306@sc{gnu} @command{as} is really a family of assemblers.
252b5132 1307@ifclear GENERIC
a4fb0134 1308This manual describes @command{@value{AS}}, a member of that family which is
252b5132
RH
1309configured for the @value{TARGET} architectures.
1310@end ifclear
1311If you use (or have used) the @sc{gnu} assembler on one architecture, you
1312should find a fairly similar environment when you use it on another
1313architecture. Each version has much in common with the others,
1314including object file formats, most assembler directives (often called
1315@dfn{pseudo-ops}) and assembler syntax.@refill
1316
1317@cindex purpose of @sc{gnu} assembler
a4fb0134 1318@command{@value{AS}} is primarily intended to assemble the output of the
252b5132 1319@sc{gnu} C compiler @code{@value{GCC}} for use by the linker
a4fb0134 1320@code{@value{LD}}. Nevertheless, we've tried to make @command{@value{AS}}
252b5132
RH
1321assemble correctly everything that other assemblers for the same
1322machine would assemble.
1323@ifset VAX
1324Any exceptions are documented explicitly (@pxref{Machine Dependencies}).
1325@end ifset
1326@ifset M680X0
1327@c This remark should appear in generic version of manual; assumption
1328@c here is that generic version sets M680x0.
a4fb0134 1329This doesn't mean @command{@value{AS}} always uses the same syntax as another
252b5132
RH
1330assembler for the same architecture; for example, we know of several
1331incompatible versions of 680x0 assembly language syntax.
1332@end ifset
1333
0285c67d
NC
1334@c man end
1335
a4fb0134 1336Unlike older assemblers, @command{@value{AS}} is designed to assemble a source
252b5132
RH
1337program in one pass of the source file. This has a subtle impact on the
1338@kbd{.org} directive (@pxref{Org,,@code{.org}}).
1339
1340@node Object Formats
1341@section Object File Formats
1342
1343@cindex object file format
1344The @sc{gnu} assembler can be configured to produce several alternative
1345object file formats. For the most part, this does not affect how you
1346write assembly language programs; but directives for debugging symbols
1347are typically different in different file formats. @xref{Symbol
1348Attributes,,Symbol Attributes}.
1349@ifclear GENERIC
1350@ifclear MULTI-OBJ
c1253627 1351For the @value{TARGET} target, @command{@value{AS}} is configured to produce
252b5132
RH
1352@value{OBJ-NAME} format object files.
1353@end ifclear
1354@c The following should exhaust all configs that set MULTI-OBJ, ideally
252b5132 1355@ifset I960
a4fb0134 1356On the @value{TARGET}, @command{@value{AS}} can be configured to produce either
252b5132
RH
1357@code{b.out} or COFF format object files.
1358@end ifset
1359@ifset HPPA
a4fb0134 1360On the @value{TARGET}, @command{@value{AS}} can be configured to produce either
252b5132
RH
1361SOM or ELF format object files.
1362@end ifset
1363@end ifclear
1364
1365@node Command Line
1366@section Command Line
1367
1368@cindex command line conventions
0285c67d 1369
a4fb0134 1370After the program name @command{@value{AS}}, the command line may contain
252b5132
RH
1371options and file names. Options may appear in any order, and may be
1372before, after, or between file names. The order of file names is
1373significant.
1374
1375@cindex standard input, as input file
1376@kindex --
1377@file{--} (two hyphens) by itself names the standard input file
a4fb0134 1378explicitly, as one of the files for @command{@value{AS}} to assemble.
252b5132
RH
1379
1380@cindex options, command line
1381Except for @samp{--} any command line argument that begins with a
1382hyphen (@samp{-}) is an option. Each option changes the behavior of
a4fb0134 1383@command{@value{AS}}. No option changes the way another option works. An
252b5132
RH
1384option is a @samp{-} followed by one or more letters; the case of
1385the letter is important. All options are optional.
1386
1387Some options expect exactly one file name to follow them. The file
1388name may either immediately follow the option's letter (compatible
1389with older assemblers) or it may be the next command argument (@sc{gnu}
1390standard). These two command lines are equivalent:
1391
1392@smallexample
1393@value{AS} -o my-object-file.o mumble.s
1394@value{AS} -omy-object-file.o mumble.s
1395@end smallexample
1396
1397@node Input Files
1398@section Input Files
1399
1400@cindex input
1401@cindex source program
1402@cindex files, input
1403We use the phrase @dfn{source program}, abbreviated @dfn{source}, to
a4fb0134 1404describe the program input to one run of @command{@value{AS}}. The program may
252b5132
RH
1405be in one or more files; how the source is partitioned into files
1406doesn't change the meaning of the source.
1407
1408@c I added "con" prefix to "catenation" just to prove I can overcome my
1409@c APL training... doc@cygnus.com
1410The source program is a concatenation of the text in all the files, in the
1411order specified.
1412
0285c67d 1413@c man begin DESCRIPTION
a4fb0134 1414Each time you run @command{@value{AS}} it assembles exactly one source
252b5132
RH
1415program. The source program is made up of one or more files.
1416(The standard input is also a file.)
1417
a4fb0134 1418You give @command{@value{AS}} a command line that has zero or more input file
252b5132
RH
1419names. The input files are read (from left file name to right). A
1420command line argument (in any position) that has no special meaning
1421is taken to be an input file name.
1422
a4fb0134
SC
1423If you give @command{@value{AS}} no file names it attempts to read one input file
1424from the @command{@value{AS}} standard input, which is normally your terminal. You
1425may have to type @key{ctl-D} to tell @command{@value{AS}} there is no more program
252b5132
RH
1426to assemble.
1427
1428Use @samp{--} if you need to explicitly name the standard input file
1429in your command line.
1430
a4fb0134 1431If the source is empty, @command{@value{AS}} produces a small, empty object
252b5132
RH
1432file.
1433
0285c67d
NC
1434@c man end
1435
252b5132
RH
1436@subheading Filenames and Line-numbers
1437
1438@cindex input file linenumbers
1439@cindex line numbers, in input files
1440There are two ways of locating a line in the input file (or files) and
1441either may be used in reporting error messages. One way refers to a line
1442number in a physical file; the other refers to a line number in a
1443``logical'' file. @xref{Errors, ,Error and Warning Messages}.
1444
1445@dfn{Physical files} are those files named in the command line given
a4fb0134 1446to @command{@value{AS}}.
252b5132
RH
1447
1448@dfn{Logical files} are simply names declared explicitly by assembler
1449directives; they bear no relation to physical files. Logical file names help
a4fb0134
SC
1450error messages reflect the original source file, when @command{@value{AS}} source
1451is itself synthesized from other files. @command{@value{AS}} understands the
252b5132
RH
1452@samp{#} directives emitted by the @code{@value{GCC}} preprocessor. See also
1453@ref{File,,@code{.file}}.
1454
1455@node Object
1456@section Output (Object) File
1457
1458@cindex object file
1459@cindex output file
1460@kindex a.out
1461@kindex .o
a4fb0134 1462Every time you run @command{@value{AS}} it produces an output file, which is
252b5132
RH
1463your assembly language program translated into numbers. This file
1464is the object file. Its default name is
1465@ifclear BOUT
1466@code{a.out}.
1467@end ifclear
1468@ifset BOUT
1469@ifset GENERIC
1470@code{a.out}, or
1471@end ifset
a4fb0134 1472@code{b.out} when @command{@value{AS}} is configured for the Intel 80960.
252b5132 1473@end ifset
a4fb0134 1474You can give it another name by using the @option{-o} option. Conventionally,
252b5132
RH
1475object file names end with @file{.o}. The default name is used for historical
1476reasons: older assemblers were capable of assembling self-contained programs
1477directly into a runnable program. (For some formats, this isn't currently
1478possible, but it can be done for the @code{a.out} format.)
1479
1480@cindex linker
1481@kindex ld
1482The object file is meant for input to the linker @code{@value{LD}}. It contains
1483assembled program code, information to help @code{@value{LD}} integrate
1484the assembled program into a runnable file, and (optionally) symbolic
1485information for the debugger.
1486
1487@c link above to some info file(s) like the description of a.out.
1488@c don't forget to describe @sc{gnu} info as well as Unix lossage.
1489
1490@node Errors
1491@section Error and Warning Messages
1492
0285c67d
NC
1493@c man begin DESCRIPTION
1494
a349d9dd 1495@cindex error messages
252b5132
RH
1496@cindex warning messages
1497@cindex messages from assembler
a4fb0134 1498@command{@value{AS}} may write warnings and error messages to the standard error
252b5132 1499file (usually your terminal). This should not happen when a compiler
a4fb0134
SC
1500runs @command{@value{AS}} automatically. Warnings report an assumption made so
1501that @command{@value{AS}} could keep assembling a flawed program; errors report a
252b5132
RH
1502grave problem that stops the assembly.
1503
0285c67d
NC
1504@c man end
1505
252b5132
RH
1506@cindex format of warning messages
1507Warning messages have the format
1508
1509@smallexample
1510file_name:@b{NNN}:Warning Message Text
1511@end smallexample
1512
1513@noindent
1514@cindex line numbers, in warnings/errors
1515(where @b{NNN} is a line number). If a logical file name has been given
1516(@pxref{File,,@code{.file}}) it is used for the filename, otherwise the name of
1517the current input file is used. If a logical line number was given
1518@ifset GENERIC
1519(@pxref{Line,,@code{.line}})
1520@end ifset
252b5132
RH
1521then it is used to calculate the number printed,
1522otherwise the actual line in the current source file is printed. The
1523message text is intended to be self explanatory (in the grand Unix
1524tradition).
1525
1526@cindex format of error messages
1527Error messages have the format
1528@smallexample
1529file_name:@b{NNN}:FATAL:Error Message Text
1530@end smallexample
1531The file name and line number are derived as for warning
1532messages. The actual message text may be rather less explanatory
1533because many of them aren't supposed to happen.
1534
1535@node Invoking
1536@chapter Command-Line Options
1537
1538@cindex options, all versions of assembler
1539This chapter describes command-line options available in @emph{all}
96e9638b
BW
1540versions of the @sc{gnu} assembler; see @ref{Machine Dependencies},
1541for options specific
252b5132 1542@ifclear GENERIC
c1253627 1543to the @value{TARGET} target.
252b5132
RH
1544@end ifclear
1545@ifset GENERIC
1546to particular machine architectures.
1547@end ifset
1548
0285c67d
NC
1549@c man begin DESCRIPTION
1550
c1253627 1551If you are invoking @command{@value{AS}} via the @sc{gnu} C compiler,
252b5132
RH
1552you can use the @samp{-Wa} option to pass arguments through to the assembler.
1553The assembler arguments must be separated from each other (and the @samp{-Wa})
1554by commas. For example:
1555
1556@smallexample
1557gcc -c -g -O -Wa,-alh,-L file.c
1558@end smallexample
1559
1560@noindent
1561This passes two options to the assembler: @samp{-alh} (emit a listing to
5f5e16be 1562standard output with high-level and assembly source) and @samp{-L} (retain
252b5132
RH
1563local symbols in the symbol table).
1564
1565Usually you do not need to use this @samp{-Wa} mechanism, since many compiler
1566command-line options are automatically passed to the assembler by the compiler.
1567(You can call the @sc{gnu} compiler driver with the @samp{-v} option to see
1568precisely what options it passes to each compilation pass, including the
1569assembler.)
1570
0285c67d
NC
1571@c man end
1572
252b5132
RH
1573@menu
1574* a:: -a[cdhlns] enable listings
caa32fe5 1575* alternate:: --alternate enable alternate macro syntax
252b5132
RH
1576* D:: -D for compatibility
1577* f:: -f to work faster
1578* I:: -I for .include search path
1579@ifclear DIFF-TBL-KLUGE
1580* K:: -K for compatibility
1581@end ifclear
1582@ifset DIFF-TBL-KLUGE
1583* K:: -K for difference tables
1584@end ifset
1585
ba83aca1 1586* L:: -L to retain local symbols
c3a27914 1587* listing:: --listing-XXX to configure listing output
252b5132
RH
1588* M:: -M or --mri to assemble in MRI compatibility mode
1589* MD:: --MD for dependency tracking
1590* o:: -o to name the object file
1591* R:: -R to join data and text sections
1592* statistics:: --statistics to see statistics about assembly
1593* traditional-format:: --traditional-format for compatible output
1594* v:: -v to announce version
2bdd6cf5 1595* W:: -W, --no-warn, --warn, --fatal-warnings to control warnings
252b5132
RH
1596* Z:: -Z to make object file even after errors
1597@end menu
1598
1599@node a
a4fb0134 1600@section Enable Listings: @option{-a[cdhlns]}
252b5132
RH
1601
1602@kindex -a
1603@kindex -ac
1604@kindex -ad
1605@kindex -ah
1606@kindex -al
1607@kindex -an
1608@kindex -as
1609@cindex listings, enabling
1610@cindex assembly listings, enabling
1611
1612These options enable listing output from the assembler. By itself,
1613@samp{-a} requests high-level, assembly, and symbols listing.
1614You can use other letters to select specific options for the list:
1615@samp{-ah} requests a high-level language listing,
1616@samp{-al} requests an output-program assembly listing, and
1617@samp{-as} requests a symbol table listing.
1618High-level listings require that a compiler debugging option like
1619@samp{-g} be used, and that assembly listings (@samp{-al}) be requested
1620also.
1621
1622Use the @samp{-ac} option to omit false conditionals from a listing. Any lines
1623which are not assembled because of a false @code{.if} (or @code{.ifdef}, or any
1624other conditional), or a true @code{.if} followed by an @code{.else}, will be
1625omitted from the listing.
1626
1627Use the @samp{-ad} option to omit debugging directives from the
1628listing.
1629
1630Once you have specified one of these options, you can further control
1631listing output and its appearance using the directives @code{.list},
1632@code{.nolist}, @code{.psize}, @code{.eject}, @code{.title}, and
1633@code{.sbttl}.
1634The @samp{-an} option turns off all forms processing.
1635If you do not request listing output with one of the @samp{-a} options, the
1636listing-control directives have no effect.
1637
1638The letters after @samp{-a} may be combined into one option,
1639@emph{e.g.}, @samp{-aln}.
1640
96e9638b
BW
1641Note if the assembler source is coming from the standard input (e.g.,
1642because it
c3a27914
NC
1643is being created by @code{@value{GCC}} and the @samp{-pipe} command line switch
1644is being used) then the listing will not contain any comments or preprocessor
1645directives. This is because the listing code buffers input source lines from
1646stdin only after they have been preprocessed by the assembler. This reduces
1647memory usage and makes the code more efficient.
1648
caa32fe5
NC
1649@node alternate
1650@section @option{--alternate}
1651
1652@kindex --alternate
1653Begin in alternate macro mode, see @ref{Altmacro,,@code{.altmacro}}.
1654
252b5132 1655@node D
a4fb0134 1656@section @option{-D}
252b5132
RH
1657
1658@kindex -D
1659This option has no effect whatsoever, but it is accepted to make it more
1660likely that scripts written for other assemblers also work with
a4fb0134 1661@command{@value{AS}}.
252b5132
RH
1662
1663@node f
a4fb0134 1664@section Work Faster: @option{-f}
252b5132
RH
1665
1666@kindex -f
1667@cindex trusted compiler
a4fb0134 1668@cindex faster processing (@option{-f})
252b5132
RH
1669@samp{-f} should only be used when assembling programs written by a
1670(trusted) compiler. @samp{-f} stops the assembler from doing whitespace
1671and comment preprocessing on
1672the input file(s) before assembling them. @xref{Preprocessing,
1673,Preprocessing}.
1674
1675@quotation
1676@emph{Warning:} if you use @samp{-f} when the files actually need to be
a4fb0134 1677preprocessed (if they contain comments, for example), @command{@value{AS}} does
252b5132
RH
1678not work correctly.
1679@end quotation
1680
1681@node I
c1253627 1682@section @code{.include} Search Path: @option{-I} @var{path}
252b5132
RH
1683
1684@kindex -I @var{path}
1685@cindex paths for @code{.include}
1686@cindex search path for @code{.include}
1687@cindex @code{include} directive search path
1688Use this option to add a @var{path} to the list of directories
a4fb0134
SC
1689@command{@value{AS}} searches for files specified in @code{.include}
1690directives (@pxref{Include,,@code{.include}}). You may use @option{-I} as
252b5132 1691many times as necessary to include a variety of paths. The current
a4fb0134 1692working directory is always searched first; after that, @command{@value{AS}}
252b5132
RH
1693searches any @samp{-I} directories in the same order as they were
1694specified (left to right) on the command line.
1695
1696@node K
a4fb0134 1697@section Difference Tables: @option{-K}
252b5132
RH
1698
1699@kindex -K
1700@ifclear DIFF-TBL-KLUGE
1701On the @value{TARGET} family, this option is allowed, but has no effect. It is
1702permitted for compatibility with the @sc{gnu} assembler on other platforms,
1703where it can be used to warn when the assembler alters the machine code
1704generated for @samp{.word} directives in difference tables. The @value{TARGET}
1705family does not have the addressing limitations that sometimes lead to this
1706alteration on other platforms.
1707@end ifclear
1708
1709@ifset DIFF-TBL-KLUGE
1710@cindex difference tables, warning
1711@cindex warning for altered difference tables
96e9638b
BW
1712@command{@value{AS}} sometimes alters the code emitted for directives of the
1713form @samp{.word @var{sym1}-@var{sym2}}. @xref{Word,,@code{.word}}.
252b5132
RH
1714You can use the @samp{-K} option if you want a warning issued when this
1715is done.
1716@end ifset
1717
1718@node L
ba83aca1 1719@section Include Local Symbols: @option{-L}
252b5132
RH
1720
1721@kindex -L
ba83aca1
BW
1722@cindex local symbols, retaining in output
1723Symbols beginning with system-specific local label prefixes, typically
1724@samp{.L} for ELF systems or @samp{L} for traditional a.out systems, are
1725called @dfn{local symbols}. @xref{Symbol Names}. Normally you do not see
1726such symbols when debugging, because they are intended for the use of
1727programs (like compilers) that compose assembler programs, not for your
1728notice. Normally both @command{@value{AS}} and @code{@value{LD}} discard
1729such symbols, so you do not normally debug with them.
1730
1731This option tells @command{@value{AS}} to retain those local symbols
252b5132 1732in the object file. Usually if you do this you also tell the linker
ba83aca1 1733@code{@value{LD}} to preserve those symbols.
252b5132 1734
c3a27914 1735@node listing
a4fb0134 1736@section Configuring listing output: @option{--listing}
c3a27914
NC
1737
1738The listing feature of the assembler can be enabled via the command line switch
1739@samp{-a} (@pxref{a}). This feature combines the input source file(s) with a
1740hex dump of the corresponding locations in the output object file, and displays
96e9638b
BW
1741them as a listing file. The format of this listing can be controlled by
1742directives inside the assembler source (i.e., @code{.list} (@pxref{List}),
1743@code{.title} (@pxref{Title}), @code{.sbttl} (@pxref{Sbttl}),
1744@code{.psize} (@pxref{Psize}), and
1745@code{.eject} (@pxref{Eject}) and also by the following switches:
c3a27914 1746
a4fb0134 1747@table @gcctabopt
c3a27914
NC
1748@item --listing-lhs-width=@samp{number}
1749@kindex --listing-lhs-width
1750@cindex Width of first line disassembly output
1751Sets the maximum width, in words, of the first line of the hex byte dump. This
1752dump appears on the left hand side of the listing output.
1753
1754@item --listing-lhs-width2=@samp{number}
1755@kindex --listing-lhs-width2
1756@cindex Width of continuation lines of disassembly output
1757Sets the maximum width, in words, of any further lines of the hex byte dump for
8dfa0188 1758a given input source line. If this value is not specified, it defaults to being
c3a27914
NC
1759the same as the value specified for @samp{--listing-lhs-width}. If neither
1760switch is used the default is to one.
1761
1762@item --listing-rhs-width=@samp{number}
1763@kindex --listing-rhs-width
1764@cindex Width of source line output
1765Sets the maximum width, in characters, of the source line that is displayed
1766alongside the hex dump. The default value for this parameter is 100. The
1767source line is displayed on the right hand side of the listing output.
1768
1769@item --listing-cont-lines=@samp{number}
1770@kindex --listing-cont-lines
1771@cindex Maximum number of continuation lines
1772Sets the maximum number of continuation lines of hex dump that will be
1773displayed for a given single line of source input. The default value is 4.
1774@end table
1775
252b5132 1776@node M
a4fb0134 1777@section Assemble in MRI Compatibility Mode: @option{-M}
252b5132
RH
1778
1779@kindex -M
1780@cindex MRI compatibility mode
a4fb0134
SC
1781The @option{-M} or @option{--mri} option selects MRI compatibility mode. This
1782changes the syntax and pseudo-op handling of @command{@value{AS}} to make it
252b5132
RH
1783compatible with the @code{ASM68K} or the @code{ASM960} (depending upon the
1784configured target) assembler from Microtec Research. The exact nature of the
1785MRI syntax will not be documented here; see the MRI manuals for more
1786information. Note in particular that the handling of macros and macro
1787arguments is somewhat different. The purpose of this option is to permit
a4fb0134 1788assembling existing MRI assembler code using @command{@value{AS}}.
252b5132
RH
1789
1790The MRI compatibility is not complete. Certain operations of the MRI assembler
1791depend upon its object file format, and can not be supported using other object
1792file formats. Supporting these would require enhancing each object file format
1793individually. These are:
1794
1795@itemize @bullet
1796@item global symbols in common section
1797
1798The m68k MRI assembler supports common sections which are merged by the linker.
a4fb0134 1799Other object file formats do not support this. @command{@value{AS}} handles
252b5132
RH
1800common sections by treating them as a single common symbol. It permits local
1801symbols to be defined within a common section, but it can not support global
1802symbols, since it has no way to describe them.
1803
1804@item complex relocations
1805
1806The MRI assemblers support relocations against a negated section address, and
1807relocations which combine the start addresses of two or more sections. These
1808are not support by other object file formats.
1809
1810@item @code{END} pseudo-op specifying start address
1811
1812The MRI @code{END} pseudo-op permits the specification of a start address.
1813This is not supported by other object file formats. The start address may
a4fb0134 1814instead be specified using the @option{-e} option to the linker, or in a linker
252b5132
RH
1815script.
1816
1817@item @code{IDNT}, @code{.ident} and @code{NAME} pseudo-ops
1818
1819The MRI @code{IDNT}, @code{.ident} and @code{NAME} pseudo-ops assign a module
1820name to the output file. This is not supported by other object file formats.
1821
1822@item @code{ORG} pseudo-op
1823
1824The m68k MRI @code{ORG} pseudo-op begins an absolute section at a given
a4fb0134 1825address. This differs from the usual @command{@value{AS}} @code{.org} pseudo-op,
252b5132
RH
1826which changes the location within the current section. Absolute sections are
1827not supported by other object file formats. The address of a section may be
1828assigned within a linker script.
1829@end itemize
1830
1831There are some other features of the MRI assembler which are not supported by
a4fb0134 1832@command{@value{AS}}, typically either because they are difficult or because they
252b5132
RH
1833seem of little consequence. Some of these may be supported in future releases.
1834
1835@itemize @bullet
1836
1837@item EBCDIC strings
1838
1839EBCDIC strings are not supported.
1840
1841@item packed binary coded decimal
1842
1843Packed binary coded decimal is not supported. This means that the @code{DC.P}
1844and @code{DCB.P} pseudo-ops are not supported.
1845
1846@item @code{FEQU} pseudo-op
1847
1848The m68k @code{FEQU} pseudo-op is not supported.
1849
1850@item @code{NOOBJ} pseudo-op
1851
1852The m68k @code{NOOBJ} pseudo-op is not supported.
1853
1854@item @code{OPT} branch control options
1855
1856The m68k @code{OPT} branch control options---@code{B}, @code{BRS}, @code{BRB},
a4fb0134 1857@code{BRL}, and @code{BRW}---are ignored. @command{@value{AS}} automatically
252b5132
RH
1858relaxes all branches, whether forward or backward, to an appropriate size, so
1859these options serve no purpose.
1860
1861@item @code{OPT} list control options
1862
1863The following m68k @code{OPT} list control options are ignored: @code{C},
1864@code{CEX}, @code{CL}, @code{CRE}, @code{E}, @code{G}, @code{I}, @code{M},
1865@code{MEX}, @code{MC}, @code{MD}, @code{X}.
1866
1867@item other @code{OPT} options
1868
1869The following m68k @code{OPT} options are ignored: @code{NEST}, @code{O},
1870@code{OLD}, @code{OP}, @code{P}, @code{PCO}, @code{PCR}, @code{PCS}, @code{R}.
1871
1872@item @code{OPT} @code{D} option is default
1873
1874The m68k @code{OPT} @code{D} option is the default, unlike the MRI assembler.
1875@code{OPT NOD} may be used to turn it off.
1876
1877@item @code{XREF} pseudo-op.
1878
1879The m68k @code{XREF} pseudo-op is ignored.
1880
1881@item @code{.debug} pseudo-op
1882
1883The i960 @code{.debug} pseudo-op is not supported.
1884
1885@item @code{.extended} pseudo-op
1886
1887The i960 @code{.extended} pseudo-op is not supported.
1888
1889@item @code{.list} pseudo-op.
1890
1891The various options of the i960 @code{.list} pseudo-op are not supported.
1892
1893@item @code{.optimize} pseudo-op
1894
1895The i960 @code{.optimize} pseudo-op is not supported.
1896
1897@item @code{.output} pseudo-op
1898
1899The i960 @code{.output} pseudo-op is not supported.
1900
1901@item @code{.setreal} pseudo-op
1902
1903The i960 @code{.setreal} pseudo-op is not supported.
1904
1905@end itemize
1906
1907@node MD
c1253627 1908@section Dependency Tracking: @option{--MD}
252b5132
RH
1909
1910@kindex --MD
1911@cindex dependency tracking
1912@cindex make rules
1913
a4fb0134 1914@command{@value{AS}} can generate a dependency file for the file it creates. This
252b5132
RH
1915file consists of a single rule suitable for @code{make} describing the
1916dependencies of the main source file.
1917
1918The rule is written to the file named in its argument.
1919
1920This feature is used in the automatic updating of makefiles.
1921
1922@node o
a4fb0134 1923@section Name the Object File: @option{-o}
252b5132
RH
1924
1925@kindex -o
1926@cindex naming object file
1927@cindex object file name
a4fb0134 1928There is always one object file output when you run @command{@value{AS}}. By
252b5132
RH
1929default it has the name
1930@ifset GENERIC
1931@ifset I960
1932@file{a.out} (or @file{b.out}, for Intel 960 targets only).
1933@end ifset
1934@ifclear I960
1935@file{a.out}.
1936@end ifclear
1937@end ifset
1938@ifclear GENERIC
1939@ifset I960
1940@file{b.out}.
1941@end ifset
1942@ifclear I960
1943@file{a.out}.
1944@end ifclear
1945@end ifclear
1946You use this option (which takes exactly one filename) to give the
1947object file a different name.
1948
a4fb0134 1949Whatever the object file is called, @command{@value{AS}} overwrites any
252b5132
RH
1950existing file of the same name.
1951
1952@node R
a4fb0134 1953@section Join Data and Text Sections: @option{-R}
252b5132
RH
1954
1955@kindex -R
1956@cindex data and text sections, joining
1957@cindex text and data sections, joining
1958@cindex joining text and data sections
1959@cindex merging text and data sections
a4fb0134 1960@option{-R} tells @command{@value{AS}} to write the object file as if all
252b5132
RH
1961data-section data lives in the text section. This is only done at
1962the very last moment: your binary data are the same, but data
1963section parts are relocated differently. The data section part of
1964your object file is zero bytes long because all its bytes are
1965appended to the text section. (@xref{Sections,,Sections and Relocation}.)
1966
a4fb0134 1967When you specify @option{-R} it would be possible to generate shorter
252b5132
RH
1968address displacements (because we do not have to cross between text and
1969data section). We refrain from doing this simply for compatibility with
a4fb0134 1970older versions of @command{@value{AS}}. In future, @option{-R} may work this way.
252b5132 1971
c1253627
NC
1972@ifset COFF-ELF
1973When @command{@value{AS}} is configured for COFF or ELF output,
252b5132
RH
1974this option is only useful if you use sections named @samp{.text} and
1975@samp{.data}.
1976@end ifset
1977
1978@ifset HPPA
a4fb0134
SC
1979@option{-R} is not supported for any of the HPPA targets. Using
1980@option{-R} generates a warning from @command{@value{AS}}.
252b5132
RH
1981@end ifset
1982
1983@node statistics
a4fb0134 1984@section Display Assembly Statistics: @option{--statistics}
252b5132
RH
1985
1986@kindex --statistics
1987@cindex statistics, about assembly
1988@cindex time, total for assembly
1989@cindex space used, maximum for assembly
1990Use @samp{--statistics} to display two statistics about the resources used by
a4fb0134 1991@command{@value{AS}}: the maximum amount of space allocated during the assembly
252b5132
RH
1992(in bytes), and the total execution time taken for the assembly (in @sc{cpu}
1993seconds).
1994
1995@node traditional-format
c1253627 1996@section Compatible Output: @option{--traditional-format}
252b5132
RH
1997
1998@kindex --traditional-format
a4fb0134 1999For some targets, the output of @command{@value{AS}} is different in some ways
252b5132 2000from the output of some existing assembler. This switch requests
a4fb0134 2001@command{@value{AS}} to use the traditional format instead.
252b5132
RH
2002
2003For example, it disables the exception frame optimizations which
a4fb0134 2004@command{@value{AS}} normally does by default on @code{@value{GCC}} output.
252b5132
RH
2005
2006@node v
a4fb0134 2007@section Announce Version: @option{-v}
252b5132
RH
2008
2009@kindex -v
2010@kindex -version
2011@cindex assembler version
2012@cindex version of assembler
2013You can find out what version of as is running by including the
2014option @samp{-v} (which you can also spell as @samp{-version}) on the
2015command line.
2016
2017@node W
a4fb0134 2018@section Control Warnings: @option{-W}, @option{--warn}, @option{--no-warn}, @option{--fatal-warnings}
252b5132 2019
a4fb0134 2020@command{@value{AS}} should never give a warning or error message when
252b5132 2021assembling compiler output. But programs written by people often
a4fb0134 2022cause @command{@value{AS}} to give a warning that a particular assumption was
252b5132 2023made. All such warnings are directed to the standard error file.
2bdd6cf5 2024
c1253627
NC
2025@kindex -W
2026@kindex --no-warn
2bdd6cf5
GK
2027@cindex suppressing warnings
2028@cindex warnings, suppressing
a4fb0134 2029If you use the @option{-W} and @option{--no-warn} options, no warnings are issued.
2bdd6cf5 2030This only affects the warning messages: it does not change any particular of
a4fb0134 2031how @command{@value{AS}} assembles your file. Errors, which stop the assembly,
2bdd6cf5
GK
2032are still reported.
2033
c1253627 2034@kindex --fatal-warnings
2bdd6cf5
GK
2035@cindex errors, caused by warnings
2036@cindex warnings, causing error
a4fb0134 2037If you use the @option{--fatal-warnings} option, @command{@value{AS}} considers
2bdd6cf5
GK
2038files that generate warnings to be in error.
2039
c1253627 2040@kindex --warn
2bdd6cf5 2041@cindex warnings, switching on
a4fb0134 2042You can switch these options off again by specifying @option{--warn}, which
2bdd6cf5 2043causes warnings to be output as usual.
252b5132
RH
2044
2045@node Z
a4fb0134 2046@section Generate Object File in Spite of Errors: @option{-Z}
252b5132
RH
2047@cindex object file, after errors
2048@cindex errors, continuing after
a4fb0134 2049After an error message, @command{@value{AS}} normally produces no output. If for
252b5132 2050some reason you are interested in object file output even after
a4fb0134
SC
2051@command{@value{AS}} gives an error message on your program, use the @samp{-Z}
2052option. If there are any errors, @command{@value{AS}} continues anyways, and
252b5132
RH
2053writes an object file after a final warning message of the form @samp{@var{n}
2054errors, @var{m} warnings, generating bad object file.}
2055
2056@node Syntax
2057@chapter Syntax
2058
2059@cindex machine-independent syntax
2060@cindex syntax, machine-independent
2061This chapter describes the machine-independent syntax allowed in a
a4fb0134 2062source file. @command{@value{AS}} syntax is similar to what many other
252b5132
RH
2063assemblers use; it is inspired by the BSD 4.2
2064@ifclear VAX
2065assembler.
2066@end ifclear
2067@ifset VAX
a4fb0134 2068assembler, except that @command{@value{AS}} does not assemble Vax bit-fields.
252b5132
RH
2069@end ifset
2070
2071@menu
2072* Preprocessing:: Preprocessing
2073* Whitespace:: Whitespace
2074* Comments:: Comments
2075* Symbol Intro:: Symbols
2076* Statements:: Statements
2077* Constants:: Constants
2078@end menu
2079
2080@node Preprocessing
2081@section Preprocessing
2082
2083@cindex preprocessing
a4fb0134 2084The @command{@value{AS}} internal preprocessor:
252b5132
RH
2085@itemize @bullet
2086@cindex whitespace, removed by preprocessor
2087@item
2088adjusts and removes extra whitespace. It leaves one space or tab before
2089the keywords on a line, and turns any other whitespace on the line into
2090a single space.
2091
2092@cindex comments, removed by preprocessor
2093@item
2094removes all comments, replacing them with a single space, or an
2095appropriate number of newlines.
2096
2097@cindex constants, converted by preprocessor
2098@item
2099converts character constants into the appropriate numeric values.
2100@end itemize
2101
2102It does not do macro processing, include file handling, or
2103anything else you may get from your C compiler's preprocessor. You can
2104do include file processing with the @code{.include} directive
2105(@pxref{Include,,@code{.include}}). You can use the @sc{gnu} C compiler driver
c1253627 2106to get other ``CPP'' style preprocessing by giving the input file a
96e9638b 2107@samp{.S} suffix. @xref{Overall Options, ,Options Controlling the Kind of
252b5132
RH
2108Output, gcc.info, Using GNU CC}.
2109
2110Excess whitespace, comments, and character constants
2111cannot be used in the portions of the input text that are not
2112preprocessed.
2113
2114@cindex turning preprocessing on and off
2115@cindex preprocessing, turning on and off
2116@kindex #NO_APP
2117@kindex #APP
2118If the first line of an input file is @code{#NO_APP} or if you use the
2119@samp{-f} option, whitespace and comments are not removed from the input file.
2120Within an input file, you can ask for whitespace and comment removal in
2121specific portions of the by putting a line that says @code{#APP} before the
2122text that may contain whitespace or comments, and putting a line that says
2123@code{#NO_APP} after this text. This feature is mainly intend to support
2124@code{asm} statements in compilers whose output is otherwise free of comments
2125and whitespace.
2126
2127@node Whitespace
2128@section Whitespace
2129
2130@cindex whitespace
2131@dfn{Whitespace} is one or more blanks or tabs, in any order.
2132Whitespace is used to separate symbols, and to make programs neater for
2133people to read. Unless within character constants
2134(@pxref{Characters,,Character Constants}), any whitespace means the same
2135as exactly one space.
2136
2137@node Comments
2138@section Comments
2139
2140@cindex comments
a4fb0134 2141There are two ways of rendering comments to @command{@value{AS}}. In both
252b5132
RH
2142cases the comment is equivalent to one space.
2143
2144Anything from @samp{/*} through the next @samp{*/} is a comment.
2145This means you may not nest these comments.
2146
2147@smallexample
2148/*
2149 The only way to include a newline ('\n') in a comment
2150 is to use this sort of comment.
2151*/
2152
2153/* This sort of comment does not nest. */
2154@end smallexample
2155
2156@cindex line comment character
2157Anything from the @dfn{line comment} character to the next newline
2158is considered a comment and is ignored. The line comment character is
252b5132
RH
2159@ifset ARC
2160@samp{;} on the ARC;
2161@end ifset
550262c4
NC
2162@ifset ARM
2163@samp{@@} on the ARM;
2164@end ifset
252b5132
RH
2165@ifset H8/300
2166@samp{;} for the H8/300 family;
2167@end ifset
252b5132
RH
2168@ifset HPPA
2169@samp{;} for the HPPA;
2170@end ifset
55b62671
AJ
2171@ifset I80386
2172@samp{#} on the i386 and x86-64;
2173@end ifset
252b5132
RH
2174@ifset I960
2175@samp{#} on the i960;
2176@end ifset
e135f41b
NC
2177@ifset PDP11
2178@samp{;} for the PDP-11;
2179@end ifset
041dd5a9
ILT
2180@ifset PJ
2181@samp{;} for picoJava;
2182@end ifset
418c1742 2183@ifset PPC
3fb9d77f 2184@samp{#} for Motorola PowerPC;
418c1742 2185@end ifset
252b5132 2186@ifset SH
ef230218 2187@samp{!} for the Renesas / SuperH SH;
252b5132
RH
2188@end ifset
2189@ifset SPARC
2190@samp{!} on the SPARC;
2191@end ifset
a40cbfa3
NC
2192@ifset IP2K
2193@samp{#} on the ip2k;
2194@end ifset
49f58d10
JB
2195@ifset M32C
2196@samp{#} on the m32c;
2197@end ifset
252b5132
RH
2198@ifset M32R
2199@samp{#} on the m32r;
2200@end ifset
2201@ifset M680X0
2202@samp{|} on the 680x0;
2203@end ifset
60bcf0fa
NC
2204@ifset M68HC11
2205@samp{#} on the 68HC11 and 68HC12;
2206@end ifset
252b5132
RH
2207@ifset VAX
2208@samp{#} on the Vax;
2209@end ifset
3c9b82ba
NC
2210@ifset Z80
2211@samp{;} for the Z80;
2212@end ifset
252b5132
RH
2213@ifset Z8000
2214@samp{!} for the Z8000;
2215@end ifset
2216@ifset V850
2217@samp{#} on the V850;
2218@end ifset
e0001a05
NC
2219@ifset XTENSA
2220@samp{#} for Xtensa systems;
2221@end ifset
252b5132 2222see @ref{Machine Dependencies}. @refill
81b0b3f1 2223@c FIXME What about i860?
252b5132
RH
2224
2225@ifset GENERIC
2226On some machines there are two different line comment characters. One
2227character only begins a comment if it is the first non-whitespace character on
2228a line, while the other always begins a comment.
2229@end ifset
2230
2231@ifset V850
2232The V850 assembler also supports a double dash as starting a comment that
2233extends to the end of the line.
2234
2235@samp{--};
2236@end ifset
2237
2238@kindex #
2239@cindex lines starting with @code{#}
2240@cindex logical line numbers
2241To be compatible with past assemblers, lines that begin with @samp{#} have a
2242special interpretation. Following the @samp{#} should be an absolute
2243expression (@pxref{Expressions}): the logical line number of the @emph{next}
96e9638b 2244line. Then a string (@pxref{Strings, ,Strings}) is allowed: if present it is a
252b5132
RH
2245new logical file name. The rest of the line, if any, should be whitespace.
2246
2247If the first non-whitespace characters on the line are not numeric,
2248the line is ignored. (Just like a comment.)
2249
2250@smallexample
2251 # This is an ordinary comment.
2252# 42-6 "new_file_name" # New logical file name
2253 # This is logical line # 36.
2254@end smallexample
2255This feature is deprecated, and may disappear from future versions
a4fb0134 2256of @command{@value{AS}}.
252b5132
RH
2257
2258@node Symbol Intro
2259@section Symbols
2260
2261@cindex characters used in symbols
2262@ifclear SPECIAL-SYMS
2263A @dfn{symbol} is one or more characters chosen from the set of all
2264letters (both upper and lower case), digits and the three characters
2265@samp{_.$}.
2266@end ifclear
2267@ifset SPECIAL-SYMS
2268@ifclear GENERIC
2269@ifset H8
2270A @dfn{symbol} is one or more characters chosen from the set of all
2271letters (both upper and lower case), digits and the three characters
2272@samp{._$}. (Save that, on the H8/300 only, you may not use @samp{$} in
2273symbol names.)
2274@end ifset
2275@end ifclear
2276@end ifset
2277@ifset GENERIC
2278On most machines, you can also use @code{$} in symbol names; exceptions
2279are noted in @ref{Machine Dependencies}.
2280@end ifset
2281No symbol may begin with a digit. Case is significant.
2282There is no length limit: all characters are significant. Symbols are
2283delimited by characters not in that set, or by the beginning of a file
2284(since the source program must end with a newline, the end of a file is
2285not a possible symbol delimiter). @xref{Symbols}.
2286@cindex length of symbols
2287
2288@node Statements
2289@section Statements
2290
2291@cindex statements, structure of
2292@cindex line separator character
2293@cindex statement separator character
2294@ifclear GENERIC
2295@ifclear abnormal-separator
2296A @dfn{statement} ends at a newline character (@samp{\n}) or at a
2297semicolon (@samp{;}). The newline or semicolon is considered part of
2298the preceding statement. Newlines and semicolons within character
2299constants are an exception: they do not end statements.
2300@end ifclear
2301@ifset abnormal-separator
252b5132
RH
2302@ifset HPPA
2303A @dfn{statement} ends at a newline character (@samp{\n}) or an exclamation
2304point (@samp{!}). The newline or exclamation point is considered part of the
2305preceding statement. Newlines and exclamation points within character
2306constants are an exception: they do not end statements.
2307@end ifset
2308@ifset H8
2309A @dfn{statement} ends at a newline character (@samp{\n}); or (for the
7be1c489 2310H8/300) a dollar sign (@samp{$}); or (for the Renesas-SH) a semicolon
252b5132
RH
2311(@samp{;}). The newline or separator character is considered part of
2312the preceding statement. Newlines and separators within character
2313constants are an exception: they do not end statements.
2314@end ifset
2315@end ifset
2316@end ifclear
2317@ifset GENERIC
2318A @dfn{statement} ends at a newline character (@samp{\n}) or line
96e9638b
BW
2319separator character. (The line separator is usually @samp{;}, unless this
2320conflicts with the comment character; see @ref{Machine Dependencies}.) The
252b5132
RH
2321newline or separator character is considered part of the preceding
2322statement. Newlines and separators within character constants are an
2323exception: they do not end statements.
2324@end ifset
2325
2326@cindex newline, required at file end
2327@cindex EOF, newline must precede
2328It is an error to end any statement with end-of-file: the last
2329character of any input file should be a newline.@refill
2330
2331An empty statement is allowed, and may include whitespace. It is ignored.
2332
2333@cindex instructions and directives
2334@cindex directives and instructions
2335@c "key symbol" is not used elsewhere in the document; seems pedantic to
2336@c @defn{} it in that case, as was done previously... doc@cygnus.com,
2337@c 13feb91.
2338A statement begins with zero or more labels, optionally followed by a
2339key symbol which determines what kind of statement it is. The key
2340symbol determines the syntax of the rest of the statement. If the
2341symbol begins with a dot @samp{.} then the statement is an assembler
2342directive: typically valid for any computer. If the symbol begins with
2343a letter the statement is an assembly language @dfn{instruction}: it
2344assembles into a machine language instruction.
2345@ifset GENERIC
a4fb0134 2346Different versions of @command{@value{AS}} for different computers
252b5132
RH
2347recognize different instructions. In fact, the same symbol may
2348represent a different instruction in a different computer's assembly
2349language.@refill
2350@end ifset
2351
2352@cindex @code{:} (label)
2353@cindex label (@code{:})
2354A label is a symbol immediately followed by a colon (@code{:}).
2355Whitespace before a label or after a colon is permitted, but you may not
2356have whitespace between a label's symbol and its colon. @xref{Labels}.
2357
2358@ifset HPPA
2359For HPPA targets, labels need not be immediately followed by a colon, but
2360the definition of a label must begin in column zero. This also implies that
2361only one label may be defined on each line.
2362@end ifset
2363
2364@smallexample
2365label: .directive followed by something
2366another_label: # This is an empty statement.
2367 instruction operand_1, operand_2, @dots{}
2368@end smallexample
2369
2370@node Constants
2371@section Constants
2372
2373@cindex constants
2374A constant is a number, written so that its value is known by
2375inspection, without knowing any context. Like this:
2376@smallexample
2377@group
2378.byte 74, 0112, 092, 0x4A, 0X4a, 'J, '\J # All the same value.
2379.ascii "Ring the bell\7" # A string constant.
2380.octa 0x123456789abcdef0123456789ABCDEF0 # A bignum.
2381.float 0f-314159265358979323846264338327\
238295028841971.693993751E-40 # - pi, a flonum.
2383@end group
2384@end smallexample
2385
2386@menu
2387* Characters:: Character Constants
2388* Numbers:: Number Constants
2389@end menu
2390
2391@node Characters
2392@subsection Character Constants
2393
2394@cindex character constants
2395@cindex constants, character
2396There are two kinds of character constants. A @dfn{character} stands
2397for one character in one byte and its value may be used in
2398numeric expressions. String constants (properly called string
2399@emph{literals}) are potentially many bytes and their values may not be
2400used in arithmetic expressions.
2401
2402@menu
2403* Strings:: Strings
2404* Chars:: Characters
2405@end menu
2406
2407@node Strings
2408@subsubsection Strings
2409
2410@cindex string constants
2411@cindex constants, string
2412A @dfn{string} is written between double-quotes. It may contain
2413double-quotes or null characters. The way to get special characters
2414into a string is to @dfn{escape} these characters: precede them with
2415a backslash @samp{\} character. For example @samp{\\} represents
2416one backslash: the first @code{\} is an escape which tells
a4fb0134
SC
2417@command{@value{AS}} to interpret the second character literally as a backslash
2418(which prevents @command{@value{AS}} from recognizing the second @code{\} as an
252b5132
RH
2419escape character). The complete list of escapes follows.
2420
2421@cindex escape codes, character
2422@cindex character escape codes
2423@table @kbd
2424@c @item \a
2425@c Mnemonic for ACKnowledge; for ASCII this is octal code 007.
2426@c
2427@cindex @code{\b} (backspace character)
2428@cindex backspace (@code{\b})
2429@item \b
2430Mnemonic for backspace; for ASCII this is octal code 010.
2431
2432@c @item \e
2433@c Mnemonic for EOText; for ASCII this is octal code 004.
2434@c
2435@cindex @code{\f} (formfeed character)
2436@cindex formfeed (@code{\f})
2437@item \f
2438Mnemonic for FormFeed; for ASCII this is octal code 014.
2439
2440@cindex @code{\n} (newline character)
2441@cindex newline (@code{\n})
2442@item \n
2443Mnemonic for newline; for ASCII this is octal code 012.
2444
2445@c @item \p
2446@c Mnemonic for prefix; for ASCII this is octal code 033, usually known as @code{escape}.
2447@c
2448@cindex @code{\r} (carriage return character)
2449@cindex carriage return (@code{\r})
2450@item \r
2451Mnemonic for carriage-Return; for ASCII this is octal code 015.
2452
2453@c @item \s
2454@c Mnemonic for space; for ASCII this is octal code 040. Included for compliance with
2455@c other assemblers.
2456@c
2457@cindex @code{\t} (tab)
2458@cindex tab (@code{\t})
2459@item \t
2460Mnemonic for horizontal Tab; for ASCII this is octal code 011.
2461
2462@c @item \v
2463@c Mnemonic for Vertical tab; for ASCII this is octal code 013.
2464@c @item \x @var{digit} @var{digit} @var{digit}
2465@c A hexadecimal character code. The numeric code is 3 hexadecimal digits.
2466@c
2467@cindex @code{\@var{ddd}} (octal character code)
2468@cindex octal character code (@code{\@var{ddd}})
2469@item \ @var{digit} @var{digit} @var{digit}
2470An octal character code. The numeric code is 3 octal digits.
2471For compatibility with other Unix systems, 8 and 9 are accepted as digits:
2472for example, @code{\008} has the value 010, and @code{\009} the value 011.
2473
2474@cindex @code{\@var{xd...}} (hex character code)
2475@cindex hex character code (@code{\@var{xd...}})
2476@item \@code{x} @var{hex-digits...}
2477A hex character code. All trailing hex digits are combined. Either upper or
2478lower case @code{x} works.
2479
2480@cindex @code{\\} (@samp{\} character)
2481@cindex backslash (@code{\\})
2482@item \\
2483Represents one @samp{\} character.
2484
2485@c @item \'
2486@c Represents one @samp{'} (accent acute) character.
2487@c This is needed in single character literals
2488@c (@xref{Characters,,Character Constants}.) to represent
2489@c a @samp{'}.
2490@c
2491@cindex @code{\"} (doublequote character)
2492@cindex doublequote (@code{\"})
2493@item \"
2494Represents one @samp{"} character. Needed in strings to represent
2495this character, because an unescaped @samp{"} would end the string.
2496
2497@item \ @var{anything-else}
2498Any other character when escaped by @kbd{\} gives a warning, but
2499assembles as if the @samp{\} was not present. The idea is that if
2500you used an escape sequence you clearly didn't want the literal
a4fb0134
SC
2501interpretation of the following character. However @command{@value{AS}} has no
2502other interpretation, so @command{@value{AS}} knows it is giving you the wrong
252b5132
RH
2503code and warns you of the fact.
2504@end table
2505
2506Which characters are escapable, and what those escapes represent,
2507varies widely among assemblers. The current set is what we think
2508the BSD 4.2 assembler recognizes, and is a subset of what most C
2509compilers recognize. If you are in doubt, do not use an escape
2510sequence.
2511
2512@node Chars
2513@subsubsection Characters
2514
2515@cindex single character constant
2516@cindex character, single
2517@cindex constant, single character
2518A single character may be written as a single quote immediately
2519followed by that character. The same escapes apply to characters as
2520to strings. So if you want to write the character backslash, you
2521must write @kbd{'\\} where the first @code{\} escapes the second
2522@code{\}. As you can see, the quote is an acute accent, not a
2523grave accent. A newline
2524@ifclear GENERIC
2525@ifclear abnormal-separator
2526(or semicolon @samp{;})
2527@end ifclear
2528@ifset abnormal-separator
252b5132
RH
2529@ifset H8
2530(or dollar sign @samp{$}, for the H8/300; or semicolon @samp{;} for the
7be1c489 2531Renesas SH)
252b5132
RH
2532@end ifset
2533@end ifset
2534@end ifclear
2535immediately following an acute accent is taken as a literal character
2536and does not count as the end of a statement. The value of a character
2537constant in a numeric expression is the machine's byte-wide code for
a4fb0134 2538that character. @command{@value{AS}} assumes your character code is ASCII:
252b5132
RH
2539@kbd{'A} means 65, @kbd{'B} means 66, and so on. @refill
2540
2541@node Numbers
2542@subsection Number Constants
2543
2544@cindex constants, number
2545@cindex number constants
a4fb0134 2546@command{@value{AS}} distinguishes three kinds of numbers according to how they
252b5132
RH
2547are stored in the target machine. @emph{Integers} are numbers that
2548would fit into an @code{int} in the C language. @emph{Bignums} are
2549integers, but they are stored in more than 32 bits. @emph{Flonums}
2550are floating point numbers, described below.
2551
2552@menu
2553* Integers:: Integers
2554* Bignums:: Bignums
2555* Flonums:: Flonums
2556@ifclear GENERIC
2557@ifset I960
2558* Bit Fields:: Bit Fields
2559@end ifset
2560@end ifclear
2561@end menu
2562
2563@node Integers
2564@subsubsection Integers
2565@cindex integers
2566@cindex constants, integer
2567
2568@cindex binary integers
2569@cindex integers, binary
2570A binary integer is @samp{0b} or @samp{0B} followed by zero or more of
2571the binary digits @samp{01}.
2572
2573@cindex octal integers
2574@cindex integers, octal
2575An octal integer is @samp{0} followed by zero or more of the octal
2576digits (@samp{01234567}).
2577
2578@cindex decimal integers
2579@cindex integers, decimal
2580A decimal integer starts with a non-zero digit followed by zero or
2581more digits (@samp{0123456789}).
2582
2583@cindex hexadecimal integers
2584@cindex integers, hexadecimal
2585A hexadecimal integer is @samp{0x} or @samp{0X} followed by one or
2586more hexadecimal digits chosen from @samp{0123456789abcdefABCDEF}.
2587
2588Integers have the usual values. To denote a negative integer, use
2589the prefix operator @samp{-} discussed under expressions
2590(@pxref{Prefix Ops,,Prefix Operators}).
2591
2592@node Bignums
2593@subsubsection Bignums
2594
2595@cindex bignums
2596@cindex constants, bignum
2597A @dfn{bignum} has the same syntax and semantics as an integer
2598except that the number (or its negative) takes more than 32 bits to
2599represent in binary. The distinction is made because in some places
2600integers are permitted while bignums are not.
2601
2602@node Flonums
2603@subsubsection Flonums
2604@cindex flonums
2605@cindex floating point numbers
2606@cindex constants, floating point
2607
2608@cindex precision, floating point
2609A @dfn{flonum} represents a floating point number. The translation is
2610indirect: a decimal floating point number from the text is converted by
a4fb0134 2611@command{@value{AS}} to a generic binary floating point number of more than
252b5132
RH
2612sufficient precision. This generic floating point number is converted
2613to a particular computer's floating point format (or formats) by a
a4fb0134 2614portion of @command{@value{AS}} specialized to that computer.
252b5132
RH
2615
2616A flonum is written by writing (in order)
2617@itemize @bullet
2618@item
2619The digit @samp{0}.
2620@ifset HPPA
2621(@samp{0} is optional on the HPPA.)
2622@end ifset
2623
2624@item
a4fb0134 2625A letter, to tell @command{@value{AS}} the rest of the number is a flonum.
252b5132
RH
2626@ifset GENERIC
2627@kbd{e} is recommended. Case is not important.
2628@ignore
2629@c FIXME: verify if flonum syntax really this vague for most cases
2630(Any otherwise illegal letter works here, but that might be changed. Vax BSD
26314.2 assembler seems to allow any of @samp{defghDEFGH}.)
2632@end ignore
2633
7be1c489 2634On the H8/300, Renesas / SuperH SH,
252b5132
RH
2635and AMD 29K architectures, the letter must be
2636one of the letters @samp{DFPRSX} (in upper or lower case).
2637
2638On the ARC, the letter must be one of the letters @samp{DFRS}
2639(in upper or lower case).
2640
2641On the Intel 960 architecture, the letter must be
2642one of the letters @samp{DFT} (in upper or lower case).
2643
2644On the HPPA architecture, the letter must be @samp{E} (upper case only).
2645@end ifset
2646@ifclear GENERIC
252b5132
RH
2647@ifset ARC
2648One of the letters @samp{DFRS} (in upper or lower case).
2649@end ifset
2650@ifset H8
2651One of the letters @samp{DFPRSX} (in upper or lower case).
2652@end ifset
2653@ifset HPPA
2654The letter @samp{E} (upper case only).
2655@end ifset
2656@ifset I960
2657One of the letters @samp{DFT} (in upper or lower case).
2658@end ifset
2659@end ifclear
2660
2661@item
2662An optional sign: either @samp{+} or @samp{-}.
2663
2664@item
2665An optional @dfn{integer part}: zero or more decimal digits.
2666
2667@item
2668An optional @dfn{fractional part}: @samp{.} followed by zero
2669or more decimal digits.
2670
2671@item
2672An optional exponent, consisting of:
2673
2674@itemize @bullet
2675@item
2676An @samp{E} or @samp{e}.
2677@c I can't find a config where "EXP_CHARS" is other than 'eE', but in
2678@c principle this can perfectly well be different on different targets.
2679@item
2680Optional sign: either @samp{+} or @samp{-}.
2681@item
2682One or more decimal digits.
2683@end itemize
2684
2685@end itemize
2686
2687At least one of the integer part or the fractional part must be
2688present. The floating point number has the usual base-10 value.
2689
a4fb0134 2690@command{@value{AS}} does all processing using integers. Flonums are computed
252b5132 2691independently of any floating point hardware in the computer running
a4fb0134 2692@command{@value{AS}}.
252b5132
RH
2693
2694@ifclear GENERIC
2695@ifset I960
2696@c Bit fields are written as a general facility but are also controlled
2697@c by a conditional-compilation flag---which is as of now (21mar91)
2698@c turned on only by the i960 config of GAS.
2699@node Bit Fields
2700@subsubsection Bit Fields
2701
2702@cindex bit fields
2703@cindex constants, bit field
2704You can also define numeric constants as @dfn{bit fields}.
b45619c0 2705Specify two numbers separated by a colon---
252b5132
RH
2706@example
2707@var{mask}:@var{value}
2708@end example
2709@noindent
a4fb0134 2710@command{@value{AS}} applies a bitwise @sc{and} between @var{mask} and
252b5132
RH
2711@var{value}.
2712
2713The resulting number is then packed
2714@ifset GENERIC
2715@c this conditional paren in case bit fields turned on elsewhere than 960
2716(in host-dependent byte order)
2717@end ifset
2718into a field whose width depends on which assembler directive has the
2719bit-field as its argument. Overflow (a result from the bitwise and
2720requiring more binary digits to represent) is not an error; instead,
2721more constants are generated, of the specified width, beginning with the
2722least significant digits.@refill
2723
2724The directives @code{.byte}, @code{.hword}, @code{.int}, @code{.long},
2725@code{.short}, and @code{.word} accept bit-field arguments.
2726@end ifset
2727@end ifclear
2728
2729@node Sections
2730@chapter Sections and Relocation
2731@cindex sections
2732@cindex relocation
2733
2734@menu
2735* Secs Background:: Background
2736* Ld Sections:: Linker Sections
2737* As Sections:: Assembler Internal Sections
2738* Sub-Sections:: Sub-Sections
2739* bss:: bss Section
2740@end menu
2741
2742@node Secs Background
2743@section Background
2744
2745Roughly, a section is a range of addresses, with no gaps; all data
2746``in'' those addresses is treated the same for some particular purpose.
2747For example there may be a ``read only'' section.
2748
2749@cindex linker, and assembler
2750@cindex assembler, and linker
2751The linker @code{@value{LD}} reads many object files (partial programs) and
a4fb0134 2752combines their contents to form a runnable program. When @command{@value{AS}}
252b5132
RH
2753emits an object file, the partial program is assumed to start at address 0.
2754@code{@value{LD}} assigns the final addresses for the partial program, so that
2755different partial programs do not overlap. This is actually an
a4fb0134 2756oversimplification, but it suffices to explain how @command{@value{AS}} uses
252b5132
RH
2757sections.
2758
2759@code{@value{LD}} moves blocks of bytes of your program to their run-time
2760addresses. These blocks slide to their run-time addresses as rigid
2761units; their length does not change and neither does the order of bytes
2762within them. Such a rigid unit is called a @emph{section}. Assigning
2763run-time addresses to sections is called @dfn{relocation}. It includes
2764the task of adjusting mentions of object-file addresses so they refer to
2765the proper run-time addresses.
2766@ifset H8
7be1c489 2767For the H8/300, and for the Renesas / SuperH SH,
a4fb0134 2768@command{@value{AS}} pads sections if needed to
252b5132
RH
2769ensure they end on a word (sixteen bit) boundary.
2770@end ifset
2771
2772@cindex standard assembler sections
a4fb0134 2773An object file written by @command{@value{AS}} has at least three sections, any
252b5132
RH
2774of which may be empty. These are named @dfn{text}, @dfn{data} and
2775@dfn{bss} sections.
2776
c1253627 2777@ifset COFF-ELF
252b5132 2778@ifset GENERIC
c1253627 2779When it generates COFF or ELF output,
252b5132 2780@end ifset
a4fb0134 2781@command{@value{AS}} can also generate whatever other named sections you specify
252b5132
RH
2782using the @samp{.section} directive (@pxref{Section,,@code{.section}}).
2783If you do not use any directives that place output in the @samp{.text}
2784or @samp{.data} sections, these sections still exist, but are empty.
2785@end ifset
2786
2787@ifset HPPA
2788@ifset GENERIC
a4fb0134 2789When @command{@value{AS}} generates SOM or ELF output for the HPPA,
252b5132 2790@end ifset
a4fb0134 2791@command{@value{AS}} can also generate whatever other named sections you
252b5132
RH
2792specify using the @samp{.space} and @samp{.subspace} directives. See
2793@cite{HP9000 Series 800 Assembly Language Reference Manual}
2794(HP 92432-90001) for details on the @samp{.space} and @samp{.subspace}
2795assembler directives.
2796
2797@ifset SOM
a4fb0134 2798Additionally, @command{@value{AS}} uses different names for the standard
252b5132
RH
2799text, data, and bss sections when generating SOM output. Program text
2800is placed into the @samp{$CODE$} section, data into @samp{$DATA$}, and
2801BSS into @samp{$BSS$}.
2802@end ifset
2803@end ifset
2804
2805Within the object file, the text section starts at address @code{0}, the
2806data section follows, and the bss section follows the data section.
2807
2808@ifset HPPA
2809When generating either SOM or ELF output files on the HPPA, the text
2810section starts at address @code{0}, the data section at address
2811@code{0x4000000}, and the bss section follows the data section.
2812@end ifset
2813
2814To let @code{@value{LD}} know which data changes when the sections are
a4fb0134 2815relocated, and how to change that data, @command{@value{AS}} also writes to the
252b5132
RH
2816object file details of the relocation needed. To perform relocation
2817@code{@value{LD}} must know, each time an address in the object
2818file is mentioned:
2819@itemize @bullet
2820@item
2821Where in the object file is the beginning of this reference to
2822an address?
2823@item
2824How long (in bytes) is this reference?
2825@item
2826Which section does the address refer to? What is the numeric value of
2827@display
2828(@var{address}) @minus{} (@var{start-address of section})?
2829@end display
2830@item
2831Is the reference to an address ``Program-Counter relative''?
2832@end itemize
2833
2834@cindex addresses, format of
2835@cindex section-relative addressing
a4fb0134 2836In fact, every address @command{@value{AS}} ever uses is expressed as
252b5132
RH
2837@display
2838(@var{section}) + (@var{offset into section})
2839@end display
2840@noindent
a4fb0134 2841Further, most expressions @command{@value{AS}} computes have this section-relative
252b5132
RH
2842nature.
2843@ifset SOM
2844(For some object formats, such as SOM for the HPPA, some expressions are
2845symbol-relative instead.)
2846@end ifset
2847
2848In this manual we use the notation @{@var{secname} @var{N}@} to mean ``offset
2849@var{N} into section @var{secname}.''
2850
2851Apart from text, data and bss sections you need to know about the
2852@dfn{absolute} section. When @code{@value{LD}} mixes partial programs,
2853addresses in the absolute section remain unchanged. For example, address
2854@code{@{absolute 0@}} is ``relocated'' to run-time address 0 by
2855@code{@value{LD}}. Although the linker never arranges two partial programs'
2856data sections with overlapping addresses after linking, @emph{by definition}
2857their absolute sections must overlap. Address @code{@{absolute@ 239@}} in one
2858part of a program is always the same address when the program is running as
2859address @code{@{absolute@ 239@}} in any other part of the program.
2860
2861The idea of sections is extended to the @dfn{undefined} section. Any
2862address whose section is unknown at assembly time is by definition
2863rendered @{undefined @var{U}@}---where @var{U} is filled in later.
2864Since numbers are always defined, the only way to generate an undefined
2865address is to mention an undefined symbol. A reference to a named
2866common block would be such a symbol: its value is unknown at assembly
2867time so it has section @emph{undefined}.
2868
2869By analogy the word @emph{section} is used to describe groups of sections in
2870the linked program. @code{@value{LD}} puts all partial programs' text
2871sections in contiguous addresses in the linked program. It is
2872customary to refer to the @emph{text section} of a program, meaning all
2873the addresses of all partial programs' text sections. Likewise for
2874data and bss sections.
2875
2876Some sections are manipulated by @code{@value{LD}}; others are invented for
a4fb0134 2877use of @command{@value{AS}} and have no meaning except during assembly.
252b5132
RH
2878
2879@node Ld Sections
2880@section Linker Sections
2881@code{@value{LD}} deals with just four kinds of sections, summarized below.
2882
2883@table @strong
2884
c1253627 2885@ifset COFF-ELF
252b5132
RH
2886@cindex named sections
2887@cindex sections, named
2888@item named sections
2889@end ifset
2890@ifset aout-bout
2891@cindex text section
2892@cindex data section
2893@itemx text section
2894@itemx data section
2895@end ifset
a4fb0134 2896These sections hold your program. @command{@value{AS}} and @code{@value{LD}} treat them as
252b5132 2897separate but equal sections. Anything you can say of one section is
c1253627
NC
2898true of another.
2899@c @ifset aout-bout
252b5132
RH
2900When the program is running, however, it is
2901customary for the text section to be unalterable. The
2902text section is often shared among processes: it contains
2903instructions, constants and the like. The data section of a running
2904program is usually alterable: for example, C variables would be stored
2905in the data section.
c1253627 2906@c @end ifset
252b5132
RH
2907
2908@cindex bss section
2909@item bss section
2910This section contains zeroed bytes when your program begins running. It
a349d9dd 2911is used to hold uninitialized variables or common storage. The length of
252b5132
RH
2912each partial program's bss section is important, but because it starts
2913out containing zeroed bytes there is no need to store explicit zero
2914bytes in the object file. The bss section was invented to eliminate
2915those explicit zeros from object files.
2916
2917@cindex absolute section
2918@item absolute section
2919Address 0 of this section is always ``relocated'' to runtime address 0.
2920This is useful if you want to refer to an address that @code{@value{LD}} must
2921not change when relocating. In this sense we speak of absolute
2922addresses being ``unrelocatable'': they do not change during relocation.
2923
2924@cindex undefined section
2925@item undefined section
2926This ``section'' is a catch-all for address references to objects not in
2927the preceding sections.
2928@c FIXME: ref to some other doc on obj-file formats could go here.
2929@end table
2930
2931@cindex relocation example
2932An idealized example of three relocatable sections follows.
c1253627 2933@ifset COFF-ELF
252b5132
RH
2934The example uses the traditional section names @samp{.text} and @samp{.data}.
2935@end ifset
2936Memory addresses are on the horizontal axis.
2937
2938@c TEXI2ROFF-KILL
c1253627 2939@ifnottex
252b5132
RH
2940@c END TEXI2ROFF-KILL
2941@smallexample
2942 +-----+----+--+
2943partial program # 1: |ttttt|dddd|00|
2944 +-----+----+--+
2945
2946 text data bss
2947 seg. seg. seg.
2948
2949 +---+---+---+
2950partial program # 2: |TTT|DDD|000|
2951 +---+---+---+
2952
2953 +--+---+-----+--+----+---+-----+~~
2954linked program: | |TTT|ttttt| |dddd|DDD|00000|
2955 +--+---+-----+--+----+---+-----+~~
2956
2957 addresses: 0 @dots{}
2958@end smallexample
2959@c TEXI2ROFF-KILL
c1253627 2960@end ifnottex
252b5132
RH
2961@need 5000
2962@tex
c1253627 2963\bigskip
252b5132
RH
2964\line{\it Partial program \#1: \hfil}
2965\line{\ibox{2.5cm}{\tt text}\ibox{2cm}{\tt data}\ibox{1cm}{\tt bss}\hfil}
2966\line{\boxit{2.5cm}{\tt ttttt}\boxit{2cm}{\tt dddd}\boxit{1cm}{\tt 00}\hfil}
2967
2968\line{\it Partial program \#2: \hfil}
2969\line{\ibox{1cm}{\tt text}\ibox{1.5cm}{\tt data}\ibox{1cm}{\tt bss}\hfil}
2970\line{\boxit{1cm}{\tt TTT}\boxit{1.5cm}{\tt DDDD}\boxit{1cm}{\tt 000}\hfil}
2971
2972\line{\it linked program: \hfil}
2973\line{\ibox{.5cm}{}\ibox{1cm}{\tt text}\ibox{2.5cm}{}\ibox{.75cm}{}\ibox{2cm}{\tt data}\ibox{1.5cm}{}\ibox{2cm}{\tt bss}\hfil}
2974\line{\boxit{.5cm}{}\boxit{1cm}{\tt TTT}\boxit{2.5cm}{\tt
2975ttttt}\boxit{.75cm}{}\boxit{2cm}{\tt dddd}\boxit{1.5cm}{\tt
2976DDDD}\boxit{2cm}{\tt 00000}\ \dots\hfil}
2977
2978\line{\it addresses: \hfil}
2979\line{0\dots\hfil}
2980
2981@end tex
2982@c END TEXI2ROFF-KILL
2983
2984@node As Sections
2985@section Assembler Internal Sections
2986
2987@cindex internal assembler sections
2988@cindex sections in messages, internal
a4fb0134 2989These sections are meant only for the internal use of @command{@value{AS}}. They
252b5132 2990have no meaning at run-time. You do not really need to know about these
a4fb0134 2991sections for most purposes; but they can be mentioned in @command{@value{AS}}
252b5132 2992warning messages, so it might be helpful to have an idea of their
a4fb0134 2993meanings to @command{@value{AS}}. These sections are used to permit the
252b5132
RH
2994value of every expression in your assembly language program to be a
2995section-relative address.
2996
2997@table @b
2998@cindex assembler internal logic error
2999@item ASSEMBLER-INTERNAL-LOGIC-ERROR!
3000An internal assembler logic error has been found. This means there is a
3001bug in the assembler.
3002
3003@cindex expr (internal section)
3004@item expr section
3005The assembler stores complex expression internally as combinations of
3006symbols. When it needs to represent an expression as a symbol, it puts
3007it in the expr section.
3008@c FIXME item debug
3009@c FIXME item transfer[t] vector preload
3010@c FIXME item transfer[t] vector postload
3011@c FIXME item register
3012@end table
3013
3014@node Sub-Sections
3015@section Sub-Sections
3016
3017@cindex numbered subsections
3018@cindex grouping data
3019@ifset aout-bout
3020Assembled bytes
c1253627 3021@ifset COFF-ELF
252b5132
RH
3022conventionally
3023@end ifset
3024fall into two sections: text and data.
3025@end ifset
3026You may have separate groups of
3027@ifset GENERIC
3028data in named sections
3029@end ifset
3030@ifclear GENERIC
3031@ifclear aout-bout
3032data in named sections
3033@end ifclear
3034@ifset aout-bout
3035text or data
3036@end ifset
3037@end ifclear
3038that you want to end up near to each other in the object file, even though they
a4fb0134 3039are not contiguous in the assembler source. @command{@value{AS}} allows you to
252b5132
RH
3040use @dfn{subsections} for this purpose. Within each section, there can be
3041numbered subsections with values from 0 to 8192. Objects assembled into the
3042same subsection go into the object file together with other objects in the same
3043subsection. For example, a compiler might want to store constants in the text
3044section, but might not want to have them interspersed with the program being
3045assembled. In this case, the compiler could issue a @samp{.text 0} before each
3046section of code being output, and a @samp{.text 1} before each group of
3047constants being output.
3048
3049Subsections are optional. If you do not use subsections, everything
3050goes in subsection number zero.
3051
3052@ifset GENERIC
3053Each subsection is zero-padded up to a multiple of four bytes.
3054(Subsections may be padded a different amount on different flavors
a4fb0134 3055of @command{@value{AS}}.)
252b5132
RH
3056@end ifset
3057@ifclear GENERIC
3058@ifset H8
7be1c489 3059On the H8/300 platform, each subsection is zero-padded to a word
252b5132 3060boundary (two bytes).
c2dcd04e 3061The same is true on the Renesas SH.
252b5132
RH
3062@end ifset
3063@ifset I960
3064@c FIXME section padding (alignment)?
3065@c Rich Pixley says padding here depends on target obj code format; that
3066@c doesn't seem particularly useful to say without further elaboration,
3067@c so for now I say nothing about it. If this is a generic BFD issue,
3068@c these paragraphs might need to vanish from this manual, and be
3069@c discussed in BFD chapter of binutils (or some such).
3070@end ifset
252b5132
RH
3071@end ifclear
3072
3073Subsections appear in your object file in numeric order, lowest numbered
3074to highest. (All this to be compatible with other people's assemblers.)
3075The object file contains no representation of subsections; @code{@value{LD}} and
3076other programs that manipulate object files see no trace of them.
3077They just see all your text subsections as a text section, and all your
3078data subsections as a data section.
3079
3080To specify which subsection you want subsequent statements assembled
3081into, use a numeric argument to specify it, in a @samp{.text
3082@var{expression}} or a @samp{.data @var{expression}} statement.
ed9589d4 3083@ifset COFF
252b5132 3084@ifset GENERIC
ed9589d4 3085When generating COFF output, you
252b5132
RH
3086@end ifset
3087@ifclear GENERIC
3088You
3089@end ifclear
3090can also use an extra subsection
3091argument with arbitrary named sections: @samp{.section @var{name},
3092@var{expression}}.
3093@end ifset
ed9589d4
BW
3094@ifset ELF
3095@ifset GENERIC
3096When generating ELF output, you
3097@end ifset
3098@ifclear GENERIC
3099You
3100@end ifclear
3101can also use the @code{.subsection} directive (@pxref{SubSection})
3102to specify a subsection: @samp{.subsection @var{expression}}.
3103@end ifset
96e9638b
BW
3104@var{Expression} should be an absolute expression
3105(@pxref{Expressions}). If you just say @samp{.text} then @samp{.text 0}
252b5132
RH
3106is assumed. Likewise @samp{.data} means @samp{.data 0}. Assembly
3107begins in @code{text 0}. For instance:
3108@smallexample
3109.text 0 # The default subsection is text 0 anyway.
3110.ascii "This lives in the first text subsection. *"
3111.text 1
3112.ascii "But this lives in the second text subsection."
3113.data 0
3114.ascii "This lives in the data section,"
3115.ascii "in the first data subsection."
3116.text 0
3117.ascii "This lives in the first text section,"
3118.ascii "immediately following the asterisk (*)."
3119@end smallexample
3120
3121Each section has a @dfn{location counter} incremented by one for every byte
3122assembled into that section. Because subsections are merely a convenience
a4fb0134 3123restricted to @command{@value{AS}} there is no concept of a subsection location
252b5132
RH
3124counter. There is no way to directly manipulate a location counter---but the
3125@code{.align} directive changes it, and any label definition captures its
3126current value. The location counter of the section where statements are being
3127assembled is said to be the @dfn{active} location counter.
3128
3129@node bss
3130@section bss Section
3131
3132@cindex bss section
3133@cindex common variable storage
3134The bss section is used for local common variable storage.
3135You may allocate address space in the bss section, but you may
3136not dictate data to load into it before your program executes. When
3137your program starts running, all the contents of the bss
3138section are zeroed bytes.
3139
3140The @code{.lcomm} pseudo-op defines a symbol in the bss section; see
3141@ref{Lcomm,,@code{.lcomm}}.
3142
3143The @code{.comm} pseudo-op may be used to declare a common symbol, which is
96e9638b 3144another form of uninitialized symbol; see @ref{Comm,,@code{.comm}}.
252b5132
RH
3145
3146@ifset GENERIC
3147When assembling for a target which supports multiple sections, such as ELF or
3148COFF, you may switch into the @code{.bss} section and define symbols as usual;
3149see @ref{Section,,@code{.section}}. You may only assemble zero values into the
3150section. Typically the section will only contain symbol definitions and
3151@code{.skip} directives (@pxref{Skip,,@code{.skip}}).
3152@end ifset
3153
3154@node Symbols
3155@chapter Symbols
3156
3157@cindex symbols
3158Symbols are a central concept: the programmer uses symbols to name
3159things, the linker uses symbols to link, and the debugger uses symbols
3160to debug.
3161
3162@quotation
3163@cindex debuggers, and symbol order
a4fb0134 3164@emph{Warning:} @command{@value{AS}} does not place symbols in the object file in
252b5132
RH
3165the same order they were declared. This may break some debuggers.
3166@end quotation
3167
3168@menu
3169* Labels:: Labels
3170* Setting Symbols:: Giving Symbols Other Values
3171* Symbol Names:: Symbol Names
3172* Dot:: The Special Dot Symbol
3173* Symbol Attributes:: Symbol Attributes
3174@end menu
3175
3176@node Labels
3177@section Labels
3178
3179@cindex labels
3180A @dfn{label} is written as a symbol immediately followed by a colon
3181@samp{:}. The symbol then represents the current value of the
3182active location counter, and is, for example, a suitable instruction
3183operand. You are warned if you use the same symbol to represent two
3184different locations: the first definition overrides any other
3185definitions.
3186
3187@ifset HPPA
3188On the HPPA, the usual form for a label need not be immediately followed by a
3189colon, but instead must start in column zero. Only one label may be defined on
a4fb0134 3190a single line. To work around this, the HPPA version of @command{@value{AS}} also
252b5132
RH
3191provides a special directive @code{.label} for defining labels more flexibly.
3192@end ifset
3193
3194@node Setting Symbols
3195@section Giving Symbols Other Values
3196
3197@cindex assigning values to symbols
3198@cindex symbol values, assigning
3199A symbol can be given an arbitrary value by writing a symbol, followed
3200by an equals sign @samp{=}, followed by an expression
3201(@pxref{Expressions}). This is equivalent to using the @code{.set}
9497f5ac
NC
3202directive. @xref{Set,,@code{.set}}. In the same way, using a double
3203equals sign @samp{=}@samp{=} here represents an equivalent of the
3204@code{.eqv} directive. @xref{Eqv,,@code{.eqv}}.
252b5132
RH
3205
3206@node Symbol Names
3207@section Symbol Names
3208
3209@cindex symbol names
3210@cindex names, symbol
3211@ifclear SPECIAL-SYMS
3212Symbol names begin with a letter or with one of @samp{._}. On most
3213machines, you can also use @code{$} in symbol names; exceptions are
3214noted in @ref{Machine Dependencies}. That character may be followed by any
96e9638b
BW
3215string of digits, letters, dollar signs (unless otherwise noted for a
3216particular target machine), and underscores.
252b5132 3217@end ifclear
252b5132
RH
3218@ifset SPECIAL-SYMS
3219@ifset H8
3220Symbol names begin with a letter or with one of @samp{._}. On the
7be1c489 3221Renesas SH you can also use @code{$} in symbol names. That
c2dcd04e
NC
3222character may be followed by any string of digits, letters, dollar signs (save
3223on the H8/300), and underscores.
252b5132
RH
3224@end ifset
3225@end ifset
3226
3227Case of letters is significant: @code{foo} is a different symbol name
3228than @code{Foo}.
3229
3230Each symbol has exactly one name. Each name in an assembly language program
3231refers to exactly one symbol. You may use that symbol name any number of times
3232in a program.
3233
3234@subheading Local Symbol Names
3235
3236@cindex local symbol names
3237@cindex symbol names, local
ba83aca1
BW
3238A local symbol is any symbol beginning with certain local label prefixes.
3239By default, the local label prefix is @samp{.L} for ELF systems or
3240@samp{L} for traditional a.out systems, but each target may have its own
3241set of local label prefixes.
3242@ifset HPPA
3243On the HPPA local symbols begin with @samp{L$}.
3244@end ifset
3245
3246Local symbols are defined and used within the assembler, but they are
3247normally not saved in object files. Thus, they are not visible when debugging.
3248You may use the @samp{-L} option (@pxref{L, ,Include Local Symbols:
3249@option{-L}}) to retain the local symbols in the object files.
3250
3251@subheading Local Labels
3252
3253@cindex local labels
252b5132
RH
3254@cindex temporary symbol names
3255@cindex symbol names, temporary
ba83aca1 3256Local labels help compilers and programmers use names temporarily.
2d5aaba0
NC
3257They create symbols which are guaranteed to be unique over the entire scope of
3258the input source code and which can be referred to by a simple notation.
ba83aca1 3259To define a local label, write a label of the form @samp{@b{N}:} (where @b{N}
2d5aaba0 3260represents any positive integer). To refer to the most recent previous
ba83aca1 3261definition of that label write @samp{@b{N}b}, using the same number as when
2d5aaba0 3262you defined the label. To refer to the next definition of a local label, write
96e9638b 3263@samp{@b{N}f}---the @samp{b} stands for ``backwards'' and the @samp{f} stands
2d5aaba0
NC
3264for ``forwards''.
3265
3266There is no restriction on how you can use these labels, and you can reuse them
3267too. So that it is possible to repeatedly define the same local label (using
3268the same number @samp{@b{N}}), although you can only refer to the most recently
3269defined local label of that number (for a backwards reference) or the next
3270definition of a specific local label for a forward reference. It is also worth
3271noting that the first 10 local labels (@samp{@b{0:}}@dots{}@samp{@b{9:}}) are
3272implemented in a slightly more efficient manner than the others.
3273
3274Here is an example:
3275
3276@smallexample
32771: branch 1f
32782: branch 1b
32791: branch 2f
32802: branch 1b
3281@end smallexample
3282
3283Which is the equivalent of:
3284
3285@smallexample
3286label_1: branch label_3
3287label_2: branch label_1
3288label_3: branch label_4
3289label_4: branch label_3
3290@end smallexample
3291
ba83aca1 3292Local label names are only a notational device. They are immediately
2d5aaba0 3293transformed into more conventional symbol names before the assembler uses them.
96e9638b
BW
3294The symbol names are stored in the symbol table, appear in error messages, and
3295are optionally emitted to the object file. The names are constructed using
3296these parts:
252b5132
RH
3297
3298@table @code
ba83aca1
BW
3299@item @emph{local label prefix}
3300All local symbols begin with the system-specific local label prefix.
3301Normally both @command{@value{AS}} and @code{@value{LD}} forget symbols
3302that start with the local label prefix. These labels are
252b5132 3303used for symbols you are never intended to see. If you use the
a4fb0134 3304@samp{-L} option then @command{@value{AS}} retains these symbols in the
252b5132
RH
3305object file. If you also instruct @code{@value{LD}} to retain these symbols,
3306you may use them in debugging.
3307
2d5aaba0
NC
3308@item @var{number}
3309This is the number that was used in the local label definition. So if the
3310label is written @samp{55:} then the number is @samp{55}.
252b5132 3311
2d5aaba0
NC
3312@item @kbd{C-B}
3313This unusual character is included so you do not accidentally invent a symbol
3314of the same name. The character has ASCII value of @samp{\002} (control-B).
252b5132
RH
3315
3316@item @emph{ordinal number}
2d5aaba0
NC
3317This is a serial number to keep the labels distinct. The first definition of
3318@samp{0:} gets the number @samp{1}. The 15th definition of @samp{0:} gets the
3319number @samp{15}, and so on. Likewise the first definition of @samp{1:} gets
b45619c0 3320the number @samp{1} and its 15th definition gets @samp{15} as well.
252b5132
RH
3321@end table
3322
ba83aca1
BW
3323So for example, the first @code{1:} may be named @code{.L1@kbd{C-B}1}, and
3324the 44th @code{3:} may be named @code{.L3@kbd{C-B}44}.
2d5aaba0
NC
3325
3326@subheading Dollar Local Labels
3327@cindex dollar local symbols
3328
3329@code{@value{AS}} also supports an even more local form of local labels called
96e9638b
BW
3330dollar labels. These labels go out of scope (i.e., they become undefined) as
3331soon as a non-local label is defined. Thus they remain valid for only a small
2d5aaba0
NC
3332region of the input source code. Normal local labels, by contrast, remain in
3333scope for the entire file, or until they are redefined by another occurrence of
3334the same local label.
3335
3336Dollar labels are defined in exactly the same way as ordinary local labels,
3337except that instead of being terminated by a colon, they are terminated by a
96e9638b 3338dollar sign, e.g., @samp{@b{55$}}.
2d5aaba0
NC
3339
3340They can also be distinguished from ordinary local labels by their transformed
96e9638b
BW
3341names which use ASCII character @samp{\001} (control-A) as the magic character
3342to distinguish them from ordinary labels. For example, the fifth definition of
ba83aca1 3343@samp{6$} may be named @samp{.L6@kbd{C-A}5}.
252b5132
RH
3344
3345@node Dot
3346@section The Special Dot Symbol
3347
3348@cindex dot (symbol)
3349@cindex @code{.} (symbol)
3350@cindex current address
3351@cindex location counter
3352The special symbol @samp{.} refers to the current address that
a4fb0134 3353@command{@value{AS}} is assembling into. Thus, the expression @samp{melvin:
252b5132
RH
3354.long .} defines @code{melvin} to contain its own address.
3355Assigning a value to @code{.} is treated the same as a @code{.org}
3356directive. Thus, the expression @samp{.=.+4} is the same as saying
3357@ifclear no-space-dir
3358@samp{.space 4}.
3359@end ifclear
252b5132
RH
3360
3361@node Symbol Attributes
3362@section Symbol Attributes
3363
3364@cindex symbol attributes
3365@cindex attributes, symbol
3366Every symbol has, as well as its name, the attributes ``Value'' and
3367``Type''. Depending on output format, symbols can also have auxiliary
3368attributes.
3369@ifset INTERNALS
3370The detailed definitions are in @file{a.out.h}.
3371@end ifset
3372
a4fb0134 3373If you use a symbol without defining it, @command{@value{AS}} assumes zero for
252b5132
RH
3374all these attributes, and probably won't warn you. This makes the
3375symbol an externally defined symbol, which is generally what you
3376would want.
3377
3378@menu
3379* Symbol Value:: Value
3380* Symbol Type:: Type
3381@ifset aout-bout
3382@ifset GENERIC
3383* a.out Symbols:: Symbol Attributes: @code{a.out}
3384@end ifset
3385@ifclear GENERIC
3386@ifclear BOUT
3387* a.out Symbols:: Symbol Attributes: @code{a.out}
3388@end ifclear
3389@ifset BOUT
3390* a.out Symbols:: Symbol Attributes: @code{a.out}, @code{b.out}
3391@end ifset
3392@end ifclear
3393@end ifset
3394@ifset COFF
3395* COFF Symbols:: Symbol Attributes for COFF
3396@end ifset
3397@ifset SOM
3398* SOM Symbols:: Symbol Attributes for SOM
3399@end ifset
3400@end menu
3401
3402@node Symbol Value
3403@subsection Value
3404
3405@cindex value of a symbol
3406@cindex symbol value
3407The value of a symbol is (usually) 32 bits. For a symbol which labels a
3408location in the text, data, bss or absolute sections the value is the
3409number of addresses from the start of that section to the label.
3410Naturally for text, data and bss sections the value of a symbol changes
3411as @code{@value{LD}} changes section base addresses during linking. Absolute
3412symbols' values do not change during linking: that is why they are
3413called absolute.
3414
3415The value of an undefined symbol is treated in a special way. If it is
34160 then the symbol is not defined in this assembler source file, and
3417@code{@value{LD}} tries to determine its value from other files linked into the
3418same program. You make this kind of symbol simply by mentioning a symbol
3419name without defining it. A non-zero value represents a @code{.comm}
3420common declaration. The value is how much common storage to reserve, in
3421bytes (addresses). The symbol refers to the first address of the
3422allocated storage.
3423
3424@node Symbol Type
3425@subsection Type
3426
3427@cindex type of a symbol
3428@cindex symbol type
3429The type attribute of a symbol contains relocation (section)
3430information, any flag settings indicating that a symbol is external, and
3431(optionally), other information for linkers and debuggers. The exact
3432format depends on the object-code output format in use.
3433
3434@ifset aout-bout
3435@ifclear GENERIC
3436@ifset BOUT
3437@c The following avoids a "widow" subsection title. @group would be
3438@c better if it were available outside examples.
3439@need 1000
3440@node a.out Symbols
3441@subsection Symbol Attributes: @code{a.out}, @code{b.out}
3442
3443@cindex @code{b.out} symbol attributes
3444@cindex symbol attributes, @code{b.out}
a4fb0134 3445These symbol attributes appear only when @command{@value{AS}} is configured for
252b5132
RH
3446one of the Berkeley-descended object output formats---@code{a.out} or
3447@code{b.out}.
3448
3449@end ifset
3450@ifclear BOUT
3451@node a.out Symbols
3452@subsection Symbol Attributes: @code{a.out}
3453
3454@cindex @code{a.out} symbol attributes
3455@cindex symbol attributes, @code{a.out}
3456
3457@end ifclear
3458@end ifclear
3459@ifset GENERIC
3460@node a.out Symbols
3461@subsection Symbol Attributes: @code{a.out}
3462
3463@cindex @code{a.out} symbol attributes
3464@cindex symbol attributes, @code{a.out}
3465
3466@end ifset
3467@menu
3468* Symbol Desc:: Descriptor
3469* Symbol Other:: Other
3470@end menu
3471
3472@node Symbol Desc
3473@subsubsection Descriptor
3474
3475@cindex descriptor, of @code{a.out} symbol
3476This is an arbitrary 16-bit value. You may establish a symbol's
3477descriptor value by using a @code{.desc} statement
3478(@pxref{Desc,,@code{.desc}}). A descriptor value means nothing to
a4fb0134 3479@command{@value{AS}}.
252b5132
RH
3480
3481@node Symbol Other
3482@subsubsection Other
3483
3484@cindex other attribute, of @code{a.out} symbol
a4fb0134 3485This is an arbitrary 8-bit value. It means nothing to @command{@value{AS}}.
252b5132
RH
3486@end ifset
3487
3488@ifset COFF
3489@node COFF Symbols
3490@subsection Symbol Attributes for COFF
3491
3492@cindex COFF symbol attributes
3493@cindex symbol attributes, COFF
3494
3495The COFF format supports a multitude of auxiliary symbol attributes;
3496like the primary symbol attributes, they are set between @code{.def} and
3497@code{.endef} directives.
3498
3499@subsubsection Primary Attributes
3500
3501@cindex primary attributes, COFF symbols
3502The symbol name is set with @code{.def}; the value and type,
3503respectively, with @code{.val} and @code{.type}.
3504
3505@subsubsection Auxiliary Attributes
3506
3507@cindex auxiliary attributes, COFF symbols
a4fb0134 3508The @command{@value{AS}} directives @code{.dim}, @code{.line}, @code{.scl},
c87db184
CF
3509@code{.size}, @code{.tag}, and @code{.weak} can generate auxiliary symbol
3510table information for COFF.
252b5132
RH
3511@end ifset
3512
3513@ifset SOM
3514@node SOM Symbols
3515@subsection Symbol Attributes for SOM
3516
3517@cindex SOM symbol attributes
3518@cindex symbol attributes, SOM
3519
3520The SOM format for the HPPA supports a multitude of symbol attributes set with
3521the @code{.EXPORT} and @code{.IMPORT} directives.
3522
3523The attributes are described in @cite{HP9000 Series 800 Assembly
3524Language Reference Manual} (HP 92432-90001) under the @code{IMPORT} and
3525@code{EXPORT} assembler directive documentation.
3526@end ifset
3527
3528@node Expressions
3529@chapter Expressions
3530
3531@cindex expressions
3532@cindex addresses
3533@cindex numeric values
3534An @dfn{expression} specifies an address or numeric value.
3535Whitespace may precede and/or follow an expression.
3536
3537The result of an expression must be an absolute number, or else an offset into
3538a particular section. If an expression is not absolute, and there is not
a4fb0134 3539enough information when @command{@value{AS}} sees the expression to know its
252b5132
RH
3540section, a second pass over the source program might be necessary to interpret
3541the expression---but the second pass is currently not implemented.
a4fb0134 3542@command{@value{AS}} aborts with an error message in this situation.
252b5132
RH
3543
3544@menu
3545* Empty Exprs:: Empty Expressions
3546* Integer Exprs:: Integer Expressions
3547@end menu
3548
3549@node Empty Exprs
3550@section Empty Expressions
3551
3552@cindex empty expressions
3553@cindex expressions, empty
3554An empty expression has no value: it is just whitespace or null.
3555Wherever an absolute expression is required, you may omit the
a4fb0134 3556expression, and @command{@value{AS}} assumes a value of (absolute) 0. This
252b5132
RH
3557is compatible with other assemblers.
3558
3559@node Integer Exprs
3560@section Integer Expressions
3561
3562@cindex integer expressions
3563@cindex expressions, integer
3564An @dfn{integer expression} is one or more @emph{arguments} delimited
3565by @emph{operators}.
3566
3567@menu
3568* Arguments:: Arguments
3569* Operators:: Operators
3570* Prefix Ops:: Prefix Operators
3571* Infix Ops:: Infix Operators
3572@end menu
3573
3574@node Arguments
3575@subsection Arguments
3576
3577@cindex expression arguments
3578@cindex arguments in expressions
3579@cindex operands in expressions
3580@cindex arithmetic operands
3581@dfn{Arguments} are symbols, numbers or subexpressions. In other
3582contexts arguments are sometimes called ``arithmetic operands''. In
3583this manual, to avoid confusing them with the ``instruction operands'' of
3584the machine language, we use the term ``argument'' to refer to parts of
3585expressions only, reserving the word ``operand'' to refer only to machine
3586instruction operands.
3587
3588Symbols are evaluated to yield @{@var{section} @var{NNN}@} where
3589@var{section} is one of text, data, bss, absolute,
3590or undefined. @var{NNN} is a signed, 2's complement 32 bit
3591integer.
3592
3593Numbers are usually integers.
3594
3595A number can be a flonum or bignum. In this case, you are warned
a4fb0134 3596that only the low order 32 bits are used, and @command{@value{AS}} pretends
252b5132
RH
3597these 32 bits are an integer. You may write integer-manipulating
3598instructions that act on exotic constants, compatible with other
3599assemblers.
3600
3601@cindex subexpressions
3602Subexpressions are a left parenthesis @samp{(} followed by an integer
3603expression, followed by a right parenthesis @samp{)}; or a prefix
3604operator followed by an argument.
3605
3606@node Operators
3607@subsection Operators
3608
3609@cindex operators, in expressions
3610@cindex arithmetic functions
3611@cindex functions, in expressions
3612@dfn{Operators} are arithmetic functions, like @code{+} or @code{%}. Prefix
3613operators are followed by an argument. Infix operators appear
3614between their arguments. Operators may be preceded and/or followed by
3615whitespace.
3616
3617@node Prefix Ops
3618@subsection Prefix Operator
3619
3620@cindex prefix operators
a4fb0134 3621@command{@value{AS}} has the following @dfn{prefix operators}. They each take
252b5132
RH
3622one argument, which must be absolute.
3623
3624@c the tex/end tex stuff surrounding this small table is meant to make
3625@c it align, on the printed page, with the similar table in the next
3626@c section (which is inside an enumerate).
3627@tex
3628\global\advance\leftskip by \itemindent
3629@end tex
3630
3631@table @code
3632@item -
3633@dfn{Negation}. Two's complement negation.
3634@item ~
3635@dfn{Complementation}. Bitwise not.
3636@end table
3637
3638@tex
3639\global\advance\leftskip by -\itemindent
3640@end tex
3641
3642@node Infix Ops
3643@subsection Infix Operators
3644
3645@cindex infix operators
3646@cindex operators, permitted arguments
3647@dfn{Infix operators} take two arguments, one on either side. Operators
3648have precedence, but operations with equal precedence are performed left
a4fb0134 3649to right. Apart from @code{+} or @option{-}, both arguments must be
252b5132
RH
3650absolute, and the result is absolute.
3651
3652@enumerate
3653@cindex operator precedence
3654@cindex precedence of operators
3655
3656@item
3657Highest Precedence
3658
3659@table @code
3660@item *
3661@dfn{Multiplication}.
3662
3663@item /
3664@dfn{Division}. Truncation is the same as the C operator @samp{/}
3665
3666@item %
3667@dfn{Remainder}.
3668
d1eac9d9 3669@item <<
252b5132
RH
3670@dfn{Shift Left}. Same as the C operator @samp{<<}.
3671
d1eac9d9 3672@item >>
252b5132
RH
3673@dfn{Shift Right}. Same as the C operator @samp{>>}.
3674@end table
3675
3676@item
3677Intermediate precedence
3678
3679@table @code
3680@item |
3681
3682@dfn{Bitwise Inclusive Or}.
3683
3684@item &
3685@dfn{Bitwise And}.
3686
3687@item ^
3688@dfn{Bitwise Exclusive Or}.
3689
3690@item !
3691@dfn{Bitwise Or Not}.
3692@end table
3693
3694@item
b131d4dc 3695Low Precedence
252b5132
RH
3696
3697@table @code
3698@cindex addition, permitted arguments
3699@cindex plus, permitted arguments
3700@cindex arguments for addition
3701@item +
3702@dfn{Addition}. If either argument is absolute, the result has the section of
3703the other argument. You may not add together arguments from different
3704sections.
3705
3706@cindex subtraction, permitted arguments
3707@cindex minus, permitted arguments
3708@cindex arguments for subtraction
3709@item -
3710@dfn{Subtraction}. If the right argument is absolute, the
3711result has the section of the left argument.
3712If both arguments are in the same section, the result is absolute.
3713You may not subtract arguments from different sections.
3714@c FIXME is there still something useful to say about undefined - undefined ?
b131d4dc
NC
3715
3716@cindex comparison expressions
3717@cindex expressions, comparison
3718@item ==
3719@dfn{Is Equal To}
3720@item <>
723a8472 3721@itemx !=
b131d4dc
NC
3722@dfn{Is Not Equal To}
3723@item <
3724@dfn{Is Less Than}
d1eac9d9 3725@item >
b131d4dc 3726@dfn{Is Greater Than}
d1eac9d9 3727@item >=
b131d4dc 3728@dfn{Is Greater Than Or Equal To}
d1eac9d9 3729@item <=
b131d4dc
NC
3730@dfn{Is Less Than Or Equal To}
3731
3732The comparison operators can be used as infix operators. A true results has a
3733value of -1 whereas a false result has a value of 0. Note, these operators
3734perform signed comparisons.
3735@end table
3736
3737@item Lowest Precedence
3738
3739@table @code
3740@item &&
3741@dfn{Logical And}.
3742
3743@item ||
3744@dfn{Logical Or}.
3745
3746These two logical operations can be used to combine the results of sub
3747expressions. Note, unlike the comparison operators a true result returns a
3748value of 1 but a false results does still return 0. Also note that the logical
3749or operator has a slightly lower precedence than logical and.
3750
252b5132
RH
3751@end table
3752@end enumerate
3753
3754In short, it's only meaningful to add or subtract the @emph{offsets} in an
3755address; you can only have a defined section in one of the two arguments.
3756
3757@node Pseudo Ops
3758@chapter Assembler Directives
3759
3760@cindex directives, machine independent
3761@cindex pseudo-ops, machine independent
3762@cindex machine independent directives
3763All assembler directives have names that begin with a period (@samp{.}).
3764The rest of the name is letters, usually in lower case.
3765
3766This chapter discusses directives that are available regardless of the
3767target machine configuration for the @sc{gnu} assembler.
3768@ifset GENERIC
3769Some machine configurations provide additional directives.
3770@xref{Machine Dependencies}.
3771@end ifset
3772@ifclear GENERIC
3773@ifset machine-directives
96e9638b 3774@xref{Machine Dependencies}, for additional directives.
252b5132
RH
3775@end ifset
3776@end ifclear
3777
3778@menu
3779* Abort:: @code{.abort}
3780@ifset COFF
370b66a1 3781* ABORT (COFF):: @code{.ABORT}
252b5132 3782@end ifset
f0dc282c 3783
252b5132 3784* Align:: @code{.align @var{abs-expr} , @var{abs-expr}}
caa32fe5 3785* Altmacro:: @code{.altmacro}
252b5132
RH
3786* Ascii:: @code{.ascii "@var{string}"}@dots{}
3787* Asciz:: @code{.asciz "@var{string}"}@dots{}
3788* Balign:: @code{.balign @var{abs-expr} , @var{abs-expr}}
3789* Byte:: @code{.byte @var{expressions}}
3790* Comm:: @code{.comm @var{symbol} , @var{length} }
54cfded0 3791
cdfbf930 3792* CFI directives:: @code{.cfi_startproc}, @code{.cfi_endproc}, etc.
54cfded0 3793
252b5132
RH
3794* Data:: @code{.data @var{subsection}}
3795@ifset COFF
3796* Def:: @code{.def @var{name}}
3797@end ifset
3798@ifset aout-bout
3799* Desc:: @code{.desc @var{symbol}, @var{abs-expression}}
3800@end ifset
3801@ifset COFF
3802* Dim:: @code{.dim}
3803@end ifset
f0dc282c 3804
252b5132
RH
3805* Double:: @code{.double @var{flonums}}
3806* Eject:: @code{.eject}
3807* Else:: @code{.else}
3fd9f047 3808* Elseif:: @code{.elseif}
252b5132
RH
3809* End:: @code{.end}
3810@ifset COFF
3811* Endef:: @code{.endef}
3812@end ifset
f0dc282c 3813
252b5132
RH
3814* Endfunc:: @code{.endfunc}
3815* Endif:: @code{.endif}
3816* Equ:: @code{.equ @var{symbol}, @var{expression}}
3817* Equiv:: @code{.equiv @var{symbol}, @var{expression}}
9497f5ac 3818* Eqv:: @code{.eqv @var{symbol}, @var{expression}}
252b5132 3819* Err:: @code{.err}
d190d046 3820* Error:: @code{.error @var{string}}
252b5132
RH
3821* Exitm:: @code{.exitm}
3822* Extern:: @code{.extern}
3823* Fail:: @code{.fail}
3824@ifclear no-file-dir
3825* File:: @code{.file @var{string}}
3826@end ifclear
f0dc282c 3827
252b5132
RH
3828* Fill:: @code{.fill @var{repeat} , @var{size} , @var{value}}
3829* Float:: @code{.float @var{flonums}}
3830* Func:: @code{.func}
3831* Global:: @code{.global @var{symbol}}, @code{.globl @var{symbol}}
c91d2e08
NC
3832@ifset ELF
3833* Hidden:: @code{.hidden @var{names}}
3834@end ifset
f0dc282c 3835
252b5132
RH
3836* hword:: @code{.hword @var{expressions}}
3837* Ident:: @code{.ident}
3838* If:: @code{.if @var{absolute expression}}
7e005732 3839* Incbin:: @code{.incbin "@var{file}"[,@var{skip}[,@var{count}]]}
252b5132
RH
3840* Include:: @code{.include "@var{file}"}
3841* Int:: @code{.int @var{expressions}}
c91d2e08
NC
3842@ifset ELF
3843* Internal:: @code{.internal @var{names}}
3844@end ifset
f0dc282c 3845
252b5132
RH
3846* Irp:: @code{.irp @var{symbol},@var{values}}@dots{}
3847* Irpc:: @code{.irpc @var{symbol},@var{values}}@dots{}
3848* Lcomm:: @code{.lcomm @var{symbol} , @var{length}}
3849* Lflags:: @code{.lflags}
3850@ifclear no-line-dir
3851* Line:: @code{.line @var{line-number}}
3852@end ifclear
f0dc282c 3853
252b5132
RH
3854* Linkonce:: @code{.linkonce [@var{type}]}
3855* List:: @code{.list}
bd0eb99b
RH
3856* Ln:: @code{.ln @var{line-number}}
3857
3858* LNS directives:: @code{.file}, @code{.loc}, etc.
3859
252b5132
RH
3860* Long:: @code{.long @var{expressions}}
3861@ignore
3862* Lsym:: @code{.lsym @var{symbol}, @var{expression}}
3863@end ignore
f0dc282c 3864
252b5132
RH
3865* Macro:: @code{.macro @var{name} @var{args}}@dots{}
3866* MRI:: @code{.mri @var{val}}
caa32fe5 3867* Noaltmacro:: @code{.noaltmacro}
252b5132
RH
3868* Nolist:: @code{.nolist}
3869* Octa:: @code{.octa @var{bignums}}
85234291
L
3870* Org:: @code{.org @var{new-lc}, @var{fill}}
3871* P2align:: @code{.p2align @var{abs-expr}, @var{abs-expr}, @var{abs-expr}}
c91d2e08
NC
3872@ifset ELF
3873* PopSection:: @code{.popsection}
3874* Previous:: @code{.previous}
3875@end ifset
f0dc282c 3876
252b5132 3877* Print:: @code{.print @var{string}}
c91d2e08
NC
3878@ifset ELF
3879* Protected:: @code{.protected @var{names}}
3880@end ifset
f0dc282c 3881
252b5132
RH
3882* Psize:: @code{.psize @var{lines}, @var{columns}}
3883* Purgem:: @code{.purgem @var{name}}
c91d2e08
NC
3884@ifset ELF
3885* PushSection:: @code{.pushsection @var{name}}
3886@end ifset
f0dc282c 3887
252b5132 3888* Quad:: @code{.quad @var{bignums}}
05e9452c 3889* Reloc:: @code{.reloc @var{offset}, @var{reloc_name}[, @var{expression}]}
252b5132
RH
3890* Rept:: @code{.rept @var{count}}
3891* Sbttl:: @code{.sbttl "@var{subheading}"}
3892@ifset COFF
3893* Scl:: @code{.scl @var{class}}
c1253627
NC
3894@end ifset
3895@ifset COFF-ELF
3896* Section:: @code{.section @var{name}}
252b5132 3897@end ifset
f0dc282c 3898
252b5132
RH
3899* Set:: @code{.set @var{symbol}, @var{expression}}
3900* Short:: @code{.short @var{expressions}}
3901* Single:: @code{.single @var{flonums}}
c1253627 3902@ifset COFF-ELF
c91d2e08 3903* Size:: @code{.size [@var{name} , @var{expression}]}
c1253627
NC
3904@end ifset
3905
252b5132
RH
3906* Skip:: @code{.skip @var{size} , @var{fill}}
3907* Sleb128:: @code{.sleb128 @var{expressions}}
3908* Space:: @code{.space @var{size} , @var{fill}}
3909@ifset have-stabs
3910* Stab:: @code{.stabd, .stabn, .stabs}
3911@end ifset
f0dc282c 3912
252b5132
RH
3913* String:: @code{.string "@var{str}"}
3914* Struct:: @code{.struct @var{expression}}
3915@ifset ELF
c91d2e08 3916* SubSection:: @code{.subsection}
252b5132
RH
3917* Symver:: @code{.symver @var{name},@var{name2@@nodename}}
3918@end ifset
f0dc282c 3919
252b5132
RH
3920@ifset COFF
3921* Tag:: @code{.tag @var{structname}}
3922@end ifset
f0dc282c 3923
252b5132
RH
3924* Text:: @code{.text @var{subsection}}
3925* Title:: @code{.title "@var{heading}"}
c1253627 3926@ifset COFF-ELF
c91d2e08 3927* Type:: @code{.type <@var{int} | @var{name} , @var{type description}>}
c1253627
NC
3928@end ifset
3929
c91d2e08 3930* Uleb128:: @code{.uleb128 @var{expressions}}
252b5132 3931@ifset COFF
252b5132
RH
3932* Val:: @code{.val @var{addr}}
3933@end ifset
f0dc282c 3934
2e13b764 3935@ifset ELF
c91d2e08 3936* Version:: @code{.version "@var{string}"}
c91d2e08
NC
3937* VTableEntry:: @code{.vtable_entry @var{table}, @var{offset}}
3938* VTableInherit:: @code{.vtable_inherit @var{child}, @var{parent}}
2e13b764 3939@end ifset
f0dc282c 3940
d190d046 3941* Warning:: @code{.warning @var{string}}
c87db184 3942* Weak:: @code{.weak @var{names}}
06e77878 3943* Weakref:: @code{.weakref @var{alias}, @var{symbol}}
252b5132
RH
3944* Word:: @code{.word @var{expressions}}
3945* Deprecated:: Deprecated Directives
3946@end menu
3947
3948@node Abort
3949@section @code{.abort}
3950
3951@cindex @code{abort} directive
3952@cindex stopping the assembly
3953This directive stops the assembly immediately. It is for
3954compatibility with other assemblers. The original idea was that the
3955assembly language source would be piped into the assembler. If the sender
a4fb0134 3956of the source quit, it could use this directive tells @command{@value{AS}} to
252b5132
RH
3957quit also. One day @code{.abort} will not be supported.
3958
3959@ifset COFF
370b66a1
CD
3960@node ABORT (COFF)
3961@section @code{.ABORT} (COFF)
252b5132
RH
3962
3963@cindex @code{ABORT} directive
a4fb0134 3964When producing COFF output, @command{@value{AS}} accepts this directive as a
252b5132
RH
3965synonym for @samp{.abort}.
3966
3967@ifset BOUT
a4fb0134 3968When producing @code{b.out} output, @command{@value{AS}} accepts this directive,
252b5132
RH
3969but ignores it.
3970@end ifset
3971@end ifset
3972
3973@node Align
3974@section @code{.align @var{abs-expr}, @var{abs-expr}, @var{abs-expr}}
3975
3976@cindex padding the location counter
3977@cindex @code{align} directive
3978Pad the location counter (in the current subsection) to a particular storage
3979boundary. The first expression (which must be absolute) is the alignment
3980required, as described below.
3981
3982The second expression (also absolute) gives the fill value to be stored in the
3983padding bytes. It (and the comma) may be omitted. If it is omitted, the
3984padding bytes are normally zero. However, on some systems, if the section is
3985marked as containing code and the fill value is omitted, the space is filled
3986with no-op instructions.
3987
3988The third expression is also absolute, and is also optional. If it is present,
3989it is the maximum number of bytes that should be skipped by this alignment
3990directive. If doing the alignment would require skipping more bytes than the
3991specified maximum, then the alignment is not done at all. You can omit the
3992fill value (the second argument) entirely by simply using two commas after the
3993required alignment; this can be useful if you want the alignment to be filled
3994with no-op instructions when appropriate.
3995
3996The way the required alignment is specified varies from system to system.
7be1c489 3997For the arc, hppa, i386 using ELF, i860, iq2000, m68k, or32,
60946ad0 3998s390, sparc, tic4x, tic80 and xtensa, the first expression is the
252b5132
RH
3999alignment request in bytes. For example @samp{.align 8} advances
4000the location counter until it is a multiple of 8. If the location counter
60946ad0
AM
4001is already a multiple of 8, no change is needed. For the tic54x, the
4002first expression is the alignment request in words.
252b5132 4003
adcf07e6
NC
4004For other systems, including the i386 using a.out format, and the arm and
4005strongarm, it is the
252b5132
RH
4006number of low-order zero bits the location counter must have after
4007advancement. For example @samp{.align 3} advances the location
4008counter until it a multiple of 8. If the location counter is already a
4009multiple of 8, no change is needed.
4010
4011This inconsistency is due to the different behaviors of the various
4012native assemblers for these systems which GAS must emulate.
4013GAS also provides @code{.balign} and @code{.p2align} directives,
4014described later, which have a consistent behavior across all
4015architectures (but are specific to GAS).
4016
4017@node Ascii
4018@section @code{.ascii "@var{string}"}@dots{}
4019
4020@cindex @code{ascii} directive
4021@cindex string literals
4022@code{.ascii} expects zero or more string literals (@pxref{Strings})
4023separated by commas. It assembles each string (with no automatic
4024trailing zero byte) into consecutive addresses.
4025
4026@node Asciz
4027@section @code{.asciz "@var{string}"}@dots{}
4028
4029@cindex @code{asciz} directive
4030@cindex zero-terminated strings
4031@cindex null-terminated strings
4032@code{.asciz} is just like @code{.ascii}, but each string is followed by
4033a zero byte. The ``z'' in @samp{.asciz} stands for ``zero''.
4034
4035@node Balign
4036@section @code{.balign[wl] @var{abs-expr}, @var{abs-expr}, @var{abs-expr}}
4037
4038@cindex padding the location counter given number of bytes
4039@cindex @code{balign} directive
4040Pad the location counter (in the current subsection) to a particular
4041storage boundary. The first expression (which must be absolute) is the
4042alignment request in bytes. For example @samp{.balign 8} advances
4043the location counter until it is a multiple of 8. If the location counter
4044is already a multiple of 8, no change is needed.
4045
4046The second expression (also absolute) gives the fill value to be stored in the
4047padding bytes. It (and the comma) may be omitted. If it is omitted, the
4048padding bytes are normally zero. However, on some systems, if the section is
4049marked as containing code and the fill value is omitted, the space is filled
4050with no-op instructions.
4051
4052The third expression is also absolute, and is also optional. If it is present,
4053it is the maximum number of bytes that should be skipped by this alignment
4054directive. If doing the alignment would require skipping more bytes than the
4055specified maximum, then the alignment is not done at all. You can omit the
4056fill value (the second argument) entirely by simply using two commas after the
4057required alignment; this can be useful if you want the alignment to be filled
4058with no-op instructions when appropriate.
4059
4060@cindex @code{balignw} directive
4061@cindex @code{balignl} directive
4062The @code{.balignw} and @code{.balignl} directives are variants of the
4063@code{.balign} directive. The @code{.balignw} directive treats the fill
4064pattern as a two byte word value. The @code{.balignl} directives treats the
4065fill pattern as a four byte longword value. For example, @code{.balignw
40664,0x368d} will align to a multiple of 4. If it skips two bytes, they will be
4067filled in with the value 0x368d (the exact placement of the bytes depends upon
4068the endianness of the processor). If it skips 1 or 3 bytes, the fill value is
4069undefined.
4070
4071@node Byte
4072@section @code{.byte @var{expressions}}
4073
4074@cindex @code{byte} directive
4075@cindex integers, one byte
4076@code{.byte} expects zero or more expressions, separated by commas.
4077Each expression is assembled into the next byte.
4078
d88ef7a6
TT
4079@node Comm
4080@section @code{.comm @var{symbol} , @var{length} }
4081
4082@cindex @code{comm} directive
4083@cindex symbol, common
4084@code{.comm} declares a common symbol named @var{symbol}. When linking, a
4085common symbol in one object file may be merged with a defined or common symbol
4086of the same name in another object file. If @code{@value{LD}} does not see a
4087definition for the symbol--just one or more common symbols--then it will
4088allocate @var{length} bytes of uninitialized memory. @var{length} must be an
4089absolute expression. If @code{@value{LD}} sees multiple common symbols with
4090the same name, and they do not all have the same size, it will allocate space
4091using the largest size.
4092
4093@ifset ELF
4094When using ELF, the @code{.comm} directive takes an optional third argument.
4095This is the desired alignment of the symbol, specified as a byte boundary (for
4096example, an alignment of 16 means that the least significant 4 bits of the
4097address should be zero). The alignment must be an absolute expression, and it
4098must be a power of two. If @code{@value{LD}} allocates uninitialized memory
4099for the common symbol, it will use the alignment when placing the symbol. If
4100no alignment is specified, @command{@value{AS}} will set the alignment to the
4101largest power of two less than or equal to the size of the symbol, up to a
4102maximum of 16.
4103@end ifset
4104
4105@ifset HPPA
4106The syntax for @code{.comm} differs slightly on the HPPA. The syntax is
4107@samp{@var{symbol} .comm, @var{length}}; @var{symbol} is optional.
4108@end ifset
4109
54cfded0
AM
4110@node CFI directives
4111@section @code{.cfi_startproc}
4112@cindex @code{cfi_startproc} directive
4113@code{.cfi_startproc} is used at the beginning of each function that
4114should have an entry in @code{.eh_frame}. It initializes some internal
4115data structures and emits architecture dependent initial CFI instructions.
4116Don't forget to close the function by
4117@code{.cfi_endproc}.
4118
4119@section @code{.cfi_endproc}
4120@cindex @code{cfi_endproc} directive
4121@code{.cfi_endproc} is used at the end of a function where it closes its
4122unwind entry previously opened by
b45619c0 4123@code{.cfi_startproc}, and emits it to @code{.eh_frame}.
54cfded0 4124
9b8ae42e
JJ
4125@section @code{.cfi_personality @var{encoding} [, @var{exp}]}
4126@code{.cfi_personality} defines personality routine and its encoding.
4127@var{encoding} must be a constant determining how the personality
4128should be encoded. If it is 255 (@code{DW_EH_PE_omit}), second
4129argument is not present, otherwise second argument should be
4130a constant or a symbol name. When using indirect encodings,
4131the symbol provided should be the location where personality
4132can be loaded from, not the personality routine itself.
4133The default after @code{.cfi_startproc} is @code{.cfi_personality 0xff},
4134no personality routine.
4135
4136@section @code{.cfi_lsda @var{encoding} [, @var{exp}]}
4137@code{.cfi_lsda} defines LSDA and its encoding.
4138@var{encoding} must be a constant determining how the LSDA
4139should be encoded. If it is 255 (@code{DW_EH_PE_omit}), second
4140argument is not present, otherwise second argument should be a constant
4141or a symbol name. The default after @code{.cfi_startproc} is @code{.cfi_lsda 0xff},
4142no LSDA.
4143
54cfded0
AM
4144@section @code{.cfi_def_cfa @var{register}, @var{offset}}
4145@code{.cfi_def_cfa} defines a rule for computing CFA as: @i{take
4146address from @var{register} and add @var{offset} to it}.
4147
4148@section @code{.cfi_def_cfa_register @var{register}}
4149@code{.cfi_def_cfa_register} modifies a rule for computing CFA. From
4150now on @var{register} will be used instead of the old one. Offset
4151remains the same.
4152
4153@section @code{.cfi_def_cfa_offset @var{offset}}
4154@code{.cfi_def_cfa_offset} modifies a rule for computing CFA. Register
4155remains the same, but @var{offset} is new. Note that it is the
4156absolute offset that will be added to a defined register to compute
4157CFA address.
4158
4159@section @code{.cfi_adjust_cfa_offset @var{offset}}
4160Same as @code{.cfi_def_cfa_offset} but @var{offset} is a relative
4161value that is added/substracted from the previous offset.
4162
4163@section @code{.cfi_offset @var{register}, @var{offset}}
4164Previous value of @var{register} is saved at offset @var{offset} from
4165CFA.
4166
17076204
RH
4167@section @code{.cfi_rel_offset @var{register}, @var{offset}}
4168Previous value of @var{register} is saved at offset @var{offset} from
4169the current CFA register. This is transformed to @code{.cfi_offset}
4170using the known displacement of the CFA register from the CFA.
4171This is often easier to use, because the number will match the
4172code it's annotating.
54cfded0 4173
63752a75
JJ
4174@section @code{.cfi_signal_frame}
4175Mark current function as signal trampoline.
4176
6749011b 4177@section @code{.cfi_window_save}
364b6d8b
JJ
4178SPARC register window has been saved.
4179
cdfbf930
RH
4180@section @code{.cfi_escape} @var{expression}[, @dots{}]
4181Allows the user to add arbitrary bytes to the unwind info. One
4182might use this to add OS-specific CFI opcodes, or generic CFI
4183opcodes that GAS does not yet support.
252b5132 4184
bd0eb99b
RH
4185@node LNS directives
4186@section @code{.file @var{fileno} @var{filename}}
4187@cindex @code{file} directive
4188When emitting dwarf2 line number information @code{.file} assigns filenames
4189to the @code{.debug_line} file name table. The @var{fileno} operand should
4190be a unique positive integer to use as the index of the entry in the table.
4191The @var{filename} operand is a C string literal.
4192
b45619c0 4193The detail of filename indices is exposed to the user because the filename
bd0eb99b 4194table is shared with the @code{.debug_info} section of the dwarf2 debugging
b45619c0 4195information, and thus the user must know the exact indices that table
bd0eb99b
RH
4196entries will have.
4197
ecea7679 4198@section @code{.loc @var{fileno} @var{lineno} [@var{column}] [@var{options}]}
bd0eb99b
RH
4199@cindex @code{loc} directive
4200The @code{.loc} directive will add row to the @code{.debug_line} line
4201number matrix corresponding to the immediately following assembly
4202instruction. The @var{fileno}, @var{lineno}, and optional @var{column}
4203arguments will be applied to the @code{.debug_line} state machine before
4204the row is added.
4205
ecea7679
RH
4206The @var{options} are a sequence of the following tokens in any order:
4207
4208@table @code
4209@item basic_block
4210This option will set the @code{basic_block} register in the
bd0eb99b
RH
4211@code{.debug_line} state machine to @code{true}.
4212
ecea7679
RH
4213@item prologue_end
4214This option will set the @code{prologue_end} register in the
bd0eb99b
RH
4215@code{.debug_line} state machine to @code{true}.
4216
ecea7679
RH
4217@item epilogue_begin
4218This option will set the @code{epilogue_begin} register in the
bd0eb99b
RH
4219@code{.debug_line} state machine to @code{true}.
4220
ecea7679
RH
4221@item is_stmt @var{value}
4222This option will set the @code{is_stmt} register in the
bd0eb99b
RH
4223@code{.debug_line} state machine to @code{value}, which must be
4224either 0 or 1.
4225
ecea7679 4226@item isa @var{value}
bd0eb99b
RH
4227This directive will set the @code{isa} register in the @code{.debug_line}
4228state machine to @var{value}, which must be an unsigned integer.
07a53e5c 4229
cd1fcb49
NC
4230@end table
4231
07a53e5c
RH
4232@section @code{.loc_mark_blocks @var{enable}}
4233@cindex @code{loc_mark_blocks} directive
4234The @code{.loc_mark_blocks} directive makes the assembler emit an entry
4235to the @code{.debug_line} line number matrix with the @code{basic_block}
4236register in the state machine set whenever a code label is seen.
4237The @var{enable} argument should be either 1 or 0, to enable or disable
4238this function respectively.
4239
252b5132
RH
4240@node Data
4241@section @code{.data @var{subsection}}
4242
4243@cindex @code{data} directive
a4fb0134 4244@code{.data} tells @command{@value{AS}} to assemble the following statements onto the
252b5132
RH
4245end of the data subsection numbered @var{subsection} (which is an
4246absolute expression). If @var{subsection} is omitted, it defaults
4247to zero.
4248
4249@ifset COFF
4250@node Def
4251@section @code{.def @var{name}}
4252
4253@cindex @code{def} directive
4254@cindex COFF symbols, debugging
4255@cindex debugging COFF symbols
4256Begin defining debugging information for a symbol @var{name}; the
4257definition extends until the @code{.endef} directive is encountered.
4258@ifset BOUT
4259
a4fb0134 4260This directive is only observed when @command{@value{AS}} is configured for COFF
252b5132
RH
4261format output; when producing @code{b.out}, @samp{.def} is recognized,
4262but ignored.
4263@end ifset
4264@end ifset
4265
4266@ifset aout-bout
4267@node Desc
4268@section @code{.desc @var{symbol}, @var{abs-expression}}
4269
4270@cindex @code{desc} directive
4271@cindex COFF symbol descriptor
4272@cindex symbol descriptor, COFF
4273This directive sets the descriptor of the symbol (@pxref{Symbol Attributes})
4274to the low 16 bits of an absolute expression.
4275
4276@ifset COFF
a4fb0134 4277The @samp{.desc} directive is not available when @command{@value{AS}} is
252b5132 4278configured for COFF output; it is only for @code{a.out} or @code{b.out}
a4fb0134 4279object format. For the sake of compatibility, @command{@value{AS}} accepts
252b5132
RH
4280it, but produces no output, when configured for COFF.
4281@end ifset
4282@end ifset
4283
4284@ifset COFF
4285@node Dim
4286@section @code{.dim}
4287
4288@cindex @code{dim} directive
4289@cindex COFF auxiliary symbol information
4290@cindex auxiliary symbol information, COFF
4291This directive is generated by compilers to include auxiliary debugging
4292information in the symbol table. It is only permitted inside
4293@code{.def}/@code{.endef} pairs.
4294@ifset BOUT
4295
4296@samp{.dim} is only meaningful when generating COFF format output; when
a4fb0134 4297@command{@value{AS}} is generating @code{b.out}, it accepts this directive but
252b5132
RH
4298ignores it.
4299@end ifset
4300@end ifset
4301
4302@node Double
4303@section @code{.double @var{flonums}}
4304
4305@cindex @code{double} directive
4306@cindex floating point numbers (double)
4307@code{.double} expects zero or more flonums, separated by commas. It
4308assembles floating point numbers.
4309@ifset GENERIC
4310The exact kind of floating point numbers emitted depends on how
a4fb0134 4311@command{@value{AS}} is configured. @xref{Machine Dependencies}.
252b5132
RH
4312@end ifset
4313@ifclear GENERIC
4314@ifset IEEEFLOAT
4315On the @value{TARGET} family @samp{.double} emits 64-bit floating-point numbers
4316in @sc{ieee} format.
4317@end ifset
4318@end ifclear
4319
4320@node Eject
4321@section @code{.eject}
4322
4323@cindex @code{eject} directive
4324@cindex new page, in listings
4325@cindex page, in listings
4326@cindex listing control: new page
4327Force a page break at this point, when generating assembly listings.
4328
4329@node Else
4330@section @code{.else}
4331
4332@cindex @code{else} directive
a4fb0134 4333@code{.else} is part of the @command{@value{AS}} support for conditional
96e9638b 4334assembly; see @ref{If,,@code{.if}}. It marks the beginning of a section
252b5132
RH
4335of code to be assembled if the condition for the preceding @code{.if}
4336was false.
4337
3fd9f047
TW
4338@node Elseif
4339@section @code{.elseif}
4340
4341@cindex @code{elseif} directive
a4fb0134 4342@code{.elseif} is part of the @command{@value{AS}} support for conditional
96e9638b 4343assembly; see @ref{If,,@code{.if}}. It is shorthand for beginning a new
3fd9f047
TW
4344@code{.if} block that would otherwise fill the entire @code{.else} section.
4345
252b5132
RH
4346@node End
4347@section @code{.end}
4348
4349@cindex @code{end} directive
a4fb0134 4350@code{.end} marks the end of the assembly file. @command{@value{AS}} does not
252b5132
RH
4351process anything in the file past the @code{.end} directive.
4352
4353@ifset COFF
4354@node Endef
4355@section @code{.endef}
4356
4357@cindex @code{endef} directive
4358This directive flags the end of a symbol definition begun with
4359@code{.def}.
4360@ifset BOUT
4361
4362@samp{.endef} is only meaningful when generating COFF format output; if
a4fb0134 4363@command{@value{AS}} is configured to generate @code{b.out}, it accepts this
252b5132
RH
4364directive but ignores it.
4365@end ifset
4366@end ifset
4367
4368@node Endfunc
4369@section @code{.endfunc}
4370@cindex @code{endfunc} directive
4371@code{.endfunc} marks the end of a function specified with @code{.func}.
4372
4373@node Endif
4374@section @code{.endif}
4375
4376@cindex @code{endif} directive
a4fb0134 4377@code{.endif} is part of the @command{@value{AS}} support for conditional assembly;
252b5132
RH
4378it marks the end of a block of code that is only assembled
4379conditionally. @xref{If,,@code{.if}}.
4380
4381@node Equ
4382@section @code{.equ @var{symbol}, @var{expression}}
4383
4384@cindex @code{equ} directive
4385@cindex assigning values to symbols
4386@cindex symbols, assigning values to
4387This directive sets the value of @var{symbol} to @var{expression}.
96e9638b 4388It is synonymous with @samp{.set}; see @ref{Set,,@code{.set}}.
252b5132
RH
4389
4390@ifset HPPA
4391The syntax for @code{equ} on the HPPA is
4392@samp{@var{symbol} .equ @var{expression}}.
4393@end ifset
4394
3c9b82ba
NC
4395@ifset Z80
4396The syntax for @code{equ} on the Z80 is
4397@samp{@var{symbol} equ @var{expression}}.
4398On the Z80 it is an eror if @var{symbol} is already defined,
96e9638b
BW
4399but the symbol is not protected from later redefinition.
4400Compare @ref{Equiv}.
3c9b82ba
NC
4401@end ifset
4402
252b5132
RH
4403@node Equiv
4404@section @code{.equiv @var{symbol}, @var{expression}}
4405@cindex @code{equiv} directive
4406The @code{.equiv} directive is like @code{.equ} and @code{.set}, except that
8dfa0188
NC
4407the assembler will signal an error if @var{symbol} is already defined. Note a
4408symbol which has been referenced but not actually defined is considered to be
4409undefined.
252b5132
RH
4410
4411Except for the contents of the error message, this is roughly equivalent to
4412@smallexample
4413.ifdef SYM
4414.err
4415.endif
4416.equ SYM,VAL
4417@end smallexample
9497f5ac
NC
4418plus it protects the symbol from later redefinition.
4419
4420@node Eqv
4421@section @code{.eqv @var{symbol}, @var{expression}}
4422@cindex @code{eqv} directive
4423The @code{.eqv} directive is like @code{.equiv}, but no attempt is made to
4424evaluate the expression or any part of it immediately. Instead each time
4425the resulting symbol is used in an expression, a snapshot of its current
4426value is taken.
252b5132
RH
4427
4428@node Err
4429@section @code{.err}
4430@cindex @code{err} directive
a4fb0134
SC
4431If @command{@value{AS}} assembles a @code{.err} directive, it will print an error
4432message and, unless the @option{-Z} option was used, it will not generate an
f9eb6721 4433object file. This can be used to signal an error in conditionally compiled code.
252b5132 4434
d190d046
HPN
4435@node Error
4436@section @code{.error "@var{string}"}
4437@cindex error directive
4438
4439Similarly to @code{.err}, this directive emits an error, but you can specify a
4440string that will be emitted as the error message. If you don't specify the
4441message, it defaults to @code{".error directive invoked in source file"}.
4442@xref{Errors, ,Error and Warning Messages}.
4443
4444@smallexample
4445 .error "This code has not been assembled and tested."
4446@end smallexample
4447
252b5132
RH
4448@node Exitm
4449@section @code{.exitm}
4450Exit early from the current macro definition. @xref{Macro}.
4451
4452@node Extern
4453@section @code{.extern}
4454
4455@cindex @code{extern} directive
4456@code{.extern} is accepted in the source program---for compatibility
a4fb0134 4457with other assemblers---but it is ignored. @command{@value{AS}} treats
252b5132
RH
4458all undefined symbols as external.
4459
4460@node Fail
4461@section @code{.fail @var{expression}}
4462
4463@cindex @code{fail} directive
4464Generates an error or a warning. If the value of the @var{expression} is 500
a4fb0134
SC
4465or more, @command{@value{AS}} will print a warning message. If the value is less
4466than 500, @command{@value{AS}} will print an error message. The message will
252b5132
RH
4467include the value of @var{expression}. This can occasionally be useful inside
4468complex nested macros or conditional assembly.
4469
4470@ifclear no-file-dir
4471@node File
4472@section @code{.file @var{string}}
4473
4474@cindex @code{file} directive
4475@cindex logical file name
4476@cindex file name, logical
a4fb0134 4477@code{.file} tells @command{@value{AS}} that we are about to start a new logical
252b5132
RH
4478file. @var{string} is the new file name. In general, the filename is
4479recognized whether or not it is surrounded by quotes @samp{"}; but if you wish
4480to specify an empty file name, you must give the quotes--@code{""}. This
4481statement may go away in future: it is only recognized to be compatible with
a4fb0134 4482old @command{@value{AS}} programs.
252b5132
RH
4483@end ifclear
4484
4485@node Fill
4486@section @code{.fill @var{repeat} , @var{size} , @var{value}}
4487
4488@cindex @code{fill} directive
4489@cindex writing patterns in memory
4490@cindex patterns, writing in memory
bc64be0c 4491@var{repeat}, @var{size} and @var{value} are absolute expressions.
252b5132
RH
4492This emits @var{repeat} copies of @var{size} bytes. @var{Repeat}
4493may be zero or more. @var{Size} may be zero or more, but if it is
4494more than 8, then it is deemed to have the value 8, compatible with
4495other people's assemblers. The contents of each @var{repeat} bytes
4496is taken from an 8-byte number. The highest order 4 bytes are
4497zero. The lowest order 4 bytes are @var{value} rendered in the
a4fb0134 4498byte-order of an integer on the computer @command{@value{AS}} is assembling for.
252b5132
RH
4499Each @var{size} bytes in a repetition is taken from the lowest order
4500@var{size} bytes of this number. Again, this bizarre behavior is
4501compatible with other people's assemblers.
4502
4503@var{size} and @var{value} are optional.
4504If the second comma and @var{value} are absent, @var{value} is
4505assumed zero. If the first comma and following tokens are absent,
4506@var{size} is assumed to be 1.
4507
4508@node Float
4509@section @code{.float @var{flonums}}
4510
4511@cindex floating point numbers (single)
4512@cindex @code{float} directive
4513This directive assembles zero or more flonums, separated by commas. It
4514has the same effect as @code{.single}.
4515@ifset GENERIC
4516The exact kind of floating point numbers emitted depends on how
a4fb0134 4517@command{@value{AS}} is configured.
252b5132
RH
4518@xref{Machine Dependencies}.
4519@end ifset
4520@ifclear GENERIC
4521@ifset IEEEFLOAT
4522On the @value{TARGET} family, @code{.float} emits 32-bit floating point numbers
4523in @sc{ieee} format.
4524@end ifset
4525@end ifclear
4526
4527@node Func
4528@section @code{.func @var{name}[,@var{label}]}
4529@cindex @code{func} directive
4530@code{.func} emits debugging information to denote function @var{name}, and
4531is ignored unless the file is assembled with debugging enabled.
05da4302 4532Only @samp{--gstabs[+]} is currently supported.
252b5132
RH
4533@var{label} is the entry point of the function and if omitted @var{name}
4534prepended with the @samp{leading char} is used.
4535@samp{leading char} is usually @code{_} or nothing, depending on the target.
4536All functions are currently defined to have @code{void} return type.
4537The function must be terminated with @code{.endfunc}.
4538
4539@node Global
4540@section @code{.global @var{symbol}}, @code{.globl @var{symbol}}
4541
4542@cindex @code{global} directive
4543@cindex symbol, making visible to linker
4544@code{.global} makes the symbol visible to @code{@value{LD}}. If you define
4545@var{symbol} in your partial program, its value is made available to
4546other partial programs that are linked with it. Otherwise,
4547@var{symbol} takes its attributes from a symbol of the same name
4548from another file linked into the same program.
4549
4550Both spellings (@samp{.globl} and @samp{.global}) are accepted, for
4551compatibility with other assemblers.
4552
4553@ifset HPPA
4554On the HPPA, @code{.global} is not always enough to make it accessible to other
4555partial programs. You may need the HPPA-only @code{.EXPORT} directive as well.
96e9638b 4556@xref{HPPA Directives, ,HPPA Assembler Directives}.
252b5132
RH
4557@end ifset
4558
c91d2e08
NC
4559@ifset ELF
4560@node Hidden
4561@section @code{.hidden @var{names}}
4562
c1253627
NC
4563@cindex @code{hidden} directive
4564@cindex visibility
ed9589d4 4565This is one of the ELF visibility directives. The other two are
a349d9dd
PB
4566@code{.internal} (@pxref{Internal,,@code{.internal}}) and
4567@code{.protected} (@pxref{Protected,,@code{.protected}}).
c91d2e08
NC
4568
4569This directive overrides the named symbols default visibility (which is set by
4570their binding: local, global or weak). The directive sets the visibility to
4571@code{hidden} which means that the symbols are not visible to other components.
4572Such symbols are always considered to be @code{protected} as well.
4573@end ifset
4574
252b5132
RH
4575@node hword
4576@section @code{.hword @var{expressions}}
4577
4578@cindex @code{hword} directive
4579@cindex integers, 16-bit
4580@cindex numbers, 16-bit
4581@cindex sixteen bit integers
4582This expects zero or more @var{expressions}, and emits
4583a 16 bit number for each.
4584
4585@ifset GENERIC
4586This directive is a synonym for @samp{.short}; depending on the target
4587architecture, it may also be a synonym for @samp{.word}.
4588@end ifset
4589@ifclear GENERIC
4590@ifset W32
4591This directive is a synonym for @samp{.short}.
4592@end ifset
4593@ifset W16
4594This directive is a synonym for both @samp{.short} and @samp{.word}.
4595@end ifset
4596@end ifclear
4597
4598@node Ident
4599@section @code{.ident}
4600
4601@cindex @code{ident} directive
cb4c78d6
BE
4602
4603This directive is used by some assemblers to place tags in object files. The
4604behavior of this directive varies depending on the target. When using the
4605a.out object file format, @command{@value{AS}} simply accepts the directive for
4606source-file compatibility with existing assemblers, but does not emit anything
4607for it. When using COFF, comments are emitted to the @code{.comment} or
4608@code{.rdata} section, depending on the target. When using ELF, comments are
4609emitted to the @code{.comment} section.
252b5132
RH
4610
4611@node If
4612@section @code{.if @var{absolute expression}}
4613
4614@cindex conditional assembly
4615@cindex @code{if} directive
4616@code{.if} marks the beginning of a section of code which is only
4617considered part of the source program being assembled if the argument
4618(which must be an @var{absolute expression}) is non-zero. The end of
4619the conditional section of code must be marked by @code{.endif}
4620(@pxref{Endif,,@code{.endif}}); optionally, you may include code for the
4621alternative condition, flagged by @code{.else} (@pxref{Else,,@code{.else}}).
3fd9f047
TW
4622If you have several conditions to check, @code{.elseif} may be used to avoid
4623nesting blocks if/else within each subsequent @code{.else} block.
252b5132
RH
4624
4625The following variants of @code{.if} are also supported:
4626@table @code
4627@cindex @code{ifdef} directive
4628@item .ifdef @var{symbol}
4629Assembles the following section of code if the specified @var{symbol}
8dfa0188
NC
4630has been defined. Note a symbol which has been referenced but not yet defined
4631is considered to be undefined.
252b5132 4632
26aca5f6
JB
4633@cindex @code{ifb} directive
4634@item .ifb @var{text}
4635Assembles the following section of code if the operand is blank (empty).
4636
252b5132
RH
4637@cindex @code{ifc} directive
4638@item .ifc @var{string1},@var{string2}
4639Assembles the following section of code if the two strings are the same. The
4640strings may be optionally quoted with single quotes. If they are not quoted,
4641the first string stops at the first comma, and the second string stops at the
4642end of the line. Strings which contain whitespace should be quoted. The
4643string comparison is case sensitive.
4644
4645@cindex @code{ifeq} directive
4646@item .ifeq @var{absolute expression}
4647Assembles the following section of code if the argument is zero.
4648
4649@cindex @code{ifeqs} directive
4650@item .ifeqs @var{string1},@var{string2}
4651Another form of @code{.ifc}. The strings must be quoted using double quotes.
4652
4653@cindex @code{ifge} directive
4654@item .ifge @var{absolute expression}
4655Assembles the following section of code if the argument is greater than or
4656equal to zero.
4657
4658@cindex @code{ifgt} directive
4659@item .ifgt @var{absolute expression}
4660Assembles the following section of code if the argument is greater than zero.
4661
4662@cindex @code{ifle} directive
4663@item .ifle @var{absolute expression}
4664Assembles the following section of code if the argument is less than or equal
4665to zero.
4666
4667@cindex @code{iflt} directive
4668@item .iflt @var{absolute expression}
4669Assembles the following section of code if the argument is less than zero.
4670
26aca5f6
JB
4671@cindex @code{ifnb} directive
4672@item .ifnb @var{text}
4673Like @code{.ifb}, but the sense of the test is reversed: this assembles the
4674following section of code if the operand is non-blank (non-empty).
4675
252b5132
RH
4676@cindex @code{ifnc} directive
4677@item .ifnc @var{string1},@var{string2}.
4678Like @code{.ifc}, but the sense of the test is reversed: this assembles the
4679following section of code if the two strings are not the same.
4680
4681@cindex @code{ifndef} directive
4682@cindex @code{ifnotdef} directive
4683@item .ifndef @var{symbol}
4684@itemx .ifnotdef @var{symbol}
4685Assembles the following section of code if the specified @var{symbol}
8dfa0188
NC
4686has not been defined. Both spelling variants are equivalent. Note a symbol
4687which has been referenced but not yet defined is considered to be undefined.
252b5132
RH
4688
4689@cindex @code{ifne} directive
4690@item .ifne @var{absolute expression}
4691Assembles the following section of code if the argument is not equal to zero
4692(in other words, this is equivalent to @code{.if}).
4693
4694@cindex @code{ifnes} directive
4695@item .ifnes @var{string1},@var{string2}
4696Like @code{.ifeqs}, but the sense of the test is reversed: this assembles the
4697following section of code if the two strings are not the same.
4698@end table
4699
7e005732
NC
4700@node Incbin
4701@section @code{.incbin "@var{file}"[,@var{skip}[,@var{count}]]}
4702
4703@cindex @code{incbin} directive
4704@cindex binary files, including
4705The @code{incbin} directive includes @var{file} verbatim at the current
4706location. You can control the search paths used with the @samp{-I} command-line
4707option (@pxref{Invoking,,Command-Line Options}). Quotation marks are required
4708around @var{file}.
4709
4710The @var{skip} argument skips a number of bytes from the start of the
4711@var{file}. The @var{count} argument indicates the maximum number of bytes to
15dcfbc3
NC
4712read. Note that the data is not aligned in any way, so it is the user's
4713responsibility to make sure that proper alignment is provided both before and
4714after the @code{incbin} directive.
7e005732 4715
252b5132
RH
4716@node Include
4717@section @code{.include "@var{file}"}
4718
4719@cindex @code{include} directive
4720@cindex supporting files, including
4721@cindex files, including
4722This directive provides a way to include supporting files at specified
4723points in your source program. The code from @var{file} is assembled as
4724if it followed the point of the @code{.include}; when the end of the
4725included file is reached, assembly of the original file continues. You
4726can control the search paths used with the @samp{-I} command-line option
4727(@pxref{Invoking,,Command-Line Options}). Quotation marks are required
4728around @var{file}.
4729
4730@node Int
4731@section @code{.int @var{expressions}}
4732
4733@cindex @code{int} directive
4734@cindex integers, 32-bit
4735Expect zero or more @var{expressions}, of any section, separated by commas.
4736For each expression, emit a number that, at run time, is the value of that
4737expression. The byte order and bit size of the number depends on what kind
4738of target the assembly is for.
4739
4740@ifclear GENERIC
4741@ifset H8
7be1c489 4742On most forms of the H8/300, @code{.int} emits 16-bit
c2dcd04e 4743integers. On the H8/300H and the Renesas SH, however, @code{.int} emits
252b5132
RH
474432-bit integers.
4745@end ifset
4746@end ifclear
4747
c91d2e08
NC
4748@ifset ELF
4749@node Internal
4750@section @code{.internal @var{names}}
4751
c1253627
NC
4752@cindex @code{internal} directive
4753@cindex visibility
ed9589d4 4754This is one of the ELF visibility directives. The other two are
a349d9dd
PB
4755@code{.hidden} (@pxref{Hidden,,@code{.hidden}}) and
4756@code{.protected} (@pxref{Protected,,@code{.protected}}).
c91d2e08
NC
4757
4758This directive overrides the named symbols default visibility (which is set by
4759their binding: local, global or weak). The directive sets the visibility to
4760@code{internal} which means that the symbols are considered to be @code{hidden}
c1253627 4761(i.e., not visible to other components), and that some extra, processor specific
c91d2e08
NC
4762processing must also be performed upon the symbols as well.
4763@end ifset
4764
252b5132
RH
4765@node Irp
4766@section @code{.irp @var{symbol},@var{values}}@dots{}
4767
4768@cindex @code{irp} directive
4769Evaluate a sequence of statements assigning different values to @var{symbol}.
4770The sequence of statements starts at the @code{.irp} directive, and is
4771terminated by an @code{.endr} directive. For each @var{value}, @var{symbol} is
4772set to @var{value}, and the sequence of statements is assembled. If no
4773@var{value} is listed, the sequence of statements is assembled once, with
4774@var{symbol} set to the null string. To refer to @var{symbol} within the
4775sequence of statements, use @var{\symbol}.
4776
4777For example, assembling
4778
4779@example
4780 .irp param,1,2,3
4781 move d\param,sp@@-
4782 .endr
4783@end example
4784
4785is equivalent to assembling
4786
4787@example
4788 move d1,sp@@-
4789 move d2,sp@@-
4790 move d3,sp@@-
4791@end example
4792
96e9638b 4793For some caveats with the spelling of @var{symbol}, see also @ref{Macro}.
5e75c3ab 4794
252b5132
RH
4795@node Irpc
4796@section @code{.irpc @var{symbol},@var{values}}@dots{}
4797
4798@cindex @code{irpc} directive
4799Evaluate a sequence of statements assigning different values to @var{symbol}.
4800The sequence of statements starts at the @code{.irpc} directive, and is
4801terminated by an @code{.endr} directive. For each character in @var{value},
4802@var{symbol} is set to the character, and the sequence of statements is
4803assembled. If no @var{value} is listed, the sequence of statements is
4804assembled once, with @var{symbol} set to the null string. To refer to
4805@var{symbol} within the sequence of statements, use @var{\symbol}.
4806
4807For example, assembling
4808
4809@example
4810 .irpc param,123
4811 move d\param,sp@@-
4812 .endr
4813@end example
4814
4815is equivalent to assembling
4816
4817@example
4818 move d1,sp@@-
4819 move d2,sp@@-
4820 move d3,sp@@-
4821@end example
4822
5e75c3ab
JB
4823For some caveats with the spelling of @var{symbol}, see also the discussion
4824at @xref{Macro}.
4825
252b5132
RH
4826@node Lcomm
4827@section @code{.lcomm @var{symbol} , @var{length}}
4828
4829@cindex @code{lcomm} directive
4830@cindex local common symbols
4831@cindex symbols, local common
4832Reserve @var{length} (an absolute expression) bytes for a local common
4833denoted by @var{symbol}. The section and value of @var{symbol} are
4834those of the new local common. The addresses are allocated in the bss
4835section, so that at run-time the bytes start off zeroed. @var{Symbol}
4836is not declared global (@pxref{Global,,@code{.global}}), so is normally
4837not visible to @code{@value{LD}}.
4838
4839@ifset GENERIC
4840Some targets permit a third argument to be used with @code{.lcomm}. This
4841argument specifies the desired alignment of the symbol in the bss section.
4842@end ifset
4843
4844@ifset HPPA
4845The syntax for @code{.lcomm} differs slightly on the HPPA. The syntax is
4846@samp{@var{symbol} .lcomm, @var{length}}; @var{symbol} is optional.
4847@end ifset
4848
4849@node Lflags
4850@section @code{.lflags}
4851
4852@cindex @code{lflags} directive (ignored)
a4fb0134 4853@command{@value{AS}} accepts this directive, for compatibility with other
252b5132
RH
4854assemblers, but ignores it.
4855
4856@ifclear no-line-dir
4857@node Line
4858@section @code{.line @var{line-number}}
4859
4860@cindex @code{line} directive
4861@end ifclear
4862@ifset no-line-dir
4863@node Ln
4864@section @code{.ln @var{line-number}}
4865
4866@cindex @code{ln} directive
4867@end ifset
4868@cindex logical line number
4869@ifset aout-bout
4870Change the logical line number. @var{line-number} must be an absolute
4871expression. The next line has that logical line number. Therefore any other
4872statements on the current line (after a statement separator character) are
4873reported as on logical line number @var{line-number} @minus{} 1. One day
a4fb0134 4874@command{@value{AS}} will no longer support this directive: it is recognized only
252b5132
RH
4875for compatibility with existing assembler programs.
4876
252b5132
RH
4877@end ifset
4878
4879@ifclear no-line-dir
4880Even though this is a directive associated with the @code{a.out} or
a4fb0134 4881@code{b.out} object-code formats, @command{@value{AS}} still recognizes it
252b5132
RH
4882when producing COFF output, and treats @samp{.line} as though it
4883were the COFF @samp{.ln} @emph{if} it is found outside a
4884@code{.def}/@code{.endef} pair.
4885
4886Inside a @code{.def}, @samp{.line} is, instead, one of the directives
4887used by compilers to generate auxiliary symbol information for
4888debugging.
4889@end ifclear
4890
4891@node Linkonce
4892@section @code{.linkonce [@var{type}]}
4893@cindex COMDAT
4894@cindex @code{linkonce} directive
4895@cindex common sections
4896Mark the current section so that the linker only includes a single copy of it.
4897This may be used to include the same section in several different object files,
4898but ensure that the linker will only include it once in the final output file.
4899The @code{.linkonce} pseudo-op must be used for each instance of the section.
4900Duplicate sections are detected based on the section name, so it should be
4901unique.
4902
4903This directive is only supported by a few object file formats; as of this
4904writing, the only object file format which supports it is the Portable
4905Executable format used on Windows NT.
4906
4907The @var{type} argument is optional. If specified, it must be one of the
4908following strings. For example:
4909@smallexample
4910.linkonce same_size
4911@end smallexample
4912Not all types may be supported on all object file formats.
4913
4914@table @code
4915@item discard
4916Silently discard duplicate sections. This is the default.
4917
4918@item one_only
4919Warn if there are duplicate sections, but still keep only one copy.
4920
4921@item same_size
4922Warn if any of the duplicates have different sizes.
4923
4924@item same_contents
4925Warn if any of the duplicates do not have exactly the same contents.
4926@end table
4927
4928@node Ln
4929@section @code{.ln @var{line-number}}
4930
4931@cindex @code{ln} directive
4932@ifclear no-line-dir
4933@samp{.ln} is a synonym for @samp{.line}.
4934@end ifclear
4935@ifset no-line-dir
a4fb0134 4936Tell @command{@value{AS}} to change the logical line number. @var{line-number}
252b5132
RH
4937must be an absolute expression. The next line has that logical
4938line number, so any other statements on the current line (after a
4939statement separator character @code{;}) are reported as on logical
4940line number @var{line-number} @minus{} 1.
4941@ifset BOUT
4942
a4fb0134 4943This directive is accepted, but ignored, when @command{@value{AS}} is
252b5132
RH
4944configured for @code{b.out}; its effect is only associated with COFF
4945output format.
4946@end ifset
4947@end ifset
4948
4949@node MRI
4950@section @code{.mri @var{val}}
4951
4952@cindex @code{mri} directive
4953@cindex MRI mode, temporarily
a4fb0134
SC
4954If @var{val} is non-zero, this tells @command{@value{AS}} to enter MRI mode. If
4955@var{val} is zero, this tells @command{@value{AS}} to exit MRI mode. This change
252b5132
RH
4956affects code assembled until the next @code{.mri} directive, or until the end
4957of the file. @xref{M, MRI mode, MRI mode}.
4958
4959@node List
4960@section @code{.list}
4961
4962@cindex @code{list} directive
4963@cindex listing control, turning on
4964Control (in conjunction with the @code{.nolist} directive) whether or
4965not assembly listings are generated. These two directives maintain an
4966internal counter (which is zero initially). @code{.list} increments the
4967counter, and @code{.nolist} decrements it. Assembly listings are
4968generated whenever the counter is greater than zero.
4969
4970By default, listings are disabled. When you enable them (with the
4971@samp{-a} command line option; @pxref{Invoking,,Command-Line Options}),
4972the initial value of the listing counter is one.
4973
4974@node Long
4975@section @code{.long @var{expressions}}
4976
4977@cindex @code{long} directive
96e9638b 4978@code{.long} is the same as @samp{.int}. @xref{Int,,@code{.int}}.
252b5132
RH
4979
4980@ignore
4981@c no one seems to know what this is for or whether this description is
4982@c what it really ought to do
4983@node Lsym
4984@section @code{.lsym @var{symbol}, @var{expression}}
4985
4986@cindex @code{lsym} directive
4987@cindex symbol, not referenced in assembly
4988@code{.lsym} creates a new symbol named @var{symbol}, but does not put it in
4989the hash table, ensuring it cannot be referenced by name during the
4990rest of the assembly. This sets the attributes of the symbol to be
4991the same as the expression value:
4992@smallexample
4993@var{other} = @var{descriptor} = 0
4994@var{type} = @r{(section of @var{expression})}
4995@var{value} = @var{expression}
4996@end smallexample
4997@noindent
4998The new symbol is not flagged as external.
4999@end ignore
5000
5001@node Macro
5002@section @code{.macro}
5003
5004@cindex macros
5005The commands @code{.macro} and @code{.endm} allow you to define macros that
5006generate assembly output. For example, this definition specifies a macro
5007@code{sum} that puts a sequence of numbers into memory:
5008
5009@example
5010 .macro sum from=0, to=5
5011 .long \from
5012 .if \to-\from
5013 sum "(\from+1)",\to
5014 .endif
5015 .endm
5016@end example
5017
5018@noindent
5019With that definition, @samp{SUM 0,5} is equivalent to this assembly input:
5020
5021@example
5022 .long 0
5023 .long 1
5024 .long 2
5025 .long 3
5026 .long 4
5027 .long 5
5028@end example
5029
5030@ftable @code
5031@item .macro @var{macname}
5032@itemx .macro @var{macname} @var{macargs} @dots{}
5033@cindex @code{macro} directive
5034Begin the definition of a macro called @var{macname}. If your macro
5035definition requires arguments, specify their names after the macro name,
6eaeac8a
JB
5036separated by commas or spaces. You can qualify the macro argument to
5037indicate whether all invocations must specify a non-blank value (through
5038@samp{:@code{req}}), or whether it takes all of the remaining arguments
5039(through @samp{:@code{vararg}}). You can supply a default value for any
fffeaa5f
JB
5040macro argument by following the name with @samp{=@var{deflt}}. You
5041cannot define two macros with the same @var{macname} unless it has been
96e9638b 5042subject to the @code{.purgem} directive (@pxref{Purgem}) between the two
fffeaa5f 5043definitions. For example, these are all valid @code{.macro} statements:
252b5132
RH
5044
5045@table @code
5046@item .macro comm
5047Begin the definition of a macro called @code{comm}, which takes no
5048arguments.
5049
6258339f 5050@item .macro plus1 p, p1
252b5132
RH
5051@itemx .macro plus1 p p1
5052Either statement begins the definition of a macro called @code{plus1},
5053which takes two arguments; within the macro definition, write
5054@samp{\p} or @samp{\p1} to evaluate the arguments.
5055
5056@item .macro reserve_str p1=0 p2
5057Begin the definition of a macro called @code{reserve_str}, with two
5058arguments. The first argument has a default value, but not the second.
5059After the definition is complete, you can call the macro either as
5060@samp{reserve_str @var{a},@var{b}} (with @samp{\p1} evaluating to
5061@var{a} and @samp{\p2} evaluating to @var{b}), or as @samp{reserve_str
5062,@var{b}} (with @samp{\p1} evaluating as the default, in this case
5063@samp{0}, and @samp{\p2} evaluating to @var{b}).
252b5132 5064
6eaeac8a
JB
5065@item .macro m p1:req, p2=0, p3:vararg
5066Begin the definition of a macro called @code{m}, with at least three
5067arguments. The first argument must always have a value specified, but
5068not the second, which instead has a default value. The third formal
5069will get assigned all remaining arguments specified at invocation time.
5070
252b5132
RH
5071When you call a macro, you can specify the argument values either by
5072position, or by keyword. For example, @samp{sum 9,17} is equivalent to
5073@samp{sum to=17, from=9}.
5074
6258339f
NC
5075@end table
5076
5e75c3ab
JB
5077Note that since each of the @var{macargs} can be an identifier exactly
5078as any other one permitted by the target architecture, there may be
5079occasional problems if the target hand-crafts special meanings to certain
6258339f 5080characters when they occur in a special position. For example, if the colon
5e75c3ab 5081(@code{:}) is generally permitted to be part of a symbol name, but the
6258339f 5082architecture specific code special-cases it when occurring as the final
5e75c3ab
JB
5083character of a symbol (to denote a label), then the macro parameter
5084replacement code will have no way of knowing that and consider the whole
5085construct (including the colon) an identifier, and check only this
6258339f
NC
5086identifier for being the subject to parameter substitution. So for example
5087this macro definition:
5088
5089@example
5090 .macro label l
5091\l:
5092 .endm
5093@end example
5094
5095might not work as expected. Invoking @samp{label foo} might not create a label
5096called @samp{foo} but instead just insert the text @samp{\l:} into the
5097assembler source, probably generating an error about an unrecognised
5098identifier.
5099
5100Similarly problems might occur with the period character (@samp{.})
5101which is often allowed inside opcode names (and hence identifier names). So
5102for example constructing a macro to build an opcode from a base name and a
5103length specifier like this:
5104
5105@example
5106 .macro opcode base length
5107 \base.\length
5108 .endm
5109@end example
5110
5111and invoking it as @samp{opcode store l} will not create a @samp{store.l}
5112instruction but instead generate some kind of error as the assembler tries to
5113interpret the text @samp{\base.\length}.
5114
5115There are several possible ways around this problem:
5116
5117@table @code
5118@item Insert white space
5119If it is possible to use white space characters then this is the simplest
5120solution. eg:
5121
5122@example
5123 .macro label l
5124\l :
5125 .endm
5126@end example
5127
5128@item Use @samp{\()}
5129The string @samp{\()} can be used to separate the end of a macro argument from
5130the following text. eg:
5131
5132@example
5133 .macro opcode base length
5134 \base\().\length
5135 .endm
5136@end example
5137
5138@item Use the alternate macro syntax mode
5139In the alternative macro syntax mode the ampersand character (@samp{&}) can be
5140used as a separator. eg:
5e75c3ab
JB
5141
5142@example
5143 .altmacro
5144 .macro label l
5145l&:
5146 .endm
5147@end example
6258339f 5148@end table
5e75c3ab 5149
96e9638b
BW
5150Note: this problem of correctly identifying string parameters to pseudo ops
5151also applies to the identifiers used in @code{.irp} (@pxref{Irp})
5152and @code{.irpc} (@pxref{Irpc}) as well.
5e75c3ab 5153
252b5132
RH
5154@item .endm
5155@cindex @code{endm} directive
5156Mark the end of a macro definition.
5157
5158@item .exitm
5159@cindex @code{exitm} directive
5160Exit early from the current macro definition.
5161
5162@cindex number of macros executed
5163@cindex macros, count executed
5164@item \@@
a4fb0134 5165@command{@value{AS}} maintains a counter of how many macros it has
252b5132
RH
5166executed in this pseudo-variable; you can copy that number to your
5167output with @samp{\@@}, but @emph{only within a macro definition}.
5168
252b5132
RH
5169@item LOCAL @var{name} [ , @dots{} ]
5170@emph{Warning: @code{LOCAL} is only available if you select ``alternate
caa32fe5
NC
5171macro syntax'' with @samp{--alternate} or @code{.altmacro}.}
5172@xref{Altmacro,,@code{.altmacro}}.
5173@end ftable
252b5132 5174
caa32fe5
NC
5175@node Altmacro
5176@section @code{.altmacro}
5177Enable alternate macro mode, enabling:
5178
5179@ftable @code
5180@item LOCAL @var{name} [ , @dots{} ]
5181One additional directive, @code{LOCAL}, is available. It is used to
5182generate a string replacement for each of the @var{name} arguments, and
252b5132
RH
5183replace any instances of @var{name} in each macro expansion. The
5184replacement string is unique in the assembly, and different for each
5185separate macro expansion. @code{LOCAL} allows you to write macros that
5186define symbols, without fear of conflict between separate macro expansions.
caa32fe5
NC
5187
5188@item String delimiters
5189You can write strings delimited in these other ways besides
5190@code{"@var{string}"}:
5191
5192@table @code
5193@item '@var{string}'
b45619c0 5194You can delimit strings with single-quote characters.
caa32fe5
NC
5195
5196@item <@var{string}>
5197You can delimit strings with matching angle brackets.
5198@end table
5199
5200@item single-character string escape
5201To include any single character literally in a string (even if the
5202character would otherwise have some special meaning), you can prefix the
5203character with @samp{!} (an exclamation mark). For example, you can
5204write @samp{<4.3 !> 5.4!!>} to get the literal text @samp{4.3 > 5.4!}.
5205
5206@item Expression results as strings
5207You can write @samp{%@var{expr}} to evaluate the expression @var{expr}
5208and use the result as a string.
252b5132
RH
5209@end ftable
5210
caa32fe5
NC
5211@node Noaltmacro
5212@section @code{.noaltmacro}
96e9638b 5213Disable alternate macro mode. @xref{Altmacro}.
caa32fe5 5214
252b5132
RH
5215@node Nolist
5216@section @code{.nolist}
5217
5218@cindex @code{nolist} directive
5219@cindex listing control, turning off
5220Control (in conjunction with the @code{.list} directive) whether or
5221not assembly listings are generated. These two directives maintain an
5222internal counter (which is zero initially). @code{.list} increments the
5223counter, and @code{.nolist} decrements it. Assembly listings are
5224generated whenever the counter is greater than zero.
5225
5226@node Octa
5227@section @code{.octa @var{bignums}}
5228
5229@c FIXME: double size emitted for "octa" on i960, others? Or warn?
5230@cindex @code{octa} directive
5231@cindex integer, 16-byte
5232@cindex sixteen byte integer
5233This directive expects zero or more bignums, separated by commas. For each
5234bignum, it emits a 16-byte integer.
5235
5236The term ``octa'' comes from contexts in which a ``word'' is two bytes;
5237hence @emph{octa}-word for 16 bytes.
5238
5239@node Org
5240@section @code{.org @var{new-lc} , @var{fill}}
5241
5242@cindex @code{org} directive
5243@cindex location counter, advancing
5244@cindex advancing location counter
5245@cindex current address, advancing
5246Advance the location counter of the current section to
5247@var{new-lc}. @var{new-lc} is either an absolute expression or an
5248expression with the same section as the current subsection. That is,
5249you can't use @code{.org} to cross sections: if @var{new-lc} has the
5250wrong section, the @code{.org} directive is ignored. To be compatible
5251with former assemblers, if the section of @var{new-lc} is absolute,
a4fb0134 5252@command{@value{AS}} issues a warning, then pretends the section of @var{new-lc}
252b5132
RH
5253is the same as the current subsection.
5254
5255@code{.org} may only increase the location counter, or leave it
5256unchanged; you cannot use @code{.org} to move the location counter
5257backwards.
5258
5259@c double negative used below "not undefined" because this is a specific
5260@c reference to "undefined" (as SEG_UNKNOWN is called in this manual)
5261@c section. doc@cygnus.com 18feb91
a4fb0134 5262Because @command{@value{AS}} tries to assemble programs in one pass, @var{new-lc}
252b5132
RH
5263may not be undefined. If you really detest this restriction we eagerly await
5264a chance to share your improved assembler.
5265
5266Beware that the origin is relative to the start of the section, not
5267to the start of the subsection. This is compatible with other
5268people's assemblers.
5269
5270When the location counter (of the current subsection) is advanced, the
5271intervening bytes are filled with @var{fill} which should be an
5272absolute expression. If the comma and @var{fill} are omitted,
5273@var{fill} defaults to zero.
5274
5275@node P2align
5276@section @code{.p2align[wl] @var{abs-expr}, @var{abs-expr}, @var{abs-expr}}
5277
5278@cindex padding the location counter given a power of two
5279@cindex @code{p2align} directive
5280Pad the location counter (in the current subsection) to a particular
5281storage boundary. The first expression (which must be absolute) is the
5282number of low-order zero bits the location counter must have after
5283advancement. For example @samp{.p2align 3} advances the location
5284counter until it a multiple of 8. If the location counter is already a
5285multiple of 8, no change is needed.
5286
5287The second expression (also absolute) gives the fill value to be stored in the
5288padding bytes. It (and the comma) may be omitted. If it is omitted, the
5289padding bytes are normally zero. However, on some systems, if the section is
5290marked as containing code and the fill value is omitted, the space is filled
5291with no-op instructions.
5292
5293The third expression is also absolute, and is also optional. If it is present,
5294it is the maximum number of bytes that should be skipped by this alignment
5295directive. If doing the alignment would require skipping more bytes than the
5296specified maximum, then the alignment is not done at all. You can omit the
5297fill value (the second argument) entirely by simply using two commas after the
5298required alignment; this can be useful if you want the alignment to be filled
5299with no-op instructions when appropriate.
5300
5301@cindex @code{p2alignw} directive
5302@cindex @code{p2alignl} directive
5303The @code{.p2alignw} and @code{.p2alignl} directives are variants of the
5304@code{.p2align} directive. The @code{.p2alignw} directive treats the fill
5305pattern as a two byte word value. The @code{.p2alignl} directives treats the
5306fill pattern as a four byte longword value. For example, @code{.p2alignw
53072,0x368d} will align to a multiple of 4. If it skips two bytes, they will be
5308filled in with the value 0x368d (the exact placement of the bytes depends upon
5309the endianness of the processor). If it skips 1 or 3 bytes, the fill value is
5310undefined.
5311
c91d2e08
NC
5312@ifset ELF
5313@node Previous
5314@section @code{.previous}
5315
c1253627 5316@cindex @code{previous} directive
c91d2e08
NC
5317@cindex Section Stack
5318This is one of the ELF section stack manipulation directives. The others are
a349d9dd
PB
5319@code{.section} (@pxref{Section}), @code{.subsection} (@pxref{SubSection}),
5320@code{.pushsection} (@pxref{PushSection}), and @code{.popsection}
5321(@pxref{PopSection}).
c91d2e08
NC
5322
5323This directive swaps the current section (and subsection) with most recently
5324referenced section (and subsection) prior to this one. Multiple
5325@code{.previous} directives in a row will flip between two sections (and their
5326subsections).
5327
5328In terms of the section stack, this directive swaps the current section with
5329the top section on the section stack.
5330@end ifset
5331
5332@ifset ELF
5333@node PopSection
5334@section @code{.popsection}
5335
c1253627 5336@cindex @code{popsection} directive
c91d2e08
NC
5337@cindex Section Stack
5338This is one of the ELF section stack manipulation directives. The others are
a349d9dd
PB
5339@code{.section} (@pxref{Section}), @code{.subsection} (@pxref{SubSection}),
5340@code{.pushsection} (@pxref{PushSection}), and @code{.previous}
5341(@pxref{Previous}).
c91d2e08
NC
5342
5343This directive replaces the current section (and subsection) with the top
5344section (and subsection) on the section stack. This section is popped off the
5345stack.
c91d2e08
NC
5346@end ifset
5347
252b5132
RH
5348@node Print
5349@section @code{.print @var{string}}
5350
5351@cindex @code{print} directive
a4fb0134 5352@command{@value{AS}} will print @var{string} on the standard output during
252b5132
RH
5353assembly. You must put @var{string} in double quotes.
5354
c91d2e08
NC
5355@ifset ELF
5356@node Protected
5357@section @code{.protected @var{names}}
5358
c1253627
NC
5359@cindex @code{protected} directive
5360@cindex visibility
ed9589d4 5361This is one of the ELF visibility directives. The other two are
a349d9dd 5362@code{.hidden} (@pxref{Hidden}) and @code{.internal} (@pxref{Internal}).
c91d2e08
NC
5363
5364This directive overrides the named symbols default visibility (which is set by
5365their binding: local, global or weak). The directive sets the visibility to
5366@code{protected} which means that any references to the symbols from within the
5367components that defines them must be resolved to the definition in that
5368component, even if a definition in another component would normally preempt
5369this.
5370@end ifset
5371
252b5132
RH
5372@node Psize
5373@section @code{.psize @var{lines} , @var{columns}}
5374
5375@cindex @code{psize} directive
5376@cindex listing control: paper size
5377@cindex paper size, for listings
5378Use this directive to declare the number of lines---and, optionally, the
5379number of columns---to use for each page, when generating listings.
5380
5381If you do not use @code{.psize}, listings use a default line-count
5382of 60. You may omit the comma and @var{columns} specification; the
5383default width is 200 columns.
5384
a4fb0134 5385@command{@value{AS}} generates formfeeds whenever the specified number of
252b5132
RH
5386lines is exceeded (or whenever you explicitly request one, using
5387@code{.eject}).
5388
5389If you specify @var{lines} as @code{0}, no formfeeds are generated save
5390those explicitly specified with @code{.eject}.
5391
5392@node Purgem
5393@section @code{.purgem @var{name}}
5394
5395@cindex @code{purgem} directive
5396Undefine the macro @var{name}, so that later uses of the string will not be
5397expanded. @xref{Macro}.
5398
c91d2e08
NC
5399@ifset ELF
5400@node PushSection
5401@section @code{.pushsection @var{name} , @var{subsection}}
5402
c1253627 5403@cindex @code{pushsection} directive
c91d2e08
NC
5404@cindex Section Stack
5405This is one of the ELF section stack manipulation directives. The others are
a349d9dd
PB
5406@code{.section} (@pxref{Section}), @code{.subsection} (@pxref{SubSection}),
5407@code{.popsection} (@pxref{PopSection}), and @code{.previous}
5408(@pxref{Previous}).
c91d2e08 5409
e9863d7f
DJ
5410This directive pushes the current section (and subsection) onto the
5411top of the section stack, and then replaces the current section and
5412subsection with @code{name} and @code{subsection}.
c91d2e08
NC
5413@end ifset
5414
252b5132
RH
5415@node Quad
5416@section @code{.quad @var{bignums}}
5417
5418@cindex @code{quad} directive
5419@code{.quad} expects zero or more bignums, separated by commas. For
5420each bignum, it emits
5421@ifclear bignum-16
5422an 8-byte integer. If the bignum won't fit in 8 bytes, it prints a
5423warning message; and just takes the lowest order 8 bytes of the bignum.
5424@cindex eight-byte integer
5425@cindex integer, 8-byte
5426
5427The term ``quad'' comes from contexts in which a ``word'' is two bytes;
5428hence @emph{quad}-word for 8 bytes.
5429@end ifclear
5430@ifset bignum-16
5431a 16-byte integer. If the bignum won't fit in 16 bytes, it prints a
5432warning message; and just takes the lowest order 16 bytes of the bignum.
5433@cindex sixteen-byte integer
5434@cindex integer, 16-byte
5435@end ifset
5436
05e9452c
AM
5437@node Reloc
5438@section @code{.reloc @var{offset}, @var{reloc_name}[, @var{expression}]}
5439
5440@cindex @code{reloc} directive
5441Generate a relocation at @var{offset} of type @var{reloc_name} with value
5442@var{expression}. If @var{offset} is a number, the relocation is generated in
5443the current section. If @var{offset} is an expression that resolves to a
5444symbol plus offset, the relocation is generated in the given symbol's section.
5445@var{expression}, if present, must resolve to a symbol plus addend or to an
5446absolute value, but note that not all targets support an addend. e.g. ELF REL
5447targets such as i386 store an addend in the section contents rather than in the
5448relocation. This low level interface does not support addends stored in the
5449section.
5450
252b5132
RH
5451@node Rept
5452@section @code{.rept @var{count}}
5453
5454@cindex @code{rept} directive
5455Repeat the sequence of lines between the @code{.rept} directive and the next
5456@code{.endr} directive @var{count} times.
5457
5458For example, assembling
5459
5460@example
5461 .rept 3
5462 .long 0
5463 .endr
5464@end example
5465
5466is equivalent to assembling
5467
5468@example
5469 .long 0
5470 .long 0
5471 .long 0
5472@end example
5473
5474@node Sbttl
5475@section @code{.sbttl "@var{subheading}"}
5476
5477@cindex @code{sbttl} directive
5478@cindex subtitles for listings
5479@cindex listing control: subtitle
5480Use @var{subheading} as the title (third line, immediately after the
5481title line) when generating assembly listings.
5482
5483This directive affects subsequent pages, as well as the current page if
5484it appears within ten lines of the top of a page.
5485
5486@ifset COFF
5487@node Scl
5488@section @code{.scl @var{class}}
5489
5490@cindex @code{scl} directive
5491@cindex symbol storage class (COFF)
5492@cindex COFF symbol storage class
5493Set the storage-class value for a symbol. This directive may only be
5494used inside a @code{.def}/@code{.endef} pair. Storage class may flag
5495whether a symbol is static or external, or it may record further
5496symbolic debugging information.
5497@ifset BOUT
5498
5499The @samp{.scl} directive is primarily associated with COFF output; when
a4fb0134 5500configured to generate @code{b.out} output format, @command{@value{AS}}
252b5132
RH
5501accepts this directive but ignores it.
5502@end ifset
5503@end ifset
5504
c1253627 5505@ifset COFF-ELF
252b5132 5506@node Section
c1253627 5507@section @code{.section @var{name}}
252b5132 5508
252b5132
RH
5509@cindex named section
5510Use the @code{.section} directive to assemble the following code into a section
5511named @var{name}.
5512
5513This directive is only supported for targets that actually support arbitrarily
5514named sections; on @code{a.out} targets, for example, it is not accepted, even
5515with a standard @code{a.out} section name.
5516
c1253627
NC
5517@ifset COFF
5518@ifset ELF
5519@c only print the extra heading if both COFF and ELF are set
5520@subheading COFF Version
5521@end ifset
5522
5523@cindex @code{section} directive (COFF version)
252b5132
RH
5524For COFF targets, the @code{.section} directive is used in one of the following
5525ways:
c91d2e08 5526
252b5132
RH
5527@smallexample
5528.section @var{name}[, "@var{flags}"]
5529.section @var{name}[, @var{subsegment}]
5530@end smallexample
5531
5532If the optional argument is quoted, it is taken as flags to use for the
5533section. Each flag is a single character. The following flags are recognized:
5534@table @code
5535@item b
5536bss section (uninitialized data)
5537@item n
5538section is not loaded
5539@item w
5540writable section
5541@item d
5542data section
5543@item r
5544read-only section
5545@item x
5546executable section
2dcc60be
ILT
5547@item s
5548shared section (meaningful for PE targets)
6ff96af6
NC
5549@item a
5550ignored. (For compatibility with the ELF version)
252b5132
RH
5551@end table
5552
5553If no flags are specified, the default flags depend upon the section name. If
5554the section name is not recognized, the default will be for the section to be
7e84d676
NC
5555loaded and writable. Note the @code{n} and @code{w} flags remove attributes
5556from the section, rather than adding them, so if they are used on their own it
5557will be as if no flags had been specified at all.
252b5132
RH
5558
5559If the optional argument to the @code{.section} directive is not quoted, it is
5560taken as a subsegment number (@pxref{Sub-Sections}).
c1253627 5561@end ifset
252b5132
RH
5562
5563@ifset ELF
c1253627
NC
5564@ifset COFF
5565@c only print the extra heading if both COFF and ELF are set
5566@subheading ELF Version
5567@end ifset
5568
c91d2e08
NC
5569@cindex Section Stack
5570This is one of the ELF section stack manipulation directives. The others are
a349d9dd
PB
5571@code{.subsection} (@pxref{SubSection}), @code{.pushsection}
5572(@pxref{PushSection}), @code{.popsection} (@pxref{PopSection}), and
5573@code{.previous} (@pxref{Previous}).
c91d2e08 5574
c1253627 5575@cindex @code{section} directive (ELF version)
252b5132 5576For ELF targets, the @code{.section} directive is used like this:
c91d2e08 5577
252b5132 5578@smallexample
7047dd1e 5579.section @var{name} [, "@var{flags}"[, @@@var{type}[,@var{flag_specific_arguments}]]]
252b5132 5580@end smallexample
c91d2e08 5581
252b5132 5582The optional @var{flags} argument is a quoted string which may contain any
a349d9dd 5583combination of the following characters:
252b5132
RH
5584@table @code
5585@item a
5586section is allocatable
5587@item w
5588section is writable
5589@item x
5590section is executable
ec38dd05
JJ
5591@item M
5592section is mergeable
5593@item S
5594section contains zero terminated strings
22fe14ad
NC
5595@item G
5596section is a member of a section group
5597@item T
5598section is used for thread-local-storage
252b5132
RH
5599@end table
5600
5601The optional @var{type} argument may contain one of the following constants:
5602@table @code
5603@item @@progbits
5604section contains data
5605@item @@nobits
5606section does not contain data (i.e., section only occupies space)
22fe14ad
NC
5607@item @@note
5608section contains data which is used by things other than the program
10b016c2
PB
5609@item @@init_array
5610section contains an array of pointers to init functions
5611@item @@fini_array
5612section contains an array of pointers to finish functions
5613@item @@preinit_array
5614section contains an array of pointers to pre-init functions
252b5132
RH
5615@end table
5616
10b016c2
PB
5617Many targets only support the first three section types.
5618
ececec60
NC
5619Note on targets where the @code{@@} character is the start of a comment (eg
5620ARM) then another character is used instead. For example the ARM port uses the
5621@code{%} character.
5622
22fe14ad 5623If @var{flags} contains the @code{M} symbol then the @var{type} argument must
96e9638b 5624be specified as well as an extra argument---@var{entsize}---like this:
22fe14ad
NC
5625
5626@smallexample
5627.section @var{name} , "@var{flags}"M, @@@var{type}, @var{entsize}
5628@end smallexample
5629
5630Sections with the @code{M} flag but not @code{S} flag must contain fixed size
5631constants, each @var{entsize} octets long. Sections with both @code{M} and
5632@code{S} must contain zero terminated strings where each character is
5633@var{entsize} bytes long. The linker may remove duplicates within sections with
5634the same name, same entity size and same flags. @var{entsize} must be an
5635absolute expression.
5636
5637If @var{flags} contains the @code{G} symbol then the @var{type} argument must
5638be present along with an additional field like this:
5639
5640@smallexample
5641.section @var{name} , "@var{flags}"G, @@@var{type}, @var{GroupName}[, @var{linkage}]
5642@end smallexample
5643
5644The @var{GroupName} field specifies the name of the section group to which this
5645particular section belongs. The optional linkage field can contain:
5646@table @code
5647@item comdat
5648indicates that only one copy of this section should be retained
5649@item .gnu.linkonce
5650an alias for comdat
5651@end table
5652
96e9638b 5653Note: if both the @var{M} and @var{G} flags are present then the fields for
22fe14ad
NC
5654the Merge flag should come first, like this:
5655
5656@smallexample
5657.section @var{name} , "@var{flags}"MG, @@@var{type}, @var{entsize}, @var{GroupName}[, @var{linkage}]
5658@end smallexample
ec38dd05 5659
252b5132
RH
5660If no flags are specified, the default flags depend upon the section name. If
5661the section name is not recognized, the default will be for the section to have
5662none of the above flags: it will not be allocated in memory, nor writable, nor
5663executable. The section will contain data.
5664
5665For ELF targets, the assembler supports another type of @code{.section}
5666directive for compatibility with the Solaris assembler:
c91d2e08 5667
252b5132
RH
5668@smallexample
5669.section "@var{name}"[, @var{flags}...]
5670@end smallexample
c91d2e08 5671
252b5132
RH
5672Note that the section name is quoted. There may be a sequence of comma
5673separated flags:
5674@table @code
5675@item #alloc
5676section is allocatable
5677@item #write
5678section is writable
5679@item #execinstr
5680section is executable
22fe14ad
NC
5681@item #tls
5682section is used for thread local storage
252b5132 5683@end table
c91d2e08 5684
e9863d7f
DJ
5685This directive replaces the current section and subsection. See the
5686contents of the gas testsuite directory @code{gas/testsuite/gas/elf} for
5687some examples of how this directive and the other section stack directives
5688work.
c1253627
NC
5689@end ifset
5690@end ifset
252b5132
RH
5691
5692@node Set
5693@section @code{.set @var{symbol}, @var{expression}}
5694
5695@cindex @code{set} directive
5696@cindex symbol value, setting
5697Set the value of @var{symbol} to @var{expression}. This
5698changes @var{symbol}'s value and type to conform to
5699@var{expression}. If @var{symbol} was flagged as external, it remains
5700flagged (@pxref{Symbol Attributes}).
5701
5702You may @code{.set} a symbol many times in the same assembly.
5703
5704If you @code{.set} a global symbol, the value stored in the object
5705file is the last value stored into it.
5706
5707@ifset HPPA
5708The syntax for @code{set} on the HPPA is
5709@samp{@var{symbol} .set @var{expression}}.
5710@end ifset
5711
3c9b82ba
NC
5712@ifset Z80
5713On Z80 @code{set} is a real instruction, use
5714@samp{@var{symbol} defl @var{expression}} instead.
5715@end ifset
5716
252b5132
RH
5717@node Short
5718@section @code{.short @var{expressions}}
5719
5720@cindex @code{short} directive
5721@ifset GENERIC
5722@code{.short} is normally the same as @samp{.word}.
5723@xref{Word,,@code{.word}}.
5724
5725In some configurations, however, @code{.short} and @code{.word} generate
96e9638b 5726numbers of different lengths. @xref{Machine Dependencies}.
252b5132
RH
5727@end ifset
5728@ifclear GENERIC
5729@ifset W16
5730@code{.short} is the same as @samp{.word}. @xref{Word,,@code{.word}}.
5731@end ifset
5732@ifset W32
5733This expects zero or more @var{expressions}, and emits
5734a 16 bit number for each.
5735@end ifset
5736@end ifclear
5737
5738@node Single
5739@section @code{.single @var{flonums}}
5740
5741@cindex @code{single} directive
5742@cindex floating point numbers (single)
5743This directive assembles zero or more flonums, separated by commas. It
5744has the same effect as @code{.float}.
5745@ifset GENERIC
5746The exact kind of floating point numbers emitted depends on how
a4fb0134 5747@command{@value{AS}} is configured. @xref{Machine Dependencies}.
252b5132
RH
5748@end ifset
5749@ifclear GENERIC
5750@ifset IEEEFLOAT
5751On the @value{TARGET} family, @code{.single} emits 32-bit floating point
5752numbers in @sc{ieee} format.
5753@end ifset
5754@end ifclear
5755
c1253627 5756@ifset COFF-ELF
252b5132 5757@node Size
c1253627 5758@section @code{.size}
c91d2e08 5759
c1253627
NC
5760This directive is used to set the size associated with a symbol.
5761
5762@ifset COFF
5763@ifset ELF
5764@c only print the extra heading if both COFF and ELF are set
5765@subheading COFF Version
5766@end ifset
5767
5768@cindex @code{size} directive (COFF version)
5769For COFF targets, the @code{.size} directive is only permitted inside
5770@code{.def}/@code{.endef} pairs. It is used like this:
5771
5772@smallexample
5773.size @var{expression}
5774@end smallexample
252b5132 5775
c91d2e08 5776@ifset BOUT
252b5132 5777@samp{.size} is only meaningful when generating COFF format output; when
a4fb0134 5778@command{@value{AS}} is generating @code{b.out}, it accepts this directive but
252b5132
RH
5779ignores it.
5780@end ifset
c1253627 5781@end ifset
c91d2e08 5782
c1253627
NC
5783@ifset ELF
5784@ifset COFF
5785@c only print the extra heading if both COFF and ELF are set
5786@subheading ELF Version
5787@end ifset
5788
5789@cindex @code{size} directive (ELF version)
5790For ELF targets, the @code{.size} directive is used like this:
c91d2e08 5791
c1253627
NC
5792@smallexample
5793.size @var{name} , @var{expression}
5794@end smallexample
5795
5796This directive sets the size associated with a symbol @var{name}.
c91d2e08
NC
5797The size in bytes is computed from @var{expression} which can make use of label
5798arithmetic. This directive is typically used to set the size of function
5799symbols.
c1253627
NC
5800@end ifset
5801@end ifset
252b5132
RH
5802
5803@node Sleb128
5804@section @code{.sleb128 @var{expressions}}
5805
5806@cindex @code{sleb128} directive
5807@var{sleb128} stands for ``signed little endian base 128.'' This is a
5808compact, variable length representation of numbers used by the DWARF
96e9638b 5809symbolic debugging format. @xref{Uleb128, ,@code{.uleb128}}.
252b5132
RH
5810
5811@ifclear no-space-dir
5812@node Skip
5813@section @code{.skip @var{size} , @var{fill}}
5814
5815@cindex @code{skip} directive
5816@cindex filling memory
5817This directive emits @var{size} bytes, each of value @var{fill}. Both
5818@var{size} and @var{fill} are absolute expressions. If the comma and
5819@var{fill} are omitted, @var{fill} is assumed to be zero. This is the same as
5820@samp{.space}.
5821
5822@node Space
5823@section @code{.space @var{size} , @var{fill}}
5824
5825@cindex @code{space} directive
5826@cindex filling memory
5827This directive emits @var{size} bytes, each of value @var{fill}. Both
5828@var{size} and @var{fill} are absolute expressions. If the comma
5829and @var{fill} are omitted, @var{fill} is assumed to be zero. This is the same
5830as @samp{.skip}.
5831
5832@ifset HPPA
5833@quotation
5834@emph{Warning:} @code{.space} has a completely different meaning for HPPA
5835targets; use @code{.block} as a substitute. See @cite{HP9000 Series 800
5836Assembly Language Reference Manual} (HP 92432-90001) for the meaning of the
5837@code{.space} directive. @xref{HPPA Directives,,HPPA Assembler Directives},
5838for a summary.
5839@end quotation
5840@end ifset
5841@end ifclear
5842
252b5132
RH
5843@ifset have-stabs
5844@node Stab
5845@section @code{.stabd, .stabn, .stabs}
5846
5847@cindex symbolic debuggers, information for
5848@cindex @code{stab@var{x}} directives
5849There are three directives that begin @samp{.stab}.
5850All emit symbols (@pxref{Symbols}), for use by symbolic debuggers.
a4fb0134 5851The symbols are not entered in the @command{@value{AS}} hash table: they
252b5132
RH
5852cannot be referenced elsewhere in the source file.
5853Up to five fields are required:
5854
5855@table @var
5856@item string
5857This is the symbol's name. It may contain any character except
5858@samp{\000}, so is more general than ordinary symbol names. Some
5859debuggers used to code arbitrarily complex structures into symbol names
5860using this field.
5861
5862@item type
5863An absolute expression. The symbol's type is set to the low 8 bits of
5864this expression. Any bit pattern is permitted, but @code{@value{LD}}
5865and debuggers choke on silly bit patterns.
5866
5867@item other
5868An absolute expression. The symbol's ``other'' attribute is set to the
5869low 8 bits of this expression.
5870
5871@item desc
5872An absolute expression. The symbol's descriptor is set to the low 16
5873bits of this expression.
5874
5875@item value
5876An absolute expression which becomes the symbol's value.
5877@end table
5878
5879If a warning is detected while reading a @code{.stabd}, @code{.stabn},
5880or @code{.stabs} statement, the symbol has probably already been created;
5881you get a half-formed symbol in your object file. This is
5882compatible with earlier assemblers!
5883
5884@table @code
5885@cindex @code{stabd} directive
5886@item .stabd @var{type} , @var{other} , @var{desc}
5887
5888The ``name'' of the symbol generated is not even an empty string.
5889It is a null pointer, for compatibility. Older assemblers used a
5890null pointer so they didn't waste space in object files with empty
5891strings.
5892
5893The symbol's value is set to the location counter,
5894relocatably. When your program is linked, the value of this symbol
5895is the address of the location counter when the @code{.stabd} was
5896assembled.
5897
5898@cindex @code{stabn} directive
5899@item .stabn @var{type} , @var{other} , @var{desc} , @var{value}
5900The name of the symbol is set to the empty string @code{""}.
5901
5902@cindex @code{stabs} directive
5903@item .stabs @var{string} , @var{type} , @var{other} , @var{desc} , @var{value}
5904All five fields are specified.
5905@end table
5906@end ifset
5907@c end have-stabs
5908
5909@node String
5910@section @code{.string} "@var{str}"
5911
5912@cindex string, copying to object file
5913@cindex @code{string} directive
5914
5915Copy the characters in @var{str} to the object file. You may specify more than
5916one string to copy, separated by commas. Unless otherwise specified for a
5917particular machine, the assembler marks the end of each string with a 0 byte.
5918You can use any of the escape sequences described in @ref{Strings,,Strings}.
5919
5920@node Struct
5921@section @code{.struct @var{expression}}
5922
5923@cindex @code{struct} directive
5924Switch to the absolute section, and set the section offset to @var{expression},
5925which must be an absolute expression. You might use this as follows:
5926@smallexample
5927 .struct 0
5928field1:
5929 .struct field1 + 4
5930field2:
5931 .struct field2 + 4
5932field3:
5933@end smallexample
5934This would define the symbol @code{field1} to have the value 0, the symbol
5935@code{field2} to have the value 4, and the symbol @code{field3} to have the
5936value 8. Assembly would be left in the absolute section, and you would need to
5937use a @code{.section} directive of some sort to change to some other section
5938before further assembly.
5939
c91d2e08
NC
5940@ifset ELF
5941@node SubSection
5942@section @code{.subsection @var{name}}
5943
c1253627 5944@cindex @code{subsection} directive
c91d2e08
NC
5945@cindex Section Stack
5946This is one of the ELF section stack manipulation directives. The others are
a349d9dd
PB
5947@code{.section} (@pxref{Section}), @code{.pushsection} (@pxref{PushSection}),
5948@code{.popsection} (@pxref{PopSection}), and @code{.previous}
5949(@pxref{Previous}).
c91d2e08
NC
5950
5951This directive replaces the current subsection with @code{name}. The current
5952section is not changed. The replaced subsection is put onto the section stack
5953in place of the then current top of stack subsection.
c91d2e08
NC
5954@end ifset
5955
252b5132
RH
5956@ifset ELF
5957@node Symver
5958@section @code{.symver}
5959@cindex @code{symver} directive
5960@cindex symbol versioning
5961@cindex versions of symbols
5962Use the @code{.symver} directive to bind symbols to specific version nodes
5963within a source file. This is only supported on ELF platforms, and is
5964typically used when assembling files to be linked into a shared library.
5965There are cases where it may make sense to use this in objects to be bound
5966into an application itself so as to override a versioned symbol from a
5967shared library.
5968
79082ff0 5969For ELF targets, the @code{.symver} directive can be used like this:
252b5132
RH
5970@smallexample
5971.symver @var{name}, @var{name2@@nodename}
5972@end smallexample
339681c0 5973If the symbol @var{name} is defined within the file
79082ff0 5974being assembled, the @code{.symver} directive effectively creates a symbol
252b5132
RH
5975alias with the name @var{name2@@nodename}, and in fact the main reason that we
5976just don't try and create a regular alias is that the @var{@@} character isn't
5977permitted in symbol names. The @var{name2} part of the name is the actual name
5978of the symbol by which it will be externally referenced. The name @var{name}
5979itself is merely a name of convenience that is used so that it is possible to
5980have definitions for multiple versions of a function within a single source
5981file, and so that the compiler can unambiguously know which version of a
5982function is being mentioned. The @var{nodename} portion of the alias should be
5983the name of a node specified in the version script supplied to the linker when
5984building a shared library. If you are attempting to override a versioned
5985symbol from a shared library, then @var{nodename} should correspond to the
5986nodename of the symbol you are trying to override.
339681c0
L
5987
5988If the symbol @var{name} is not defined within the file being assembled, all
5989references to @var{name} will be changed to @var{name2@@nodename}. If no
5990reference to @var{name} is made, @var{name2@@nodename} will be removed from the
5991symbol table.
79082ff0
L
5992
5993Another usage of the @code{.symver} directive is:
5994@smallexample
5995.symver @var{name}, @var{name2@@@@nodename}
5996@end smallexample
5997In this case, the symbol @var{name} must exist and be defined within
a349d9dd 5998the file being assembled. It is similar to @var{name2@@nodename}. The
79082ff0
L
5999difference is @var{name2@@@@nodename} will also be used to resolve
6000references to @var{name2} by the linker.
6001
6002The third usage of the @code{.symver} directive is:
6003@smallexample
6004.symver @var{name}, @var{name2@@@@@@nodename}
6005@end smallexample
6006When @var{name} is not defined within the
6007file being assembled, it is treated as @var{name2@@nodename}. When
6008@var{name} is defined within the file being assembled, the symbol
6009name, @var{name}, will be changed to @var{name2@@@@nodename}.
252b5132
RH
6010@end ifset
6011
6012@ifset COFF
6013@node Tag
6014@section @code{.tag @var{structname}}
6015
6016@cindex COFF structure debugging
6017@cindex structure debugging, COFF
6018@cindex @code{tag} directive
6019This directive is generated by compilers to include auxiliary debugging
6020information in the symbol table. It is only permitted inside
6021@code{.def}/@code{.endef} pairs. Tags are used to link structure
6022definitions in the symbol table with instances of those structures.
6023@ifset BOUT
6024
6025@samp{.tag} is only used when generating COFF format output; when
a4fb0134 6026@command{@value{AS}} is generating @code{b.out}, it accepts this directive but
252b5132
RH
6027ignores it.
6028@end ifset
6029@end ifset
6030
6031@node Text
6032@section @code{.text @var{subsection}}
6033
6034@cindex @code{text} directive
a4fb0134 6035Tells @command{@value{AS}} to assemble the following statements onto the end of
252b5132
RH
6036the text subsection numbered @var{subsection}, which is an absolute
6037expression. If @var{subsection} is omitted, subsection number zero
6038is used.
6039
6040@node Title
6041@section @code{.title "@var{heading}"}
6042
6043@cindex @code{title} directive
6044@cindex listing control: title line
6045Use @var{heading} as the title (second line, immediately after the
6046source file name and pagenumber) when generating assembly listings.
6047
6048This directive affects subsequent pages, as well as the current page if
6049it appears within ten lines of the top of a page.
6050
c1253627 6051@ifset COFF-ELF
252b5132 6052@node Type
c1253627
NC
6053@section @code{.type}
6054
6055This directive is used to set the type of a symbol.
6056
6057@ifset COFF
6058@ifset ELF
6059@c only print the extra heading if both COFF and ELF are set
6060@subheading COFF Version
6061@end ifset
252b5132
RH
6062
6063@cindex COFF symbol type
6064@cindex symbol type, COFF
c1253627
NC
6065@cindex @code{type} directive (COFF version)
6066For COFF targets, this directive is permitted only within
6067@code{.def}/@code{.endef} pairs. It is used like this:
6068
6069@smallexample
6070.type @var{int}
6071@end smallexample
6072
6073This records the integer @var{int} as the type attribute of a symbol table
6074entry.
252b5132 6075
c91d2e08 6076@ifset BOUT
252b5132 6077@samp{.type} is associated only with COFF format output; when
a4fb0134 6078@command{@value{AS}} is configured for @code{b.out} output, it accepts this
252b5132
RH
6079directive but ignores it.
6080@end ifset
c1253627 6081@end ifset
c91d2e08 6082
c1253627
NC
6083@ifset ELF
6084@ifset COFF
6085@c only print the extra heading if both COFF and ELF are set
6086@subheading ELF Version
6087@end ifset
c91d2e08
NC
6088
6089@cindex ELF symbol type
6090@cindex symbol type, ELF
c1253627
NC
6091@cindex @code{type} directive (ELF version)
6092For ELF targets, the @code{.type} directive is used like this:
6093
6094@smallexample
6095.type @var{name} , @var{type description}
6096@end smallexample
6097
6098This sets the type of symbol @var{name} to be either a
a349d9dd 6099function symbol or an object symbol. There are five different syntaxes
c91d2e08 6100supported for the @var{type description} field, in order to provide
28c9d252 6101compatibility with various other assemblers.
58ab4f3d
MM
6102
6103Because some of the characters used in these syntaxes (such as @samp{@@} and
6104@samp{#}) are comment characters for some architectures, some of the syntaxes
6105below do not work on all architectures. The first variant will be accepted by
6106the GNU assembler on all architectures so that variant should be used for
6107maximum portability, if you do not need to assemble your code with other
6108assemblers.
6109
6110The syntaxes supported are:
c91d2e08
NC
6111
6112@smallexample
58ab4f3d
MM
6113 .type <name> STT_FUNCTION
6114 .type <name> STT_OBJECT
6115
c91d2e08
NC
6116 .type <name>,#function
6117 .type <name>,#object
6118
6119 .type <name>,@@function
6120 .type <name>,@@object
6121
6122 .type <name>,%function
6123 .type <name>,%object
6124
6125 .type <name>,"function"
6126 .type <name>,"object"
c91d2e08 6127@end smallexample
c1253627
NC
6128@end ifset
6129@end ifset
c91d2e08
NC
6130
6131@node Uleb128
6132@section @code{.uleb128 @var{expressions}}
6133
6134@cindex @code{uleb128} directive
6135@var{uleb128} stands for ``unsigned little endian base 128.'' This is a
6136compact, variable length representation of numbers used by the DWARF
96e9638b 6137symbolic debugging format. @xref{Sleb128, ,@code{.sleb128}}.
252b5132
RH
6138
6139@ifset COFF
6140@node Val
6141@section @code{.val @var{addr}}
6142
6143@cindex @code{val} directive
6144@cindex COFF value attribute
6145@cindex value attribute, COFF
6146This directive, permitted only within @code{.def}/@code{.endef} pairs,
6147records the address @var{addr} as the value attribute of a symbol table
6148entry.
6149@ifset BOUT
6150
a4fb0134 6151@samp{.val} is used only for COFF output; when @command{@value{AS}} is
252b5132
RH
6152configured for @code{b.out}, it accepts this directive but ignores it.
6153@end ifset
6154@end ifset
6155
2e13b764 6156@ifset ELF
c91d2e08
NC
6157@node Version
6158@section @code{.version "@var{string}"}
2e13b764 6159
c1253627 6160@cindex @code{version} directive
c91d2e08
NC
6161This directive creates a @code{.note} section and places into it an ELF
6162formatted note of type NT_VERSION. The note's name is set to @code{string}.
9a297610 6163@end ifset
2e13b764 6164
c91d2e08
NC
6165@ifset ELF
6166@node VTableEntry
6167@section @code{.vtable_entry @var{table}, @var{offset}}
2e13b764 6168
653cfe85 6169@cindex @code{vtable_entry} directive
c91d2e08
NC
6170This directive finds or creates a symbol @code{table} and creates a
6171@code{VTABLE_ENTRY} relocation for it with an addend of @code{offset}.
2e13b764 6172
c91d2e08
NC
6173@node VTableInherit
6174@section @code{.vtable_inherit @var{child}, @var{parent}}
2e13b764 6175
653cfe85 6176@cindex @code{vtable_inherit} directive
c91d2e08
NC
6177This directive finds the symbol @code{child} and finds or creates the symbol
6178@code{parent} and then creates a @code{VTABLE_INHERIT} relocation for the
a349d9dd 6179parent whose addend is the value of the child symbol. As a special case the
96e9638b 6180parent name of @code{0} is treated as referring to the @code{*ABS*} section.
c91d2e08 6181@end ifset
2e13b764 6182
d190d046
HPN
6183@node Warning
6184@section @code{.warning "@var{string}"}
6185@cindex warning directive
6186Similar to the directive @code{.error}
6187(@pxref{Error,,@code{.error "@var{string}"}}), but just emits a warning.
6188
c91d2e08
NC
6189@node Weak
6190@section @code{.weak @var{names}}
2e13b764 6191
c1253627 6192@cindex @code{weak} directive
a349d9dd 6193This directive sets the weak attribute on the comma separated list of symbol
c91d2e08 6194@code{names}. If the symbols do not already exist, they will be created.
c87db184 6195
977cdf5a
NC
6196On COFF targets other than PE, weak symbols are a GNU extension. This
6197directive sets the weak attribute on the comma separated list of symbol
c87db184
CF
6198@code{names}. If the symbols do not already exist, they will be created.
6199
977cdf5a
NC
6200On the PE target, weak symbols are supported natively as weak aliases.
6201When a weak symbol is created that is not an alias, GAS creates an
6202alternate symbol to hold the default value.
2e13b764 6203
06e77878
AO
6204@node Weakref
6205@section @code{.weakref @var{alias}, @var{target}}
6206
6207@cindex @code{weakref} directive
6208This directive creates an alias to the target symbol that enables the symbol to
6209be referenced with weak-symbol semantics, but without actually making it weak.
6210If direct references or definitions of the symbol are present, then the symbol
6211will not be weak, but if all references to it are through weak references, the
6212symbol will be marked as weak in the symbol table.
6213
6214The effect is equivalent to moving all references to the alias to a separate
6215assembly source file, renaming the alias to the symbol in it, declaring the
6216symbol as weak there, and running a reloadable link to merge the object files
6217resulting from the assembly of the new source file and the old source file that
6218had the references to the alias removed.
6219
6220The alias itself never makes to the symbol table, and is entirely handled
6221within the assembler.
6222
252b5132
RH
6223@node Word
6224@section @code{.word @var{expressions}}
6225
6226@cindex @code{word} directive
6227This directive expects zero or more @var{expressions}, of any section,
6228separated by commas.
6229@ifclear GENERIC
6230@ifset W32
a4fb0134 6231For each expression, @command{@value{AS}} emits a 32-bit number.
252b5132
RH
6232@end ifset
6233@ifset W16
a4fb0134 6234For each expression, @command{@value{AS}} emits a 16-bit number.
252b5132
RH
6235@end ifset
6236@end ifclear
6237@ifset GENERIC
6238
6239The size of the number emitted, and its byte order,
6240depend on what target computer the assembly is for.
6241@end ifset
6242
6243@c on amd29k, i960, sparc the "special treatment to support compilers" doesn't
6244@c happen---32-bit addressability, period; no long/short jumps.
6245@ifset DIFF-TBL-KLUGE
6246@cindex difference tables altered
6247@cindex altered difference tables
6248@quotation
6249@emph{Warning: Special Treatment to support Compilers}
6250@end quotation
6251
6252@ifset GENERIC
6253Machines with a 32-bit address space, but that do less than 32-bit
6254addressing, require the following special treatment. If the machine of
6255interest to you does 32-bit addressing (or doesn't require it;
6256@pxref{Machine Dependencies}), you can ignore this issue.
6257
6258@end ifset
6259In order to assemble compiler output into something that works,
a4fb0134 6260@command{@value{AS}} occasionally does strange things to @samp{.word} directives.
252b5132 6261Directives of the form @samp{.word sym1-sym2} are often emitted by
a4fb0134 6262compilers as part of jump tables. Therefore, when @command{@value{AS}} assembles a
252b5132 6263directive of the form @samp{.word sym1-sym2}, and the difference between
a4fb0134 6264@code{sym1} and @code{sym2} does not fit in 16 bits, @command{@value{AS}}
252b5132
RH
6265creates a @dfn{secondary jump table}, immediately before the next label.
6266This secondary jump table is preceded by a short-jump to the
6267first byte after the secondary table. This short-jump prevents the flow
6268of control from accidentally falling into the new table. Inside the
6269table is a long-jump to @code{sym2}. The original @samp{.word}
6270contains @code{sym1} minus the address of the long-jump to
6271@code{sym2}.
6272
6273If there were several occurrences of @samp{.word sym1-sym2} before the
6274secondary jump table, all of them are adjusted. If there was a
6275@samp{.word sym3-sym4}, that also did not fit in sixteen bits, a
6276long-jump to @code{sym4} is included in the secondary jump table,
6277and the @code{.word} directives are adjusted to contain @code{sym3}
6278minus the address of the long-jump to @code{sym4}; and so on, for as many
6279entries in the original jump table as necessary.
6280
6281@ifset INTERNALS
a4fb0134 6282@emph{This feature may be disabled by compiling @command{@value{AS}} with the
252b5132
RH
6283@samp{-DWORKING_DOT_WORD} option.} This feature is likely to confuse
6284assembly language programmers.
6285@end ifset
6286@end ifset
6287@c end DIFF-TBL-KLUGE
6288
6289@node Deprecated
6290@section Deprecated Directives
6291
6292@cindex deprecated directives
6293@cindex obsolescent directives
6294One day these directives won't work.
6295They are included for compatibility with older assemblers.
6296@table @t
6297@item .abort
6298@item .line
6299@end table
6300
6301@ifset GENERIC
6302@node Machine Dependencies
6303@chapter Machine Dependent Features
6304
6305@cindex machine dependencies
6306The machine instruction sets are (almost by definition) different on
a4fb0134
SC
6307each machine where @command{@value{AS}} runs. Floating point representations
6308vary as well, and @command{@value{AS}} often supports a few additional
252b5132
RH
6309directives or command-line options for compatibility with other
6310assemblers on a particular platform. Finally, some versions of
a4fb0134 6311@command{@value{AS}} support special pseudo-instructions for branch
252b5132
RH
6312optimization.
6313
6314This chapter discusses most of these differences, though it does not
6315include details on any machine's instruction set. For details on that
6316subject, see the hardware manufacturer's manual.
6317
6318@menu
625e1353
RH
6319@ifset ALPHA
6320* Alpha-Dependent:: Alpha Dependent Features
6321@end ifset
252b5132
RH
6322@ifset ARC
6323* ARC-Dependent:: ARC Dependent Features
6324@end ifset
6325@ifset ARM
6326* ARM-Dependent:: ARM Dependent Features
6327@end ifset
8473f7a4
DC
6328@ifset AVR
6329* AVR-Dependent:: AVR Dependent Features
6330@end ifset
07c1b327
CM
6331@ifset BFIN
6332* BFIN-Dependent:: BFIN Dependent Features
6333@end ifset
8bf549a8 6334@ifset CRIS
328eb32e
HPN
6335* CRIS-Dependent:: CRIS Dependent Features
6336@end ifset
252b5132
RH
6337@ifset D10V
6338* D10V-Dependent:: D10V Dependent Features
6339@end ifset
6340@ifset D30V
6341* D30V-Dependent:: D30V Dependent Features
6342@end ifset
6343@ifset H8/300
c2dcd04e 6344* H8/300-Dependent:: Renesas H8/300 Dependent Features
252b5132 6345@end ifset
252b5132
RH
6346@ifset HPPA
6347* HPPA-Dependent:: HPPA Dependent Features
6348@end ifset
5b93d8bb
AM
6349@ifset I370
6350* ESA/390-Dependent:: IBM ESA/390 Dependent Features
6351@end ifset
252b5132 6352@ifset I80386
55b62671 6353* i386-Dependent:: Intel 80386 and AMD x86-64 Dependent Features
252b5132 6354@end ifset
e3308d0d
JE
6355@ifset I860
6356* i860-Dependent:: Intel 80860 Dependent Features
6357@end ifset
252b5132
RH
6358@ifset I960
6359* i960-Dependent:: Intel 80960 Dependent Features
6360@end ifset
5cb53c21
L
6361@ifset IA64
6362* IA-64-Dependent:: Intel IA-64 Dependent Features
6363@end ifset
a40cbfa3
NC
6364@ifset IP2K
6365* IP2K-Dependent:: IP2K Dependent Features
6366@end ifset
49f58d10
JB
6367@ifset M32C
6368* M32C-Dependent:: M32C Dependent Features
6369@end ifset
ec694b89
NC
6370@ifset M32R
6371* M32R-Dependent:: M32R Dependent Features
6372@end ifset
252b5132
RH
6373@ifset M680X0
6374* M68K-Dependent:: M680x0 Dependent Features
6375@end ifset
60bcf0fa
NC
6376@ifset M68HC11
6377* M68HC11-Dependent:: M68HC11 and 68HC12 Dependent Features
6378@end ifset
252b5132
RH
6379@ifset MIPS
6380* MIPS-Dependent:: MIPS Dependent Features
6381@end ifset
3c3bdf30
NC
6382@ifset MMIX
6383* MMIX-Dependent:: MMIX Dependent Features
6384@end ifset
2469cfa2
NC
6385@ifset MSP430
6386* MSP430-Dependent:: MSP430 Dependent Features
6387@end ifset
252b5132 6388@ifset SH
ef230218
JR
6389* SH-Dependent:: Renesas / SuperH SH Dependent Features
6390* SH64-Dependent:: SuperH SH64 Dependent Features
252b5132 6391@end ifset
e135f41b
NC
6392@ifset PDP11
6393* PDP-11-Dependent:: PDP-11 Dependent Features
6394@end ifset
041dd5a9
ILT
6395@ifset PJ
6396* PJ-Dependent:: picoJava Dependent Features
6397@end ifset
418c1742
MG
6398@ifset PPC
6399* PPC-Dependent:: PowerPC Dependent Features
6400@end ifset
252b5132
RH
6401@ifset SPARC
6402* Sparc-Dependent:: SPARC Dependent Features
6403@end ifset
39bec121
TW
6404@ifset TIC54X
6405* TIC54X-Dependent:: TI TMS320C54x Dependent Features
6406@end ifset
252b5132
RH
6407@ifset V850
6408* V850-Dependent:: V850 Dependent Features
6409@end ifset
e0001a05
NC
6410@ifset XTENSA
6411* Xtensa-Dependent:: Xtensa Dependent Features
6412@end ifset
3c9b82ba
NC
6413@ifset Z80
6414* Z80-Dependent:: Z80 Dependent Features
6415@end ifset
252b5132
RH
6416@ifset Z8000
6417* Z8000-Dependent:: Z8000 Dependent Features
6418@end ifset
6419@ifset VAX
6420* Vax-Dependent:: VAX Dependent Features
6421@end ifset
6422@end menu
6423
6424@lowersections
6425@end ifset
6426
6427@c The following major nodes are *sections* in the GENERIC version, *chapters*
6428@c in single-cpu versions. This is mainly achieved by @lowersections. There is a
6429@c peculiarity: to preserve cross-references, there must be a node called
6430@c "Machine Dependencies". Hence the conditional nodenames in each
6431@c major node below. Node defaulting in makeinfo requires adjacency of
6432@c node and sectioning commands; hence the repetition of @chapter BLAH
6433@c in both conditional blocks.
6434
625e1353
RH
6435@ifset ALPHA
6436@include c-alpha.texi
6437@end ifset
6438
6439@ifset ARC
6440@include c-arc.texi
6441@end ifset
6442
252b5132
RH
6443@ifset ARM
6444@include c-arm.texi
6445@end ifset
6446
8473f7a4
DC
6447@ifset AVR
6448@include c-avr.texi
6449@end ifset
6450
07c1b327
CM
6451@ifset BFIN
6452@include c-bfin.texi
6453@end ifset
6454
328eb32e
HPN
6455@ifset CRIS
6456@include c-cris.texi
6457@end ifset
6458
c2dcd04e 6459@ifset Renesas-all
252b5132
RH
6460@ifclear GENERIC
6461@node Machine Dependencies
6462@chapter Machine Dependent Features
6463
c2dcd04e 6464The machine instruction sets are different on each Renesas chip family,
252b5132 6465and there are also some syntax differences among the families. This
a4fb0134 6466chapter describes the specific @command{@value{AS}} features for each
252b5132
RH
6467family.
6468
6469@menu
c2dcd04e 6470* H8/300-Dependent:: Renesas H8/300 Dependent Features
c2dcd04e 6471* SH-Dependent:: Renesas SH Dependent Features
252b5132
RH
6472@end menu
6473@lowersections
6474@end ifclear
6475@end ifset
6476
6477@ifset D10V
6478@include c-d10v.texi
6479@end ifset
6480
6481@ifset D30V
6482@include c-d30v.texi
6483@end ifset
6484
6485@ifset H8/300
6486@include c-h8300.texi
6487@end ifset
6488
252b5132
RH
6489@ifset HPPA
6490@include c-hppa.texi
6491@end ifset
6492
5b93d8bb
AM
6493@ifset I370
6494@include c-i370.texi
6495@end ifset
6496
252b5132
RH
6497@ifset I80386
6498@include c-i386.texi
6499@end ifset
6500
e3308d0d
JE
6501@ifset I860
6502@include c-i860.texi
6503@end ifset
6504
252b5132
RH
6505@ifset I960
6506@include c-i960.texi
6507@end ifset
6508
9e32ca89
NC
6509@ifset IA64
6510@include c-ia64.texi
6511@end ifset
6512
a40cbfa3
NC
6513@ifset IP2K
6514@include c-ip2k.texi
6515@end ifset
6516
49f58d10
JB
6517@ifset M32C
6518@include c-m32c.texi
6519@end ifset
6520
ec694b89
NC
6521@ifset M32R
6522@include c-m32r.texi
6523@end ifset
252b5132
RH
6524
6525@ifset M680X0
6526@include c-m68k.texi
6527@end ifset
6528
60bcf0fa
NC
6529@ifset M68HC11
6530@include c-m68hc11.texi
6531@end ifset
6532
252b5132
RH
6533@ifset MIPS
6534@include c-mips.texi
6535@end ifset
6536
3c3bdf30
NC
6537@ifset MMIX
6538@include c-mmix.texi
6539@end ifset
6540
2469cfa2
NC
6541@ifset MSP430
6542@include c-msp430.texi
6543@end ifset
6544
252b5132
RH
6545@ifset NS32K
6546@include c-ns32k.texi
6547@end ifset
6548
e135f41b
NC
6549@ifset PDP11
6550@include c-pdp11.texi
6551@end ifset
6552
041dd5a9
ILT
6553@ifset PJ
6554@include c-pj.texi
6555@end ifset
6556
418c1742
MG
6557@ifset PPC
6558@include c-ppc.texi
6559@end ifset
6560
252b5132
RH
6561@ifset SH
6562@include c-sh.texi
324bfcf3 6563@include c-sh64.texi
252b5132
RH
6564@end ifset
6565
6566@ifset SPARC
6567@include c-sparc.texi
6568@end ifset
6569
39bec121
TW
6570@ifset TIC54X
6571@include c-tic54x.texi
6572@end ifset
6573
3c9b82ba
NC
6574@ifset Z80
6575@include c-z80.texi
6576@end ifset
6577
252b5132
RH
6578@ifset Z8000
6579@include c-z8k.texi
6580@end ifset
6581
6582@ifset VAX
6583@include c-vax.texi
6584@end ifset
6585
6586@ifset V850
6587@include c-v850.texi
6588@end ifset
6589
e0001a05
NC
6590@ifset XTENSA
6591@include c-xtensa.texi
6592@end ifset
6593
252b5132
RH
6594@ifset GENERIC
6595@c reverse effect of @down at top of generic Machine-Dep chapter
6596@raisesections
6597@end ifset
6598
6599@node Reporting Bugs
6600@chapter Reporting Bugs
6601@cindex bugs in assembler
6602@cindex reporting bugs in assembler
6603
a4fb0134 6604Your bug reports play an essential role in making @command{@value{AS}} reliable.
252b5132
RH
6605
6606Reporting a bug may help you by bringing a solution to your problem, or it may
6607not. But in any case the principal function of a bug report is to help the
a4fb0134
SC
6608entire community by making the next version of @command{@value{AS}} work better.
6609Bug reports are your contribution to the maintenance of @command{@value{AS}}.
252b5132
RH
6610
6611In order for a bug report to serve its purpose, you must include the
6612information that enables us to fix the bug.
6613
6614@menu
6615* Bug Criteria:: Have you found a bug?
6616* Bug Reporting:: How to report bugs
6617@end menu
6618
6619@node Bug Criteria
c1253627 6620@section Have You Found a Bug?
252b5132
RH
6621@cindex bug criteria
6622
6623If you are not sure whether you have found a bug, here are some guidelines:
6624
6625@itemize @bullet
6626@cindex fatal signal
6627@cindex assembler crash
6628@cindex crash of assembler
6629@item
6630If the assembler gets a fatal signal, for any input whatever, that is a
a4fb0134 6631@command{@value{AS}} bug. Reliable assemblers never crash.
252b5132
RH
6632
6633@cindex error on valid input
6634@item
a4fb0134 6635If @command{@value{AS}} produces an error message for valid input, that is a bug.
252b5132
RH
6636
6637@cindex invalid input
6638@item
a4fb0134 6639If @command{@value{AS}} does not produce an error message for invalid input, that
252b5132
RH
6640is a bug. However, you should note that your idea of ``invalid input'' might
6641be our idea of ``an extension'' or ``support for traditional practice''.
6642
6643@item
6644If you are an experienced user of assemblers, your suggestions for improvement
a4fb0134 6645of @command{@value{AS}} are welcome in any case.
252b5132
RH
6646@end itemize
6647
6648@node Bug Reporting
c1253627 6649@section How to Report Bugs
252b5132
RH
6650@cindex bug reports
6651@cindex assembler bugs, reporting
6652
6653A number of companies and individuals offer support for @sc{gnu} products. If
a4fb0134 6654you obtained @command{@value{AS}} from a support organization, we recommend you
252b5132
RH
6655contact that organization first.
6656
6657You can find contact information for many support companies and
6658individuals in the file @file{etc/SERVICE} in the @sc{gnu} Emacs
6659distribution.
6660
ad22bfe8 6661@ifset BUGURL
a4fb0134 6662In any event, we also recommend that you send bug reports for @command{@value{AS}}
ad22bfe8
JM
6663to @value{BUGURL}.
6664@end ifset
252b5132
RH
6665
6666The fundamental principle of reporting bugs usefully is this:
6667@strong{report all the facts}. If you are not sure whether to state a
6668fact or leave it out, state it!
6669
6670Often people omit facts because they think they know what causes the problem
6671and assume that some details do not matter. Thus, you might assume that the
6672name of a symbol you use in an example does not matter. Well, probably it does
6673not, but one cannot be sure. Perhaps the bug is a stray memory reference which
6674happens to fetch from the location where that name is stored in memory;
6675perhaps, if the name were different, the contents of that location would fool
6676the assembler into doing the right thing despite the bug. Play it safe and
6677give a specific, complete example. That is the easiest thing for you to do,
6678and the most helpful.
6679
6680Keep in mind that the purpose of a bug report is to enable us to fix the bug if
6681it is new to us. Therefore, always write your bug reports on the assumption
6682that the bug has not been reported previously.
6683
6684Sometimes people give a few sketchy facts and ask, ``Does this ring a
c1253627
NC
6685bell?'' This cannot help us fix a bug, so it is basically useless. We
6686respond by asking for enough details to enable us to investigate.
6687You might as well expedite matters by sending them to begin with.
252b5132
RH
6688
6689To enable us to fix the bug, you should include all these things:
6690
6691@itemize @bullet
6692@item
a4fb0134 6693The version of @command{@value{AS}}. @command{@value{AS}} announces it if you start
252b5132
RH
6694it with the @samp{--version} argument.
6695
6696Without this, we will not know whether there is any point in looking for
a4fb0134 6697the bug in the current version of @command{@value{AS}}.
252b5132
RH
6698
6699@item
a4fb0134 6700Any patches you may have applied to the @command{@value{AS}} source.
252b5132
RH
6701
6702@item
6703The type of machine you are using, and the operating system name and
6704version number.
6705
6706@item
a4fb0134 6707What compiler (and its version) was used to compile @command{@value{AS}}---e.g.
252b5132
RH
6708``@code{gcc-2.7}''.
6709
6710@item
6711The command arguments you gave the assembler to assemble your example and
6712observe the bug. To guarantee you will not omit something important, list them
6713all. A copy of the Makefile (or the output from make) is sufficient.
6714
6715If we were to try to guess the arguments, we would probably guess wrong
6716and then we might not encounter the bug.
6717
6718@item
6719A complete input file that will reproduce the bug. If the bug is observed when
6720the assembler is invoked via a compiler, send the assembler source, not the
6721high level language source. Most compilers will produce the assembler source
6722when run with the @samp{-S} option. If you are using @code{@value{GCC}}, use
6723the options @samp{-v --save-temps}; this will save the assembler source in a
6724file with an extension of @file{.s}, and also show you exactly how
a4fb0134 6725@command{@value{AS}} is being run.
252b5132
RH
6726
6727@item
6728A description of what behavior you observe that you believe is
6729incorrect. For example, ``It gets a fatal signal.''
6730
a4fb0134 6731Of course, if the bug is that @command{@value{AS}} gets a fatal signal, then we
252b5132
RH
6732will certainly notice it. But if the bug is incorrect output, we might not
6733notice unless it is glaringly wrong. You might as well not give us a chance to
6734make a mistake.
6735
6736Even if the problem you experience is a fatal signal, you should still say so
6737explicitly. Suppose something strange is going on, such as, your copy of
b45619c0 6738@command{@value{AS}} is out of sync, or you have encountered a bug in the C
252b5132
RH
6739library on your system. (This has happened!) Your copy might crash and ours
6740would not. If you told us to expect a crash, then when ours fails to crash, we
6741would know that the bug was not happening for us. If you had not told us to
6742expect a crash, then we would not be able to draw any conclusion from our
6743observations.
6744
6745@item
a4fb0134 6746If you wish to suggest changes to the @command{@value{AS}} source, send us context
252b5132
RH
6747diffs, as generated by @code{diff} with the @samp{-u}, @samp{-c}, or @samp{-p}
6748option. Always send diffs from the old file to the new file. If you even
a4fb0134 6749discuss something in the @command{@value{AS}} source, refer to it by context, not
252b5132
RH
6750by line number.
6751
6752The line numbers in our development sources will not match those in your
6753sources. Your line numbers would convey no useful information to us.
6754@end itemize
6755
6756Here are some things that are not necessary:
6757
6758@itemize @bullet
6759@item
6760A description of the envelope of the bug.
6761
6762Often people who encounter a bug spend a lot of time investigating
6763which changes to the input file will make the bug go away and which
6764changes will not affect it.
6765
6766This is often time consuming and not very useful, because the way we
6767will find the bug is by running a single example under the debugger
6768with breakpoints, not by pure deduction from a series of examples.
6769We recommend that you save your time for something else.
6770
6771Of course, if you can find a simpler example to report @emph{instead}
6772of the original one, that is a convenience for us. Errors in the
6773output will be easier to spot, running under the debugger will take
6774less time, and so on.
6775
6776However, simplification is not vital; if you do not want to do this,
6777report the bug anyway and send us the entire test case you used.
6778
6779@item
6780A patch for the bug.
6781
6782A patch for the bug does help us if it is a good one. But do not omit
6783the necessary information, such as the test case, on the assumption that
6784a patch is all we need. We might see problems with your patch and decide
6785to fix the problem another way, or we might not understand it at all.
6786
a4fb0134 6787Sometimes with a program as complicated as @command{@value{AS}} it is very hard to
252b5132
RH
6788construct an example that will make the program follow a certain path through
6789the code. If you do not send us the example, we will not be able to construct
6790one, so we will not be able to verify that the bug is fixed.
6791
6792And if we cannot understand what bug you are trying to fix, or why your
6793patch should be an improvement, we will not install it. A test case will
6794help us to understand.
6795
6796@item
6797A guess about what the bug is or what it depends on.
6798
6799Such guesses are usually wrong. Even we cannot guess right about such
6800things without first using the debugger to find the facts.
6801@end itemize
6802
6803@node Acknowledgements
6804@chapter Acknowledgements
6805
653cfe85 6806If you have contributed to GAS and your name isn't listed here,
252b5132
RH
6807it is not meant as a slight. We just don't know about it. Send mail to the
6808maintainer, and we'll correct the situation. Currently
6809@c (January 1994),
6810the maintainer is Ken Raeburn (email address @code{raeburn@@cygnus.com}).
6811
6812Dean Elsner wrote the original @sc{gnu} assembler for the VAX.@footnote{Any
6813more details?}
6814
6815Jay Fenlason maintained GAS for a while, adding support for GDB-specific debug
6816information and the 68k series machines, most of the preprocessing pass, and
6817extensive changes in @file{messages.c}, @file{input-file.c}, @file{write.c}.
6818
6819K. Richard Pixley maintained GAS for a while, adding various enhancements and
6820many bug fixes, including merging support for several processors, breaking GAS
6821up to handle multiple object file format back ends (including heavy rewrite,
6822testing, an integration of the coff and b.out back ends), adding configuration
6823including heavy testing and verification of cross assemblers and file splits
6824and renaming, converted GAS to strictly ANSI C including full prototypes, added
6825support for m680[34]0 and cpu32, did considerable work on i960 including a COFF
6826port (including considerable amounts of reverse engineering), a SPARC opcode
6827file rewrite, DECstation, rs6000, and hp300hpux host ports, updated ``know''
6828assertions and made them work, much other reorganization, cleanup, and lint.
6829
6830Ken Raeburn wrote the high-level BFD interface code to replace most of the code
6831in format-specific I/O modules.
6832
6833The original VMS support was contributed by David L. Kashtan. Eric Youngdale
6834has done much work with it since.
6835
6836The Intel 80386 machine description was written by Eliot Dresselhaus.
6837
6838Minh Tran-Le at IntelliCorp contributed some AIX 386 support.
6839
6840The Motorola 88k machine description was contributed by Devon Bowen of Buffalo
6841University and Torbjorn Granlund of the Swedish Institute of Computer Science.
6842
6843Keith Knowles at the Open Software Foundation wrote the original MIPS back end
6844(@file{tc-mips.c}, @file{tc-mips.h}), and contributed Rose format support
6845(which hasn't been merged in yet). Ralph Campbell worked with the MIPS code to
6846support a.out format.
6847
7be1c489
AM
6848Support for the Zilog Z8k and Renesas H8/300 processors (tc-z8k,
6849tc-h8300), and IEEE 695 object file format (obj-ieee), was written by
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RH
6850Steve Chamberlain of Cygnus Support. Steve also modified the COFF back end to
6851use BFD for some low-level operations, for use with the H8/300 and AMD 29k
6852targets.
6853
6854John Gilmore built the AMD 29000 support, added @code{.include} support, and
6855simplified the configuration of which versions accept which directives. He
6856updated the 68k machine description so that Motorola's opcodes always produced
c1253627 6857fixed-size instructions (e.g., @code{jsr}), while synthetic instructions
252b5132
RH
6858remained shrinkable (@code{jbsr}). John fixed many bugs, including true tested
6859cross-compilation support, and one bug in relaxation that took a week and
6860required the proverbial one-bit fix.
6861
6862Ian Lance Taylor of Cygnus Support merged the Motorola and MIT syntax for the
686368k, completed support for some COFF targets (68k, i386 SVR3, and SCO Unix),
6864added support for MIPS ECOFF and ELF targets, wrote the initial RS/6000 and
6865PowerPC assembler, and made a few other minor patches.
6866
653cfe85 6867Steve Chamberlain made GAS able to generate listings.
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RH
6868
6869Hewlett-Packard contributed support for the HP9000/300.
6870
6871Jeff Law wrote GAS and BFD support for the native HPPA object format (SOM)
6872along with a fairly extensive HPPA testsuite (for both SOM and ELF object
6873formats). This work was supported by both the Center for Software Science at
6874the University of Utah and Cygnus Support.
6875
6876Support for ELF format files has been worked on by Mark Eichin of Cygnus
6877Support (original, incomplete implementation for SPARC), Pete Hoogenboom and
6878Jeff Law at the University of Utah (HPPA mainly), Michael Meissner of the Open
6879Software Foundation (i386 mainly), and Ken Raeburn of Cygnus Support (sparc,
6880and some initial 64-bit support).
6881
c1253627 6882Linas Vepstas added GAS support for the ESA/390 ``IBM 370'' architecture.
5b93d8bb 6883
252b5132
RH
6884Richard Henderson rewrote the Alpha assembler. Klaus Kaempf wrote GAS and BFD
6885support for openVMS/Alpha.
6886
39bec121
TW
6887Timothy Wall, Michael Hayes, and Greg Smart contributed to the various tic*
6888flavors.
6889
e0001a05 6890David Heine, Sterling Augustine, Bob Wilson and John Ruttenberg from Tensilica,
b45619c0 6891Inc.@: added support for Xtensa processors.
e0001a05 6892
252b5132
RH
6893Several engineers at Cygnus Support have also provided many small bug fixes and
6894configuration enhancements.
6895
6896Many others have contributed large or small bugfixes and enhancements. If
6897you have contributed significant work and are not mentioned on this list, and
6898want to be, let us know. Some of the history has been lost; we are not
6899intentionally leaving anyone out.
6900
c1253627 6901@include fdl.texi
cf055d54 6902
370b66a1
CD
6903@node AS Index
6904@unnumbered AS Index
252b5132
RH
6905
6906@printindex cp
6907
6908@contents
6909@bye
6910@c Local Variables:
6911@c fill-column: 79
6912@c End: