Date: Mon, 11 Jan 1999 13:24:01 -0800 (PST) From: Matthew Dillon <dillon@apollo.backplane.com> To: bush doctor <dervish@bantu.cl.msu.edu> Cc: hackers@FreeBSD.ORG Subject: Re: What are the advantages of ELF kernels? Message-ID: <199901112124.NAA97427@apollo.backplane.com>
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:> Better compatibility with and portability to/from linux.
:>
:> Of course, there are lots of reasons for going with ELF - ELF has a much
:> more consistent shared library scheme, for one. But describing them in
:> terms that a non-computer-geek would understand is like walkinging off a
:> cliff blindfolded.
:That's ok, My boss, my coworker and myself make up the systems programming staff,
:so we're not afraid of tech talk. So does having an ELF kernel provide better
:support for elf shared libraries and elf binaries because it's elf also?
Not really. An ELF kernel should make kernel modules easier ( the new KLD
stuff verses the old modload stuff ), but it has nothing to do with
being able to run ELF binaries.
ELF has been around for a long time. It has slightly more run-time
overhead then a.out ( but this can be optimized ). ELF is designed
to more directly support shared libraries and dynamic loading where
as a.out was hacked to support shared libraries and dynamic loading.
ELF also has core features useful to object oriented languages such as C++.
For example, initialization domains.
I always like to say: ELF is on par with the Amiga's object/link/binary
format. It's nice to see UNIX finally catch up. <GRIN>!
But, most importantly, there has been a general trend towards ELF in the
last decade and getting on that bandwagon is important, especially if we
want to maintain native compatibility with Linux and other operating
systems. The importance of maintaining compatibility cannot be
underestimated.
-Matt
Matthew Dillon Engineering, HiWay Technologies, Inc. & BEST Internet
Communications & God knows what else.
<dillon@backplane.com> (Please include original email in any response)
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