How do I specify output sections in C files compiled using GCC?

Question

In assembly language I use .section directive to tell the assembler what section to output to e.g

.section init

Is there a way to do the same in C files. I want the code for some files to go into different section so I can load it to different memory address. I know I can create a script for ld and specify sections there but I dont want to do that. Is there some compiler switch or .section directive kind of thing for C files that will do this?

Similar to this question: stackoverflow.com/questions/3516398/…. — Matthew Iselin
– Matthew Iselin, Commented Jan 21, 2011 at 8:02

Matthew Iselin · Accepted Answer · 2011-01-21 07:50:30Z

18

There is:

__attribute__((section("section_name")))

So, for example:

void foo() __attribute__((section(".text_foo")));

....

void foo() {}

Would place foo in .text_foo

See here for more information.

answered Jan 21, 2011 at 7:50

Matthew Iselin

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8 Comments

binW Over a year ago

thanks but that is for one function only. I want some thing that will the same for complete C file

Artelius Over a year ago

Tip: you can use a macro to make it less ugly.

Matthew Iselin Over a year ago

@binW: frankly, the best way to do that is to use a linker script. From the GCC docs: "If you need to map the entire contents of a module to a particular section, consider using the facilities of the linker instead." (gcc.gnu.org/onlinedocs/gcc-4.4.5/gcc/Variable-Attributes.html)

Goswin von Brederlow Over a year ago

I have the same wish. But using attribute even with a macro is tiresome. Easy to forget for some static variable. And it might work without because a constant gets optimized away or suddenly break because it no longer does inline a function.

Tomer W Over a year ago

using the linker is good but i want the notion in the code! is there a way to set the entire module section by code annotation?

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