Object Code Format

Elf

• allows arbitrary sections / data (and can write details about)

• stack trace

• I/O ports

• does not allow sections with overlapping addresses (implementation issue)

Custom

• more design work

• easier to write loader

Current thoughts:

• ELF allows me to bundle OS with user program, meaning terminal version can use the correct OS easily.

• ELF means I have to smash my object code into a pre-defined format.

• Custom object code format is novel design work (for which I already have a limited budget)

• Custom object code format may allow easy expression of simulator-specific data types

• ELF allows use of standard tools to dissect object code

• ELF is easy to link (once I write a linker)