Purpose of the Linker

The purpose of the BL51 Linker is to:

• Link object modules generated by the assembler and compiler.
• Link object modules stored in library files generated with LIB51.
• Build real-time applications that use the RTX51 real-time kernels.

To accomplish these objectives, the linker combines object modules and resolves references between them. This allows you to create large programs spread over a number of source modules, object modules, and libraries.

In operation, the BL51 Linker:

• Combines relocatable program modules into a single absolute module.
• Automatically includes modules from library files.
• Combines relocatable partial segments (with the same name) into a single segment.
• Allocates and manipulates the necessary memory for all relocatable and absolute segments.
• Analyzes program structure and manipulates data using overlay techniques.
• Resolves external symbols and public symbols.
• Defines absolute addresses and computes the addresses of relocatable segments.
• Produces an absolute object file that contains the entire program.
• Produces a listing file that contains:
  • Information about the link/locate process,
  • Program symbols,
  • A cross-reference of external and public symbols.
• Detects errors found on the command-line or during the link/locate process.
• Supports the RTX51 and RTX51 Tiny Real-Time Kernels.