LINKING AND RELOCATION

Remember: What is the main purpose of a linker?

• a. To combine source files into one
• b. To convert machine code into source code
• c. To perform program analysis
• d. To compile code

Remember: Which of the following is NOT a relocation type?

• a. Absolute
• b. PC-relative
• c. Base-relative
• d. Stack-relative

Remember: Which of the following describes dynamic linking?

• a. Linking at compile-time
• b. Linking at load-time
• c. Linking at runtime
• d. Linking after program termination

Understand: What is the difference between static linking and dynamic linking?

• a. Static linking happens at runtime while dynamic linking happens at compile-time
• b. Static linking combines all necessary code into one executable file while dynamic linking loads external libraries at runtime
• c. Static linking only links external libraries while dynamic linking also links object files
• d. Static linking is performed by the operating system while dynamic linking is performed by the compiler

Understand: What is the purpose of a relocation table?

• a. To store the names of all linked libraries
• b. To store the addresses of all linked functions
• c. To store the addresses of all external symbols
• d. To store the addresses of all relocated sections

Understand: What is a symbol table in a linker?

• a. A table that contains information about the memory layout of a program
• b. A table that maps symbols to their corresponding memory addresses
• c. A table that stores the names of all linked libraries
• d. A table that stores the addresses of all external symbols

Apply: Suppose a program references a function in an external library. Which relocation type should be used to update the function's address during linking?

• a. Absolute
• b. PC-relative
• c. Base-relative
• d. Relative to the load module

Apply: Given two object files, how does a linker determine which symbols are defined in which object file?

• a. By looking at the symbol table
• b. By performing a lexical analysis of the source code
• c. By running a program analysis on the object files
• d. By performing a type check on the symbols

Analyze: What is the advantage of dynamic linking over static linking?

• a. Dynamic linking results in faster program execution
• b. Dynamic linking reduces program size
• c. Dynamic linking allows for easier program updates
• d. Dynamic linking results in less memory fragmentation

Analyze: Why might a program need to be relocated during loading?

• a. To make sure that all external symbols are resolved correctly
• b. To allow for better memory usage
• c. To reduce program size
• d. To make the program more secure