Thread: System programming question.

  1. #1
    Registered User kiss_psycho's Avatar
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    System programming question.

    I'd like to know whether the loader is a part of the operating system or the compiler. Also, is the loader architecture dependant? I mean, can there be two m/c's with different architecture and having the same executable headers, load the same program into memory using the same loader.
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    Redundantly Redundant RoD's Avatar
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    Can you rephrase? i dont quite follow, loader? m/c?

  3. #3
    Registered User kiss_psycho's Avatar
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    I mean the loader program that is used to load a program into core memory. It is system software and is used to transfer an object program into main memory after assembling by the assembler. Now is the loader a part of the Operating system or is it compiler dependant/ architecture dependant.

    O, by m/c, i meant machine (lingo problem i guess)
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    Redundantly Redundant RoD's Avatar
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    >>Now is the loader a part of the Operating system or is it compiler dependant/ architecture dependant

    Not compiler, either o/s, processor, or a combination of the two.

    >>I mean, can there be two m/c's with different architecture and having the same executable headers, load the same program into memory using the same loader.

    I dont see why not granted the o/s is the same.

  5. #5
    &TH of undefined behavior Fordy's Avatar
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    The loader itself would be part of the OS.....it would have its own responsibilities (memory mapping, import/export resolution...etc)

    Also each loader expects certian types of executables....for instance the windows version works with PE executables...which is based on the COFF format........I think linux uses a format called ELF...but I'm not familiar with it

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    Registered User kiss_psycho's Avatar
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    So when run is selected, the program is compiled, assembled by TASM, and then the OS loader is invoked. If this is the case, then why is it that with win2k, we cannot access more than the conventional memory of 640 Kb. If the windows loader was used, then the memory available to the program should have been the available RAM capacity. In TC++ (DOS ) I tried and tried but could not allocate memory beyond the conventional segment. Don't tell me the loader is program dependant too.

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  7. #7
    &TH of undefined behavior Fordy's Avatar
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    Your programs are a special case...if you use TASM.exe and TLINK.exe then your code is compiled for dos. (TASM32.exe and TLINK32.exe can produce fill Win32 applcations - but its not for the faint hearted!)

    When Windows sees a dos executable, it loads it to run in a "virtual machine"...that is, that it loads it into an environment where the dos program thinks it's running in dos...it thinks it has full access to the hardware and memory, but in fact its an emulation...that's why some dos programs work on windows 95, but some dont (some old dos games ask too much and so cant run properly in emulation mode)........so as you are not restricted from using dos tricks (well...some anyway), you still suffer from the 64KB memory access problem....

    Best bet....get Programming Windows by Charles Petzold and move to Win32.....

  8. #8
    Registered User kiss_psycho's Avatar
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    I cant lift that book, let alone skim over it. well think i have to move on, getting queasy out here in DOS land. but lemme design a compiler first.
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  9. #9
    &TH of undefined behavior Fordy's Avatar
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    Originally posted by kiss_psycho
    but lemme design a compiler first.
    LOL.....yeah....first things first huh?


  10. #10
    Registered User kiss_psycho's Avatar
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    Thats true, neway, got a lil game here. made it early years. its 640 480 bgi graphics, with a touch of userfriendliness using buttons, clicks, etc. check it out man.
    and yes, u gotta have the bgi folder in the .zip file in the path c:\tc

    i.e there should be in c:\tc\bgi all the bgi graphics files.
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