[SOLVED] How to get rid of linker option --gc-sections
lazarus / 34-Windows

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Nevada Smith · 2022-05-16 05:06

I am trying to statically link portaudio in Windows. I am using the
libportaudio.a file obtained through MSYS2. I had to jump through a
few hoops, but I am there, I think, almost.

Please note that I have specified -Xe option to use external linker.

The linker runs with the below options, but errors out, without any
specific message. It exits with a non-zero return code (%ERRORLEVEL%)
and the executable generate has a size of 0 bytes.


ld.exe -b pei-x86-64  --gc-sections  -s --subsystem windows
--entry=_WinMainCRTStartup    -o
D:\pdev\fpc\g_catbell\vc\src\catbell.exe
D:\pdev\fpc\g_catbell\vc\src\link.res


However, I have been able to link it successfully if I omit the flag
--gc-sections. The executable although not extensively tested, appears
to run fine.

I tried to use add --no-gc-sections through Project Options >
Compilation and Linknig > Pass options to linker with "-k" option, but
the command-line ends up having both --no-gc-sections and --gc-
sections, in that order, and the latter overrides the former (I
think).

Is there any way to get the flag --gc-sections omitted or overridden
through the IDE?  Or at least through lazbuild?

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Thaddy · 2022-05-16 05:52

For the external linker, a linker script can be  created, so maybe you
should edit that? Usually not recommended.
(-s option)
https://www.freepascal.org/docs-html/current/user/usersu71.html
https://www.freepascal.org/docs-
html/current/user/usersu15.html#x38-450005.1.4

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marcov · 2022-05-16 07:35

Disable smart linking.  (-XX)

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Nevada Smith · 2022-05-18 18:48

Adding -s (-sh) to Custom options worked. It created a ppas.bat and
stopped. I could then perform the actual linking on my own.