compile_link.sh

Links all object files and libraries into the final kernel binary.

Overview

compile_link.sh collects every .o object file in lib/, locates libgcc for i386, and invokes the GNU linker (ld) to produce bin/kernel.bin. The linker script toolchain/linker.script controls the memory layout of the resulting binary.

Prerequisites

• ld (GNU linker) and gcc must be available.
• All object files must have been produced by prior build steps (compile_stub.sh, compile_sources.sh).
• lib/liblvgl.a must exist (produced by compile_lvgl.sh).
• toolchain/linker.script must exist.
• The bin/ output directory must exist.

Inputs

Source	Description
lib/*.o	All ELF object files (boot stub, Pascal units, splash screen, etc.).
lib/liblvgl.a	Static LVGL library archive.
libgcc (system)	GCC runtime support library for i386, located via gcc -m32 -print-libgcc-file-name.
toolchain/linker.script	Linker script defining section layout and entry point.

Outputs

File	Description
bin/kernel.bin	The final linked, stripped kernel binary.

Behavior

1. Collects all .o files from lib/, excluding lib/stub.o from the general list.
2. Prepends lib/stub.o to the front of the object list so the boot entry point is linked first.
3. Locates libgcc for the 32-bit target using gcc -m32 -print-libgcc-file-name.
4. Invokes ld with the following flags:
5. -m elf_i386 -- Target i386 ELF format.
6. -s -- Strip all symbol information.
7. --gc-sections -- Remove unused sections (works with FPC's -CX -XXs smart-linking).
8. -T toolchain/linker.script -- Use the project linker script.
9. --start-group / --end-group -- Wraps liblvgl.a and libgcc to resolve circular references between them.

Notes

• stub.o must be first in the link order because it contains the multiboot header and the initial entry point that GRUB transfers control to.
• The --start-group / --end-group construct allows the linker to iterate over liblvgl.a and libgcc multiple times to resolve all symbols, which is necessary when C library objects have mutual dependencies.