Ch4: Building

Question 1

What are the three steps of the compilation process

Answer 1

1. preprocessing
2. assembly code creation (compiling)
3. machine code creation (assembling)

Question 2

What happens during preprocessing

Answer 2

• goes thru each .c source file
• does text substitutions/other things necessary for compiling

Question 3

What happens during assembly code creation (compiling)

Answer 3

• compiler translates code into assembly code
• code is optimized in this stage

Question 4

What happens during machine code creation

Answer 4

• take assembly code and assemble it into machine code (.o files)
• machine code send commands to CPU directly

Question 5

What happens during linking

Answer 5

• object files are linked tgt to form final executable
• resolves external function addresses
• lets code use library functions

Question 6

What are the gcc commands for assembling and linking

Answer 6

gcc -c generates object files
gcc -o to link .o files (machine code)

Question 7

What are the first two lines of a makefile

Answer 7

1st line indicates dependencies, all object files that need to be compiled
2st line builds executable by linking the necessary .o files