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[doc,committed] __attribute__((aligned)) linker restrictions

Message ID ad31f7cc-c463-bf5d-3761-0e7dad2d9c22@codesourcery.com
State New
Headers show
Series [doc,committed] __attribute__((aligned)) linker restrictions | expand

Commit Message

Sandra Loosemore Nov. 15, 2018, 3:02 a.m. UTC
I've checked in this patch for PR 56334, following the recommendation in 
comment 1 in that issue to

* distinguish between stack-allocated and statically-allocated variables
* mention object file format restrictions and not just blame it on the 
linker.

-Sandra
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Patch

Index: gcc/doc/extend.texi
===================================================================
--- gcc/doc/extend.texi	(revision 266169)
+++ gcc/doc/extend.texi	(working copy)
@@ -2396,7 +2396,8 @@  alignment this overrides the effect of t
 function.
 
 Note that the effectiveness of @code{aligned} attributes may be
-limited by inherent limitations in your linker.  On many systems, the
+limited by inherent limitations in the system linker 
+and/or object file format.  On some systems, the
 linker is only able to arrange for functions to be aligned up to a
 certain maximum alignment.  (For some linkers, the maximum supported
 alignment may be very very small.)  See your linker documentation for
@@ -6132,8 +6133,9 @@  attribute must be specified as well.  Wh
 @code{aligned} attribute can both increase and decrease alignment, and
 specifying the @code{packed} attribute generates a warning.
 
-Note that the effectiveness of @code{aligned} attributes may be limited
-by inherent limitations in your linker.  On many systems, the linker is
+Note that the effectiveness of @code{aligned} attributes for static
+variables may be limited by inherent limitations in the system linker
+and/or object file format.  On some systems, the linker is
 only able to arrange for variables to be aligned up to a certain maximum
 alignment.  (For some linkers, the maximum supported alignment may
 be very very small.)  If your linker is only able to align variables
@@ -6141,6 +6143,9 @@  up to a maximum of 8-byte alignment, the
 in an @code{__attribute__} still only provides you with 8-byte
 alignment.  See your linker documentation for further information.
 
+Stack variables are not affected by linker restrictions; GCC can properly
+align them on any target.
+
 The @code{aligned} attribute can also be used for functions
 (@pxref{Common Function Attributes}.)