Introduction to the 'x86_64-linux-gnu-size' Command

x86_64-linux-gnu-size - A Comprehensive Guide

Introduction to the Command

The x86_64-linux-gnu-size command is a tool for displaying the size of individual sections and total size of object files and executables. It is a part of the GNU Binutils project and is available on most Linux platforms. It is used to analyze the size of object files and executables, and to compare the size of different versions of the same program.

Basic Usage and Syntax

The basic syntax for the x86_64-linux-gnu-size command is as follows:

x86_64-linux-gnu-size [options] [file]

The command takes two arguments: an optional list of options and a required file name. The file name can be either an object file or an executable.

Examples of Common Use Cases

• To display the size of an object file:

  x86_64-linux-gnu-size my_object_file.o

• To display the size of an executable:

  x86_64-linux-gnu-size my_executable

• To compare the size of two different versions of the same program:

  x86_64-linux-gnu-size old_version new_version

Advanced Options and Flags

The x86_64-linux-gnu-size command supports a number of advanced options and flags. These include:

• --format=format : specifies the output format. Valid formats are b (binary), o (octal), d (decimal), and x (hexadecimal).
• --radix=radix : specifies the radix for the output. Valid radices are 8 (octal), 10 (decimal), and 16 (hexadecimal).
• -A : displays the size of all sections in the file.
• -B : displays the size of the BSS section in the file.
• -D : displays the size of the data section in the file.
• -T : displays the size of the text section in the file.
• -t : displays the total size of the file.

Examples in Real-World Scenarios

The x86_64-linux-gnu-size command can be used in a variety of real-world scenarios. Here are a few examples:

• To compare the size of two different versions of a program:

  x86_64-linux-gnu-size old_version new_version

• To check the size of a shared library:

  x86_64-linux-gnu-size -t my_shared_library.so

• To check the size of an executable:

  x86_64-linux-gnu-size my_executable

• To display the size of the text section in an object file:

  x86_64-linux-gnu-size -T my_object_file.o

Troubleshooting Tips and Potential Errors

When using the x86_64-linux-gnu-size command, it is important to keep the following tips and potential errors in mind:

• Make sure to specify the correct file name when running the command.
• If the command is not found, make sure that the GNU Binutils package is installed on your system.
• If an error occurs, make sure to check the command-line arguments and the output format.