Microsoft PE and COFF Specification (http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/hardware/gg463119.aspx) says that the VirtualSize field of the section header "is valid only for executable images and
should be set to zero for object files". However Pelles C leaves random trash in this field. Here's a simple test:
static int foo; // It needs to be static to disable so called "tentative" definition.
int bar(void) {
return foo * 2 + 1;
}Quote from: pocc /c test.c && podump /HEADERS test.obj...cut...
SECTION #2
.bss name
18 virtual size
0 virtual address
4 size of raw data
0 offset to raw data
0 offset to relocation table
0 offset to line numbers
0 number of relocations
0 number of line numbers
...cut...
Microsoft C compiler behaves as per specification. However the value of this field seems to be ignored by both MS link.exe and Pelles polink.exe.
It is Pelles ISO C Compiler, Version 6.50.35 (Pelles C 6.50 RC4) on Windows XP SP3 (32-bit).
PS: IIRC Pelles C 6.00 didn't have this bug. If someone has that version installed please confiirm.