The linker can produce the following output:

• An absolute executable image

  The final output produced by the linker is an absolute object file containing the executable image that can be put into an EPROM, downloaded to a hardware emulator, or executed on your PC using the IAR C-SPY Debugger Simulator. By default, the file has the filename extension out. The output format is always in ELF, which optionally includes debug information in the DWARF format.

• Optional logging information

  During operation, the linker logs its decisions on stdout, and optionally to a file. For example, if a library is searched, whether a required symbol is found in a library module, or whether a module will be part of the output. Timing information for each ILINK subsystem is also logged.

• Optional map files

  A linker map file—containing summaries of linkage, runtime attributes, memory, and placement, as well as an entry list— can be generated by the linker option --map, see ‑‑map. By default, the map file has the filename extension map.

• Diagnostic messages

  Diagnostic messages are directed to stderr and displayed on the screen, as well as printed in the optional map file. For more information about diagnostic messages, see Diagnostics.

• Error return codes

  The linker returns status information to the operating system which can be tested in a batch file, see Error return codes.

• Size information about used memory and amount of time

  Information about the generated number of bytes for functions and data for each memory is directed to stdout and displayed on the screen.