Method for efficient external reference resolution in dynamically linked shared code libraries in single address space operating systems

摘要

A system and method for resolving external references in single address space operating systems using client context based external reference resolution. The source code of a shared library module is analyzed during compilation and external references (exported variables and functions) identified. The compiler adds code to resolve the external reference based on a Global Offset Table (GOT) for each client instance of that library. The client instance maintains a global context area address register (GCR) that is combined with a library module offset value to define a real address in the single address space. Only the offset resolution code is fixed by the loader at load-time. The remaining module code is unchanged by the loader. The loader constructs a global context area for each client process as it is loaded and loads the address of that area into the Global Context Register for that process.