zerosize result

[Ian Lance Taylor]

Nick Clifton <nickc@redhat.com> writes:

> A simple patch to fix this is shown below - it causes the 'already
> defined' symbol message to be an ordinary error, not a fatal error.
> 
> This is not a real solution however as there are lots of other
> potential ways that the assembler could encounter a fatal error, and
> so leave an empty, or only partially filled, object file behind.
> 
> Another solution would be to have the fatal error handler delete any
> output file.  The second patch below does this.
> 
> I am opening this discussion up to the binutils mailing list, before
> applying either patch, in case anyone else has anything they wish to
> add.

I think both patches are appropriate.  I never understood why
redefining a symbol should be a fatal error.  And I think we should
certainly delete the output file on a fatal error.  If you want the
assembler to crash really hard, that's what abort/as_abort is for.

Ian