RFC: Sort input section by list

[Nick Clifton]

Hi Arjan,

> a customized linker script depends on which exact gcc is used.
> it's also effectively impossible to use in an autoconf/automake/libtool 
> world.
> 
> While just putting in a file with a list of names is a ton easier for 
> the upstream or package developer.... while just keeping all the rest
 > of linker scripts and compiler interactions as is.

But a linker script fragment would be OK, right ?  (Since this 
essentially what HJ is proposing).

>> What is the real purpose of this feature ?  Ie do you know why it has 
>> been requested ?  The implication of the example you have given is 
>> that the user wants to put certain name-mangled functions at the start 
>> of the .text section, but why ?
> 
> because it allows the developer to put the commonly used functions at 
> the start of the file, improving density in the page cache for example, 
 > and generally improving  startup time. (less pagefaults and less
> TLB pressure)

But surely this could be done with gcc's section name function attribute 
without requiring any alterations to the linker ?

Cheers
   Nick