The Common Object File Format (COFF) is a specification of a format for executable, object code, and shared library computer files used on Unix systems. It was introduced in Unix System V, and formed the basis for extended specifications such as XCOFF and ECOFF, before being largely replaced by ELF, introduced with SVR4. COFF and its variants continue to be used on some Unix-like systems and on Microsoft Windows.
The original Unix object file for...
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The Common Object File Format (COFF) is a specification of a format for executable, object code, and shared library computer files used on Unix systems. It was introduced in Unix System V, and formed the basis for extended specifications such as XCOFF and ECOFF, before being largely replaced by ELF, introduced with SVR4. COFF and its variants continue to be used on some Unix-like systems and on Microsoft Windows.
The original Unix object file format a.out is a very simple design, unable to adequately support, for example, symbolic debugging information and shared libraries. As development of Unix-like systems continued both inside and outside AT&T;, different solutions to these and other issues emerged.
COFF was introduced in AT&T;'s UNIX System V for non-VAX 32-bit platforms such as the 3B20. Improvements over the existing AT&T; a.out format included built-in support for symbolic debugging information, shared libraries, and an extension mechanism.
However, while COFF was an...
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