1 @c Copyright 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005,
2 @c 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
3 @c This is part of the GAS manual.
4 @c For copying conditions, see the file as.texinfo.
9 @chapter ARM Dependent Features
13 @node Machine Dependencies
14 @chapter ARM Dependent Features
20 * ARM Options:: Options
22 * ARM Floating Point:: Floating Point
23 * ARM Directives:: ARM Machine Directives
24 * ARM Opcodes:: Opcodes
25 * ARM Mapping Symbols:: Mapping Symbols
26 * ARM Unwinding Tutorial:: Unwinding
31 @cindex ARM options (none)
32 @cindex options for ARM (none)
36 @cindex @code{-mcpu=} command line option, ARM
37 @item -mcpu=@var{processor}[+@var{extension}@dots{}]
38 This option specifies the target processor. The assembler will issue an
39 error message if an attempt is made to assemble an instruction which
40 will not execute on the target processor. The following processor names are
85 @code{fa526} (Faraday FA526 processor),
86 @code{fa626} (Faraday FA626 processor),
105 @code{fa606te} (Faraday FA606TE processor),
106 @code{fa616te} (Faraday FA616TE processor),
107 @code{fa626te} (Faraday FA626TE processor),
108 @code{fmp626} (Faraday FMP626 processor),
109 @code{fa726te} (Faraday FA726TE processor),
129 @code{ep9312} (ARM920 with Cirrus Maverick coprocessor),
130 @code{i80200} (Intel XScale processor)
131 @code{iwmmxt} (Intel(r) XScale processor with Wireless MMX(tm) technology coprocessor)
134 The special name @code{all} may be used to allow the
135 assembler to accept instructions valid for any ARM processor.
137 In addition to the basic instruction set, the assembler can be told to
138 accept various extension mnemonics that extend the processor using the
139 co-processor instruction space. For example, @code{-mcpu=arm920+maverick}
140 is equivalent to specifying @code{-mcpu=ep9312}.
142 Multiple extensions may be specified, separated by a @code{+}. The
143 extensions should be specified in ascending alphabetical order.
145 Some extensions may be restricted to particular architectures; this is
146 documented in the list of extensions below.
148 Extension mnemonics may also be removed from those the assembler accepts.
149 This is done be prepending @code{no} to the option that adds the extension.
150 Extensions that are removed should be listed after all extensions which have
151 been added, again in ascending alphabetical order. For example,
152 @code{-mcpu=ep9312+nomaverick} is equivalent to specifying @code{-mcpu=arm920}.
155 The following extensions are currently supported:
156 @code{idiv}, (Integer Divide Extensions for v7-A and v7-R architectures),
160 @code{mp} (Multiprocessing Extensions for v7-A and v7-R architectures),
161 @code{os} (Operating System for v6M architecture),
162 @code{sec} (Security Extensions for v6K and v7-A architectures),
163 @code{virt} (Virtualization Extensions for v7-A architecture, implies
168 @cindex @code{-march=} command line option, ARM
169 @item -march=@var{architecture}[+@var{extension}@dots{}]
170 This option specifies the target architecture. The assembler will issue
171 an error message if an attempt is made to assemble an instruction which
172 will not execute on the target architecture. The following architecture
173 names are recognized:
204 If both @code{-mcpu} and
205 @code{-march} are specified, the assembler will use
206 the setting for @code{-mcpu}.
208 The architecture option can be extended with the same instruction set
209 extension options as the @code{-mcpu} option.
211 @cindex @code{-mfpu=} command line option, ARM
212 @item -mfpu=@var{floating-point-format}
214 This option specifies the floating point format to assemble for. The
215 assembler will issue an error message if an attempt is made to assemble
216 an instruction which will not execute on the target floating point unit.
217 The following format options are recognized:
237 @code{vfpv3-d16-fp16},
251 In addition to determining which instructions are assembled, this option
252 also affects the way in which the @code{.double} assembler directive behaves
253 when assembling little-endian code.
255 The default is dependent on the processor selected. For Architecture 5 or
256 later, the default is to assembler for VFP instructions; for earlier
257 architectures the default is to assemble for FPA instructions.
259 @cindex @code{-mthumb} command line option, ARM
261 This option specifies that the assembler should start assembling Thumb
262 instructions; that is, it should behave as though the file starts with a
263 @code{.code 16} directive.
265 @cindex @code{-mthumb-interwork} command line option, ARM
266 @item -mthumb-interwork
267 This option specifies that the output generated by the assembler should
268 be marked as supporting interworking.
270 @cindex @code{-mimplicit-it} command line option, ARM
271 @item -mimplicit-it=never
272 @itemx -mimplicit-it=always
273 @itemx -mimplicit-it=arm
274 @itemx -mimplicit-it=thumb
275 The @code{-mimplicit-it} option controls the behavior of the assembler when
276 conditional instructions are not enclosed in IT blocks.
277 There are four possible behaviors.
278 If @code{never} is specified, such constructs cause a warning in ARM
279 code and an error in Thumb-2 code.
280 If @code{always} is specified, such constructs are accepted in both
281 ARM and Thumb-2 code, where the IT instruction is added implicitly.
282 If @code{arm} is specified, such constructs are accepted in ARM code
283 and cause an error in Thumb-2 code.
284 If @code{thumb} is specified, such constructs cause a warning in ARM
285 code and are accepted in Thumb-2 code. If you omit this option, the
286 behavior is equivalent to @code{-mimplicit-it=arm}.
288 @cindex @code{-mapcs-26} command line option, ARM
289 @cindex @code{-mapcs-32} command line option, ARM
292 These options specify that the output generated by the assembler should
293 be marked as supporting the indicated version of the Arm Procedure.
296 @cindex @code{-matpcs} command line option, ARM
298 This option specifies that the output generated by the assembler should
299 be marked as supporting the Arm/Thumb Procedure Calling Standard. If
300 enabled this option will cause the assembler to create an empty
301 debugging section in the object file called .arm.atpcs. Debuggers can
302 use this to determine the ABI being used by.
304 @cindex @code{-mapcs-float} command line option, ARM
306 This indicates the floating point variant of the APCS should be
307 used. In this variant floating point arguments are passed in FP
308 registers rather than integer registers.
310 @cindex @code{-mapcs-reentrant} command line option, ARM
311 @item -mapcs-reentrant
312 This indicates that the reentrant variant of the APCS should be used.
313 This variant supports position independent code.
315 @cindex @code{-mfloat-abi=} command line option, ARM
316 @item -mfloat-abi=@var{abi}
317 This option specifies that the output generated by the assembler should be
318 marked as using specified floating point ABI.
319 The following values are recognized:
325 @cindex @code{-eabi=} command line option, ARM
326 @item -meabi=@var{ver}
327 This option specifies which EABI version the produced object files should
329 The following values are recognized:
335 @cindex @code{-EB} command line option, ARM
337 This option specifies that the output generated by the assembler should
338 be marked as being encoded for a big-endian processor.
340 @cindex @code{-EL} command line option, ARM
342 This option specifies that the output generated by the assembler should
343 be marked as being encoded for a little-endian processor.
345 @cindex @code{-k} command line option, ARM
346 @cindex PIC code generation for ARM
348 This option specifies that the output of the assembler should be marked
349 as position-independent code (PIC).
351 @cindex @code{--fix-v4bx} command line option, ARM
353 Allow @code{BX} instructions in ARMv4 code. This is intended for use with
354 the linker option of the same name.
356 @cindex @code{-mwarn-deprecated} command line option, ARM
357 @item -mwarn-deprecated
358 @itemx -mno-warn-deprecated
359 Enable or disable warnings about using deprecated options or
360 features. The default is to warn.
368 * ARM-Instruction-Set:: Instruction Set
369 * ARM-Chars:: Special Characters
370 * ARM-Regs:: Register Names
371 * ARM-Relocations:: Relocations
372 * ARM-Neon-Alignment:: NEON Alignment Specifiers
375 @node ARM-Instruction-Set
376 @subsection Instruction Set Syntax
377 Two slightly different syntaxes are support for ARM and THUMB
378 instructions. The default, @code{divided}, uses the old style where
379 ARM and THUMB instructions had their own, separate syntaxes. The new,
380 @code{unified} syntax, which can be selected via the @code{.syntax}
381 directive, and has the following main features:
385 Immediate operands do not require a @code{#} prefix.
388 The @code{IT} instruction may appear, and if it does it is validated
389 against subsequent conditional affixes. In ARM mode it does not
390 generate machine code, in THUMB mode it does.
393 For ARM instructions the conditional affixes always appear at the end
394 of the instruction. For THUMB instructions conditional affixes can be
395 used, but only inside the scope of an @code{IT} instruction.
398 All of the instructions new to the V6T2 architecture (and later) are
399 available. (Only a few such instructions can be written in the
400 @code{divided} syntax).
403 The @code{.N} and @code{.W} suffixes are recognized and honored.
406 All instructions set the flags if and only if they have an @code{s}
411 @subsection Special Characters
413 @cindex line comment character, ARM
414 @cindex ARM line comment character
415 The presence of a @samp{@@} anywhere on a line indicates the start of
416 a comment that extends to the end of that line.
418 If a @samp{#} appears as the first character of a line then the whole
419 line is treated as a comment, but in this case the line could also be
420 a logical line number directive (@pxref{Comments}) or a preprocessor
421 control command (@pxref{Preprocessing}).
423 @cindex line separator, ARM
424 @cindex statement separator, ARM
425 @cindex ARM line separator
426 The @samp{;} character can be used instead of a newline to separate
429 @cindex immediate character, ARM
430 @cindex ARM immediate character
431 Either @samp{#} or @samp{$} can be used to indicate immediate operands.
433 @cindex identifiers, ARM
434 @cindex ARM identifiers
435 *TODO* Explain about /data modifier on symbols.
438 @subsection Register Names
440 @cindex ARM register names
441 @cindex register names, ARM
442 *TODO* Explain about ARM register naming, and the predefined names.
444 @node ARM-Neon-Alignment
445 @subsection NEON Alignment Specifiers
447 @cindex alignment for NEON instructions
448 Some NEON load/store instructions allow an optional address
450 The ARM documentation specifies that this is indicated by
451 @samp{@@ @var{align}}. However GAS already interprets
452 the @samp{@@} character as a "line comment" start,
453 so @samp{: @var{align}} is used instead. For example:
456 vld1.8 @{q0@}, [r0, :128]
459 @node ARM Floating Point
460 @section Floating Point
462 @cindex floating point, ARM (@sc{ieee})
463 @cindex ARM floating point (@sc{ieee})
464 The ARM family uses @sc{ieee} floating-point numbers.
466 @node ARM-Relocations
467 @subsection ARM relocation generation
469 @cindex data relocations, ARM
470 @cindex ARM data relocations
471 Specific data relocations can be generated by putting the relocation name
472 in parentheses after the symbol name. For example:
478 This will generate an @samp{R_ARM_TARGET1} relocation against the symbol
480 The following relocations are supported:
496 For compatibility with older toolchains the assembler also accepts
497 @code{(PLT)} after branch targets. On legacy targets this will
498 generate the deprecated @samp{R_ARM_PLT32} relocation. On EABI
499 targets it will encode either the @samp{R_ARM_CALL} or
500 @samp{R_ARM_JUMP24} relocation, as appropriate.
502 @cindex MOVW and MOVT relocations, ARM
503 Relocations for @samp{MOVW} and @samp{MOVT} instructions can be generated
504 by prefixing the value with @samp{#:lower16:} and @samp{#:upper16}
505 respectively. For example to load the 32-bit address of foo into r0:
508 MOVW r0, #:lower16:foo
509 MOVT r0, #:upper16:foo
513 @section ARM Machine Directives
515 @cindex machine directives, ARM
516 @cindex ARM machine directives
519 @c AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
521 @cindex @code{.2byte} directive, ARM
522 @cindex @code{.4byte} directive, ARM
523 @cindex @code{.8byte} directive, ARM
524 @item .2byte @var{expression} [, @var{expression}]*
525 @itemx .4byte @var{expression} [, @var{expression}]*
526 @itemx .8byte @var{expression} [, @var{expression}]*
527 These directives write 2, 4 or 8 byte values to the output section.
529 @cindex @code{.align} directive, ARM
530 @item .align @var{expression} [, @var{expression}]
531 This is the generic @var{.align} directive. For the ARM however if the
532 first argument is zero (ie no alignment is needed) the assembler will
533 behave as if the argument had been 2 (ie pad to the next four byte
534 boundary). This is for compatibility with ARM's own assembler.
536 @cindex @code{.arch} directive, ARM
537 @item .arch @var{name}
538 Select the target architecture. Valid values for @var{name} are the same as
539 for the @option{-march} commandline option.
541 Specifying @code{.arch} clears any previously selected architecture
544 @cindex @code{.arch_extension} directive, ARM
545 @item .arch_extension @var{name}
546 Add or remove an architecture extension to the target architecture. Valid
547 values for @var{name} are the same as those accepted as architectural
548 extensions by the @option{-mcpu} commandline option.
550 @code{.arch_extension} may be used multiple times to add or remove extensions
551 incrementally to the architecture being compiled for.
553 @cindex @code{.arm} directive, ARM
555 This performs the same action as @var{.code 32}.
558 @cindex @code{.pad} directive, ARM
559 @item .pad #@var{count}
560 Generate unwinder annotations for a stack adjustment of @var{count} bytes.
561 A positive value indicates the function prologue allocated stack space by
562 decrementing the stack pointer.
564 @c BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB
566 @cindex @code{.bss} directive, ARM
568 This directive switches to the @code{.bss} section.
570 @c CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC
572 @cindex @code{.cantunwind} directive, ARM
574 Prevents unwinding through the current function. No personality routine
575 or exception table data is required or permitted.
577 @cindex @code{.code} directive, ARM
578 @item .code @code{[16|32]}
579 This directive selects the instruction set being generated. The value 16
580 selects Thumb, with the value 32 selecting ARM.
582 @cindex @code{.cpu} directive, ARM
583 @item .cpu @var{name}
584 Select the target processor. Valid values for @var{name} are the same as
585 for the @option{-mcpu} commandline option.
587 Specifying @code{.cpu} clears any previously selected architecture
590 @c DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD
592 @cindex @code{.dn} and @code{.qn} directives, ARM
593 @item @var{name} .dn @var{register name} [@var{.type}] [[@var{index}]]
594 @itemx @var{name} .qn @var{register name} [@var{.type}] [[@var{index}]]
596 The @code{dn} and @code{qn} directives are used to create typed
597 and/or indexed register aliases for use in Advanced SIMD Extension
598 (Neon) instructions. The former should be used to create aliases
599 of double-precision registers, and the latter to create aliases of
600 quad-precision registers.
602 If these directives are used to create typed aliases, those aliases can
603 be used in Neon instructions instead of writing types after the mnemonic
604 or after each operand. For example:
613 This is equivalent to writing the following:
619 Aliases created using @code{dn} or @code{qn} can be destroyed using
622 @c EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
624 @cindex @code{.eabi_attribute} directive, ARM
625 @item .eabi_attribute @var{tag}, @var{value}
626 Set the EABI object attribute @var{tag} to @var{value}.
628 The @var{tag} is either an attribute number, or one of the following:
629 @code{Tag_CPU_raw_name}, @code{Tag_CPU_name}, @code{Tag_CPU_arch},
630 @code{Tag_CPU_arch_profile}, @code{Tag_ARM_ISA_use},
631 @code{Tag_THUMB_ISA_use}, @code{Tag_FP_arch}, @code{Tag_WMMX_arch},
632 @code{Tag_Advanced_SIMD_arch}, @code{Tag_PCS_config},
633 @code{Tag_ABI_PCS_R9_use}, @code{Tag_ABI_PCS_RW_data},
634 @code{Tag_ABI_PCS_RO_data}, @code{Tag_ABI_PCS_GOT_use},
635 @code{Tag_ABI_PCS_wchar_t}, @code{Tag_ABI_FP_rounding},
636 @code{Tag_ABI_FP_denormal}, @code{Tag_ABI_FP_exceptions},
637 @code{Tag_ABI_FP_user_exceptions}, @code{Tag_ABI_FP_number_model},
638 @code{Tag_ABI_align_needed}, @code{Tag_ABI_align_preserved},
639 @code{Tag_ABI_enum_size}, @code{Tag_ABI_HardFP_use},
640 @code{Tag_ABI_VFP_args}, @code{Tag_ABI_WMMX_args},
641 @code{Tag_ABI_optimization_goals}, @code{Tag_ABI_FP_optimization_goals},
642 @code{Tag_compatibility}, @code{Tag_CPU_unaligned_access},
643 @code{Tag_FP_HP_extension}, @code{Tag_ABI_FP_16bit_format},
644 @code{Tag_MPextension_use}, @code{Tag_DIV_use},
645 @code{Tag_nodefaults}, @code{Tag_also_compatible_with},
646 @code{Tag_conformance}, @code{Tag_T2EE_use},
647 @code{Tag_Virtualization_use}
649 The @var{value} is either a @code{number}, @code{"string"}, or
650 @code{number, "string"} depending on the tag.
652 Note - the following legacy values are also accepted by @var{tag}:
653 @code{Tag_VFP_arch}, @code{Tag_ABI_align8_needed},
654 @code{Tag_ABI_align8_preserved}, @code{Tag_VFP_HP_extension},
656 @cindex @code{.even} directive, ARM
658 This directive aligns to an even-numbered address.
660 @cindex @code{.extend} directive, ARM
661 @cindex @code{.ldouble} directive, ARM
662 @item .extend @var{expression} [, @var{expression}]*
663 @itemx .ldouble @var{expression} [, @var{expression}]*
664 These directives write 12byte long double floating-point values to the
665 output section. These are not compatible with current ARM processors
668 @c FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF
671 @cindex @code{.fnend} directive, ARM
673 Marks the end of a function with an unwind table entry. The unwind index
674 table entry is created when this directive is processed.
676 If no personality routine has been specified then standard personality
677 routine 0 or 1 will be used, depending on the number of unwind opcodes
681 @cindex @code{.fnstart} directive, ARM
683 Marks the start of a function with an unwind table entry.
685 @cindex @code{.force_thumb} directive, ARM
687 This directive forces the selection of Thumb instructions, even if the
688 target processor does not support those instructions
690 @cindex @code{.fpu} directive, ARM
691 @item .fpu @var{name}
692 Select the floating-point unit to assemble for. Valid values for @var{name}
693 are the same as for the @option{-mfpu} commandline option.
695 @c GGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG
696 @c HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
698 @cindex @code{.handlerdata} directive, ARM
700 Marks the end of the current function, and the start of the exception table
701 entry for that function. Anything between this directive and the
702 @code{.fnend} directive will be added to the exception table entry.
704 Must be preceded by a @code{.personality} or @code{.personalityindex}
707 @c IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII
709 @cindex @code{.inst} directive, ARM
710 @item .inst @var{opcode} [ , @dots{} ]
711 @itemx .inst.n @var{opcode} [ , @dots{} ]
712 @itemx .inst.w @var{opcode} [ , @dots{} ]
713 Generates the instruction corresponding to the numerical value @var{opcode}.
714 @code{.inst.n} and @code{.inst.w} allow the Thumb instruction size to be
715 specified explicitly, overriding the normal encoding rules.
717 @c JJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJ
718 @c KKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK
719 @c LLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL
721 @item .ldouble @var{expression} [, @var{expression}]*
724 @cindex @code{.ltorg} directive, ARM
726 This directive causes the current contents of the literal pool to be
727 dumped into the current section (which is assumed to be the .text
728 section) at the current location (aligned to a word boundary).
729 @code{GAS} maintains a separate literal pool for each section and each
730 sub-section. The @code{.ltorg} directive will only affect the literal
731 pool of the current section and sub-section. At the end of assembly
732 all remaining, un-empty literal pools will automatically be dumped.
734 Note - older versions of @code{GAS} would dump the current literal
735 pool any time a section change occurred. This is no longer done, since
736 it prevents accurate control of the placement of literal pools.
738 @c MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM
740 @cindex @code{.movsp} directive, ARM
741 @item .movsp @var{reg} [, #@var{offset}]
742 Tell the unwinder that @var{reg} contains an offset from the current
743 stack pointer. If @var{offset} is not specified then it is assumed to be
746 @c NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN
747 @c OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
749 @cindex @code{.object_arch} directive, ARM
750 @item .object_arch @var{name}
751 Override the architecture recorded in the EABI object attribute section.
752 Valid values for @var{name} are the same as for the @code{.arch} directive.
753 Typically this is useful when code uses runtime detection of CPU features.
755 @c PPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP
757 @cindex @code{.packed} directive, ARM
758 @item .packed @var{expression} [, @var{expression}]*
759 This directive writes 12-byte packed floating-point values to the
760 output section. These are not compatible with current ARM processors
763 @cindex @code{.pad} directive, ARM
764 @item .pad #@var{count}
765 Generate unwinder annotations for a stack adjustment of @var{count} bytes.
766 A positive value indicates the function prologue allocated stack space by
767 decrementing the stack pointer.
769 @cindex @code{.personality} directive, ARM
770 @item .personality @var{name}
771 Sets the personality routine for the current function to @var{name}.
773 @cindex @code{.personalityindex} directive, ARM
774 @item .personalityindex @var{index}
775 Sets the personality routine for the current function to the EABI standard
776 routine number @var{index}
778 @cindex @code{.pool} directive, ARM
780 This is a synonym for .ltorg.
782 @c QQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQ
783 @c RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR
785 @cindex @code{.req} directive, ARM
786 @item @var{name} .req @var{register name}
787 This creates an alias for @var{register name} called @var{name}. For
794 @c SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
797 @cindex @code{.save} directive, ARM
798 @item .save @var{reglist}
799 Generate unwinder annotations to restore the registers in @var{reglist}.
800 The format of @var{reglist} is the same as the corresponding store-multiple
804 @exdent @emph{core registers}
805 .save @{r4, r5, r6, lr@}
806 stmfd sp!, @{r4, r5, r6, lr@}
807 @exdent @emph{FPA registers}
810 @exdent @emph{VFP registers}
811 .save @{d8, d9, d10@}
812 fstmdx sp!, @{d8, d9, d10@}
813 @exdent @emph{iWMMXt registers}
815 wstrd wr11, [sp, #-8]!
816 wstrd wr10, [sp, #-8]!
819 wstrd wr11, [sp, #-8]!
821 wstrd wr10, [sp, #-8]!
825 @cindex @code{.setfp} directive, ARM
826 @item .setfp @var{fpreg}, @var{spreg} [, #@var{offset}]
827 Make all unwinder annotations relative to a frame pointer. Without this
828 the unwinder will use offsets from the stack pointer.
830 The syntax of this directive is the same as the @code{add} or @code{mov}
831 instruction used to set the frame pointer. @var{spreg} must be either
832 @code{sp} or mentioned in a previous @code{.movsp} directive.
842 @cindex @code{.secrel32} directive, ARM
843 @item .secrel32 @var{expression} [, @var{expression}]*
844 This directive emits relocations that evaluate to the section-relative
845 offset of each expression's symbol. This directive is only supported
848 @cindex @code{.syntax} directive, ARM
849 @item .syntax [@code{unified} | @code{divided}]
850 This directive sets the Instruction Set Syntax as described in the
851 @ref{ARM-Instruction-Set} section.
853 @c TTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT
855 @cindex @code{.thumb} directive, ARM
857 This performs the same action as @var{.code 16}.
859 @cindex @code{.thumb_func} directive, ARM
861 This directive specifies that the following symbol is the name of a
862 Thumb encoded function. This information is necessary in order to allow
863 the assembler and linker to generate correct code for interworking
864 between Arm and Thumb instructions and should be used even if
865 interworking is not going to be performed. The presence of this
866 directive also implies @code{.thumb}
868 This directive is not neccessary when generating EABI objects. On these
869 targets the encoding is implicit when generating Thumb code.
871 @cindex @code{.thumb_set} directive, ARM
873 This performs the equivalent of a @code{.set} directive in that it
874 creates a symbol which is an alias for another symbol (possibly not yet
875 defined). This directive also has the added property in that it marks
876 the aliased symbol as being a thumb function entry point, in the same
877 way that the @code{.thumb_func} directive does.
879 @cindex @code{.tlsdescseq} directive, ARM
880 @item .tlsdescseq @var{tls-variable}
881 This directive is used to annotate parts of an inlined TLS descriptor
882 trampoline. Normally the trampoline is provided by the linker, and
883 this directive is not needed.
885 @c UUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU
887 @cindex @code{.unreq} directive, ARM
888 @item .unreq @var{alias-name}
889 This undefines a register alias which was previously defined using the
890 @code{req}, @code{dn} or @code{qn} directives. For example:
897 An error occurs if the name is undefined. Note - this pseudo op can
898 be used to delete builtin in register name aliases (eg 'r0'). This
899 should only be done if it is really necessary.
901 @cindex @code{.unwind_raw} directive, ARM
902 @item .unwind_raw @var{offset}, @var{byte1}, @dots{}
903 Insert one of more arbitary unwind opcode bytes, which are known to adjust
904 the stack pointer by @var{offset} bytes.
906 For example @code{.unwind_raw 4, 0xb1, 0x01} is equivalent to
909 @c VVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVV
911 @cindex @code{.vsave} directive, ARM
912 @item .vsave @var{vfp-reglist}
913 Generate unwinder annotations to restore the VFP registers in @var{vfp-reglist}
914 using FLDMD. Also works for VFPv3 registers
915 that are to be restored using VLDM.
916 The format of @var{vfp-reglist} is the same as the corresponding store-multiple
920 @exdent @emph{VFP registers}
921 .vsave @{d8, d9, d10@}
922 fstmdd sp!, @{d8, d9, d10@}
923 @exdent @emph{VFPv3 registers}
924 .vsave @{d15, d16, d17@}
925 vstm sp!, @{d15, d16, d17@}
928 Since FLDMX and FSTMX are now deprecated, this directive should be
929 used in favour of @code{.save} for saving VFP registers for ARMv6 and above.
931 @c WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW
932 @c XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
933 @c YYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY
934 @c ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
942 @cindex opcodes for ARM
943 @code{@value{AS}} implements all the standard ARM opcodes. It also
944 implements several pseudo opcodes, including several synthetic load
949 @cindex @code{NOP} pseudo op, ARM
955 This pseudo op will always evaluate to a legal ARM instruction that does
956 nothing. Currently it will evaluate to MOV r0, r0.
958 @cindex @code{LDR reg,=<label>} pseudo op, ARM
961 ldr <register> , = <expression>
964 If expression evaluates to a numeric constant then a MOV or MVN
965 instruction will be used in place of the LDR instruction, if the
966 constant can be generated by either of these instructions. Otherwise
967 the constant will be placed into the nearest literal pool (if it not
968 already there) and a PC relative LDR instruction will be generated.
970 @cindex @code{ADR reg,<label>} pseudo op, ARM
973 adr <register> <label>
976 This instruction will load the address of @var{label} into the indicated
977 register. The instruction will evaluate to a PC relative ADD or SUB
978 instruction depending upon where the label is located. If the label is
979 out of range, or if it is not defined in the same file (and section) as
980 the ADR instruction, then an error will be generated. This instruction
981 will not make use of the literal pool.
983 @cindex @code{ADRL reg,<label>} pseudo op, ARM
986 adrl <register> <label>
989 This instruction will load the address of @var{label} into the indicated
990 register. The instruction will evaluate to one or two PC relative ADD
991 or SUB instructions depending upon where the label is located. If a
992 second instruction is not needed a NOP instruction will be generated in
993 its place, so that this instruction is always 8 bytes long.
995 If the label is out of range, or if it is not defined in the same file
996 (and section) as the ADRL instruction, then an error will be generated.
997 This instruction will not make use of the literal pool.
1001 For information on the ARM or Thumb instruction sets, see @cite{ARM
1002 Software Development Toolkit Reference Manual}, Advanced RISC Machines
1005 @node ARM Mapping Symbols
1006 @section Mapping Symbols
1008 The ARM ELF specification requires that special symbols be inserted
1009 into object files to mark certain features:
1015 At the start of a region of code containing ARM instructions.
1019 At the start of a region of code containing THUMB instructions.
1023 At the start of a region of data.
1027 The assembler will automatically insert these symbols for you - there
1028 is no need to code them yourself. Support for tagging symbols ($b,
1029 $f, $p and $m) which is also mentioned in the current ARM ELF
1030 specification is not implemented. This is because they have been
1031 dropped from the new EABI and so tools cannot rely upon their
1034 @node ARM Unwinding Tutorial
1037 The ABI for the ARM Architecture specifies a standard format for
1038 exception unwind information. This information is used when an
1039 exception is thrown to determine where control should be transferred.
1040 In particular, the unwind information is used to determine which
1041 function called the function that threw the exception, and which
1042 function called that one, and so forth. This information is also used
1043 to restore the values of callee-saved registers in the function
1044 catching the exception.
1046 If you are writing functions in assembly code, and those functions
1047 call other functions that throw exceptions, you must use assembly
1048 pseudo ops to ensure that appropriate exception unwind information is
1049 generated. Otherwise, if one of the functions called by your assembly
1050 code throws an exception, the run-time library will be unable to
1051 unwind the stack through your assembly code and your program will not
1054 To illustrate the use of these pseudo ops, we will examine the code
1055 that G++ generates for the following C++ input:
1058 void callee (int *);
1069 This example does not show how to throw or catch an exception from
1070 assembly code. That is a much more complex operation and should
1071 always be done in a high-level language, such as C++, that directly
1072 supports exceptions.
1074 The code generated by one particular version of G++ when compiling the
1081 @ Function supports interworking.
1082 @ args = 0, pretend = 0, frame = 8
1083 @ frame_needed = 1, uses_anonymous_args = 0
1105 Of course, the sequence of instructions varies based on the options
1106 you pass to GCC and on the version of GCC in use. The exact
1107 instructions are not important since we are focusing on the pseudo ops
1108 that are used to generate unwind information.
1110 An important assumption made by the unwinder is that the stack frame
1111 does not change during the body of the function. In particular, since
1112 we assume that the assembly code does not itself throw an exception,
1113 the only point where an exception can be thrown is from a call, such
1114 as the @code{bl} instruction above. At each call site, the same saved
1115 registers (including @code{lr}, which indicates the return address)
1116 must be located in the same locations relative to the frame pointer.
1118 The @code{.fnstart} (@pxref{arm_fnstart,,.fnstart pseudo op}) pseudo
1119 op appears immediately before the first instruction of the function
1120 while the @code{.fnend} (@pxref{arm_fnend,,.fnend pseudo op}) pseudo
1121 op appears immediately after the last instruction of the function.
1122 These pseudo ops specify the range of the function.
1124 Only the order of the other pseudos ops (e.g., @code{.setfp} or
1125 @code{.pad}) matters; their exact locations are irrelevant. In the
1126 example above, the compiler emits the pseudo ops with particular
1127 instructions. That makes it easier to understand the code, but it is
1128 not required for correctness. It would work just as well to emit all
1129 of the pseudo ops other than @code{.fnend} in the same order, but
1130 immediately after @code{.fnstart}.
1132 The @code{.save} (@pxref{arm_save,,.save pseudo op}) pseudo op
1133 indicates registers that have been saved to the stack so that they can
1134 be restored before the function returns. The argument to the
1135 @code{.save} pseudo op is a list of registers to save. If a register
1136 is ``callee-saved'' (as specified by the ABI) and is modified by the
1137 function you are writing, then your code must save the value before it
1138 is modified and restore the original value before the function
1139 returns. If an exception is thrown, the run-time library restores the
1140 values of these registers from their locations on the stack before
1141 returning control to the exception handler. (Of course, if an
1142 exception is not thrown, the function that contains the @code{.save}
1143 pseudo op restores these registers in the function epilogue, as is
1144 done with the @code{ldmfd} instruction above.)
1146 You do not have to save callee-saved registers at the very beginning
1147 of the function and you do not need to use the @code{.save} pseudo op
1148 immediately following the point at which the registers are saved.
1149 However, if you modify a callee-saved register, you must save it on
1150 the stack before modifying it and before calling any functions which
1151 might throw an exception. And, you must use the @code{.save} pseudo
1152 op to indicate that you have done so.
1154 The @code{.pad} (@pxref{arm_pad,,.pad}) pseudo op indicates a
1155 modification of the stack pointer that does not save any registers.
1156 The argument is the number of bytes (in decimal) that are subtracted
1157 from the stack pointer. (On ARM CPUs, the stack grows downwards, so
1158 subtracting from the stack pointer increases the size of the stack.)
1160 The @code{.setfp} (@pxref{arm_setfp,,.setfp pseudo op}) pseudo op
1161 indicates the register that contains the frame pointer. The first
1162 argument is the register that is set, which is typically @code{fp}.
1163 The second argument indicates the register from which the frame
1164 pointer takes its value. The third argument, if present, is the value
1165 (in decimal) added to the register specified by the second argument to
1166 compute the value of the frame pointer. You should not modify the
1167 frame pointer in the body of the function.
1169 If you do not use a frame pointer, then you should not use the
1170 @code{.setfp} pseudo op. If you do not use a frame pointer, then you
1171 should avoid modifying the stack pointer outside of the function
1172 prologue. Otherwise, the run-time library will be unable to find
1173 saved registers when it is unwinding the stack.
1175 The pseudo ops described above are sufficient for writing assembly
1176 code that calls functions which may throw exceptions. If you need to
1177 know more about the object-file format used to represent unwind
1178 information, you may consult the @cite{Exception Handling ABI for the
1179 ARM Architecture} available from @uref{http://infocenter.arm.com}.