23.3.1 Output Format and Entry Points

The first several lines of the default linker script define the output format and the entry point for the application.

OUTPUT_FORMAT("elf32-tradlittlemips")

OUTPUT_ARCH(pic32mx)

ENTRY(_reset)

The OUTPUT_FORMAT line selects the object file format for the output file. The output object file format generated by the 32-bit language tools is a traditional, little-endian, MIPS, ELF32 format.

The OUTPUT_ARCH line selects the specific machine architecture for the output file. The output files generated by the 32-bit language tools contain information that identifies the file was generated for the PIC32 architecture.

The ENTRY line selects the entry point of the application. This is the symbol identifying the location of the first instruction to execute. The 32-bit language tools begins execution at the instruction identified by the _reset label.