[linux-help] Re: interchanging executables

["Bates, Rod" <Rod.Bates@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Even if the processor is the same, there are at least
three other kinds of compatibility problems which
can prevent sharing of executables between significantly
different operating systems like Linux and Windoze.  

The system call interface is different.  That is, the list
of procedures, their parameters, and their functions.
In Linux and most unix flavors part of this interface
is called Posix.  In Windoze, it is called Win23.  They
are very different. 

At a lower level, even if you were making an identical
system call, the mechanism for passing parameters may
be different.  I don't know specifically if this is true for
x86 Linux and Win32, but I'd bet on it. 

Third, the executable file format is different.  Linux (these
days, usually) uses one called Elf, whereas Windoze uses
one called PE.  They're completely different.  The object
file format is also a part of the executable format too, 
so .o files won't be intechangable either.   

The executable format also affects the ability to connect
to dynamic libraries.  Both executable formats have more
or less functionally equivalent mechanisms for dynamic
linking, but incompatible implementations.  

 


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