Application Binary Interfaces

To enable the asynchronous evolution of system and application components, binary interfaces between these facilities are defined. The Solaris linkers operate upon these interfaces to assemble applications for execution. Although all components handled by the Solaris linkers have binary interfaces, one family of such interfaces of particular interest to applications writers is the System V Application Binary Interface.

The System V Application Binary Interface, or ABI, defines a system interface for compiled application programs. Its purpose is to document a standard binary interface for application programs on systems that implement the System V Interface Definition, Third Edition. Solaris provides for the generation and execution of ABI-conforming applications. On SPARC systems, the ABI is contained as a subset of the SPARC\256 Compliance Definition (SCD).

Many of the topics covered in the following chapters are influenced by the ABI. For more detailed information, see the appropriate ABI manuals.