Re: [avr-libc-dev] Question on Optimizations with Linking

[Rolf Ebert]

> >  I might be missing something here, but isn't this what  
> > -ffunction-sections and -fdata-sections compiler options combined with  
> > --gc-sections linker option are supposed to do?
> >  Are there any drawbacks of using this, like worse optimization, etc.?  
> > Or is this not working at all for avr?
>
> It depends on whether this feature is implemented in the avr tools.
> (Don't know if it is or not)

It is (t least partly).  There was a bug in gcc in previous versions,  
which is fixed since gcc-3.4.3 at least (PR14064).  You still need a patch  
for binutils, though  
(https://savannah.nongnu.org/patch/?func=detailitem&item_id=3593).

Björn has prepared extended linker optimizations  
(http://lists.gnu.org/archive/html/avr-libc-dev/2005-10/msg00042.html)  
that also cover the --gc-sections bit.  That work is currently integrated  
in the binutils development.

    Rolf