Executable Files for Linux

Under the Hood of ELFs for Flexible and Secure Low-Level Coding
1. Auflage 2026
ISBN: 979-8-8688-2153-0
Verlag: Apress

Buch, Englisch, 327 Seiten, Format (B × H): 178 mm x 254 mm, Gewicht: 663 g

Focusing on the Executable and Linkable Format (ELF) used in Linux and Unix systems, this book explores how code is compiled, linked, and loaded into memory, and how the operating system executes it. You’ll learn to analyse ELF files, debug and optimize programs at the binary level, write custom linker scripts, and understand dynamic linking and symbol resolution. 

ELF files are important because low-level programming and binary analysis are critical skills for system programmers, embedded developers, and security researchers. With the rise of performance optimization, cybersecurity, and resource-constrained environments (e.g., IoT), understanding executables is more relevant than ever. 

provides a hands-on, modern approach to a topic often overlooked in learning resources today. 

What You Will Learn

·        Analyse and modify ELF files to optimize software performance

·        Debug and optimize programs at the binary level

·        Write custom linker scripts for complex projects

·        Understand dynamic linking, lazy loading, and symbol resolution

·        Explore kernel-level processes for loading and executing binaries 

Who This Book Is For  

Developers and programmers working on operating systems, embedded systems, or low-level software as well as performance engineers and security professionals

Zielgruppe

Professional/practitioner

Autoren/Hrsg.

Mishra, Mohit

Fachgebiete

• Mathematik | Informatik EDV | Informatik Informatik
• Mathematik | Informatik EDV | Informatik Daten / Datenbanken Data Warehouse
• Mathematik | Informatik EDV | Informatik Betriebssysteme Linux Betriebssysteme, Open Source Betriebssysteme
• Mathematik | Informatik EDV | Informatik Daten / Datenbanken Information Retrieval

Inhaltsverzeichnis

1: Introduction to Executables 2: ELF: Demystifying the Executable Format.- 3: Understanding ELF Sections.- 4: Before main(): The Secret Life of Global Variables.- 5: The Linker: Bringing The C Code Together.- 6: Relocations: The Linker's Patchwork.- 7: Symbols: The Linker's Address Book. 8: Dynamic Linking in C: Shrinking Executables and Sharing Code.- 9: Lazy Loading: Dynamic Linking on Demand.- 10: Understanding Linux Executable Loading: A Deep Dive into Kernel Internals.- 11: Weak Symbols: A Linker's Flexibility.- 12: Level Up Your C: Key Takeaways About Linking and Loading.

Über Autor(innen)

Mohit Mishra is a low-level programming enthusiast with extensive experience in executable file formats (ELF), linking, loading, and debugging. He has worked on projects involving ELF file analysis, dynamic linking, and performance optimization. Mohit is the creator of the 'Reversing Bits Cheatsheets' repository, which provides comprehensive guides on tools essential for assembly programming, reverse engineering, and binary analysis. His technical articles and tutorials on low-level programming have been widely appreciated by the developer community.