Re: [PATCH] Remove misleading readelf MIPS output

[Thiemo Seufer <ica2_ts at csv dot ica dot uni-stuttgart dot de>]

cgd@broadcom.com wrote:
> ica2_ts@csv.ica.uni-stuttgart.de ("Thiemo Seufer") writes:
> > this prevents readelf to output "UNKNOWN" for every object file
> > which isn't compiled for one of the CPU's noted in the ELF header.
> 
> personally, my preference is as done in
> http://sources.redhat.com/ml/binutils/2001-11/msg00113.html (print
> "UNKNOWN machine" -- i'd be OK with different capitlization -- and
> "unknown ISA", rrather than just not printing anything).

If we have noted the CPU type somewhere else (e.g. a .note section)
this would be even more misleading IMHO.

> Guess the question is, do we expect these to have meaningful values as
> defined in the binutils MIPS elf headers?  8-)

Only for a few CPU's, for most we don't.

> If so, IMO, the code should complain (or at least mention it) if they
> don't.

I disagree WRT the above. Object files not mentioning the CPU
type are perfectly valid.


Thiemo