Using and Porting GNU CC

4.3.1: Steps of Cross-Compilation

To compile and run a program using a cross-compiler involves several steps:

• Run the cross-compiler on the host machine to produce assembler files for the target machine. This requires header files for the target machine.
• Assemble the files produced by the cross-compiler. You can do this either with an assembler on the target machine, or with a cross-assembler on the host machine.
• Link those files to make an executable. You can do this either with a linker on the target machine, or with a cross-linker on the host machine. Whichever machine you use, you need libraries and certain startup files (typically `crt....o') for the target machine.

It is most convenient to do all of these steps on the same host machine, since then you can do it all with a single invocation of GNU CC. This requires a suitable cross-assembler and cross-linker. For some targets, the GNU assembler and linker are available.