LLVM's New LLD ELF Linker Continues To Mature For Linux Systems

Last year LLVM developers made significant progress on developing a new ELF linker for Linux/Unix-like systems. Since then, this high-performance linker from LLD (dubbed "LLD") has continued maturing and gaining additional functionality.

If you are curious about the state of LLVM's LLD linker for linking ELF objects, Rui Ueyama of Google presented at last month's EuroLLVM conference in Spain. The slides are available in PDF form.

There are results showing the LLD linking time against other linkers like GNU Gold, design choices made for greater performance, LLD's process, LTO support being a work in progress, and the ultimate goal of making LLD usable as a system's default linker and bringing LLD to more platforms. It's also still possible to deliver even more performance out of the LLD linker. Aside from the mentioned EuroLLVM slides, you can learn more about the LLVM linker via lld.llvm.org.