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How to redefine main()

Hello,

I'm trying to use gcc/g++ on Win98 to develop against a
fairly well used API. But the API requires a non ISO
main() inside a DLL such as void* main(void*). Gcc
doesn't seem to allow you to do this directly. VC++ and
Borland compilers have no problems in this regard but
using them is not so attractive for work that involves
other platforms.

Is there a work around? Can the linker be induced to
rename symbols? Or is assembly code the only way to get
around this, maybe something like:

extern "C" void* fake_main(void*)
{
asm (".align 4");
asm (".global main");
asm ("main: nop");

// the real main code here
return main();
}

I don't really understand the why some of the above
ops would be necessary, if they are. That code comes
mostly from embedded code examples I've seen.

jkr

Changing the linker options to explicitly specify an entry point should work, e.g. add

--entry=fake_main

From the 'ld' manpage:

`--entry=entry'
Use entry as the explicit symbol for beginning execu
tion of your program, rather than the default entry
point. If there is no symbol named entry, the linker
will try to parse entry as a number, and use that as
the entry address (the number will be interpreted in
base 10; you may use a leading 0x for base 16, or a
leading 0 for base 8).

akshayxx

jkr .. if we redefine the entry point .. does it have to be of same type as main .. like having arguments argc and argv..
and in case if we can have privilege of having our own TYPE of main .. how wud we pass the custom arguments
suppose my_fake_main is expecting (double,int) ??

Mathematix

Are you happy with namespaces? Defining your own namespaces will allow you to define your own functions, but I must admit that I am not sure if std::main() (if that's what it is) *must* be included in your code.

Mathematix

'...own versions of the standard functions,...' I mean.

phildsp

ASKER

Hmmm. Interesting things happen with --entry. When I add --entry=_main (which I used instead of fake_main) I get a
_WinMain@12 undefined error. There is of course a WinMain() function in the code or DllMain() I can't remember.

When I use --entry=main the linker warns that it can't find main but will use the default address. That produces
a DLL which has main as the symbol. I'll try the DLL out
in the host application tonight.

Otherwise I'm unfamiliar with namespaces but will look into that. Thanks for all your help so far.

phildsp

ASKER

Got it! The following seems to be the simplest and most elegant solution:

#if __GNUC__
extern "C" __declspec(dllexport) void* fake_main (void*) asm("main");
#define main fake_main
#endif

void* main(void* arg)
{
}

bcladd

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