TOPS-10 LINK Reference Manual

This document serves as a comprehensive reference for LINK, the TOPS-10 linking loader, aimed at intermediate to highly-experienced applications programmers. It details LINK's role in merging independently compiled or assembled modules into a single executable program.

Key functions of LINK include performing relocation calculations (converting relocatable addresses to virtual addresses and binding program sections), resolving global symbol references, and producing an executable program. The output can be either an immediately executable core image or a sharable save (.EXE) file, with optional map, log, and symbol files.

The manual describes two primary ways to interact with LINK: automatically through system commands (LOAD, EXECUTE, DEBUG) for most tasks, or directly for complex operations such as managing program overlays. It explains LINK's overlay facility, which enables large programs to run within available memory by dynamically loading segments. Additionally, it covers extended addressing, the format of object modules (REL Blocks), various command-line switches, and LINK's messages and job data area.