opendarwin man page for end

GET_END(3)						     Library Functions Manual							GET_END(3)

NAME
       get_end, get_etext, get_edata - get values of UNIX link editor defined symbols

SYNOPSIS
       #include <mach-o/getsect.h>

       unsigned long get_end();
       unsigned long get_etext();
       unsigned long get_edata();

DESCRIPTION
       These routines provide a stopgap measure to programs that use the UNIX link-editor defined symbols.  Use of these routines is very strongly
       discouraged.  The problem is that any program that is using UNIX link editor defined symbols (_end, _etext or _edata) is making assumptions
       that the program has the memory layout of a UNIX program.

       This is an incorrect assumption for a program built by the Mach-O link editor.  The reason that these routines are provided is that if very
       minimal assumptions about the layout are used and the default format and memory layout of the Mach-O link editor is used to build the  pro-
       gram,  some things may work by using the values returned by these routines in place of the addresses of their UNIX link-editor defined sym-
       bols.  So use at your own risk, and only if you know what your doing.  Or better yet, convert the program to use the  appropriate  Mach	or
       Mach-O  functions.   If	you  are  trying to allocate memory use vm_allocate(2), if you are trying to find out about your address space use
       vm_region(2) and if you are trying to find out where your program is loaded use the dyld(3) functions.

       The values of the UNIX link-editor defined symbols _etext, _edata and _end are returned by the routines get_etext, get_edata,  and  get_end
       respectively.  In a Mach-O file they have the following values: get_etext returns the first address after the (__TEXT,__text) section, note
       this my or may not be the only section in the __TEXT segment.  get_edata returns the first address after the (__DATA,__data) section,  note
       this  my  or  may not be the last non-zero fill section in the __DATA segment.  get_end returns the first address after the last segment in
       the executable, note a shared library may be loaded at this address.

SEE ALSO
       ld(1), dyld(3)

Apple Computer, Inc.						  April 10, 1998							GET_END(3)