ECOFFs

ECOFFs, or Extended Common Object File Format, is a file format used primarily in Unix-like operating systems for executable files, object code, and shared libraries. It was developed as an extension of the original Common Object File Format (COFF) to support additional features and larger files.

The ECOFF format was introduced to address the limitations of the COFF format, particularly the 16-bit limitations that restricted the size of files and the number of symbols that could be handled. ECOFF extended these limits to 32 bits, allowing for larger files and more complex programs.

An ECOFF file consists of a header, which contains information about the file type, architecture, and entry point, followed by various sections that contain the actual code, data, and symbols. The format also includes relocation information, which is used by the linker to combine object files into an executable or shared library.

ECOFF was widely used in the 1990s, particularly in systems based on the MIPS architecture. However, it has since been largely superseded by other formats, such as the Executable and Linkable Format (ELF), which offers more features and better performance.

Despite its decline in popularity, ECOFF remains an important part of the history of file formats and operating systems. It demonstrated the need for flexibility and extensibility in file formats and paved the way for more advanced formats like ELF. Today, ECOFF is primarily encountered in legacy systems and software.