netsym

netsym is a command-line utility primarily used in Unix-like operating systems to list symbols from object files. It examines the symbol table of these files, which contains information about functions, variables, and other identifiers defined or used within the code. This allows developers and system administrators to inspect the contents of compiled libraries, executables, and object files without needing to link them into a running program.

The output of netsym typically includes the symbol name, its type (e.g., function, data), its size, and its address within the file. It can be particularly useful for debugging, reverse engineering, and understanding the structure of software components. By analyzing the symbols, one can determine which functions are exported by a shared library or identify undefined symbols in an executable, which might indicate missing dependencies.

netsym is often used in conjunction with other development tools. For instance, it can help verify that specific symbols have been correctly exported from a shared library or confirm that expected symbols are present in a newly compiled object file. Its simplicity makes it a quick and efficient way to gain insight into the internal structure of binary files.