Handmade Hero»Forums»Code
22 posts
"large" executable file
Edited by Bits Please on Reason: Initial post
Greetings fellow programmers!
I've stumbled upon a very peculiar phenomenon. Whenever I'm executing the following piece of code:
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int main() {
	return 0;
}

int mainCRTStartup() {
	return main();
}


It produces a 2 kb object file and, for some odd reason, an 8 kb executable file.
Upon further inspection, with the help of a very handy tool called dumpbin, I've managed to find out the reason behind the "large" size of my executable.

Check this out:
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Dump of file main.exe

File Type: EXECUTABLE IMAGE

  0000000140001000: CC                 int         3
  0000000140001001: CC                 int         3
  0000000140001002: CC                 int         3
  0000000140001003: CC                 int         3
  0000000140001004: CC                 int         3
@ILT+0(?mainCRTStartup@@YAHXZ):
  0000000140001005: E9 26 00 00 00     jmp         ?mainCRTStartup@@YAHXZ
@ILT+5(main):
  000000014000100A: E9 11 00 00 00     jmp         main
  000000014000100F: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  000000014000101F: CC                                               .
main:
  0000000140001020: 33 C0              xor         eax,eax
  0000000140001022: C3                 ret
  0000000140001023: CC                 int         3
  0000000140001024: CC                 int         3
  0000000140001025: CC                 int         3
  0000000140001026: CC                 int         3
  0000000140001027: CC                 int         3
  0000000140001028: CC                 int         3
  0000000140001029: CC                 int         3
  000000014000102A: CC                 int         3
  000000014000102B: CC                 int         3
  000000014000102C: CC                 int         3
  000000014000102D: CC                 int         3
  000000014000102E: CC                 int         3
  000000014000102F: CC                 int         3
?mainCRTStartup@@YAHXZ:
  0000000140001030: 48 83 EC 28        sub         rsp,28h
  0000000140001034: E8 D1 FF FF FF     call        @ILT+5(main)
  0000000140001039: 48 83 C4 28        add         rsp,28h
  000000014000103D: C3                 ret
  000000014000103E: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  000000014000104E: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  000000014000105E: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  000000014000106E: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  000000014000107E: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  000000014000108E: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  000000014000109E: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  00000001400010AE: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  00000001400010BE: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  00000001400010CE: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  00000001400010DE: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  00000001400010EE: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  00000001400010FE: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  000000014000110E: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  000000014000111E: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  000000014000112E: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  000000014000113E: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  000000014000114E: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  000000014000115E: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  000000014000116E: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  000000014000117E: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  000000014000118E: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  000000014000119E: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  00000001400011AE: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  00000001400011BE: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  00000001400011CE: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  00000001400011DE: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  00000001400011EE: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  00000001400011FE: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  000000014000120E: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  000000014000121E: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  000000014000122E: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  000000014000123E: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  000000014000124E: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  000000014000125E: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  000000014000126E: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  000000014000127E: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  000000014000128E: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  000000014000129E: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  00000001400012AE: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  00000001400012BE: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  00000001400012CE: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  00000001400012DE: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  00000001400012EE: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  00000001400012FE: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  000000014000130E: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  000000014000131E: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  000000014000132E: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  000000014000133E: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  000000014000134E: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  000000014000135E: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  000000014000136E: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  000000014000137E: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  000000014000138E: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  000000014000139E: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  00000001400013AE: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  00000001400013BE: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  00000001400013CE: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  00000001400013DE: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  00000001400013EE: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  00000001400013FE: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  000000014000140E: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  000000014000141E: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  000000014000142E: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  000000014000143E: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  000000014000144E: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  000000014000145E: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  000000014000146E: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  000000014000147E: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  000000014000148E: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  000000014000149E: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  00000001400014AE: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  00000001400014BE: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  00000001400014CE: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  00000001400014DE: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  00000001400014EE: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  00000001400014FE: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  000000014000150E: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  000000014000151E: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  000000014000152E: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  000000014000153E: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  000000014000154E: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  000000014000155E: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  000000014000156E: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  000000014000157E: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  000000014000158E: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  000000014000159E: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  00000001400015AE: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  00000001400015BE: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  00000001400015CE: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  00000001400015DE: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  00000001400015EE: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  00000001400015FE: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  000000014000160E: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  000000014000161E: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  000000014000162E: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  000000014000163E: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  000000014000164E: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  000000014000165E: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  000000014000166E: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  000000014000167E: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  000000014000168E: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  000000014000169E: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  00000001400016AE: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  00000001400016BE: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  00000001400016CE: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  00000001400016DE: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  00000001400016EE: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  00000001400016FE: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  000000014000170E: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  000000014000171E: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  000000014000172E: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  000000014000173E: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  000000014000174E: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  000000014000175E: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  000000014000176E: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  000000014000177E: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  000000014000178E: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  000000014000179E: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  00000001400017AE: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  00000001400017BE: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  00000001400017CE: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  00000001400017DE: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  00000001400017EE: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  00000001400017FE: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  000000014000180E: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  000000014000181E: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  000000014000182E: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  000000014000183E: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  000000014000184E: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  000000014000185E: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  000000014000186E: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  000000014000187E: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  000000014000188E: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  000000014000189E: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  00000001400018AE: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  00000001400018BE: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  00000001400018CE: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  00000001400018DE: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  00000001400018EE: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  00000001400018FE: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  000000014000190E: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  000000014000191E: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  000000014000192E: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  000000014000193E: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  000000014000194E: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  000000014000195E: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  000000014000196E: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  000000014000197E: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  000000014000198E: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  000000014000199E: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  00000001400019AE: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  00000001400019BE: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  00000001400019CE: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  00000001400019DE: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  00000001400019EE: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  00000001400019FE: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  0000000140001A0E: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  0000000140001A1E: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  0000000140001A2E: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  0000000140001A3E: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  0000000140001A4E: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  0000000140001A5E: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  0000000140001A6E: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  0000000140001A7E: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  0000000140001A8E: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  0000000140001A9E: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  0000000140001AAE: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  0000000140001ABE: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  0000000140001ACE: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  0000000140001ADE: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  0000000140001AEE: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  0000000140001AFE: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  0000000140001B0E: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  0000000140001B1E: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  0000000140001B2E: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  0000000140001B3E: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  0000000140001B4E: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  0000000140001B5E: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  0000000140001B6E: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  0000000140001B7E: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  0000000140001B8E: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  0000000140001B9E: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  0000000140001BAE: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  0000000140001BBE: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  0000000140001BCE: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  0000000140001BDE: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  0000000140001BEE: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  0000000140001BFE: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  0000000140001C0E: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  0000000140001C1E: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  0000000140001C2E: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  0000000140001C3E: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  0000000140001C4E: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  0000000140001C5E: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  0000000140001C6E: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  0000000140001C7E: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  0000000140001C8E: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  0000000140001C9E: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  0000000140001CAE: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  0000000140001CBE: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  0000000140001CCE: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  0000000140001CDE: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  0000000140001CEE: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  0000000140001CFE: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  0000000140001D0E: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  0000000140001D1E: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  0000000140001D2E: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  0000000140001D3E: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  0000000140001D4E: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  0000000140001D5E: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  0000000140001D6E: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  0000000140001D7E: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  0000000140001D8E: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  0000000140001D9E: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  0000000140001DAE: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  0000000140001DBE: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  0000000140001DCE: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  0000000140001DDE: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  0000000140001DEE: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  0000000140001DFE: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  0000000140001E0E: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  0000000140001E1E: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  0000000140001E2E: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  0000000140001E3E: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  0000000140001E4E: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  0000000140001E5E: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  0000000140001E6E: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  0000000140001E7E: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  0000000140001E8E: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  0000000140001E9E: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  0000000140001EAE: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  0000000140001EBE: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  0000000140001ECE: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  0000000140001EDE: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  0000000140001EEE: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  0000000140001EFE: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  0000000140001F0E: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  0000000140001F1E: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  0000000140001F2E: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  0000000140001F3E: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  0000000140001F4E: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  0000000140001F5E: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  0000000140001F6E: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  0000000140001F7E: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  0000000140001F8E: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  0000000140001F9E: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  0000000140001FAE: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  0000000140001FBE: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  0000000140001FCE: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  0000000140001FDE: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  0000000140001FEE: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  0000000140001FFE: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  000000014000200E: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  000000014000201E: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  000000014000202E: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC  ................
  000000014000203E: CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC 00  ................

  Summary

        1000 .pdata
        1000 .rdata
        1000 .reloc
        2000 .text


My questions are, why are there so many empty lines, what's their purpose and how can I get rid of them and produce a clean executable file containing only the things it supposed to contain?
Pascal Beyer
11 posts
"large" executable file
The first 300-400 bytes of the executable contain the PE-header which tells the loader how to start running your program and all that. You can find the spec here: https://docs.microsoft.com/de-de/windows/desktop/Debug/pe-format

Then the sections in the exectuable file are aligned by some value (I think its 4k, but im a bit confused by the docs). Hence all the empty lines.
You can pass stuff to the linker to make your executable smaller, like /DYNAMICBASE:NO to get rid of .reloc. You can also get rid of the alignment by specifying /ALIGN: <some number> but this will give you a non-valid executable. Linker flags are also on msdn.

You can also look at this link, where someone tries to make the smallest executable possible.
Mārtiņš Možeiko
2559 posts / 2 projects
"large" executable file
Edited by Mārtiņš Možeiko on
You can also merge .rdata and .text sections that will reduce size a bit (because of alignment & header) - pass "/MERGE:.rdata=.text" to linker. This will put read only data in code section - but be careful this can introduce security issues in your code if attacker can control input data and you have stack overwrite or similar bug. Because they will be able to reuse bytes from read-only data section as code.