the differences go far beyond just names. While both systems use the ELF (Executable and Linkable Format), there are several key distinctions:
ABI (Application Binary Interface) – Each OS defines its own calling conventions, stack layout, and system call interfaces.
Linking to Libraries and Kernel – Linux object files often depend on glibc and the Linux linker, whereas VxWorks DKM (Loadable Kernel Modules) objects are linked against VxWorks-specific runtime libraries.
Sections and Relocations – Section attributes and relocation entries are tailored to the target OS and its loader.
Loading Mechanism – In VxWorks, kernel modules are loaded directly into memory, while Linux uses dynamic linking and the standard executable loader.
💡 Key Takeaway: Even if the CPU architecture matches, object files are not interchangeable between Linux and VxWorks. Using the correct toolchain for your target OS is essential, especially in embedded or real-time systems development.
Understanding these differences can save hours of debugging when porting code or building cross-platform modules. It’s a subtle yet critical part of system-level programming.
https://amirhosseinrashidi1.medium.com/stackoverflow-1-5f2a214b9d53