Hi, Thanks for all the comments. Based on the discussion I think it is clear that the intention is indeed that the size to hold the enumeration may also be given by the underlying type if not given by an explicit DW_AT_byte_size. But various consumers might not yet handle that correctly at the moment. So I will not suggest dropping the DW_AT_byte_size in GCC when there is an underlying type for the enumeration with a size until GCC starts generating DWARF5 (and if the clarification has been accepted).
I submitted the following clarification through http://dwarfstd.org/Comment.php which doesn't have an issue number yet: Subject: Clarify DW_AT_byte_size usage with DW_TAG_enumeration Name: Mark Wielaard Email: m...@redhat.com Section: 5.7 Page: 96 Type: Clarification As discussed on the dwarf mailinglist in the "DW_TAG_enumeration with DW_AT_type and DW_AT_byte_size" thread: http://thread.gmane.org/gmane.comp.standards.dwarf/102 If the DW_TAG_enumeration has a DW_AT_type to indicate the underlying base type of this enumeration, and that type has a size itself, then the DW_AT_byte_size is optional. This is not immediately clear from the text of the standard and some consumers might not realize that they can get the size of the enumeration from its underlying type if DW_AT_byte_size isn't given. The following clarification is suggested: In 5.7 Enumeration Type Entries. Move the last sentence of the third paragraph reading "This entry also has a DW_AT_byte_size attribute whose integer constant value is the number of bytes required to hold an instance of the enumeration." to the end of the next paragraph "The enumeration type entry may have a DW_AT_type attribute which refers to the underlying data type used to implement the enumeration." Rephrase it a little to indicate it is optional. And add a sentence that explains the size may also be gotten from the underlying type. So that the fourth paragraph would read: "The enumeration type entry may have a DW_AT_type attribute which refers to the underlying data type used to implement the enumeration. The entry also may have a DW_AT_byte_size attribute whose integer constant value is the number of bytes required to hold an instance of the enumeration. If no DW_AT_byte_size attribute is given the size for holding an instance of the enumeration is given by the size of the DW_AT_type underlying data type." Cheers, Mark _______________________________________________ Dwarf-Discuss mailing list Dwarf-Discuss@lists.dwarfstd.org http://lists.dwarfstd.org/listinfo.cgi/dwarf-discuss-dwarfstd.org
