Use the .drectve section for exporting symbols from dlls on Windows

bjorn3 · bjorn3 · commit e63c76b2a770 · 2025-06-16T09:20:57.000Z
While it would be reasonable to expect the Windows linker to handle
linker args in the .drectve section identical to cli arguments, as it
turns out exporting weak symbols only works when the /EXPORT is in the
.drectve section, not when it is a linker argument or when a .DEF file
is used.
diff --git a/compiler/rustc_codegen_ssa/src/back/link.rs b/compiler/rustc_codegen_ssa/src/back/link.rs
@@ -1976,9 +1976,10 @@ fn add_linked_symbol_object(
     cmd: &mut dyn Linker,
     sess: &Session,
     tmpdir: &Path,
-    symbols: &[(String, SymbolExportKind)],
+    linked_symbols: &[(String, SymbolExportKind)],
+    exported_symbols: &[(String, SymbolExportKind)],
 ) {
-    if symbols.is_empty() {
+    if linked_symbols.is_empty() {
         return;
     }
 
@@ -2015,7 +2016,7 @@ fn add_linked_symbol_object(
         None
     };
 
-    for (sym, kind) in symbols.iter() {
+    for (sym, kind) in linked_symbols.iter() {
         let symbol = file.add_symbol(object::write::Symbol {
             name: sym.clone().into(),
             value: 0,
@@ -2073,6 +2074,34 @@ fn add_linked_symbol_object(
         }
     }
 
+    if sess.target.is_like_windows {
+        // Currently the compiler doesn't use `dllexport` (an LLVM attribute) to
+        // export symbols from a dynamic library. When building a dynamic library,
+        // however, we're going to want some symbols exported, so this adds a
+        // `.drectve` section which lists all the symbols using /EXPORT arguments.
+        //
+        // The linker will read these arguments from the `.drectve` section and
+        // export all the symbols from the dynamic library. Note that this is not
+        // as simple as just exporting all the symbols in the current crate (as
+        // specified by `codegen.reachable`) but rather we also need to possibly
+        // export the symbols of upstream crates. Upstream rlibs may be linked
+        // statically to this dynamic library, in which case they may continue to
+        // transitively be used and hence need their symbols exported.
+        let drectve = exported_symbols
+            .into_iter()
+            .map(|(sym, kind)| match (sess.target.is_like_msvc, *kind == SymbolExportKind::Text) {
+                (true, true) => format!(" /EXPORT:\"{sym}\""),
+                (true, false) => format!(" /EXPORT:\"{sym}\",DATA"),
+                (false, true) => format!(" -export:\"{sym}\""),
+                (false, false) => format!(" -export:\"{sym}\",data"),
+            })
+            .collect::<Vec<_>>()
+            .join("");
+
+        let section = file.add_section(vec![], b".drectve".to_vec(), object::SectionKind::Linker);
+        file.append_section_data(section, drectve.as_bytes(), 1);
+    }
+
     let path = tmpdir.join("symbols.o");
     let result = std::fs::write(&path, file.write().unwrap());
     if let Err(error) = result {
@@ -2248,6 +2277,7 @@ fn linker_with_args(
         sess,
         tmpdir,
         &codegen_results.crate_info.linked_symbols[&crate_type],
+        &codegen_results.crate_info.exported_symbols[&crate_type],
     );
 
     // Sanitizer libraries.
diff --git a/compiler/rustc_codegen_ssa/src/back/linker.rs b/compiler/rustc_codegen_ssa/src/back/linker.rs
@@ -337,7 +337,12 @@ pub(crate) trait Linker {
     fn debuginfo(&mut self, strip: Strip, natvis_debugger_visualizers: &[PathBuf]);
     fn no_crt_objects(&mut self);
     fn no_default_libraries(&mut self);
-    fn export_symbols(&mut self, tmpdir: &Path, crate_type: CrateType, symbols: &[String]);
+    fn export_symbols(
+        &mut self,
+        tmpdir: &Path,
+        crate_type: CrateType,
+        symbols: &[(String, SymbolExportKind)],
+    );
     fn subsystem(&mut self, subsystem: &str);
     fn linker_plugin_lto(&mut self);
     fn add_eh_frame_header(&mut self) {}
@@ -770,7 +775,12 @@ impl<'a> Linker for GccLinker<'a> {
         }
     }
 
-    fn export_symbols(&mut self, tmpdir: &Path, crate_type: CrateType, symbols: &[String]) {
+    fn export_symbols(
+        &mut self,
+        tmpdir: &Path,
+        crate_type: CrateType,
+        symbols: &[(String, SymbolExportKind)],
+    ) {
         // Symbol visibility in object files typically takes care of this.
         if crate_type == CrateType::Executable {
             let should_export_executable_symbols =
@@ -799,7 +809,7 @@ impl<'a> Linker for GccLinker<'a> {
             // Write a plain, newline-separated list of symbols
             let res: io::Result<()> = try {
                 let mut f = File::create_buffered(&path)?;
-                for sym in symbols {
+                for (sym, _) in symbols {
                     debug!("  _{sym}");
                     writeln!(f, "_{sym}")?;
                 }
@@ -808,30 +818,15 @@ impl<'a> Linker for GccLinker<'a> {
                 self.sess.dcx().emit_fatal(errors::LibDefWriteFailure { error });
             }
         } else if is_windows {
-            let res: io::Result<()> = try {
-                let mut f = File::create_buffered(&path)?;
-
-                // .def file similar to MSVC one but without LIBRARY section
-                // because LD doesn't like when it's empty
-                writeln!(f, "EXPORTS")?;
-                for symbol in symbols {
-                    debug!("  _{symbol}");
-                    // Quote the name in case it's reserved by linker in some way
-                    // (this accounts for names with dots in particular).
-                    writeln!(f, "  \"{symbol}\"")?;
-                }
-            };
-            if let Err(error) = res {
-                self.sess.dcx().emit_fatal(errors::LibDefWriteFailure { error });
-            }
+            // We already add -export arguments to the .drectve section of symbols.o
         } else {
             // Write an LD version script
             let res: io::Result<()> = try {
                 let mut f = File::create_buffered(&path)?;
                 writeln!(f, "{{")?;
                 if !symbols.is_empty() {
                     writeln!(f, "  global:")?;
-                    for sym in symbols {
+                    for (sym, _) in symbols {
                         debug!("    {sym};");
                         writeln!(f, "    {sym};")?;
                     }
@@ -1086,47 +1081,13 @@ impl<'a> Linker for MsvcLinker<'a> {
         }
     }
 
-    // Currently the compiler doesn't use `dllexport` (an LLVM attribute) to
-    // export symbols from a dynamic library. When building a dynamic library,
-    // however, we're going to want some symbols exported, so this function
-    // generates a DEF file which lists all the symbols.
-    //
-    // The linker will read this `*.def` file and export all the symbols from
-    // the dynamic library. Note that this is not as simple as just exporting
-    // all the symbols in the current crate (as specified by `codegen.reachable`)
-    // but rather we also need to possibly export the symbols of upstream
-    // crates. Upstream rlibs may be linked statically to this dynamic library,
-    // in which case they may continue to transitively be used and hence need
-    // their symbols exported.
-    fn export_symbols(&mut self, tmpdir: &Path, crate_type: CrateType, symbols: &[String]) {
-        // Symbol visibility takes care of this typically
-        if crate_type == CrateType::Executable {
-            let should_export_executable_symbols =
-                self.sess.opts.unstable_opts.export_executable_symbols;
-            if !should_export_executable_symbols {
-                return;
-            }
-        }
-
-        let path = tmpdir.join("lib.def");
-        let res: io::Result<()> = try {
-            let mut f = File::create_buffered(&path)?;
-
-            // Start off with the standard module name header and then go
-            // straight to exports.
-            writeln!(f, "LIBRARY")?;
-            writeln!(f, "EXPORTS")?;
-            for symbol in symbols {
-                debug!("  _{symbol}");
-                writeln!(f, "  {symbol}")?;
-            }
-        };
-        if let Err(error) = res {
-            self.sess.dcx().emit_fatal(errors::LibDefWriteFailure { error });
-        }
-        let mut arg = OsString::from("/DEF:");
-        arg.push(path);
-        self.link_arg(&arg);
+    fn export_symbols(
+        &mut self,
+        _tmpdir: &Path,
+        _crate_type: CrateType,
+        _symbols: &[(String, SymbolExportKind)],
+    ) {
+        // We already add /EXPORT arguments to the .drectve section of symbols.o
     }
 
     fn subsystem(&mut self, subsystem: &str) {
@@ -1259,14 +1220,19 @@ impl<'a> Linker for EmLinker<'a> {
         self.cc_arg("-nodefaultlibs");
     }
 
-    fn export_symbols(&mut self, _tmpdir: &Path, _crate_type: CrateType, symbols: &[String]) {
+    fn export_symbols(
+        &mut self,
+        _tmpdir: &Path,
+        _crate_type: CrateType,
+        symbols: &[(String, SymbolExportKind)],
+    ) {
         debug!("EXPORTED SYMBOLS:");
 
         self.cc_arg("-s");
 
         let mut arg = OsString::from("EXPORTED_FUNCTIONS=");
         let encoded = serde_json::to_string(
-            &symbols.iter().map(|sym| "_".to_owned() + sym).collect::<Vec<_>>(),
+            &symbols.iter().map(|(sym, _)| "_".to_owned() + sym).collect::<Vec<_>>(),
         )
         .unwrap();
         debug!("{encoded}");
@@ -1428,8 +1394,13 @@ impl<'a> Linker for WasmLd<'a> {
 
     fn no_default_libraries(&mut self) {}
 
-    fn export_symbols(&mut self, _tmpdir: &Path, _crate_type: CrateType, symbols: &[String]) {
-        for sym in symbols {
+    fn export_symbols(
+        &mut self,
+        _tmpdir: &Path,
+        _crate_type: CrateType,
+        symbols: &[(String, SymbolExportKind)],
+    ) {
+        for (sym, _) in symbols {
             self.link_args(&["--export", sym]);
         }
 
@@ -1563,7 +1534,7 @@ impl<'a> Linker for L4Bender<'a> {
         self.cc_arg("-nostdlib");
     }
 
-    fn export_symbols(&mut self, _: &Path, _: CrateType, _: &[String]) {
+    fn export_symbols(&mut self, _: &Path, _: CrateType, _: &[(String, SymbolExportKind)]) {
         // ToDo, not implemented, copy from GCC
         self.sess.dcx().emit_warn(errors::L4BenderExportingSymbolsUnimplemented);
     }
@@ -1720,12 +1691,17 @@ impl<'a> Linker for AixLinker<'a> {
 
     fn no_default_libraries(&mut self) {}
 
-    fn export_symbols(&mut self, tmpdir: &Path, _crate_type: CrateType, symbols: &[String]) {
+    fn export_symbols(
+        &mut self,
+        tmpdir: &Path,
+        _crate_type: CrateType,
+        symbols: &[(String, SymbolExportKind)],
+    ) {
         let path = tmpdir.join("list.exp");
         let res: io::Result<()> = try {
             let mut f = File::create_buffered(&path)?;
             // FIXME: use llvm-nm to generate export list.
-            for symbol in symbols {
+            for (symbol, _) in symbols {
                 debug!("  _{symbol}");
                 writeln!(f, "  {symbol}")?;
             }
@@ -1769,9 +1745,15 @@ fn for_each_exported_symbols_include_dep<'tcx>(
     }
 }
 
-pub(crate) fn exported_symbols(tcx: TyCtxt<'_>, crate_type: CrateType) -> Vec<String> {
+pub(crate) fn exported_symbols(
+    tcx: TyCtxt<'_>,
+    crate_type: CrateType,
+) -> Vec<(String, SymbolExportKind)> {
     if let Some(ref exports) = tcx.sess.target.override_export_symbols {
-        return exports.iter().map(ToString::to_string).collect();
+        return exports
+            .iter()
+            .map(|sym| (sym.to_string(), SymbolExportKind::Text /* FIXME */))
+            .collect();
     }
 
     if let CrateType::ProcMacro = crate_type {
@@ -1781,16 +1763,20 @@ pub(crate) fn exported_symbols(tcx: TyCtxt<'_>, crate_type: CrateType) -> Vec<St
     }
 }
 
-fn exported_symbols_for_non_proc_macro(tcx: TyCtxt<'_>, crate_type: CrateType) -> Vec<String> {
+fn exported_symbols_for_non_proc_macro(
+    tcx: TyCtxt<'_>,
+    crate_type: CrateType,
+) -> Vec<(String, SymbolExportKind)> {
     let mut symbols = Vec::new();
     let export_threshold = symbol_export::crates_export_threshold(&[crate_type]);
     for_each_exported_symbols_include_dep(tcx, crate_type, |symbol, info, cnum| {
         // Do not export mangled symbols from cdylibs and don't attempt to export compiler-builtins
         // from any cdylib. The latter doesn't work anyway as we use hidden visibility for
         // compiler-builtins. Most linkers silently ignore it, but ld64 gives a warning.
         if info.level.is_below_threshold(export_threshold) && !tcx.is_compiler_builtins(cnum) {
-            symbols.push(symbol_export::exporting_symbol_name_for_instance_in_crate(
-                tcx, symbol, cnum,
+            symbols.push((
+                symbol_export::exporting_symbol_name_for_instance_in_crate(tcx, symbol, cnum),
+                info.kind,
             ));
             symbol_export::extend_exported_symbols(&mut symbols, tcx, symbol, cnum);
         }
@@ -1799,7 +1785,7 @@ fn exported_symbols_for_non_proc_macro(tcx: TyCtxt<'_>, crate_type: CrateType) -
     symbols
 }
 
-fn exported_symbols_for_proc_macro_crate(tcx: TyCtxt<'_>) -> Vec<String> {
+fn exported_symbols_for_proc_macro_crate(tcx: TyCtxt<'_>) -> Vec<(String, SymbolExportKind)> {
     // `exported_symbols` will be empty when !should_codegen.
     if !tcx.sess.opts.output_types.should_codegen() {
         return Vec::new();
@@ -1809,7 +1795,10 @@ fn exported_symbols_for_proc_macro_crate(tcx: TyCtxt<'_>) -> Vec<String> {
     let proc_macro_decls_name = tcx.sess.generate_proc_macro_decls_symbol(stable_crate_id);
     let metadata_symbol_name = exported_symbols::metadata_symbol_name(tcx);
 
-    vec![proc_macro_decls_name, metadata_symbol_name]
+    vec![
+        (proc_macro_decls_name, SymbolExportKind::Data),
+        (metadata_symbol_name, SymbolExportKind::Data),
+    ]
 }
 
 pub(crate) fn linked_symbols(
@@ -1906,7 +1895,13 @@ impl<'a> Linker for PtxLinker<'a> {
 
     fn ehcont_guard(&mut self) {}
 
-    fn export_symbols(&mut self, _tmpdir: &Path, _crate_type: CrateType, _symbols: &[String]) {}
+    fn export_symbols(
+        &mut self,
+        _tmpdir: &Path,
+        _crate_type: CrateType,
+        _symbols: &[(String, SymbolExportKind)],
+    ) {
+    }
 
     fn subsystem(&mut self, _subsystem: &str) {}
 
@@ -1975,10 +1970,15 @@ impl<'a> Linker for LlbcLinker<'a> {
 
     fn ehcont_guard(&mut self) {}
 
-    fn export_symbols(&mut self, _tmpdir: &Path, _crate_type: CrateType, symbols: &[String]) {
+    fn export_symbols(
+        &mut self,
+        _tmpdir: &Path,
+        _crate_type: CrateType,
+        symbols: &[(String, SymbolExportKind)],
+    ) {
         match _crate_type {
             CrateType::Cdylib => {
-                for sym in symbols {
+                for (sym, _) in symbols {
                     self.link_args(&["--export-symbol", sym]);
                 }
             }
@@ -2052,11 +2052,16 @@ impl<'a> Linker for BpfLinker<'a> {
 
     fn ehcont_guard(&mut self) {}
 
-    fn export_symbols(&mut self, tmpdir: &Path, _crate_type: CrateType, symbols: &[String]) {
+    fn export_symbols(
+        &mut self,
+        tmpdir: &Path,
+        _crate_type: CrateType,
+        symbols: &[(String, SymbolExportKind)],
+    ) {
         let path = tmpdir.join("symbols");
         let res: io::Result<()> = try {
             let mut f = File::create_buffered(&path)?;
-            for sym in symbols {
+            for (sym, _) in symbols {
                 writeln!(f, "{sym}")?;
             }
         };
diff --git a/compiler/rustc_codegen_ssa/src/back/symbol_export.rs b/compiler/rustc_codegen_ssa/src/back/symbol_export.rs
@@ -753,7 +753,7 @@ pub(crate) fn exporting_symbol_name_for_instance_in_crate<'tcx>(
 /// Add it to the symbols list for all kernel functions, so that it is exported in the linked
 /// object.
 pub(crate) fn extend_exported_symbols<'tcx>(
-    symbols: &mut Vec<String>,
+    symbols: &mut Vec<(String, SymbolExportKind)>,
     tcx: TyCtxt<'tcx>,
     symbol: ExportedSymbol<'tcx>,
     instantiating_crate: CrateNum,
@@ -767,7 +767,7 @@ pub(crate) fn extend_exported_symbols<'tcx>(
     let undecorated = symbol_name_for_instance_in_crate(tcx, symbol, instantiating_crate);
 
     // Add the symbol for the kernel descriptor (with .kd suffix)
-    symbols.push(format!("{undecorated}.kd"));
+    symbols.push((format!("{undecorated}.kd"), SymbolExportKind::Data));
 }
 
 fn maybe_emutls_symbol_name<'tcx>(
diff --git a/compiler/rustc_codegen_ssa/src/lib.rs b/compiler/rustc_codegen_ssa/src/lib.rs
@@ -218,7 +218,7 @@ pub struct CrateInfo {
     pub target_cpu: String,
     pub target_features: Vec<String>,
     pub crate_types: Vec<CrateType>,
-    pub exported_symbols: UnordMap<CrateType, Vec<String>>,
+    pub exported_symbols: UnordMap<CrateType, Vec<(String, SymbolExportKind)>>,
     pub linked_symbols: FxIndexMap<CrateType, Vec<(String, SymbolExportKind)>>,
     pub local_crate_name: Symbol,
     pub compiler_builtins: Option<CrateNum>,
