Linux System - Table 12 > Packages - Table 12 > binutils

The GNU Binary Utilities, or binutils, is a collection of programming tools for the manipulation of object code in various object file formats. The current versions were originally written by programmers at Cygnus Solutions using the Binary File Descriptor library (libbfd). They are typically used in conjunction with GNU Compiler Collection, make, and GDB. Originally the package consisted of only the minor utilities, but later the GNU Assembler (GAS) and GNU Linker (GLD) were included in releases, since their functionality is so closely related. Most of the binutils are rather simple programs. Most of the complexity is encapsulated in the Binary File Descriptor library and libopcodes libraries, which they share. The original BFD versions were written by David Henkel-Wallace and Steve Chamberlain. Past maintainers have included Ken Raeburn and Ian Lance Taylor. As of 2005[update] the current maintainer is Nick Clifton. Binutils for Linux is maintained by H.J. Lu.