The IPA link step

The IPA link step is similar to the binding process.

You invoke the IPA link step by specifying the IPA(LINK) compiler option or by specifying -WI without specifying -c in z/OS® UNIX System Services. This step links the user application program together by combining object files with IPA information, object files with conventional object code and data, and load module members. It merges IPA information, performs IPA Link-time optimizations, and generates the final object code and data.

Each application program module must be built with a single invocation of the IPA link step. All parts must be available during the IPA link step; missing parts may result in termination of IPA Link processing.

Figure 1 shows the flow of IPA link step processing:

Only c89, xlc, c++ and z/OS batch support the IPA link step. Refer to Using the IPA link step with z/OS XL C/C++ programs for information about the IPA link step.