How to Start a Program

Explore the intricate process of program execution in this comprehensive conference talk from NDC TechTown 2022. Delve into the mechanics behind running an executable, uncovering the hidden steps that occur before reaching the main() function. Gain insights into variable initialization, memory allocation, and the complexities of calling functions from shared objects. Examine the structure of a program both on disk and in memory, with a specific focus on Linux/ELF systems. Learn how these principles compare to Windows/COFF environments, using C++ code examples primarily from the C subset. Build upon knowledge from the speaker's previous talk, "From Program to Process - What Happens After The Compiler," to deepen your understanding of the program execution lifecycle.