[Dwarf-discuss] Duplicate frames?

[Steve O'Neill]

Hello,

I am working on an application which uses libdwarf to extract symbol 
information from executable images.  A problem that I have seen lately 
is that when analyzing some images I get a DW_DLE_DEBUG_FRAME_DUPLICATE 
error message followed by an immediate exit.

Experimenting with this a bit I've found that for the most part these 
problem applications contain a .eh_frame as well as a .debug_frame.  In 
some cases I find an .eh_frame and two .debug_frames.  I've also found 
through experimentation that, although most likely a Bad Thing, by 
simply ignoring the error and continuing on I am able to achieve the 
results that I need.

Is there anywhere that I can get some background on
1) what the eh_frame is and why it can't co-exist with a debug frame?
2) how and why am I seeing multiple debug frames?
3) is there a linker option that can avoid the multiple frame problem?

Any information and/or pointers would be appreciated.  Note - I am 
working with the 20060614 release of libdwarf on an Octane2 running Irix 
6.5.23.

Thanks,
Steve