[Dwarf-Discuss] Inconsistency in DWARF length escape codes

[Nick Clifton]

Hi Guys,

   There appears to be an inconsistency in the DWARF3 specification for the 
range of values that can be used as escape codes in the initial 4-byte length 
field of some headers:

   In section 7.2.2 (Initial Length Values) on page 120 of the DWARF3 spec 
(published Dec 20, 2005 and downloaded from http://dwarfstd.org) it says:

     "In an initial length field, the values 0xfffffff0 through
      0xffffffff are reserved by DWARF to indicate some form of
      extension relative to DWARF Version 2; such values must
      not be interpreted as a length field."

Note that the start value has seven 'f's and only one 0.  On the next page 
however (Section 7.4 32-Bit and 64-Bit DWARF Formats) in item 1 it says:

     "In the 32-bit DWARF format, an initial length field (see
      Section 7.2.2) is an unsigned 32-bit integer (which must
      be less than 0xffffff00);"

This time the reserved value has six 'f's and two 0's.  This smaller value is 
also referred to in Section 7.5.1, Section 7.19 and Section 7.20.

It would appear that Section 7.2.2 contains a typo and that the lower reserved 
value ought to be 0xffffff00.   On the other hand is there really a need for 
256 escape codes ?  Maybe the other sections are wrong and their lower limits 
should be changed to 0xfffffff0 ?

What do you think ?

Cheers
   Nick