[Bug c/20321] New: keep static constants if named section attribute asserted

["gary at intrepid dot com" <gcc-bugzilla at gcc dot gnu dot org>]

Related discussion:
http://gcc.gnu.org/ml/gcc/2005-03/msg00181.html
Related bug report: Bug #20319

I tried adding a section attribute to a static constant string declaration
which is otherwise not referenced, in the hope that the compiler would
retain the static constant because it had been explicitly
targeted to a named section,

static char const __attribute__ ((section("ident_sect"))) rcsid[] =
"$Id: f.c,v 5.4 1993/11/09 17:40:15 eggert Exp $";
int main() {}

but this didn't prevent the elimination of the const static defintion.

Enhancement request: If an explicit section attribute
is supplied for a static constant declaration (where the declaration
is not otherwise referenced), do not eliminate the static constant
definition.  The rationale for this policy is that it is
reasonable to assume that if the user is explicitly assigning the
static constant to a named section, then he/she intends to use that
static constant defintion, and does not want it eliminated from the
executable image.

-- 
           Summary: keep static constants if named section attribute
                    asserted
           Product: gcc
           Version: 3.4.3
            Status: UNCONFIRMED
          Severity: enhancement
          Priority: P2
         Component: c
        AssignedTo: unassigned at gcc dot gnu dot org
        ReportedBy: gary at intrepid dot com
                CC: gcc-bugs at gcc dot gnu dot org


http://gcc.gnu.org/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=20321