Application Binary Interface
An Application Binary Interface (ABI) is a low-level interface specification that defines how binary code interacts at runtime, including calling conventions, data types, memory layout, and system calls. It ensures compatibility between compiled programs and the operating system or libraries, enabling different software components to work together without recompilation. ABIs are crucial for interoperability in compiled languages like C, C++, and Rust, particularly in system-level programming and cross-platform development.
Developers should learn about ABIs when working with compiled languages, system programming, or creating libraries and APIs that need to interoperate across different compilers or platforms. It is essential for debugging binary compatibility issues, optimizing performance in low-level code, and ensuring that software runs correctly on various hardware architectures or operating systems. Use cases include developing operating system kernels, device drivers, shared libraries, and embedded systems where precise control over binary execution is required.