questions related to --pack-dyn-relocs=android

[pendyalasyam]

Build System maintainers guide suggests to use --pack-dyn-relocs=android on API Level 23 and more.

I am trying to understand what are relocations and what is this new packing and how it reduces the binary size. Meanwhile, could somebody please let me know

1. What happens if we use libraries built with --pack-dyn-relocs=android on Android Devices with lower API levels.
2. Can libraries built with --pack-dyn-relocs=android work smoothly with libraries that are built without any --pack-dyn-relocs flag?
3. Does this flag impact the performance of application by any chance? If so, please let me know why?

Thanks!!

[enh-google]

Build System maintainers guide suggests to use --pack-dyn-relocs=android on API Level 23 and more.

I am trying to understand what are relocations and what is this new packing and how it reduces the binary size. Meanwhile, could somebody please let me know

1. What happens if we use libraries built with --pack-dyn-relocs=android on Android Devices with lower API levels.

they won't work.

more specifically: https://android.googlesource.com/platform/bionic/+/master/android-changes-for-ndk-developers.md#relative-relocations-relr

2. Can libraries built with --pack-dyn-relocs=android work smoothly with libraries that are built without any --pack-dyn-relocs flag?

yes.

3. Does this flag impact the performance of application by any chance? If so, please let me know why?

no. (it might reduce the time taken to dlopen() the library, but once it's loaded, it will run exactly the same as before.)

[pendyalasyam]

Thanks @enh-google !!