How to Create Really Teensy ELF Executables for Linux

Creating Teensy ELF Executables for Linux (Or, "Size Is Everything")

This tutorial dives into the art of shrinking Linux executables to their absolute minimum size. Starting with a simple C program that returns 42, the author progressively strips away layers of overhead—switching to assembly, bypassing startup files, and ultimately making direct system calls. The journey reveals the inner workings of the ELF format and Linux's system call interface, culminating in a 368-byte executable. A must-read for anyone fascinated by low-level programming and software minimalism.