all: retire architecture letter in file names, public API

This CL removes the remaining visible uses of the "architecture letter" concept.
(They are no longer in tool names nor in source directory names.)

Because the architecture letter concept is now gone, delete GOCHAR
from "go env" output, and change go/build.ArchChar to return an
error always.

The architecture letter is still used in the compiler and linker sources
as a clumsy architecture enumeration, but that use is not visible to
Go users and can be cleaned up separately.

Change-Id: I4d97a38f372003fb610c9c5241bea440d9dbeb8d
Reviewed-on: https://go-review.googlesource.com/10289Reviewed-by: Rob Pike <r@golang.org>

doc/go1.5.txt

 Overall:
 - toolchain in Go
 - new GC
+- go tool asm, go tool compile, go tool link
+- default output files changed: now file.o and a.out
 
 Language:
 - permit omission of key type in map composite literals where key is a composite literal (https://golang.org/cl/2591)

src/cmd/asm/internal/flags/flags.go

@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ func Usage() {
 	os.Exit(2)
 }
 
-func Parse(theChar int) {
+func Parse() {
 	flag.Usage = Usage
 	flag.Parse()
 	if flag.NArg() != 1 {
@@ -64,6 +64,6 @@ func Parse(theChar int) {
 		if strings.HasSuffix(input, ".s") {
 			input = input[:len(input)-2]
 		}
-		*OutputFile = fmt.Sprintf("%s.%c", input, theChar)
+		*OutputFile = fmt.Sprintf("%s.o", input)
 	}
 }

src/cmd/asm/main.go

@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ func main() {
 		log.Fatalf("asm: unrecognized architecture %s", GOARCH)
 	}
 
-	flags.Parse(architecture.Thechar)
+	flags.Parse()
 
 	// Create object file, write header.
 	fd, err := os.Create(*flags.OutputFile)

src/cmd/compile/internal/gc/lex.go

@@ -583,7 +583,7 @@ func findpkg(name string) (file string, ok bool) {
 		if obj.Access(file, 0) >= 0 {
 			return file, true
 		}
-		file = fmt.Sprintf("%s.%c", name, Thearch.Thechar)
+		file = fmt.Sprintf("%s.o", name)
 		if obj.Access(file, 0) >= 0 {
 			return file, true
 		}
@@ -605,7 +605,7 @@ func findpkg(name string) (file string, ok bool) {
 		if obj.Access(file, 0) >= 0 {
 			return file, true
 		}
-		file = fmt.Sprintf("%s/%s.%c", p.dir, name, Thearch.Thechar)
+		file = fmt.Sprintf("%s/%s.o", p.dir, name)
 		if obj.Access(file, 0) >= 0 {
 			return file, true
 		}
@@ -626,7 +626,7 @@ func findpkg(name string) (file string, ok bool) {
 		if obj.Access(file, 0) >= 0 {
 			return file, true
 		}
-		file = fmt.Sprintf("%s/pkg/%s_%s%s%s/%s.%c", goroot, goos, goarch, suffixsep, suffix, name, Thearch.Thechar)
+		file = fmt.Sprintf("%s/pkg/%s_%s%s%s/%s.o", goroot, goos, goarch, suffixsep, suffix, name)
 		if obj.Access(file, 0) >= 0 {
 			return file, true
 		}
@@ -637,7 +637,7 @@ func findpkg(name string) (file string, ok bool) {
 
 func fakeimport() {
 	importpkg = mkpkg("fake")
-	cannedimports("fake.6", "$$\n")
+	cannedimports("fake.o", "$$\n")
 }
 
 func importfile(f *Val, line int) {
@@ -679,7 +679,7 @@ func importfile(f *Val, line int) {
 		}
 
 		importpkg = mkpkg(f.U.(string))
-		cannedimports("unsafe.6", unsafeimport)
+		cannedimports("unsafe.o", unsafeimport)
 		imported_unsafe = 1
 		return
 	}
@@ -2596,6 +2596,6 @@ func mkpackage(pkgname string) {
 		if i := strings.LastIndex(p, "."); i >= 0 {
 			p = p[:i]
 		}
-		outfile = fmt.Sprintf("%s.%c", p, Thearch.Thechar)
+		outfile = fmt.Sprintf("%s.o", p)
 	}
 }

src/cmd/compile/internal/gc/mkbuiltin.go

@@ -13,21 +13,14 @@ package main
 import (
 	"bufio"
 	"fmt"
-	"go/build"
 	"io"
 	"log"
 	"os"
 	"os/exec"
-	"runtime"
 	"strings"
 )
 
 func main() {
-	gochar, err := build.ArchChar(runtime.GOARCH)
-	if err != nil {
-		log.Fatal(err)
-	}
-
 	f, err := os.Create("builtin.go")
 	if err != nil {
 		log.Fatal(err)
@@ -40,7 +33,7 @@ func main() {
 	fmt.Fprintln(w, "package gc")
 
 	for _, name := range os.Args[1:] {
-		mkbuiltin(w, gochar, name)
+		mkbuiltin(w, name)
 	}
 
 	if err := w.Flush(); err != nil {
@@ -49,11 +42,11 @@ func main() {
 }
 
 // Compile .go file, import data from .6 file, and write Go string version.
-func mkbuiltin(w io.Writer, gochar string, name string) {
-	if err := exec.Command("go", "tool", gochar+"g", "-A", "builtin/"+name+".go").Run(); err != nil {
+func mkbuiltin(w io.Writer, name string) {
+	if err := exec.Command("go", "tool", "compile", "-A", "builtin/"+name+".go").Run(); err != nil {
 		log.Fatal(err)
 	}
-	obj := fmt.Sprintf("%s.%s", name, gochar)
+	obj := "name.o"
 	defer os.Remove(obj)
 
 	r, err := os.Open(obj)
@@ -77,7 +70,7 @@ Begin:
 	fmt.Fprintf(w, "\nconst %simport = \"\" +\n", name)
 
 	// sys.go claims to be in package PACKAGE to avoid
-	// conflicts during "6g sys.go".  Rename PACKAGE to $2.
+	// conflicts during "go tool compile sys.go".  Rename PACKAGE to $2.
 	replacer := strings.NewReplacer("PACKAGE", name)
 
 	// Process imports, stopping at $$ that closes them.

src/cmd/compile/internal/gc/obj.go

@@ -102,8 +102,7 @@ func dumpobj() {
 			obj.Bputc(bout, 0)
 		}
 		obj.Bseek(bout, startobj-ArhdrSize, 0)
-		name := fmt.Sprintf("_go_.%c", Thearch.Thechar)
-		formathdr(arhdr[:], name, size)
+		formathdr(arhdr[:], "_go_.o", size)
 		bout.Write(arhdr[:])
 	}
 

src/cmd/dist/build.go

@@ -20,7 +20,6 @@ var (
 	goarch           string
 	gobin            string
 	gohostarch       string
-	gohostchar       string
 	gohostos         string
 	goos             string
 	goarm            string
@@ -30,10 +29,8 @@ var (
 	goextlinkenabled string
 	workdir          string
 	tooldir          string
-	gochar           string
 	oldgoos          string
 	oldgoarch        string
-	oldgochar        string
 	slash            string
 	exe              string
 	defaultcc        string
@@ -48,17 +45,13 @@ var (
 	vflag int  // verbosity
 )
 
-// The known architecture letters.
-var gochars = "5667899"
-
 // The known architectures.
 var okgoarch = []string{
-	// same order as gochars
-	"arm",
+	"386",
 	"amd64",
 	"amd64p32",
+	"arm",
 	"arm64",
-	"386",
 	"ppc64",
 	"ppc64le",
 }
@@ -147,22 +140,18 @@ func xinit() {
 		gohostarch = b
 	}
 
-	i := find(gohostarch, okgoarch)
-	if i < 0 {
+	if find(gohostarch, okgoarch) < 0 {
 		fatal("unknown $GOHOSTARCH %s", gohostarch)
 	}
-	gohostchar = gochars[i : i+1]
 
 	b = os.Getenv("GOARCH")
 	if b == "" {
 		b = gohostarch
 	}
 	goarch = b
-	i = find(goarch, okgoarch)
-	if i < 0 {
+	if find(goarch, okgoarch) < 0 {
 		fatal("unknown $GOARCH %s", goarch)
 	}
-	gochar = gochars[i : i+1]
 
 	b = os.Getenv("GO_EXTLINK_ENABLED")
 	if b != "" {
@@ -436,7 +425,7 @@ func setup() {
 	}
 
 	// If $GOBIN is set and has a Go compiler, it must be cleaned.
-	for _, char := range gochars {
+	for _, char := range "56789" {
 		if isfile(pathf("%s%s%c%s", gobin, slash, char, "g")) {
 			for _, old := range oldtool {
 				xremove(pathf("%s/%s", gobin, old))
@@ -703,11 +692,7 @@ func install(dir string) {
 		b := pathf("%s/%s", workdir, filepath.Base(p))
 
 		// Change the last character of the output file (which was c or s).
-		if gohostos == "plan9" {
-			b = b[:len(b)-1] + gohostchar
-		} else {
-			b = b[:len(b)-1] + "o"
-		}
+		b = b[:len(b)-1] + "o"
 		compile = append(compile, "-o", b, p)
 		bgrun(path, compile...)
 
@@ -1035,7 +1020,6 @@ func cmdenv() {
 	xprintf(format, "GOHOSTARCH", gohostarch)
 	xprintf(format, "GOHOSTOS", gohostos)
 	xprintf(format, "GOTOOLDIR", tooldir)
-	xprintf(format, "GOCHAR", gochar)
 	if goarch == "arm" {
 		xprintf(format, "GOARM", goarm)
 	}
@@ -1080,10 +1064,8 @@ func cmdbootstrap() {
 	// For the main bootstrap, building for host os/arch.
 	oldgoos = goos
 	oldgoarch = goarch
-	oldgochar = gochar
 	goos = gohostos
 	goarch = gohostarch
-	gochar = gohostchar
 	os.Setenv("GOHOSTARCH", gohostarch)
 	os.Setenv("GOHOSTOS", gohostos)
 	os.Setenv("GOARCH", goarch)
@@ -1097,37 +1079,22 @@ func cmdbootstrap() {
 	// than in a standard release like Go 1.4, so don't do this rebuild by default.
 	if false {
 		xprintf("##### Building Go toolchain using itself.\n")
-		for _, pattern := range buildorder {
-			if pattern == "cmd/go" {
+		for _, dir := range buildorder {
+			if dir == "cmd/go" {
 				break
 			}
-			dir := pattern
-			if strings.Contains(pattern, "%s") {
-				dir = fmt.Sprintf(pattern, gohostchar)
-			}
 			install(dir)
-			if oldgochar != gohostchar && strings.Contains(pattern, "%s") {
-				install(fmt.Sprintf(pattern, oldgochar))
-			}
 		}
 		xprintf("\n")
 	}
 
 	xprintf("##### Building compilers and go_bootstrap for host, %s/%s.\n", gohostos, gohostarch)
-	for _, pattern := range buildorder {
-		dir := pattern
-		if strings.Contains(pattern, "%s") {
-			dir = fmt.Sprintf(pattern, gohostchar)
-		}
+	for _, dir := range buildorder {
 		install(dir)
-		if oldgochar != gohostchar && strings.Contains(pattern, "%s") {
-			install(fmt.Sprintf(pattern, oldgochar))
-		}
 	}
 
 	goos = oldgoos
 	goarch = oldgoarch
-	gochar = oldgochar
 	os.Setenv("GOARCH", goarch)
 	os.Setenv("GOOS", goos)
 

src/cmd/go/build.go

@@ -547,9 +547,6 @@ var (
 	goarch    string
 	goos      string
 	exeSuffix string
-
-	archCharVal string
-	archCharErr error
 )
 
 func init() {
@@ -558,16 +555,6 @@ func init() {
 	if goos == "windows" {
 		exeSuffix = ".exe"
 	}
-	archCharVal, archCharErr = build.ArchChar(goarch)
-}
-
-// archChar returns the architecture character.  This is only needed
-// for the gc toolchain, so only fail if we actually need it.
-func archChar() string {
-	if archCharErr != nil {
-		fatalf("%s", archCharErr)
-	}
-	return archCharVal
 }
 
 // A builder holds global state about a build.
@@ -1208,7 +1195,7 @@ func (b *builder) build(a *action) (err error) {
 		fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "%s\n", a.p.ImportPath)
 	}
 
-	if a.p.Standard && a.p.ImportPath == "runtime" && buildContext.Compiler == "gc" && archChar() != "" &&
+	if a.p.Standard && a.p.ImportPath == "runtime" && buildContext.Compiler == "gc" &&
 		(!hasString(a.p.GoFiles, "zgoos_"+buildContext.GOOS+".go") ||
 			!hasString(a.p.GoFiles, "zgoarch_"+buildContext.GOARCH+".go")) {
 		return fmt.Errorf("%s/%s must be bootstrapped using make%v", buildContext.GOOS, buildContext.GOARCH, defaultSuffix())
@@ -1371,15 +1358,8 @@ func (b *builder) build(a *action) (err error) {
 		}
 	}
 
-	var objExt string
-	if _, ok := buildToolchain.(gccgoToolchain); ok {
-		objExt = "o"
-	} else {
-		objExt = archChar()
-	}
-
 	for _, file := range cfiles {
-		out := file[:len(file)-len(".c")] + "." + objExt
+		out := file[:len(file)-len(".c")] + ".o"
 		if err := buildToolchain.cc(b, a.p, obj, obj+out, file); err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
@@ -1388,7 +1368,7 @@ func (b *builder) build(a *action) (err error) {
 
 	// Assemble .s files.
 	for _, file := range sfiles {
-		out := file[:len(file)-len(".s")] + "." + objExt
+		out := file[:len(file)-len(".s")] + ".o"
 		if err := buildToolchain.asm(b, a.p, obj, obj+out, file); err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
@@ -2120,7 +2100,7 @@ func (gcToolchain) gc(b *builder, p *Package, archive, obj string, asmhdr bool,
 	if archive != "" {
 		ofile = archive
 	} else {
-		out := "_go_." + archChar()
+		out := "_go_.o"
 		ofile = obj + out
 	}
 
@@ -2182,9 +2162,22 @@ func (gcToolchain) asm(b *builder, p *Package, obj, ofile, sfile string) error {
 	}
 	// Disable checks when additional flags are passed, as the old assemblers
 	// don't implement some of them (e.g., -shared).
-	if verifyAsm && goarch != "arm64" && len(buildAsmflags) == 0 {
-		if err := toolVerify(b, p, "old"+archChar()+"a", ofile, args); err != nil {
-			return err
+	if verifyAsm && len(buildAsmflags) == 0 {
+		old := ""
+		switch goarch {
+		case "arm":
+			old = "old5a"
+		case "amd64", "amd64p32":
+			old = "old6a"
+		case "386":
+			old = "old8a"
+		case "ppc64", "ppc64le":
+			old = "old9a"
+		}
+		if old != "" {
+			if err := toolVerify(b, p, old, ofile, args); err != nil {
+				return err
+			}
 		}
 	}
 	return nil
@@ -2785,13 +2778,6 @@ func (b *builder) cgo(p *Package, cgoExe, obj string, pcCFLAGS, pcLDFLAGS, cgofi
 	cgoflags := []string{}
 	// TODO: make cgo not depend on $GOARCH?
 
-	var objExt string
-	if _, ok := buildToolchain.(gccgoToolchain); ok {
-		objExt = "o"
-	} else {
-		objExt = archChar()
-	}
-
 	if p.Standard && p.ImportPath == "runtime/cgo" {
 		cgoflags = append(cgoflags, "-import_runtime_cgo=false")
 	}
@@ -2836,7 +2822,7 @@ func (b *builder) cgo(p *Package, cgoExe, obj string, pcCFLAGS, pcLDFLAGS, cgofi
 	// cc _cgo_defun.c
 	_, gccgo := buildToolchain.(gccgoToolchain)
 	if gccgo {
-		defunObj := obj + "_cgo_defun." + objExt
+		defunObj := obj + "_cgo_defun.o"
 		if err := buildToolchain.cc(b, p, obj, defunObj, defunC); err != nil {
 			return nil, nil, err
 		}

src/cmd/go/env.go

@@ -49,10 +49,6 @@ func mkEnv() []envVar {
 		{"TERM", "dumb"},
 	}
 
-	if archCharErr == nil {
-		env = append(env, envVar{"GOCHAR", archChar()})
-	}
-
 	if goos != "plan9" {
 		cmd := b.gccCmd(".")
 		env = append(env, envVar{"CC", cmd[0]})

src/cmd/link/internal/ld/lib.go

@@ -1627,7 +1627,7 @@ func Cput(c uint8) {
 }
 
 func usage() {
-	fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "usage: %cl [options] obj.%c\n", Thearch.Thechar, Thearch.Thechar)
+	fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "usage: link [options] main.o\n")
 	obj.Flagprint(2)
 	Exit(2)
 }

src/cmd/link/internal/ld/pobj.go

@@ -160,10 +160,9 @@ func Ldmain() {
 	}
 
 	if outfile == "" {
+		outfile = "a.out"
 		if HEADTYPE == obj.Hwindows {
-			outfile = fmt.Sprintf("%c.out.exe", Thearch.Thechar)
-		} else {
-			outfile = fmt.Sprintf("%c.out", Thearch.Thechar)
+			outfile += ".exe"
 		}
 	}
 

src/cmd/pack/pack_test.go

@@ -13,7 +13,6 @@ import (
 	"os"
 	"os/exec"
 	"path/filepath"
-	"regexp"
 	"runtime"
 	"testing"
 	"time"
@@ -223,15 +222,13 @@ func TestHello(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
 
-	char := findChar(t, dir)
-
 	run := func(args ...string) string {
 		return doRun(t, dir, args...)
 	}
 
 	run("go", "build", "cmd/pack") // writes pack binary to dir
 	run("go", "tool", "compile", "hello.go")
-	run("./pack", "grc", "hello.a", "hello."+char)
+	run("./pack", "grc", "hello.a", "hello.o")
 	run("go", "tool", "link", "-o", "a.out", "hello.a")
 	out := run("./a.out")
 	if out != "hello world\n" {
@@ -297,17 +294,15 @@ func TestLargeDefs(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
 
-	char := findChar(t, dir)
-
 	run := func(args ...string) string {
 		return doRun(t, dir, args...)
 	}
 
 	run("go", "build", "cmd/pack") // writes pack binary to dir
 	run("go", "tool", "compile", "large.go")
-	run("./pack", "grc", "large.a", "large."+char)
+	run("./pack", "grc", "large.a", "large.o")
 	run("go", "tool", "compile", "-I", ".", "main.go")
-	run("go", "tool", "link", "-L", ".", "-o", "a.out", "main."+char)
+	run("go", "tool", "link", "-L", ".", "-o", "a.out", "main.o")
 	out := run("./a.out")
 	if out != "ok\n" {
 		t.Fatalf("incorrect output: %q, want %q", out, "ok\n")
@@ -325,20 +320,6 @@ func doRun(t *testing.T, dir string, args ...string) string {
 	return string(out)
 }
 
-// findChar returns the architecture character for the go command.
-func findChar(t *testing.T, dir string) string {
-	out := doRun(t, dir, "go", "env")
-	re, err := regexp.Compile(`\s*GOCHAR=['"]?(\w)['"]?`)
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Fatal(err)
-	}
-	fields := re.FindStringSubmatch(out)
-	if fields == nil {
-		t.Fatal("cannot find GOCHAR in 'go env' output:\n", out)
-	}
-	return fields[1]
-}
-
 // Fake implementation of files.
 
 var helloFile = &FakeFile{

src/go/build/build.go

@@ -1391,20 +1391,11 @@ func IsLocalImport(path string) bool {
 		strings.HasPrefix(path, "./") || strings.HasPrefix(path, "../")
 }
 
-// ArchChar returns the architecture character for the given goarch.
-// For example, ArchChar("amd64") returns "6".
+// ArchChar returns "?" and an error.
+// In earlier versions of Go, the returned string was used to derive
+// the compiler and linker tool names, the default object file suffix,
+// and the default linker output name. As of Go 1.5, those strings
+// no longer vary by architecture; they are compile, link, .o, and a.out, respectively.
 func ArchChar(goarch string) (string, error) {
-	switch goarch {
-	case "386":
-		return "8", nil
-	case "amd64", "amd64p32":
-		return "6", nil
-	case "arm":
-		return "5", nil
-	case "arm64":
-		return "7", nil
-	case "ppc64", "ppc64le":
-		return "9", nil
-	}
-	return "", errors.New("unsupported GOARCH " + goarch)
+	return "", errors.New("architecture letter no longer used")
 }

src/go/internal/gcimporter/gcimporter.go

@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ import (
 // debugging/development support
 const debug = false
 
-var pkgExts = [...]string{".a", ".5", ".6", ".7", ".8", ".9"}
+var pkgExts = [...]string{".a", ".o"}
 
 // FindPkg returns the filename and unique package id for an import
 // path based on package information provided by build.Import (using

src/go/internal/gcimporter/gcimporter_test.go

@@ -50,9 +50,8 @@ func compile(t *testing.T, dirname, filename string) string {
 		t.Logf("%s", out)
 		t.Fatalf("%s %s failed: %s", gcPath, filename, err)
 	}
-	archCh, _ := build.ArchChar(runtime.GOARCH)
 	// filename should end with ".go"
-	return filepath.Join(dirname, filename[:len(filename)-2]+archCh)
+	return filepath.Join(dirname, filename[:len(filename)-2]+"o")
 }
 
 // Use the same global imports map for all tests. The effect is

test/bench/shootout/timing.sh

@@ -6,7 +6,6 @@
 set -e
 
 eval $(go tool dist env)
-O=$GOCHAR
 GC="go tool compile"
 LD="go tool link"
 
@@ -61,11 +60,11 @@ X-test)
 esac
 
 gc() {
-	$GC $1.go; $LD -o $O.$EXE $1.$O
+	$GC $1.go; $LD -o a.$EXE $1.o
 }
 
 gc_B() {
-	$GC -B $1.go; $LD -o $O.$EXE $1.$O
+	$GC -B $1.go; $LD -o a.$EXE $1.o
 }
 
 runonly() {
@@ -115,8 +114,8 @@ fasta() {
 	runonly echo 'fasta -n 25000000'
 	run "gcc $gccm -O2 fasta.c" a.$EXE 25000000
 	run 'gccgo -O2 fasta.go' a.$EXE -n 25000000	#commented out until WriteString is in bufio
-	run 'gc fasta' $O.$EXE -n 25000000
-	run 'gc_B fasta' $O.$EXE -n 25000000
+	run 'gc fasta' a.$EXE -n 25000000
+	run 'gc_B fasta' a.$EXE -n 25000000
 }
 
 revcomp() {
@@ -125,8 +124,8 @@ revcomp() {
 	runonly echo 'reverse-complement < output-of-fasta-25000000'
 	run "gcc $gccm -O2 reverse-complement.c" a.$EXE < x
 	run 'gccgo -O2 reverse-complement.go' a.$EXE < x
-	run 'gc reverse-complement' $O.$EXE < x
-	run 'gc_B reverse-complement' $O.$EXE < x
+	run 'gc reverse-complement' a.$EXE < x
+	run 'gc_B reverse-complement' a.$EXE < x
 	rm x
 }
 
@@ -134,8 +133,8 @@ nbody() {
 	runonly echo 'nbody -n 50000000'
 	run "gcc $gccm -O2 nbody.c -lm" a.$EXE 50000000
 	run 'gccgo -O2 nbody.go' a.$EXE -n 50000000
-	run 'gc nbody' $O.$EXE -n 50000000
-	run 'gc_B nbody' $O.$EXE -n 50000000
+	run 'gc nbody' a.$EXE -n 50000000
+	run 'gc_B nbody' a.$EXE -n 50000000
 }
 
 binarytree() {
@@ -143,8 +142,8 @@ binarytree() {
 	run "gcc $gccm -O2 binary-tree.c -lm" a.$EXE 15
 	run 'gccgo -O2 binary-tree.go' a.$EXE -n 15
 	run 'gccgo -O2 binary-tree-freelist.go' a.$EXE -n 15
-	run 'gc binary-tree' $O.$EXE -n 15
-	run 'gc binary-tree-freelist' $O.$EXE -n 15
+	run 'gc binary-tree' a.$EXE -n 15
+	run 'gc binary-tree-freelist' a.$EXE -n 15
 }
 
 fannkuch() {
@@ -152,9 +151,9 @@ fannkuch() {
 	run "gcc $gccm -O2 fannkuch.c" a.$EXE 12
 	run 'gccgo -O2 fannkuch.go' a.$EXE -n 12
 	run 'gccgo -O2 fannkuch-parallel.go' a.$EXE -n 12
-	run 'gc fannkuch' $O.$EXE -n 12
-	run 'gc fannkuch-parallel' $O.$EXE -n 12
-	run 'gc_B fannkuch' $O.$EXE -n 12
+	run 'gc fannkuch' a.$EXE -n 12
+	run 'gc fannkuch-parallel' a.$EXE -n 12
+	run 'gc_B fannkuch' a.$EXE -n 12
 }
 
 regexdna() {
@@ -166,9 +165,9 @@ regexdna() {
 	fi
 	run 'gccgo -O2 regex-dna.go' a.$EXE <x
 	run 'gccgo -O2 regex-dna-parallel.go' a.$EXE <x
-	run 'gc regex-dna' $O.$EXE <x
-	run 'gc regex-dna-parallel' $O.$EXE <x
-	run 'gc_B regex-dna' $O.$EXE <x
+	run 'gc regex-dna' a.$EXE <x
+	run 'gc regex-dna-parallel' a.$EXE <x
+	run 'gc_B regex-dna' a.$EXE <x
 	rm x
 }
 
@@ -176,8 +175,8 @@ spectralnorm() {
 	runonly echo 'spectral-norm 5500'
 	run "gcc $gccm -O2 spectral-norm.c -lm" a.$EXE 5500
 	run 'gccgo -O2 spectral-norm.go' a.$EXE -n 5500
-	run 'gc spectral-norm' $O.$EXE -n 5500
-	run 'gc_B spectral-norm' $O.$EXE -n 5500
+	run 'gc spectral-norm' a.$EXE -n 5500
+	run 'gc_B spectral-norm' a.$EXE -n 5500
 }
 
 knucleotide() {
@@ -189,9 +188,9 @@ knucleotide() {
 	fi
 	run 'gccgo -O2 k-nucleotide.go' a.$EXE <x
 	run 'gccgo -O2 k-nucleotide-parallel.go' a.$EXE <x
-	run 'gc k-nucleotide' $O.$EXE <x
-	run 'gc k-nucleotide-parallel' $O.$EXE <x
-	run 'gc_B k-nucleotide' $O.$EXE <x
+	run 'gc k-nucleotide' a.$EXE <x
+	run 'gc k-nucleotide-parallel' a.$EXE <x
+	run 'gc_B k-nucleotide' a.$EXE <x
 	rm x
 }
 
@@ -199,16 +198,16 @@ mandelbrot() {
 	runonly echo 'mandelbrot 16000'
 	run "gcc $gccm -O2 mandelbrot.c" a.$EXE 16000
 	run 'gccgo -O2 mandelbrot.go' a.$EXE -n 16000
-	run 'gc mandelbrot' $O.$EXE -n 16000
-	run 'gc_B mandelbrot' $O.$EXE -n 16000
+	run 'gc mandelbrot' a.$EXE -n 16000
+	run 'gc_B mandelbrot' a.$EXE -n 16000
 }
 
 meteor() {
 	runonly echo 'meteor 2098'
 	run "gcc $gccm -O2 meteor-contest.c" a.$EXE 2098
 	run 'gccgo -O2 meteor-contest.go' a.$EXE -n 2098
-	run 'gc meteor-contest' $O.$EXE -n 2098
-	run 'gc_B  meteor-contest' $O.$EXE -n 2098
+	run 'gc meteor-contest' a.$EXE -n 2098
+	run 'gc_B  meteor-contest' a.$EXE -n 2098
 }
 
 pidigits() {
@@ -217,22 +216,22 @@ pidigits() {
 		run "gcc $gccm -O2 pidigits.c -lgmp" a.$EXE 10000
 	fi
 	run 'gccgo -O2 pidigits.go' a.$EXE -n 10000
-	run 'gc pidigits' $O.$EXE -n 10000
-	run 'gc_B  pidigits' $O.$EXE -n 10000
+	run 'gc pidigits' a.$EXE -n 10000
+	run 'gc_B  pidigits' a.$EXE -n 10000
 }
 
 threadring() {
 	runonly echo 'threadring 50000000'
 	run "gcc $gccm -O2 threadring.c -lpthread" a.$EXE 50000000
 	run 'gccgo -O2 threadring.go' a.$EXE -n 50000000
-	run 'gc threadring' $O.$EXE -n 50000000
+	run 'gc threadring' a.$EXE -n 50000000
 }
 
 chameneos() {
 	runonly echo 'chameneos 6000000'
 	run "gcc $gccm -O2 chameneosredux.c -lpthread" a.$EXE 6000000
 	run 'gccgo -O2 chameneosredux.go' a.$EXE 6000000
-	run 'gc chameneosredux' $O.$EXE 6000000
+	run 'gc chameneosredux' a.$EXE 6000000
 }
 
 case $# in

test/fixedbugs/bug248.go

@@ -9,16 +9,12 @@ package main
 
 import (
 	"fmt"
-	"go/build"
 	"os"
 	"os/exec"
 	"path/filepath"
 )
 
 func main() {
-	a, err := build.ArchChar(build.Default.GOARCH)
-	check(err)
-
 	// TODO: If we get rid of errchk, re-enable this test on Windows.
 	errchk, err := filepath.Abs("errchk")
 	check(err)
@@ -30,13 +26,13 @@ func main() {
 	run("go", "tool", "compile", "bug1.go")
 	run("go", "tool", "compile", "bug2.go")
 	run(errchk, "go", "tool", "compile", "-e", "bug3.go")
-	run("go", "tool", "link", "bug2."+a)
-	run(fmt.Sprintf(".%c%s.out", filepath.Separator, a))
+	run("go", "tool", "link", "bug2.o")
+	run(fmt.Sprintf(".%ca.out", filepath.Separator))
 
-	os.Remove("bug0." + a)
-	os.Remove("bug1." + a)
-	os.Remove("bug2." + a)
-	os.Remove(a + ".out")
+	os.Remove("bug0.o")
+	os.Remove("bug1.o")
+	os.Remove("bug2.o")
+	os.Remove("a.out")
 }
 
 func run(name string, args ...string) {

test/fixedbugs/bug302.go

@@ -9,26 +9,18 @@ package main
 
 import (
 	"fmt"
-	"go/build"
 	"os"
 	"os/exec"
 	"path/filepath"
-	"runtime"
 )
 
 func main() {
-	a, err := build.ArchChar(runtime.GOARCH)
-	if err != nil {
-		fmt.Println("BUG:", err)
-		os.Exit(1)
-	}
-
 	run("go", "tool", "compile", filepath.Join("fixedbugs", "bug302.dir", "p.go"))
-	run("go", "tool", "pack", "grc", "pp.a", "p."+a)
+	run("go", "tool", "pack", "grc", "pp.a", "p.o")
 	run("go", "tool", "compile", "-I", ".", filepath.Join("fixedbugs", "bug302.dir", "main.go"))
-	os.Remove("p."+a)
+	os.Remove("p.o")
 	os.Remove("pp.a")
-	os.Remove("main."+a)
+	os.Remove("main.o")
 }
 
 func run(cmd string, args ...string) {

test/fixedbugs/bug345.go

@@ -9,16 +9,12 @@ package main
 
 import (
 	"fmt"
-	"go/build"
 	"os"
 	"os/exec"
 	"path/filepath"
 )
 
 func main() {
-	a, err := build.ArchChar(build.Default.GOARCH)
-	check(err)
-
 	// TODO: If we get rid of errchk, re-enable this test on Plan 9 and Windows.
 	errchk, err := filepath.Abs("errchk")
 	check(err)
@@ -28,7 +24,7 @@ func main() {
 
 	run("go", "tool", "compile", "io.go")
 	run(errchk, "go", "tool", "compile", "-e", "main.go")
-	os.Remove("io." + a)
+	os.Remove("io.o")
 }
 
 func run(name string, args ...string) {

test/fixedbugs/bug369.go

@@ -11,28 +11,24 @@ package main
 
 import (
 	"fmt"
-	"go/build"
 	"os"
 	"os/exec"
 	"path/filepath"
 )
 
 func main() {
-	a, err := build.ArchChar(build.Default.GOARCH)
+	err := os.Chdir(filepath.Join(".", "fixedbugs", "bug369.dir"))
 	check(err)
 
-	err = os.Chdir(filepath.Join(".", "fixedbugs", "bug369.dir"))
-	check(err)
-
-	run("go", "tool", "compile", "-N", "-o", "slow."+a, "pkg.go")
-	run("go", "tool", "compile", "-o", "fast."+a, "pkg.go")
-	run("go", "tool", "compile", "-o", "main."+a, "main.go")
-	run("go", "tool", "link", "-o", "a.exe", "main."+a)
+	run("go", "tool", "compile", "-N", "-o", "slow.o", "pkg.go")
+	run("go", "tool", "compile", "-o", "fast.o", "pkg.go")
+	run("go", "tool", "compile", "-o", "main.o", "main.go")
+	run("go", "tool", "link", "-o", "a.exe", "main.o")
 	run("." + string(filepath.Separator) + "a.exe")
 
-	os.Remove("slow." + a)
-	os.Remove("fast." + a)
-	os.Remove("main." + a)
+	os.Remove("slow.o")
+	os.Remove("fast.o")
+	os.Remove("main.o")
 	os.Remove("a.exe")
 }
 

test/fixedbugs/issue9355.go

@@ -8,7 +8,6 @@ package main
 
 import (
 	"fmt"
-	"go/build"
 	"os"
 	"os/exec"
 	"path/filepath"
@@ -20,14 +19,12 @@ func main() {
 	if runtime.Compiler != "gc" || runtime.GOOS == "nacl" {
 		return
 	}
-	a, err := build.ArchChar(runtime.GOARCH)
-	check(err)
 
-	err = os.Chdir(filepath.Join("fixedbugs", "issue9355.dir"))
+	err := os.Chdir(filepath.Join("fixedbugs", "issue9355.dir"))
 	check(err)
 
 	out := run("go", "tool", "compile", "-S", "a.go")
-	os.Remove("a." + a)
+	os.Remove("a.o")
 
 	// 6g/8g print the offset as dec, but 5g/9g print the offset as hex.
 	patterns := []string{

test/run.go

@@ -15,7 +15,6 @@ import (
 	"errors"
 	"flag"
 	"fmt"
-	"go/build"
 	"io/ioutil"
 	"log"
 	"os"
@@ -41,9 +40,6 @@ var (
 )
 
 var (
-	// letter is the build.ArchChar
-	letter string
-
 	goos, goarch string
 
 	// dirs are the directories to look for *.go files in.
@@ -81,9 +77,6 @@ func main() {
 
 	ratec = make(chan bool, *numParallel)
 	rungatec = make(chan bool, *runoutputLimit)
-	var err error
-	letter, err = build.ArchChar(build.Default.GOARCH)
-	check(err)
 
 	var tests []*test
 	if flag.NArg() > 0 {
@@ -199,7 +192,7 @@ func compileInDir(runcmd runCmd, dir string, names ...string) (out []byte, err e
 }
 
 func linkFile(runcmd runCmd, goname string) (err error) {
-	pfile := strings.Replace(goname, ".go", "."+letter, -1)
+	pfile := strings.Replace(goname, ".go", ".o", -1)
 	_, err = runcmd("go", "tool", "link", "-w", "-o", "a.exe", "-L", ".", pfile)
 	return
 }
@@ -501,7 +494,7 @@ func (t *test) run() {
 		t.err = fmt.Errorf("unimplemented action %q", action)
 
 	case "errorcheck":
-		cmdline := []string{"go", "tool", "compile", "-e", "-o", "a." + letter}
+		cmdline := []string{"go", "tool", "compile", "-e", "-o", "a.o"}
 		cmdline = append(cmdline, flags...)
 		cmdline = append(cmdline, long)
 		out, err := runcmd(cmdline...)
@@ -664,7 +657,7 @@ func (t *test) run() {
 			t.err = fmt.Errorf("write tempfile:%s", err)
 			return
 		}
-		cmdline := []string{"go", "tool", "compile", "-e", "-o", "a." + letter}
+		cmdline := []string{"go", "tool", "compile", "-e", "-o", "a.o"}
 		cmdline = append(cmdline, flags...)
 		cmdline = append(cmdline, tfile)
 		out, err = runcmd(cmdline...)

test/sinit_run.go

@@ -12,18 +12,11 @@ package main
 import (
 	"bytes"
 	"fmt"
-	"go/build"
 	"os"
 	"os/exec"
 )
 
 func main() {
-	letter, err := build.ArchChar(build.Default.GOARCH)
-	if err != nil {
-		fmt.Println(err)
-		os.Exit(1)
-	}
-
 	cmd := exec.Command("go", "tool", "compile", "-S", "sinit.go")
 	out, err := cmd.CombinedOutput()
 	if err != nil {
@@ -31,7 +24,7 @@ func main() {
 		fmt.Println(err)
 		os.Exit(1)
 	}
-	os.Remove("sinit." + letter)
+	os.Remove("sinit.o")
 
 	if bytes.Contains(out, []byte("initdone")) {
 		fmt.Println("sinit generated an init function")