The ELF/DWARF object-file format originally comes from the UNIX world. This format is very flexible and supports extensions.
Many chip vendors define this object-file format as the standard for tool vendors supporting their devices. This standard allows inter-tool operability making it possible to use the compiler from one tool vendor, and the linker from another. The developer has the choice to select the best tools for the tool chain. In addition, other third parties (for example, emulator vendors) need only support this object file to support a wide range of tool vendors.
Object-file sizes are larger when compared with the HIWARE object-file format. This object-file format also supports ANSI-C.