feat: implement Mach-O linker and massive improvements on Assembler and Linkers.

Signed-off-by: Amlal El Mahrouss <amlal@nekernel.org>

16 files changed, 755 insertions, 80 deletions

diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 510b450..1af1cd6 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -238,6 +238,8 @@ nbdist/
 ## Intellij
 .idea/
 
+mld64
+
 ## VSCode
 .vscode/settings.json
 
diff --git a/include/CompilerKit/Detail/AMD64.h b/include/CompilerKit/Detail/AMD64.h
index 8f16968..f1c0671 100644
--- a/include/CompilerKit/Detail/AMD64.h
+++ b/include/CompilerKit/Detail/AMD64.h
@@ -39,13 +39,18 @@ struct CpuOpcodeAMD64 {
 #define kJumpLimitStandard 0xE3
 #define kJumpLimitStandardLimit 0xEB
 
+/// @brief Base opcodes for push/pop instructions
+#define kAsmPushOpcode 0x50
+#define kAsmPopOpcode 0x58
+
 inline std::vector<CpuOpcodeAMD64> kOpcodesAMD64 = {
     CK_ASM_OPCODE("int", 0xCD) CK_ASM_OPCODE("into", 0xCE) CK_ASM_OPCODE("intd", 0xF1)
         CK_ASM_OPCODE("int3", 0xC3) CK_ASM_OPCODE("iret", 0xCF) CK_ASM_OPCODE("retf", 0xCB)
             CK_ASM_OPCODE("retn", 0xC3) CK_ASM_OPCODE("ret", 0xC3) CK_ASM_OPCODE("sti", 0xfb)
                 CK_ASM_OPCODE("cli", 0xfa) CK_ASM_OPCODE("hlt", 0xf4) CK_ASM_OPCODE("nop", 0x90)
                     CK_ASM_OPCODE("mov", 0x48) CK_ASM_OPCODE("call", 0xFF)
-                        CK_ASM_OPCODE("syscall", 0x0F) CK_ASM_OPCODE("xor", 0x48)};
+                        CK_ASM_OPCODE("syscall", 0x0F) CK_ASM_OPCODE("xor", 0x48) CK_ASM_OPCODE(
+                            "push", kAsmPushOpcode) CK_ASM_OPCODE("pop", kAsmPopOpcode)};
 
 #define kAsmRegisterLimit 16
 
diff --git a/include/CompilerKit/MachO.h b/include/CompilerKit/MachO.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a22fa9d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/include/CompilerKit/MachO.h
@@ -0,0 +1,48 @@
+// Copyright 2026, Amlal El Mahrouss (amlal@nekernel.org)
+// Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (See accompanying
+// file LICENSE or copy at http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0)
+// Official repository: https://github.com/nekernel-org/nectar
+
+#ifndef _NECTAR_MACHO_H_
+#define _NECTAR_MACHO_H_
+
+#include <CompilerKit/Detail/Config.h>
+
+#include <mach-o/loader.h>
+#include <mach-o/nlist.h>
+
+namespace CompilerKit {
+namespace MachO {
+
+  /// @brief Mach-O segment names
+  constexpr const char* kSegmentText     = "__TEXT";
+  constexpr const char* kSegmentData     = "__DATA";
+  constexpr const char* kSegmentLinkedit = "__LINKEDIT";
+
+  /// @brief Mach-O section names
+  constexpr const char* kSectionText = "__text";
+  constexpr const char* kSectionData = "__data";
+  constexpr const char* kSectionBss  = "__bss";
+
+  /// @brief Default base address for Mach-O executables
+  constexpr uint64_t kDefaultBaseAddress = 0x100000000ULL;
+
+  /// @brief Page size for alignment
+  constexpr uint64_t kPageSize = 0x4000ULL;  // 16KB for arm64, also works for x86_64
+
+  /// @brief Section alignment (2^4 = 16 bytes)
+  constexpr uint32_t kSectionAlign = 4;
+
+  /// @brief Helper to align a value to page boundary
+  inline uint64_t AlignToPage(uint64_t value) { return (value + kPageSize - 1) & ~(kPageSize - 1); }
+
+  /// @brief Helper to copy segment/section name safely
+  inline void CopySegmentName(char* dest, const char* src) {
+    std::memset(dest, 0, 16);
+    std::strncpy(dest, src, 16);
+  }
+
+}  // namespace MachO
+}  // namespace CompilerKit
+
+#endif  // ifndef _NECTAR_MACHO_H_
diff --git a/include/CompilerKit/Utilities/Assembler.h b/include/CompilerKit/Utilities/Assembler.h
index 249d69d..9f81dcf 100644
--- a/include/CompilerKit/Utilities/Assembler.h
+++ b/include/CompilerKit/Utilities/Assembler.h
@@ -28,14 +28,8 @@ inline NumberCast32 GetNumber32(STLString lineBuffer, STLString numberKey) {
 
   switch (lineBuffer[pos + 1]) {
     case 'x': {
-      if (auto res = strtol(lineBuffer.substr(pos).c_str(), nullptr, 16); !res) {
-        if (errno != 0) {
-          Detail::print_error("invalid hex number: " + lineBuffer, "CompilerKit");
-          throw std::runtime_error("invalid_hex");
-        }
-      }
-
-      NumberCast32 numOffset(strtol(lineBuffer.substr(pos).c_str(), nullptr, 16));
+      auto         res = strtol(lineBuffer.substr(pos + 2).c_str(), nullptr, 16);
+      NumberCast32 numOffset(strtol(lineBuffer.substr(pos + 2).c_str(), nullptr, 16));
 
       if (kVerbose) {
         kStdOut << "asm: found a base 16 number here: " << lineBuffer.substr(pos) << "\n";
@@ -44,14 +38,8 @@ inline NumberCast32 GetNumber32(STLString lineBuffer, STLString numberKey) {
       return numOffset;
     }
     case 'b': {
-      if (auto res = strtol(lineBuffer.substr(pos).c_str(), nullptr, 2); !res) {
-        if (errno != 0) {
-          Detail::print_error("invalid binary number:" + lineBuffer, "CompilerKit");
-          throw std::runtime_error("invalid_bin");
-        }
-      }
-
-      NumberCast32 numOffset(strtol(lineBuffer.substr(pos).c_str(), nullptr, 2));
+      auto         res = strtol(lineBuffer.substr(pos + 2).c_str(), nullptr, 2);
+      NumberCast32 numOffset(strtol(lineBuffer.substr(pos + 2).c_str(), nullptr, 2));
 
       if (kVerbose) {
         kStdOut << "asm: found a base 2 number here:" << lineBuffer.substr(pos) << "\n";
@@ -60,14 +48,8 @@ inline NumberCast32 GetNumber32(STLString lineBuffer, STLString numberKey) {
       return numOffset;
     }
     case 'o': {
-      if (auto res = strtol(lineBuffer.substr(pos).c_str(), nullptr, 7); !res) {
-        if (errno != 0) {
-          Detail::print_error("invalid octal number: " + lineBuffer, "CompilerKit");
-          throw std::runtime_error("invalid_octal");
-        }
-      }
-
-      NumberCast32 numOffset(strtol(lineBuffer.substr(pos).c_str(), nullptr, 7));
+      auto         res = strtol(lineBuffer.substr(pos + 2).c_str(), nullptr, 8);
+      NumberCast32 numOffset(strtol(lineBuffer.substr(pos + 2).c_str(), nullptr, 8));
 
       if (kVerbose) {
         kStdOut << "asm: found a base 8 number here:" << lineBuffer.substr(pos) << "\n";
@@ -76,14 +58,8 @@ inline NumberCast32 GetNumber32(STLString lineBuffer, STLString numberKey) {
       return numOffset;
     }
     default: {
-      if (auto res = strtol(lineBuffer.substr(pos).c_str(), nullptr, 10); !res) {
-        if (errno != 0) {
-          Detail::print_error("invalid hex number: " + lineBuffer, "CompilerKit");
-          throw std::runtime_error("invalid_hex");
-        }
-      }
-
-      NumberCast32 numOffset(strtol(lineBuffer.substr(pos).c_str(), nullptr, 10));
+      auto         res = strtol(lineBuffer.substr(pos + 2).c_str(), nullptr, 10);
+      NumberCast32 numOffset(strtol(lineBuffer.substr(pos + 2).c_str(), nullptr, 10));
 
       if (kVerbose) {
         kStdOut << "asm: found a base 10 number here:" << lineBuffer.substr(pos) << kStdEndl;
diff --git a/include/CompilerKit/XCOFF.h b/include/CompilerKit/XCOFF.h
deleted file mode 100644
index 45a116a..0000000
--- a/include/CompilerKit/XCOFF.h
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,35 +0,0 @@
-// Copyright 2024-2025, Amlal El Mahrouss (amlal@nekernel.org)
-// Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (See accompanying
-// file LICENSE or copy at http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0)
-// Official repository: https://github.com/nekernel-org/nectar
-
-#ifndef _NECTAR_XCOFF_H_
-#define _NECTAR_XCOFF_H_
-
-#include <CompilerKit/Detail/Config.h>
-
-#define kXCOFF64Magic 0x01F7
-
-#define kXCOFFRelFlg 0x0001
-#define kXCOFFExecutable 0x0002
-#define kXCOFFLnno 0x0004
-#define kXCOFFLSyms 0x0008
-
-namespace CompilerKit {
-struct XCoffFileHeader;
-
-/// @brief XCoff file header.
-typedef struct XCoffFileHeader {
-  UInt16  fMagic;
-  UInt16  fTarget;
-  UInt16  fNumSecs;
-  UInt32  fTimeDat;
-  UIntPtr fSymPtr;
-  UInt32  fNumSyms;
-  UInt16  fOptHdr;  // ?: Number of bytes in optional header
-} XCoffFileHeader;
-
-typedef struct XCoffFileHeader* XCoffFileHeaderPtr;
-}  // namespace CompilerKit
-
-#endif  // ifndef _NECTAR_XCOFF_H_
diff --git a/src/CommandLine/ld64-osx.json b/src/CommandLine/ld64-osx.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1a78748
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/CommandLine/ld64-osx.json
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+{
+  "compiler_path": "clang++",
+  "compiler_std": "c++20",
+  "headers_path": ["../../include/CompilerKit", "../../include/", "../../include/CompilerKit/src/Detail"],
+  "sources_path": ["ld64.cc"],
+  "output_name": "ld64",
+  "compiler_flags": ["-L/usr/local/lib", "-lCompilerKit"],
+  "cpp_macros": [
+    "__LD64__=202601",
+    "kDistReleaseBranch=$(git rev-parse --abbrev-ref HEAD)-$(uuidgen)"
+  ]
+}
+
diff --git a/src/CommandLine/ld64.json b/src/CommandLine/ld64-posix.json
index dff0720..d2e626b 100644
--- a/src/CommandLine/ld64.json
+++ b/src/CommandLine/ld64-posix.json
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
   "output_name": "ld64",
   "compiler_flags": ["-L/usr/lib", "-lCompilerKit"],
   "cpp_macros": [
-    "__LD64__=202401",
+    "__LD64__=202601",
     "kDistReleaseBranch=$(git rev-parse --abbrev-ref HEAD)-$(uuidgen)"
   ]
 }
diff --git a/src/CommandLine/mld64-osx.json b/src/CommandLine/mld64-osx.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..78b7d3a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/CommandLine/mld64-osx.json
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+{
+  "compiler_path": "clang++",
+  "compiler_std": "c++20",
+  "headers_path": ["../../include/CompilerKit", "../../include/", "../../include/CompilerKit/src/Detail"],
+  "sources_path": ["mld64.cc"],
+  "output_name": "mld64",
+  "compiler_flags": ["-L/usr/local/lib", "-lCompilerKit"],
+  "cpp_macros": [
+    "__MLD64__=202601",
+    "kDistReleaseBranch=$(git rev-parse --abbrev-ref HEAD)-$(uuidgen)"
+  ]
+}
+
diff --git a/src/CommandLine/mld64-posix.json b/src/CommandLine/mld64-posix.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0b8deab
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/CommandLine/mld64-posix.json
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+{
+  "compiler_path": "clang++",
+  "compiler_std": "c++20",
+  "headers_path": ["../../include/CompilerKit", "../../include/", "../../include/CompilerKit/src/Detail"],
+  "sources_path": ["mld64.cc"],
+  "output_name": "mld64",
+  "compiler_flags": ["-L/usr/lib", "-lCompilerKit"],
+  "cpp_macros": [
+    "__MLD64__=202601",
+    "kDistReleaseBranch=$(git rev-parse --abbrev-ref HEAD)-$(uuidgen)"
+  ]
+}
+
diff --git a/src/CommandLine/mld64.cc b/src/CommandLine/mld64.cc
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f19712b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/CommandLine/mld64.cc
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+// Copyright 2024-2025, Amlal El Mahrouss (amlal@nekernel.org)
+// Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (See accompanying
+// file LICENSE or copy at http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0)
+// Official repository: https://github.com/nekernel-org/nectar
+
+#include <CompilerKit/Detail/Config.h>
+
+/// @file ld64.cc
+/// @brief Nectar linker for AE objects.
+
+CK_IMPORT_C Int32 DynamicLinker64MachO(Int32 argc, Char const* argv[]);
+
+Int32 main(Int32 argc, Char const* argv[]) {
+  return DynamicLinker64MachO(argc, argv);
+}
diff --git a/src/CompilerKit/src/Assemblers/Assembler+AMD64.cc b/src/CompilerKit/src/Assemblers/Assembler+AMD64.cc
index 2bfc897..ade375c 100644
--- a/src/CompilerKit/src/Assemblers/Assembler+AMD64.cc
+++ b/src/CompilerKit/src/Assemblers/Assembler+AMD64.cc
@@ -1150,6 +1150,64 @@ bool CompilerKit::EncoderAMD64::WriteLine(std::string line, std::string file) {
 
           break;
         }
+
+        /// Push instruction handler.
+        if (name == "push" || name == "pop") {
+          std::string substr = line.substr(line.find(name) + name.size());
+
+          // Remove leading whitespace
+          while (!substr.empty() && (substr[0] == ' ' || substr[0] == '\t')) {
+            substr.erase(0, 1);
+          }
+
+          i64_byte_t baseOpcode = (name == "push") ? kAsmPushOpcode : kAsmPopOpcode;
+          bool       found      = false;
+
+          // Check for extended registers r8-r15
+          if (substr.size() >= 2 && substr[0] == 'r' && isdigit(substr[1])) {
+            int regNum = 0;
+
+            if (substr.size() >= 3 && isdigit(substr[2])) {
+              regNum = (substr[1] - '0') * 10 + (substr[2] - '0');
+            } else {
+              regNum = substr[1] - '0';
+            }
+
+            if (regNum >= 8 && regNum <= 15) {
+              // REX.B prefix for r8-r15
+              kAppBytes.emplace_back(0x41);
+              kAppBytes.emplace_back(baseOpcode + (regNum - 8));
+              found = true;
+            }
+          }
+
+          // Check for standard 64-bit registers rax-rdi
+          if (!found) {
+            struct RegPushPop {
+              const char* name;
+              i64_byte_t  offset;
+            };
+
+            RegPushPop regs[] = {{"rax", 0}, {"rcx", 1}, {"rdx", 2}, {"rbx", 3},
+                                 {"rsp", 4}, {"rbp", 5}, {"rsi", 6}, {"rdi", 7}};
+
+            for (auto& reg : regs) {
+              if (substr.find(reg.name) != std::string::npos) {
+                kAppBytes.emplace_back(baseOpcode + reg.offset);
+                found = true;
+                break;
+              }
+            }
+          }
+
+          if (!found) {
+            CompilerKit::Detail::print_error("Invalid operand for " + name + ": " + substr,
+                                             "CompilerKit");
+            throw std::runtime_error("invalid_push_pop_operand");
+          }
+
+          break;
+        }
       }
 
       if (name == "int" || name == "into" || name == "intd") {
@@ -1160,9 +1218,7 @@ bool CompilerKit::EncoderAMD64::WriteLine(std::string line, std::string file) {
       } else if (name == "jmp" || name == "call") {
         kAppBytes.emplace_back(opcodeAMD64.fOpcode);
 
-        if (!this->WriteNumber32(line.find(name) + name.size() + 1, line)) {
-          throw std::runtime_error("BUG: WriteNumber32");
-        }
+        this->WriteNumber32(line.find(name) + name.size() + 1, line);
 
         break;
       } else if (name == "syscall") {
diff --git a/src/CompilerKit/src/Compilers/NectarCompiler+AMD64.cc b/src/CompilerKit/src/Compilers/NectarCompiler+AMD64.cc
index ff1aaa4..17ec443 100644
--- a/src/CompilerKit/src/Compilers/NectarCompiler+AMD64.cc
+++ b/src/CompilerKit/src/Compilers/NectarCompiler+AMD64.cc
@@ -835,7 +835,7 @@ CompilerKit::SyntaxLeafList::SyntaxLeaf CompilerFrontendNectarAMD64::CompileLayo
     --kOnClassScope;
     nectar_pop_scope();
 
-  syntax_tree.fUserValue += ";; HINT: END NAMESPACE\n";
+    syntax_tree.fUserValue += ";; HINT: END NAMESPACE\n";
   }
 
   return syntax_tree;
diff --git a/src/CompilerKit/src/Linkers/DynamicLinker64+MachO.cc b/src/CompilerKit/src/Linkers/DynamicLinker64+MachO.cc
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f2dc527
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/CompilerKit/src/Linkers/DynamicLinker64+MachO.cc
@@ -0,0 +1,564 @@
+// Copyright 2024-2025, Amlal El Mahrouss (amlal@nekernel.org)
+// Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (See accompanying
+// file LICENSE or copy at http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0)
+// Official repository: https://github.com/nekernel-org/nectar
+
+/// @author Amlal El Mahrouss (amlal@nekernel.org)
+/// @brief NeKernel.org 64-bit Mach-O Linker.
+/// Last Rev: 2026
+/// @note Outputs Mach-O executables with __TEXT and __DATA segments.
+
+#include <CompilerKit/AE.h>
+#include <CompilerKit/CodeGenerator.h>
+#include <CompilerKit/Detail/Config.h>
+#include <CompilerKit/ErrorID.h>
+#include <CompilerKit/MachO.h>
+#include <CompilerKit/PEF.h>
+#include <CompilerKit/UUID.h>
+#include <CompilerKit/Utilities/Compiler.h>
+#include <filesystem>
+#include <map>
+
+#define kMachODefaultOutput \
+  { "a.out" }
+
+#define kLinkerVersionStr "Nectar 64-Bit Linker (Mach-O)"
+
+#define kLinkerSplash() kStdOut << kLinkerVersionStr << kStdEndl
+
+#define kConsoleOut        \
+  (std::cout << "\e[0;31m" \
+             << "ld64: "   \
+             << "\e[0;97m")
+
+static CompilerKit::STLString kOutput              = kMachODefaultOutput;
+static cpu_type_t             kCpuType             = CPU_TYPE_ARM64;
+static cpu_subtype_t          kCpuSubType          = CPU_SUBTYPE_ARM64_ALL;
+static bool                   kFatBinaryEnable     = false;
+static bool                   kStartFound          = false;
+static bool                   kDuplicateSymbols    = false;
+static bool                   kIsDylib             = false;
+static Int64                  kMachODefaultStackSz = 8196;
+
+static CompilerKit::STLString kLinkerStart = "_main";
+
+/* object code and list. */
+static std::vector<CompilerKit::STLString>    kObjectList;
+static std::vector<CompilerKit::Detail::Blob> kTextBytes;
+static std::vector<CompilerKit::Detail::Blob> kDataBytes;
+
+/* symbol table */
+static std::vector<nlist_64>                      kSymbolTable;
+static std::vector<char>                          kStringTable;
+static std::map<CompilerKit::STLString, uint64_t> kSymbolOffsets;
+
+/// @brief Structure to hold section information from AE records
+struct SectionInfo {
+  CompilerKit::STLString name;
+  uint32_t               kind;
+  std::vector<char>      bytes;
+  uint64_t               address;
+  uint64_t               size;
+};
+
+/// @brief Extract clean symbol name from AE record name
+/// AE format: ".code64$symbolname" or "symbolname.code64"
+static CompilerKit::STLString ExtractSymbolName(const CompilerKit::STLString& aeName) {
+  CompilerKit::STLString name = aeName;
+
+  // Remove section prefixes/suffixes
+  const char* sections[] = {".code64", ".data64", ".zero64", "$"};
+
+  for (const auto& sec : sections) {
+    size_t pos;
+    while ((pos = name.find(sec)) != CompilerKit::STLString::npos) {
+      name.erase(pos, strlen(sec));
+    }
+  }
+
+  // Trim whitespace
+  while (!name.empty() && (name.front() == ' ' || name.front() == '\t')) {
+    name.erase(0, 1);
+  }
+  while (!name.empty() && (name.back() == ' ' || name.back() == '\t')) {
+    name.pop_back();
+  }
+
+  return name;
+}
+
+/// @brief Add a symbol to the symbol table
+static uint32_t AddSymbol(const CompilerKit::STLString& name, uint8_t type, uint8_t sect,
+                          uint64_t value) {
+  // Add name to string table (offset 0 is reserved for empty string)
+  if (kStringTable.empty()) {
+    kStringTable.push_back('\0');  // First byte is null
+  }
+
+  uint32_t strOffset = static_cast<uint32_t>(kStringTable.size());
+
+  for (char c : name) {
+    kStringTable.push_back(c);
+  }
+  kStringTable.push_back('\0');
+
+  // Create nlist_64 entry
+  nlist_64 sym{};
+  sym.n_un.n_strx = strOffset;
+  sym.n_type      = type;
+  sym.n_sect      = sect;
+  sym.n_desc      = 0;
+  sym.n_value     = value;
+
+  kSymbolTable.push_back(sym);
+  kSymbolOffsets[name] = value;
+
+  return static_cast<uint32_t>(kSymbolTable.size() - 1);
+}
+
+///	@brief Nectar 64-bit Mach-O Linker.
+/// @note This linker outputs Mach-O executables for macOS/iOS.
+NECTAR_MODULE(DynamicLinker64MachO) {
+  CompilerKit::install_signal(SIGSEGV, CompilerKit::Detail::drvi_crash_handler);
+
+  /**
+   * @brief parse flags and trigger options.
+   */
+  for (size_t linker_arg = 1; linker_arg < argc; ++linker_arg) {
+    if (std::strcmp(argv[linker_arg], "-help") == 0) {
+      kLinkerSplash();
+
+      kConsoleOut << "-version: Show linker version.\n";
+      kConsoleOut << "-help: Show linker help.\n";
+      kConsoleOut << "-verbose: Enable linker trace.\n";
+      kConsoleOut << "-dylib: Output as a Dynamic Library.\n";
+      kConsoleOut << "-fat: Output as a FAT binary.\n";
+      kConsoleOut << "-amd64: Output as an x86_64 Mach-O.\n";
+      kConsoleOut << "-arm64: Output as an ARM64 Mach-O.\n";
+      kConsoleOut << "-output: Select the output file name.\n";
+      kConsoleOut << "-start: Specify entry point symbol.\n";
+
+      return NECTAR_SUCCESS;
+    } else if (std::strcmp(argv[linker_arg], "-version") == 0) {
+      kLinkerSplash();
+
+      return NECTAR_SUCCESS;
+    } else if (std::strcmp(argv[linker_arg], "-fat") == 0) {
+      kFatBinaryEnable = true;
+
+      continue;
+    } else if (std::strcmp(argv[linker_arg], "-amd64") == 0) {
+      kCpuType    = CPU_TYPE_X86_64;
+      kCpuSubType = CPU_SUBTYPE_X86_64_ALL;
+
+      continue;
+    } else if (std::strcmp(argv[linker_arg], "-arm64") == 0) {
+      kCpuType    = CPU_TYPE_ARM64;
+      kCpuSubType = CPU_SUBTYPE_ARM64_ALL;
+
+      continue;
+    } else if (std::strcmp(argv[linker_arg], "-start") == 0) {
+      if (argv[linker_arg + 1] == nullptr || argv[linker_arg + 1][0] == '-') continue;
+
+      kLinkerStart = argv[linker_arg + 1];
+      linker_arg += 1;
+
+      continue;
+    } else if (std::strcmp(argv[linker_arg], "-verbose") == 0) {
+      kVerbose = true;
+
+      continue;
+    } else if (std::strcmp(argv[linker_arg], "-dylib") == 0) {
+      kIsDylib = true;
+
+      if (kOutput.find(".out") != CompilerKit::STLString::npos) {
+        kOutput.erase(kOutput.find(".out"), strlen(".out"));
+        kOutput += ".dylib";
+      }
+
+      continue;
+    } else if (std::strcmp(argv[linker_arg], "-output") == 0) {
+      if ((linker_arg + 1) > argc) continue;
+
+      kOutput = argv[linker_arg + 1];
+      ++linker_arg;
+
+      continue;
+    } else {
+      if (argv[linker_arg][0] == '-') {
+        kConsoleOut << "unknown flag: " << argv[linker_arg] << "\n";
+        return EXIT_FAILURE;
+      }
+
+      kObjectList.emplace_back(argv[linker_arg]);
+
+      continue;
+    }
+  }
+
+  if (kOutput.empty()) {
+    kConsoleOut << "no output filename set." << std::endl;
+    return NECTAR_EXEC_ERROR;
+  } else if (kObjectList.empty()) {
+    kConsoleOut << "no input files." << std::endl;
+    return NECTAR_EXEC_ERROR;
+  } else {
+    namespace FS = std::filesystem;
+
+    // check for existing files, if they don't throw an error.
+    for (auto& obj : kObjectList) {
+      if (!FS::exists(obj)) {
+        kConsoleOut << "no such file: " << obj << std::endl;
+        return NECTAR_EXEC_ERROR;
+      }
+    }
+  }
+
+  std::vector<SectionInfo>               sections;
+  CompilerKit::Utils::AEReadableProtocol reader_protocol{};
+
+  entry_point_command entryCommand{};
+  entryCommand.stacksize = kMachODefaultStackSz;
+
+  // Collect all text and data from AE object files
+  for (const auto& objectFile : kObjectList) {
+    if (!std::filesystem::exists(objectFile)) continue;
+
+    CompilerKit::AEHeader hdr{};
+
+    reader_protocol.fFilePtr = std::ifstream(objectFile, std::ifstream::binary);
+    reader_protocol.fFilePtr >> hdr;
+
+    if (hdr.fMagic[0] == kAEMag0 && hdr.fMagic[1] == kAEMag1 &&
+        hdr.fSize == sizeof(CompilerKit::AEHeader) && hdr.fMagic[2] == kAEMag2) {
+      std::size_t cnt = hdr.fCount;
+
+      if (kVerbose) kConsoleOut << "header found, record count: " << cnt << "\n";
+
+      Char* raw_ae_records = new Char[cnt * sizeof(CompilerKit::AERecordHeader)];
+
+      if (!raw_ae_records) {
+        if (kVerbose) kConsoleOut << "allocation failed for records of count: " << cnt << "\n";
+        return NECTAR_EXEC_ERROR;
+      }
+
+      std::memset(raw_ae_records, 0, cnt * sizeof(CompilerKit::AERecordHeader));
+
+      auto* ae_records = reader_protocol.Read(raw_ae_records, cnt);
+
+      for (size_t ae_record_index = 0; ae_record_index < cnt; ++ae_record_index) {
+        SectionInfo section;
+        section.name = ae_records[ae_record_index].fName;
+        section.kind = ae_records[ae_record_index].fKind;
+        section.size = ae_records[ae_record_index].fSize;
+
+        // Extract clean symbol name and add to symbol table
+        CompilerKit::STLString symbolName = ExtractSymbolName(section.name);
+
+        if (!symbolName.empty()) {
+          // Determine section number (1 = __text, 2 = __data)
+          uint8_t sectNum = 0;
+          if (section.kind == CompilerKit::kPefCode) {
+            sectNum = 1;  // __text section
+          } else if (section.kind == CompilerKit::kPefData) {
+            sectNum = 2;  // __data section
+          }
+
+          // N_EXT = external, N_SECT = defined in section
+          uint8_t symType = N_EXT | N_SECT;
+
+          AddSymbol(symbolName, symType, sectNum, ae_records[ae_record_index].fOffset);
+
+          if (kVerbose) {
+            kConsoleOut << "Added symbol: " << symbolName
+                        << " at offset: " << ae_records[ae_record_index].fOffset << "\n";
+          }
+        }
+
+        sections.push_back(section);
+      }
+
+      // Look up entry point from symbol table
+      auto entryIt = kSymbolOffsets.find(kLinkerStart);
+      if (entryIt != kSymbolOffsets.end()) {
+        entryCommand.entryoff = entryIt->second;
+        kStartFound           = true;
+
+        if (kVerbose) {
+          kConsoleOut << "Found entry point " << kLinkerStart << " at offset: " << entryIt->second
+                      << "\n";
+        }
+      }
+
+      delete[] raw_ae_records;
+
+      // Read the actual code bytes
+      std::vector<char> bytes;
+      bytes.resize(hdr.fCodeSize);
+
+      reader_protocol.fFilePtr.seekg(std::streamsize(hdr.fStartCode));
+      reader_protocol.fFilePtr.read(bytes.data(), std::streamsize(hdr.fCodeSize));
+
+      // Separate code and data based on section kind
+      for (auto& section : sections) {
+        if (section.kind == CompilerKit::kPefCode) {
+          kTextBytes.push_back({.mBlob = bytes, .mOffset = 0});
+        } else if (section.kind == CompilerKit::kPefData) {
+          kDataBytes.push_back({.mBlob = bytes, .mOffset = 0});
+        }
+      }
+
+      reader_protocol.fFilePtr.close();
+      continue;
+    }
+
+    kConsoleOut << "not an object container: " << objectFile << std::endl;
+    return NECTAR_EXEC_ERROR;
+  }
+
+  // Check for entry point in executables
+  if (!kStartFound && !kIsDylib) {
+    kConsoleOut << "Undefined entrypoint " << kLinkerStart << " for executable: " << kOutput
+                << "\n";
+  }
+
+  // Calculate sizes
+  uint64_t textSize = 0;
+  uint64_t dataSize = 0;
+
+  for (auto& blob : kTextBytes) {
+    textSize += blob.mBlob.size();
+  }
+
+  for (auto& blob : kDataBytes) {
+    dataSize += blob.mBlob.size();
+  }
+
+  // Open output file
+  std::ofstream output_fc(kOutput, std::ofstream::binary);
+
+  if (output_fc.bad()) {
+    if (kVerbose) {
+      kConsoleOut << "error: " << strerror(errno) << "\n";
+    }
+    return NECTAR_FILE_NOT_FOUND;
+  }
+
+  using namespace CompilerKit::MachO;
+
+  // Calculate layout
+  // Commands: LC_SEGMENT_64 (__TEXT) + LC_SEGMENT_64 (__DATA) + LC_SYMTAB + LC_MAIN (if executable)
+  uint32_t numCommands    = kIsDylib ? 3 : 4;
+  uint32_t sizeOfCmds     = 0;
+  uint32_t headerSize     = sizeof(mach_header_64);
+  uint32_t textSegCmdSize = sizeof(segment_command_64) + sizeof(section_64);
+  uint32_t dataSegCmdSize = sizeof(segment_command_64) + sizeof(section_64);
+  uint32_t symtabCmdSize  = sizeof(symtab_command);
+  uint32_t mainCmdSize    = sizeof(entry_point_command);
+
+  sizeOfCmds = textSegCmdSize + dataSegCmdSize + symtabCmdSize;
+  if (!kIsDylib) {
+    sizeOfCmds += mainCmdSize;
+  }
+
+  uint64_t headerAndCmdsSize = headerSize + sizeOfCmds;
+  uint64_t textFileOffset    = AlignToPage(headerAndCmdsSize);
+  uint64_t textVMAddr        = kDefaultBaseAddress;
+  uint64_t textSegmentSize   = AlignToPage(textSize > 0 ? textSize : kPageSize);
+
+  uint64_t dataFileOffset  = textFileOffset + textSegmentSize;
+  uint64_t dataVMAddr      = textVMAddr + textSegmentSize;
+  uint64_t dataSegmentSize = AlignToPage(dataSize > 0 ? dataSize : kPageSize);
+
+  // Symbol table comes after data segment
+  uint64_t symtabFileOffset = dataFileOffset + dataSegmentSize;
+  uint64_t strtabFileOffset = symtabFileOffset + (kSymbolTable.size() * sizeof(nlist_64));
+
+  // Write Mach-O header
+  mach_header_64 header{};
+  header.magic      = MH_MAGIC_64;
+  header.cputype    = kCpuType;
+  header.cpusubtype = kCpuSubType;
+  header.filetype   = kIsDylib ? MH_DYLIB : MH_EXECUTE;
+  header.ncmds      = numCommands;
+  header.sizeofcmds = sizeOfCmds;
+  header.flags      = MH_NOUNDEFS | MH_DYLDLINK | MH_TWOLEVEL | MH_PIE;
+  header.reserved   = 0;
+
+  output_fc.write(reinterpret_cast<const char*>(&header), sizeof(header));
+
+  if (kVerbose) {
+    kConsoleOut << "Wrote Mach-O header, ncmds: " << numCommands << "\n";
+  }
+
+  // Write __TEXT segment command
+  segment_command_64 textSegment{};
+  textSegment.cmd     = LC_SEGMENT_64;
+  textSegment.cmdsize = textSegCmdSize;
+  CopySegmentName(textSegment.segname, kSegmentText);
+  textSegment.vmaddr   = textVMAddr;
+  textSegment.vmsize   = textSegmentSize;
+  textSegment.fileoff  = textFileOffset;
+  textSegment.filesize = textSize;
+  textSegment.maxprot  = VM_PROT_READ | VM_PROT_EXECUTE;
+  textSegment.initprot = VM_PROT_READ | VM_PROT_EXECUTE;
+  textSegment.nsects   = 1;
+  textSegment.flags    = 0;
+
+  output_fc.write(reinterpret_cast<const char*>(&textSegment), sizeof(textSegment));
+
+  // Write __text section header
+  section_64 textSection{};
+  CopySegmentName(textSection.sectname, kSectionText);
+  CopySegmentName(textSection.segname, kSegmentText);
+  textSection.addr      = textVMAddr;
+  textSection.size      = textSize;
+  textSection.offset    = static_cast<uint32_t>(textFileOffset);
+  textSection.align     = kSectionAlign;
+  textSection.reloff    = 0;
+  textSection.nreloc    = 0;
+  textSection.flags     = S_ATTR_PURE_INSTRUCTIONS | S_ATTR_SOME_INSTRUCTIONS;
+  textSection.reserved1 = 0;
+  textSection.reserved2 = 0;
+  textSection.reserved3 = 0;
+
+  output_fc.write(reinterpret_cast<const char*>(&textSection), sizeof(textSection));
+
+  if (kVerbose) {
+    kConsoleOut << "Wrote __TEXT segment, vmaddr: 0x" << std::hex << textVMAddr << std::dec << "\n";
+    kConsoleOut << "  __text section, size: " << textSize << " bytes\n";
+  }
+
+  // Write __DATA segment command
+  segment_command_64 dataSegment{};
+  dataSegment.cmd     = LC_SEGMENT_64;
+  dataSegment.cmdsize = dataSegCmdSize;
+  CopySegmentName(dataSegment.segname, kSegmentData);
+  dataSegment.vmaddr   = dataVMAddr;
+  dataSegment.vmsize   = dataSegmentSize;
+  dataSegment.fileoff  = dataFileOffset;
+  dataSegment.filesize = dataSize;
+  dataSegment.maxprot  = VM_PROT_READ | VM_PROT_WRITE;
+  dataSegment.initprot = VM_PROT_READ | VM_PROT_WRITE;
+  dataSegment.nsects   = 1;
+  dataSegment.flags    = 0;
+
+  output_fc.write(reinterpret_cast<const char*>(&dataSegment), sizeof(dataSegment));
+
+  // Write __data section header
+  section_64 dataSection{};
+  CopySegmentName(dataSection.sectname, kSectionData);
+  CopySegmentName(dataSection.segname, kSegmentData);
+  dataSection.addr      = dataVMAddr;
+  dataSection.size      = dataSize;
+  dataSection.offset    = static_cast<uint32_t>(dataFileOffset);
+  dataSection.align     = kSectionAlign;
+  dataSection.reloff    = 0;
+  dataSection.nreloc    = 0;
+  dataSection.flags     = 0;
+  dataSection.reserved1 = 0;
+  dataSection.reserved2 = 0;
+  dataSection.reserved3 = 0;
+
+  output_fc.write(reinterpret_cast<const char*>(&dataSection), sizeof(dataSection));
+
+  if (kVerbose) {
+    kConsoleOut << "Wrote __DATA segment, vmaddr: 0x" << std::hex << dataVMAddr << std::dec << "\n";
+    kConsoleOut << "  __data section, size: " << dataSize << " bytes\n";
+  }
+
+  // Write LC_SYMTAB command
+  symtab_command symtabCmd{};
+  symtabCmd.cmd     = LC_SYMTAB;
+  symtabCmd.cmdsize = sizeof(symtab_command);
+  symtabCmd.symoff  = static_cast<uint32_t>(symtabFileOffset);
+  symtabCmd.nsyms   = static_cast<uint32_t>(kSymbolTable.size());
+  symtabCmd.stroff  = static_cast<uint32_t>(strtabFileOffset);
+  symtabCmd.strsize = static_cast<uint32_t>(kStringTable.size());
+
+  output_fc.write(reinterpret_cast<const char*>(&symtabCmd), sizeof(symtabCmd));
+
+  if (kVerbose) {
+    kConsoleOut << "Wrote LC_SYMTAB, nsyms: " << symtabCmd.nsyms
+                << ", strsize: " << symtabCmd.strsize << "\n";
+  }
+
+  // Write LC_MAIN entry point command (executables only)
+  if (!kIsDylib) {
+    entryCommand.cmd     = LC_MAIN;
+    entryCommand.cmdsize = sizeof(entry_point_command);
+    // entryoff is relative to __TEXT segment file offset
+    entryCommand.entryoff = textFileOffset + entryCommand.entryoff;
+
+    output_fc.write(reinterpret_cast<const char*>(&entryCommand), sizeof(entryCommand));
+
+    if (kVerbose) {
+      kConsoleOut << "Wrote LC_MAIN, entryoff: 0x" << std::hex << entryCommand.entryoff << std::dec
+                  << ", stacksize: " << entryCommand.stacksize << "\n";
+    }
+  }
+
+  // Pad to text section offset
+  uint64_t currentPos = output_fc.tellp();
+  uint64_t padding    = textFileOffset - currentPos;
+
+  if (padding > 0) {
+    std::vector<char> zeros(padding, 0);
+    output_fc.write(zeros.data(), zeros.size());
+  }
+
+  // Write __text content
+  for (auto& blob : kTextBytes) {
+    output_fc.write(blob.mBlob.data(), blob.mBlob.size());
+  }
+
+  // Pad to data section offset
+  currentPos = output_fc.tellp();
+  padding    = dataFileOffset - currentPos;
+
+  if (padding > 0) {
+    std::vector<char> zeros(padding, 0);
+    output_fc.write(zeros.data(), zeros.size());
+  }
+
+  // Write __data content
+  for (auto& blob : kDataBytes) {
+    output_fc.write(blob.mBlob.data(), blob.mBlob.size());
+  }
+
+  // Pad to symbol table offset
+  currentPos = output_fc.tellp();
+  padding    = symtabFileOffset - currentPos;
+
+  if (padding > 0) {
+    std::vector<char> zeros(padding, 0);
+    output_fc.write(zeros.data(), zeros.size());
+  }
+
+  // Write symbol table (nlist_64 entries)
+  for (auto& sym : kSymbolTable) {
+    output_fc.write(reinterpret_cast<const char*>(&sym), sizeof(nlist_64));
+  }
+
+  if (kVerbose) {
+    kConsoleOut << "Wrote symbol table, " << kSymbolTable.size() << " entries\n";
+  }
+
+  // Write string table
+  output_fc.write(kStringTable.data(), kStringTable.size());
+
+  if (kVerbose) {
+    kConsoleOut << "Wrote string table, " << kStringTable.size() << " bytes\n";
+  }
+
+  output_fc.flush();
+  output_fc.close();
+
+  if (kVerbose) {
+    kConsoleOut << "Wrote Mach-O binary: " << kOutput << "\n";
+  }
+
+  return NECTAR_SUCCESS;
+}
+
+// Last rev - 2026
diff --git a/src/CompilerKit/src/Linkers/DynamicLinker64+PEF.cc b/src/CompilerKit/src/Linkers/DynamicLinker64+PEF.cc
index 2fcb1ce..f1b28d5 100644
--- a/src/CompilerKit/src/Linkers/DynamicLinker64+PEF.cc
+++ b/src/CompilerKit/src/Linkers/DynamicLinker64+PEF.cc
@@ -455,7 +455,7 @@ NECTAR_MODULE(DynamicLinker64PEF) {
   date_cmd_hdr.Offset      = output_fc.tellp();
   date_cmd_hdr.VirtualSize = timeStampStr.size();
 
-  command_headers.push_back(date_cmd_hdr);
+  command_headers.push_back(std::move(date_cmd_hdr));
 
   CompilerKit::PEFCommandHeader abi_cmd_hdr{};
 
@@ -488,7 +488,7 @@ NECTAR_MODULE(DynamicLinker64PEF) {
   abi_cmd_hdr.Flags       = 0;
   abi_cmd_hdr.Kind        = CompilerKit::kPefLinkerID;
 
-  command_headers.push_back(abi_cmd_hdr);
+  command_headers.push_back(std::move(abi_cmd_hdr));
 
   CompilerKit::PEFCommandHeader stack_cmd_hdr{0};
 
@@ -499,7 +499,7 @@ NECTAR_MODULE(DynamicLinker64PEF) {
 
   std::memcpy(stack_cmd_hdr.Name, kLinkerStackSizeSymbol, strlen(kLinkerStackSizeSymbol));
 
-  command_headers.push_back(stack_cmd_hdr);
+  command_headers.push_back(std::move(stack_cmd_hdr));
 
   CompilerKit::PEFCommandHeader uuid_cmd_hdr{};
 
@@ -522,7 +522,7 @@ NECTAR_MODULE(DynamicLinker64PEF) {
   uuid_cmd_hdr.Flags       = CompilerKit::kPefLinkerID;
   uuid_cmd_hdr.Kind        = CompilerKit::kPefZero;
 
-  command_headers.push_back(uuid_cmd_hdr);
+  command_headers.push_back(std::move(uuid_cmd_hdr));
 
   // prepare a symbol vector.
   std::vector<CompilerKit::STLString> undef_symbols;
@@ -544,7 +544,7 @@ NECTAR_MODULE(DynamicLinker64PEF) {
 
   end_exec_hdr.VirtualSize = strlen(end_exec_hdr.Name);
 
-  command_headers.push_back(end_exec_hdr);
+  command_headers.push_back(std::move(end_exec_hdr));
 
   // Finally write down the command headers.
   // And check for any duplications
@@ -672,4 +672,4 @@ NECTAR_MODULE(DynamicLinker64PEF) {
   return NECTAR_SUCCESS;
 }
 
-// Last rev 13-1-24
+// Last rev 2026
diff --git a/test/test_samples/test_ostream.ncpp b/test/test_samples/test_ostream.ncpp
index 3caa2ab..0d0410b 100644
--- a/test/test_samples/test_ostream.ncpp
+++ b/test/test_samples/test_ostream.ncpp
@@ -5,5 +5,5 @@ let main()
     let io := 0;
     io := ostream{};
     let arr := io.read(0, 0);
-    return arr[0];
+    return arr;
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/test/test_samples/test_printf.ncpp b/test/test_samples/test_printf.ncpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..60a6dbb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/test_samples/test_printf.ncpp
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+let main()
+{
+    let ret := 100;
+    return ret;
+}
\ No newline at end of file