using void variables as linker-script symbol refs

I've got a situation in which I'd like to use something like the following to refer to constants defined in the linker script:

	extern const void _stext, _etext;

	#define __kernel_size ((unsigned long)&_etext - (unsigned long)&_stext)

Rather than:

	extern int _stext, _etext;

Or:

	extern int _stext[], _etext[];

Or:

	struct __not_really_a_struct;
	struct __not_really_a_struct _stext, _etext;

This has a couple of advantages:

(1) You can't accidentally read/set such variables directly.

(2) GCC doesn't assume they can be referenced by register-relative means, if the CPU has a special data pointer (such as a small-data pointer).

Any thoughts? Or is this just a straight forward shooting offence?

David

s/int/char/ and this is the most correct way. Really.

r~