/SUBSYSTEM (Specify Subsystem)
Specify the Windows subsystem targeted by the executable.
Syntax
/SUBSYSTEM:{BOOT_APPLICATION|CONSOLE|EFI_APPLICATION|
EFI_BOOT_SERVICE_DRIVER|EFI_ROM|EFI_RUNTIME_DRIVER|NATIVE|
POSIX|WINDOWS}
[,major[.minor]]
Arguments
BOOT_APPLICATION
An application that runs in the Windows boot environment. For more information about boot applications, see About BCD.
CONSOLE
Win32 character-mode application. The operating system provides a console for console applications. If main or wmain is defined for native code, int main(array<String ^> ^) is defined for managed code, or you build the application completely by using /clr:safe, CONSOLE is the default.
EFI_APPLICATION
EFI_BOOT_SERVICE_DRIVER
EFI_ROM
EFI_RUNTIME_DRIVER
The Extensible Firmware Interface subsystems. For more information, see the UEFI specification. For examples, see the Intel UEFI Driver and Application Tool Resources. The minimum version and default version is 1.0.
NATIVE
Kernel mode drivers for Windows NT. This option is normally reserved for Windows system components. If /DRIVER:WDM is specified, NATIVE is the default.
POSIX
Application that runs with the POSIX subsystem in Windows NT.
WINDOWS
The application doesn't require a console, probably because it creates its own windows for interaction with the user. If WinMain or wWinMain is defined for native code, or WinMain(HINSTANCE *, HINSTANCE *, char *, int) or wWinMain(HINSTANCE *, HINSTANCE *, wchar_t *, int) is defined for managed code, WINDOWS is the default.
major and minor
(Optional) Specify the minimum required version of the subsystem. The arguments are decimal numbers in the range 0 through 65,535. There are no upper bounds for version numbers.
Remarks
The /SUBSYSTEM option specifies the environment for the executable.
The choice of subsystem affects the entry point symbol (or entry point function) that the linker will select.
The optional minimum and default major and minor version numbers for the subsystems are as follows:
| Subsystem | Minimum | Default |
|---|---|---|
BOOT_APPLICATION |
1.0 | 1.0 |
CONSOLE |
5.01 (x86) 5.02 (x64) 6.02 (ARM) | 6.00 (x86, x64) 6.02 (ARM) |
WINDOWS |
5.01 (x86) 5.02 (x64) 6.02 (ARM) | 6.00 (x86, x64) 6.02 (ARM) |
NATIVE (with /DRIVER:WDM) |
1.00 (x86) 1.10 (x64, ARM) | 1.00 (x86) 1.10 (x64, ARM) |
NATIVE (without /DRIVER:WDM) |
4.00 (x86) 5.02 (x64) 6.02 (ARM) | 4.00 (x86) 5.02 (x64) 6.02 (ARM) |
POSIX |
1.0 | 19.90 |
EFI_APPLICATION, EFI_BOOT_SERVICE_DRIVER, EFI_ROM, EFI_RUNTIME_DRIVER |
1.0 | 1.0 |
To set this linker option in the Visual Studio development environment
Open the project's Property Pages dialog box. For details, see Set C++ compiler and build properties in Visual Studio.
Select the Configuration Properties > Linker > System property page.
Modify the SubSystem property.
To set this linker option programmatically
- See SubSystem.