diff --git a/src/cmd/link/internal/amd64/asm.go b/src/cmd/link/internal/amd64/asm.go
index c181b2c991..2763b18934 100644
--- a/src/cmd/link/internal/amd64/asm.go
+++ b/src/cmd/link/internal/amd64/asm.go
@@ -361,7 +361,7 @@ func adddynrel(ctxt *ld.Link, s *ld.Symbol, r *ld.Reloc) bool {
 }
 
 func elfreloc1(ctxt *ld.Link, r *ld.Reloc, sectoff int64) bool {
-	ld.Thearch.Vput(uint64(sectoff))
+	ctxt.Out.Write64(uint64(sectoff))
 
 	elfsym := r.Xsym.ElfsymForReloc()
 	switch r.Type {
@@ -369,21 +369,21 @@ func elfreloc1(ctxt *ld.Link, r *ld.Reloc, sectoff int64) bool {
 		return false
 	case objabi.R_ADDR:
 		if r.Siz == 4 {
-			ld.Thearch.Vput(ld.R_X86_64_32 | uint64(elfsym)<<32)
+			ctxt.Out.Write64(ld.R_X86_64_32 | uint64(elfsym)<<32)
 		} else if r.Siz == 8 {
-			ld.Thearch.Vput(ld.R_X86_64_64 | uint64(elfsym)<<32)
+			ctxt.Out.Write64(ld.R_X86_64_64 | uint64(elfsym)<<32)
 		} else {
 			return false
 		}
 	case objabi.R_TLS_LE:
 		if r.Siz == 4 {
-			ld.Thearch.Vput(ld.R_X86_64_TPOFF32 | uint64(elfsym)<<32)
+			ctxt.Out.Write64(ld.R_X86_64_TPOFF32 | uint64(elfsym)<<32)
 		} else {
 			return false
 		}
 	case objabi.R_TLS_IE:
 		if r.Siz == 4 {
-			ld.Thearch.Vput(ld.R_X86_64_GOTTPOFF | uint64(elfsym)<<32)
+			ctxt.Out.Write64(ld.R_X86_64_GOTTPOFF | uint64(elfsym)<<32)
 		} else {
 			return false
 		}
@@ -391,12 +391,12 @@ func elfreloc1(ctxt *ld.Link, r *ld.Reloc, sectoff int64) bool {
 		if r.Siz == 4 {
 			if r.Xsym.Type == ld.SDYNIMPORT {
 				if ctxt.DynlinkingGo() {
-					ld.Thearch.Vput(ld.R_X86_64_PLT32 | uint64(elfsym)<<32)
+					ctxt.Out.Write64(ld.R_X86_64_PLT32 | uint64(elfsym)<<32)
 				} else {
-					ld.Thearch.Vput(ld.R_X86_64_GOTPCREL | uint64(elfsym)<<32)
+					ctxt.Out.Write64(ld.R_X86_64_GOTPCREL | uint64(elfsym)<<32)
 				}
 			} else {
-				ld.Thearch.Vput(ld.R_X86_64_PC32 | uint64(elfsym)<<32)
+				ctxt.Out.Write64(ld.R_X86_64_PC32 | uint64(elfsym)<<32)
 			}
 		} else {
 			return false
@@ -404,26 +404,26 @@ func elfreloc1(ctxt *ld.Link, r *ld.Reloc, sectoff int64) bool {
 	case objabi.R_PCREL:
 		if r.Siz == 4 {
 			if r.Xsym.Type == ld.SDYNIMPORT && r.Xsym.ElfType == elf.STT_FUNC {
-				ld.Thearch.Vput(ld.R_X86_64_PLT32 | uint64(elfsym)<<32)
+				ctxt.Out.Write64(ld.R_X86_64_PLT32 | uint64(elfsym)<<32)
 			} else {
-				ld.Thearch.Vput(ld.R_X86_64_PC32 | uint64(elfsym)<<32)
+				ctxt.Out.Write64(ld.R_X86_64_PC32 | uint64(elfsym)<<32)
 			}
 		} else {
 			return false
 		}
 	case objabi.R_GOTPCREL:
 		if r.Siz == 4 {
-			ld.Thearch.Vput(ld.R_X86_64_GOTPCREL | uint64(elfsym)<<32)
+			ctxt.Out.Write64(ld.R_X86_64_GOTPCREL | uint64(elfsym)<<32)
 		} else {
 			return false
 		}
 	}
 
-	ld.Thearch.Vput(uint64(r.Xadd))
+	ctxt.Out.Write64(uint64(r.Xadd))
 	return true
 }
 
-func machoreloc1(arch *sys.Arch, s *ld.Symbol, r *ld.Reloc, sectoff int64) bool {
+func machoreloc1(arch *sys.Arch, out *ld.OutBuf, s *ld.Symbol, r *ld.Reloc, sectoff int64) bool {
 	var v uint32
 
 	rs := r.Xsym
@@ -481,12 +481,12 @@ func machoreloc1(arch *sys.Arch, s *ld.Symbol, r *ld.Reloc, sectoff int64) bool
 		v |= 3 << 25
 	}
 
-	ld.Thearch.Lput(uint32(sectoff))
-	ld.Thearch.Lput(v)
+	out.Write32(uint32(sectoff))
+	out.Write32(v)
 	return true
 }
 
-func pereloc1(arch *sys.Arch, s *ld.Symbol, r *ld.Reloc, sectoff int64) bool {
+func pereloc1(arch *sys.Arch, out *ld.OutBuf, s *ld.Symbol, r *ld.Reloc, sectoff int64) bool {
 	var v uint32
 
 	rs := r.Xsym
@@ -496,8 +496,8 @@ func pereloc1(arch *sys.Arch, s *ld.Symbol, r *ld.Reloc, sectoff int64) bool {
 		return false
 	}
 
-	ld.Thearch.Lput(uint32(sectoff))
-	ld.Thearch.Lput(uint32(rs.Dynid))
+	out.Write32(uint32(sectoff))
+	out.Write32(uint32(rs.Dynid))
 
 	switch r.Type {
 	default:
@@ -518,7 +518,7 @@ func pereloc1(arch *sys.Arch, s *ld.Symbol, r *ld.Reloc, sectoff int64) bool {
 		v = ld.IMAGE_REL_AMD64_REL32
 	}
 
-	ld.Thearch.Wput(uint16(v))
+	out.Write16(uint16(v))
 
 	return true
 }
@@ -663,11 +663,11 @@ func asmb(ctxt *ld.Link) {
 	}
 
 	sect := ld.Segtext.Sections[0]
-	ld.Cseek(int64(sect.Vaddr - ld.Segtext.Vaddr + ld.Segtext.Fileoff))
+	ctxt.Out.SeekSet(int64(sect.Vaddr - ld.Segtext.Vaddr + ld.Segtext.Fileoff))
 	// 0xCC is INT $3 - breakpoint instruction
 	ld.CodeblkPad(ctxt, int64(sect.Vaddr), int64(sect.Length), []byte{0xCC})
 	for _, sect = range ld.Segtext.Sections[1:] {
-		ld.Cseek(int64(sect.Vaddr - ld.Segtext.Vaddr + ld.Segtext.Fileoff))
+		ctxt.Out.SeekSet(int64(sect.Vaddr - ld.Segtext.Vaddr + ld.Segtext.Fileoff))
 		ld.Datblk(ctxt, int64(sect.Vaddr), int64(sect.Length))
 	}
 
@@ -675,14 +675,14 @@ func asmb(ctxt *ld.Link) {
 		if ctxt.Debugvlog != 0 {
 			ctxt.Logf("%5.2f rodatblk\n", ld.Cputime())
 		}
-		ld.Cseek(int64(ld.Segrodata.Fileoff))
+		ctxt.Out.SeekSet(int64(ld.Segrodata.Fileoff))
 		ld.Datblk(ctxt, int64(ld.Segrodata.Vaddr), int64(ld.Segrodata.Filelen))
 	}
 	if ld.Segrelrodata.Filelen > 0 {
 		if ctxt.Debugvlog != 0 {
 			ctxt.Logf("%5.2f relrodatblk\n", ld.Cputime())
 		}
-		ld.Cseek(int64(ld.Segrelrodata.Fileoff))
+		ctxt.Out.SeekSet(int64(ld.Segrelrodata.Fileoff))
 		ld.Datblk(ctxt, int64(ld.Segrelrodata.Vaddr), int64(ld.Segrelrodata.Filelen))
 	}
 
@@ -690,10 +690,10 @@ func asmb(ctxt *ld.Link) {
 		ctxt.Logf("%5.2f datblk\n", ld.Cputime())
 	}
 
-	ld.Cseek(int64(ld.Segdata.Fileoff))
+	ctxt.Out.SeekSet(int64(ld.Segdata.Fileoff))
 	ld.Datblk(ctxt, int64(ld.Segdata.Vaddr), int64(ld.Segdata.Filelen))
 
-	ld.Cseek(int64(ld.Segdwarf.Fileoff))
+	ctxt.Out.SeekSet(int64(ld.Segdwarf.Fileoff))
 	ld.Dwarfblk(ctxt, int64(ld.Segdwarf.Vaddr), int64(ld.Segdwarf.Filelen))
 
 	machlink := int64(0)
@@ -757,14 +757,14 @@ func asmb(ctxt *ld.Link) {
 			symo = ld.Rnd(symo, ld.PEFILEALIGN)
 		}
 
-		ld.Cseek(symo)
+		ctxt.Out.SeekSet(symo)
 		switch ld.Headtype {
 		default:
 			if ld.Iself {
-				ld.Cseek(symo)
+				ctxt.Out.SeekSet(symo)
 				ld.Asmelfsym(ctxt)
-				ld.Cflush()
-				ld.Cwrite(ld.Elfstrdat)
+				ctxt.Out.Flush()
+				ctxt.Out.Write(ld.Elfstrdat)
 
 				if ctxt.Debugvlog != 0 {
 					ctxt.Logf("%5.2f dwarf\n", ld.Cputime())
@@ -777,13 +777,13 @@ func asmb(ctxt *ld.Link) {
 
 		case objabi.Hplan9:
 			ld.Asmplan9sym(ctxt)
-			ld.Cflush()
+			ctxt.Out.Flush()
 
 			sym := ctxt.Syms.Lookup("pclntab", 0)
 			if sym != nil {
 				ld.Lcsize = int32(len(sym.P))
-				ld.Cwrite(sym.P)
-				ld.Cflush()
+				ctxt.Out.Write(sym.P)
+				ctxt.Out.Flush()
 			}
 
 		case objabi.Hwindows:
@@ -801,23 +801,23 @@ func asmb(ctxt *ld.Link) {
 	if ctxt.Debugvlog != 0 {
 		ctxt.Logf("%5.2f headr\n", ld.Cputime())
 	}
-	ld.Cseek(0)
+	ctxt.Out.SeekSet(0)
 	switch ld.Headtype {
 	default:
 	case objabi.Hplan9: /* plan9 */
 		magic := int32(4*26*26 + 7)
 
-		magic |= 0x00008000                  /* fat header */
-		ld.Lputb(uint32(magic))              /* magic */
-		ld.Lputb(uint32(ld.Segtext.Filelen)) /* sizes */
-		ld.Lputb(uint32(ld.Segdata.Filelen))
-		ld.Lputb(uint32(ld.Segdata.Length - ld.Segdata.Filelen))
-		ld.Lputb(uint32(ld.Symsize)) /* nsyms */
+		magic |= 0x00008000                           /* fat header */
+		ctxt.Out.Write32b(uint32(magic))              /* magic */
+		ctxt.Out.Write32b(uint32(ld.Segtext.Filelen)) /* sizes */
+		ctxt.Out.Write32b(uint32(ld.Segdata.Filelen))
+		ctxt.Out.Write32b(uint32(ld.Segdata.Length - ld.Segdata.Filelen))
+		ctxt.Out.Write32b(uint32(ld.Symsize)) /* nsyms */
 		vl := ld.Entryvalue(ctxt)
-		ld.Lputb(PADDR(uint32(vl))) /* va of entry */
-		ld.Lputb(uint32(ld.Spsize)) /* sp offsets */
-		ld.Lputb(uint32(ld.Lcsize)) /* line offsets */
-		ld.Vputb(uint64(vl))        /* va of entry */
+		ctxt.Out.Write32b(PADDR(uint32(vl))) /* va of entry */
+		ctxt.Out.Write32b(uint32(ld.Spsize)) /* sp offsets */
+		ctxt.Out.Write32b(uint32(ld.Lcsize)) /* line offsets */
+		ctxt.Out.Write64b(uint64(vl))        /* va of entry */
 
 	case objabi.Hdarwin:
 		ld.Asmbmacho(ctxt)
@@ -835,7 +835,7 @@ func asmb(ctxt *ld.Link) {
 		ld.Asmbpe(ctxt)
 	}
 
-	ld.Cflush()
+	ctxt.Out.Flush()
 }
 
 func tlsIEtoLE(s *ld.Symbol, off, size int) {
diff --git a/src/cmd/link/internal/amd64/obj.go b/src/cmd/link/internal/amd64/obj.go
index 02d6d63b1c..c766512a01 100644
--- a/src/cmd/link/internal/amd64/obj.go
+++ b/src/cmd/link/internal/amd64/obj.go
@@ -60,12 +60,6 @@ func Init() (*sys.Arch, ld.Arch) {
 		Gentext:          gentext,
 		Machoreloc1:      machoreloc1,
 		PEreloc1:         pereloc1,
-		Lput:             ld.Lputl,
-		Wput:             ld.Wputl,
-		Vput:             ld.Vputl,
-		Append16:         ld.Append16l,
-		Append32:         ld.Append32l,
-		Append64:         ld.Append64l,
 		TLSIEtoLE:        tlsIEtoLE,
 
 		Linuxdynld:     "/lib64/ld-linux-x86-64.so.2",
diff --git a/src/cmd/link/internal/arm/asm.go b/src/cmd/link/internal/arm/asm.go
index 3f003ad02b..bb5fe62a54 100644
--- a/src/cmd/link/internal/arm/asm.go
+++ b/src/cmd/link/internal/arm/asm.go
@@ -251,7 +251,7 @@ func adddynrel(ctxt *ld.Link, s *ld.Symbol, r *ld.Reloc) bool {
 }
 
 func elfreloc1(ctxt *ld.Link, r *ld.Reloc, sectoff int64) bool {
-	ld.Thearch.Lput(uint32(sectoff))
+	ctxt.Out.Write32(uint32(sectoff))
 
 	elfsym := r.Xsym.ElfsymForReloc()
 	switch r.Type {
@@ -259,33 +259,33 @@ func elfreloc1(ctxt *ld.Link, r *ld.Reloc, sectoff int64) bool {
 		return false
 	case objabi.R_ADDR:
 		if r.Siz == 4 {
-			ld.Thearch.Lput(ld.R_ARM_ABS32 | uint32(elfsym)<<8)
+			ctxt.Out.Write32(ld.R_ARM_ABS32 | uint32(elfsym)<<8)
 		} else {
 			return false
 		}
 	case objabi.R_PCREL:
 		if r.Siz == 4 {
-			ld.Thearch.Lput(ld.R_ARM_REL32 | uint32(elfsym)<<8)
+			ctxt.Out.Write32(ld.R_ARM_REL32 | uint32(elfsym)<<8)
 		} else {
 			return false
 		}
 	case objabi.R_CALLARM:
 		if r.Siz == 4 {
 			if r.Add&0xff000000 == 0xeb000000 { // BL
-				ld.Thearch.Lput(ld.R_ARM_CALL | uint32(elfsym)<<8)
+				ctxt.Out.Write32(ld.R_ARM_CALL | uint32(elfsym)<<8)
 			} else {
-				ld.Thearch.Lput(ld.R_ARM_JUMP24 | uint32(elfsym)<<8)
+				ctxt.Out.Write32(ld.R_ARM_JUMP24 | uint32(elfsym)<<8)
 			}
 		} else {
 			return false
 		}
 	case objabi.R_TLS_LE:
-		ld.Thearch.Lput(ld.R_ARM_TLS_LE32 | uint32(elfsym)<<8)
+		ctxt.Out.Write32(ld.R_ARM_TLS_LE32 | uint32(elfsym)<<8)
 	case objabi.R_TLS_IE:
-		ld.Thearch.Lput(ld.R_ARM_TLS_IE32 | uint32(elfsym)<<8)
+		ctxt.Out.Write32(ld.R_ARM_TLS_IE32 | uint32(elfsym)<<8)
 	case objabi.R_GOTPCREL:
 		if r.Siz == 4 {
-			ld.Thearch.Lput(ld.R_ARM_GOT_PREL | uint32(elfsym)<<8)
+			ctxt.Out.Write32(ld.R_ARM_GOT_PREL | uint32(elfsym)<<8)
 		} else {
 			return false
 		}
@@ -321,7 +321,7 @@ func elfsetupplt(ctxt *ld.Link) {
 	}
 }
 
-func machoreloc1(arch *sys.Arch, s *ld.Symbol, r *ld.Reloc, sectoff int64) bool {
+func machoreloc1(arch *sys.Arch, out *ld.OutBuf, s *ld.Symbol, r *ld.Reloc, sectoff int64) bool {
 	var v uint32
 
 	rs := r.Xsym
@@ -349,10 +349,10 @@ func machoreloc1(arch *sys.Arch, s *ld.Symbol, r *ld.Reloc, sectoff int64) bool
 		o2 |= ld.MACHO_ARM_RELOC_PAIR << 24
 		o2 |= 2 << 28 // size = 4
 
-		ld.Thearch.Lput(o1)
-		ld.Thearch.Lput(uint32(ld.Symaddr(rs)))
-		ld.Thearch.Lput(o2)
-		ld.Thearch.Lput(uint32(s.Value + int64(r.Off)))
+		out.Write32(o1)
+		out.Write32(uint32(ld.Symaddr(rs)))
+		out.Write32(o2)
+		out.Write32(uint32(s.Value + int64(r.Off)))
 		return true
 	}
 
@@ -400,8 +400,8 @@ func machoreloc1(arch *sys.Arch, s *ld.Symbol, r *ld.Reloc, sectoff int64) bool
 		v |= 3 << 25
 	}
 
-	ld.Thearch.Lput(uint32(sectoff))
-	ld.Thearch.Lput(v)
+	out.Write32(uint32(sectoff))
+	out.Write32(v)
 	return true
 }
 
@@ -746,10 +746,10 @@ func asmb(ctxt *ld.Link) {
 	}
 
 	sect := ld.Segtext.Sections[0]
-	ld.Cseek(int64(sect.Vaddr - ld.Segtext.Vaddr + ld.Segtext.Fileoff))
+	ctxt.Out.SeekSet(int64(sect.Vaddr - ld.Segtext.Vaddr + ld.Segtext.Fileoff))
 	ld.Codeblk(ctxt, int64(sect.Vaddr), int64(sect.Length))
 	for _, sect = range ld.Segtext.Sections[1:] {
-		ld.Cseek(int64(sect.Vaddr - ld.Segtext.Vaddr + ld.Segtext.Fileoff))
+		ctxt.Out.SeekSet(int64(sect.Vaddr - ld.Segtext.Vaddr + ld.Segtext.Fileoff))
 		ld.Datblk(ctxt, int64(sect.Vaddr), int64(sect.Length))
 	}
 
@@ -757,14 +757,14 @@ func asmb(ctxt *ld.Link) {
 		if ctxt.Debugvlog != 0 {
 			ctxt.Logf("%5.2f rodatblk\n", ld.Cputime())
 		}
-		ld.Cseek(int64(ld.Segrodata.Fileoff))
+		ctxt.Out.SeekSet(int64(ld.Segrodata.Fileoff))
 		ld.Datblk(ctxt, int64(ld.Segrodata.Vaddr), int64(ld.Segrodata.Filelen))
 	}
 	if ld.Segrelrodata.Filelen > 0 {
 		if ctxt.Debugvlog != 0 {
 			ctxt.Logf("%5.2f relrodatblk\n", ld.Cputime())
 		}
-		ld.Cseek(int64(ld.Segrelrodata.Fileoff))
+		ctxt.Out.SeekSet(int64(ld.Segrelrodata.Fileoff))
 		ld.Datblk(ctxt, int64(ld.Segrelrodata.Vaddr), int64(ld.Segrelrodata.Filelen))
 	}
 
@@ -772,10 +772,10 @@ func asmb(ctxt *ld.Link) {
 		ctxt.Logf("%5.2f datblk\n", ld.Cputime())
 	}
 
-	ld.Cseek(int64(ld.Segdata.Fileoff))
+	ctxt.Out.SeekSet(int64(ld.Segdata.Fileoff))
 	ld.Datblk(ctxt, int64(ld.Segdata.Vaddr), int64(ld.Segdata.Filelen))
 
-	ld.Cseek(int64(ld.Segdwarf.Fileoff))
+	ctxt.Out.SeekSet(int64(ld.Segdwarf.Fileoff))
 	ld.Dwarfblk(ctxt, int64(ld.Segdwarf.Vaddr), int64(ld.Segdwarf.Filelen))
 
 	machlink := uint32(0)
@@ -807,7 +807,7 @@ func asmb(ctxt *ld.Link) {
 			symo = uint32(ld.Segdwarf.Fileoff + uint64(ld.Rnd(int64(ld.Segdwarf.Filelen), int64(*ld.FlagRound))) + uint64(machlink))
 		}
 
-		ld.Cseek(int64(symo))
+		ctxt.Out.SeekSet(int64(symo))
 		switch ld.Headtype {
 		default:
 			if ld.Iself {
@@ -815,8 +815,8 @@ func asmb(ctxt *ld.Link) {
 					ctxt.Logf("%5.2f elfsym\n", ld.Cputime())
 				}
 				ld.Asmelfsym(ctxt)
-				ld.Cflush()
-				ld.Cwrite(ld.Elfstrdat)
+				ctxt.Out.Flush()
+				ctxt.Out.Write(ld.Elfstrdat)
 
 				if ld.Linkmode == ld.LinkExternal {
 					ld.Elfemitreloc(ctxt)
@@ -825,13 +825,13 @@ func asmb(ctxt *ld.Link) {
 
 		case objabi.Hplan9:
 			ld.Asmplan9sym(ctxt)
-			ld.Cflush()
+			ctxt.Out.Flush()
 
 			sym := ctxt.Syms.Lookup("pclntab", 0)
 			if sym != nil {
 				ld.Lcsize = int32(len(sym.P))
-				ld.Cwrite(sym.P)
-				ld.Cflush()
+				ctxt.Out.Write(sym.P)
+				ctxt.Out.Flush()
 			}
 
 		case objabi.Hdarwin:
@@ -844,18 +844,18 @@ func asmb(ctxt *ld.Link) {
 	if ctxt.Debugvlog != 0 {
 		ctxt.Logf("%5.2f header\n", ld.Cputime())
 	}
-	ld.Cseek(0)
+	ctxt.Out.SeekSet(0)
 	switch ld.Headtype {
 	default:
 	case objabi.Hplan9: /* plan 9 */
-		ld.Lputb(0x647)                      /* magic */
-		ld.Lputb(uint32(ld.Segtext.Filelen)) /* sizes */
-		ld.Lputb(uint32(ld.Segdata.Filelen))
-		ld.Lputb(uint32(ld.Segdata.Length - ld.Segdata.Filelen))
-		ld.Lputb(uint32(ld.Symsize))          /* nsyms */
-		ld.Lputb(uint32(ld.Entryvalue(ctxt))) /* va of entry */
-		ld.Lputb(0)
-		ld.Lputb(uint32(ld.Lcsize))
+		ctxt.Out.Write32b(0x647)                      /* magic */
+		ctxt.Out.Write32b(uint32(ld.Segtext.Filelen)) /* sizes */
+		ctxt.Out.Write32b(uint32(ld.Segdata.Filelen))
+		ctxt.Out.Write32b(uint32(ld.Segdata.Length - ld.Segdata.Filelen))
+		ctxt.Out.Write32b(uint32(ld.Symsize))          /* nsyms */
+		ctxt.Out.Write32b(uint32(ld.Entryvalue(ctxt))) /* va of entry */
+		ctxt.Out.Write32b(0)
+		ctxt.Out.Write32b(uint32(ld.Lcsize))
 
 	case objabi.Hlinux,
 		objabi.Hfreebsd,
@@ -868,7 +868,7 @@ func asmb(ctxt *ld.Link) {
 		ld.Asmbmacho(ctxt)
 	}
 
-	ld.Cflush()
+	ctxt.Out.Flush()
 	if *ld.FlagC {
 		fmt.Printf("textsize=%d\n", ld.Segtext.Filelen)
 		fmt.Printf("datsize=%d\n", ld.Segdata.Filelen)
diff --git a/src/cmd/link/internal/arm/obj.go b/src/cmd/link/internal/arm/obj.go
index 1b2f3674a0..a874a24e6c 100644
--- a/src/cmd/link/internal/arm/obj.go
+++ b/src/cmd/link/internal/arm/obj.go
@@ -57,12 +57,6 @@ func Init() (*sys.Arch, ld.Arch) {
 		Elfsetupplt:      elfsetupplt,
 		Gentext:          gentext,
 		Machoreloc1:      machoreloc1,
-		Lput:             ld.Lputl,
-		Wput:             ld.Wputl,
-		Vput:             ld.Vputl,
-		Append16:         ld.Append16l,
-		Append32:         ld.Append32l,
-		Append64:         ld.Append64l,
 
 		Linuxdynld:     "/lib/ld-linux.so.3", // 2 for OABI, 3 for EABI
 		Freebsddynld:   "/usr/libexec/ld-elf.so.1",
diff --git a/src/cmd/link/internal/arm64/asm.go b/src/cmd/link/internal/arm64/asm.go
index bbbb4733b1..3b27a36bfd 100644
--- a/src/cmd/link/internal/arm64/asm.go
+++ b/src/cmd/link/internal/arm64/asm.go
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@ func adddynrel(ctxt *ld.Link, s *ld.Symbol, r *ld.Reloc) bool {
 }
 
 func elfreloc1(ctxt *ld.Link, r *ld.Reloc, sectoff int64) bool {
-	ld.Thearch.Vput(uint64(sectoff))
+	ctxt.Out.Write64(uint64(sectoff))
 
 	elfsym := r.Xsym.ElfsymForReloc()
 	switch r.Type {
@@ -102,38 +102,38 @@ func elfreloc1(ctxt *ld.Link, r *ld.Reloc, sectoff int64) bool {
 	case objabi.R_ADDR:
 		switch r.Siz {
 		case 4:
-			ld.Thearch.Vput(ld.R_AARCH64_ABS32 | uint64(elfsym)<<32)
+			ctxt.Out.Write64(ld.R_AARCH64_ABS32 | uint64(elfsym)<<32)
 		case 8:
-			ld.Thearch.Vput(ld.R_AARCH64_ABS64 | uint64(elfsym)<<32)
+			ctxt.Out.Write64(ld.R_AARCH64_ABS64 | uint64(elfsym)<<32)
 		default:
 			return false
 		}
 	case objabi.R_ADDRARM64:
 		// two relocations: R_AARCH64_ADR_PREL_PG_HI21 and R_AARCH64_ADD_ABS_LO12_NC
-		ld.Thearch.Vput(ld.R_AARCH64_ADR_PREL_PG_HI21 | uint64(elfsym)<<32)
-		ld.Thearch.Vput(uint64(r.Xadd))
-		ld.Thearch.Vput(uint64(sectoff + 4))
-		ld.Thearch.Vput(ld.R_AARCH64_ADD_ABS_LO12_NC | uint64(elfsym)<<32)
+		ctxt.Out.Write64(ld.R_AARCH64_ADR_PREL_PG_HI21 | uint64(elfsym)<<32)
+		ctxt.Out.Write64(uint64(r.Xadd))
+		ctxt.Out.Write64(uint64(sectoff + 4))
+		ctxt.Out.Write64(ld.R_AARCH64_ADD_ABS_LO12_NC | uint64(elfsym)<<32)
 	case objabi.R_ARM64_TLS_LE:
-		ld.Thearch.Vput(ld.R_AARCH64_TLSLE_MOVW_TPREL_G0 | uint64(elfsym)<<32)
+		ctxt.Out.Write64(ld.R_AARCH64_TLSLE_MOVW_TPREL_G0 | uint64(elfsym)<<32)
 	case objabi.R_ARM64_TLS_IE:
-		ld.Thearch.Vput(ld.R_AARCH64_TLSIE_ADR_GOTTPREL_PAGE21 | uint64(elfsym)<<32)
-		ld.Thearch.Vput(uint64(r.Xadd))
-		ld.Thearch.Vput(uint64(sectoff + 4))
-		ld.Thearch.Vput(ld.R_AARCH64_TLSIE_LD64_GOTTPREL_LO12_NC | uint64(elfsym)<<32)
+		ctxt.Out.Write64(ld.R_AARCH64_TLSIE_ADR_GOTTPREL_PAGE21 | uint64(elfsym)<<32)
+		ctxt.Out.Write64(uint64(r.Xadd))
+		ctxt.Out.Write64(uint64(sectoff + 4))
+		ctxt.Out.Write64(ld.R_AARCH64_TLSIE_LD64_GOTTPREL_LO12_NC | uint64(elfsym)<<32)
 	case objabi.R_ARM64_GOTPCREL:
-		ld.Thearch.Vput(ld.R_AARCH64_ADR_GOT_PAGE | uint64(elfsym)<<32)
-		ld.Thearch.Vput(uint64(r.Xadd))
-		ld.Thearch.Vput(uint64(sectoff + 4))
-		ld.Thearch.Vput(ld.R_AARCH64_LD64_GOT_LO12_NC | uint64(elfsym)<<32)
+		ctxt.Out.Write64(ld.R_AARCH64_ADR_GOT_PAGE | uint64(elfsym)<<32)
+		ctxt.Out.Write64(uint64(r.Xadd))
+		ctxt.Out.Write64(uint64(sectoff + 4))
+		ctxt.Out.Write64(ld.R_AARCH64_LD64_GOT_LO12_NC | uint64(elfsym)<<32)
 	case objabi.R_CALLARM64:
 		if r.Siz != 4 {
 			return false
 		}
-		ld.Thearch.Vput(ld.R_AARCH64_CALL26 | uint64(elfsym)<<32)
+		ctxt.Out.Write64(ld.R_AARCH64_CALL26 | uint64(elfsym)<<32)
 
 	}
-	ld.Thearch.Vput(uint64(r.Xadd))
+	ctxt.Out.Write64(uint64(r.Xadd))
 
 	return true
 }
@@ -143,7 +143,7 @@ func elfsetupplt(ctxt *ld.Link) {
 	return
 }
 
-func machoreloc1(arch *sys.Arch, s *ld.Symbol, r *ld.Reloc, sectoff int64) bool {
+func machoreloc1(arch *sys.Arch, out *ld.OutBuf, s *ld.Symbol, r *ld.Reloc, sectoff int64) bool {
 	var v uint32
 
 	rs := r.Xsym
@@ -184,14 +184,14 @@ func machoreloc1(arch *sys.Arch, s *ld.Symbol, r *ld.Reloc, sectoff int64) bool
 		// Two relocation entries: MACHO_ARM64_RELOC_PAGEOFF12 MACHO_ARM64_RELOC_PAGE21
 		// if r.Xadd is non-zero, add two MACHO_ARM64_RELOC_ADDEND.
 		if r.Xadd != 0 {
-			ld.Thearch.Lput(uint32(sectoff + 4))
-			ld.Thearch.Lput((ld.MACHO_ARM64_RELOC_ADDEND << 28) | (2 << 25) | uint32(r.Xadd&0xffffff))
+			out.Write32(uint32(sectoff + 4))
+			out.Write32((ld.MACHO_ARM64_RELOC_ADDEND << 28) | (2 << 25) | uint32(r.Xadd&0xffffff))
 		}
-		ld.Thearch.Lput(uint32(sectoff + 4))
-		ld.Thearch.Lput(v | (ld.MACHO_ARM64_RELOC_PAGEOFF12 << 28) | (2 << 25))
+		out.Write32(uint32(sectoff + 4))
+		out.Write32(v | (ld.MACHO_ARM64_RELOC_PAGEOFF12 << 28) | (2 << 25))
 		if r.Xadd != 0 {
-			ld.Thearch.Lput(uint32(sectoff))
-			ld.Thearch.Lput((ld.MACHO_ARM64_RELOC_ADDEND << 28) | (2 << 25) | uint32(r.Xadd&0xffffff))
+			out.Write32(uint32(sectoff))
+			out.Write32((ld.MACHO_ARM64_RELOC_ADDEND << 28) | (2 << 25) | uint32(r.Xadd&0xffffff))
 		}
 		v |= 1 << 24 // pc-relative bit
 		v |= ld.MACHO_ARM64_RELOC_PAGE21 << 28
@@ -210,8 +210,8 @@ func machoreloc1(arch *sys.Arch, s *ld.Symbol, r *ld.Reloc, sectoff int64) bool
 		v |= 3 << 25
 	}
 
-	ld.Thearch.Lput(uint32(sectoff))
-	ld.Thearch.Lput(v)
+	out.Write32(uint32(sectoff))
+	out.Write32(v)
 	return true
 }
 
@@ -382,10 +382,10 @@ func asmb(ctxt *ld.Link) {
 	}
 
 	sect := ld.Segtext.Sections[0]
-	ld.Cseek(int64(sect.Vaddr - ld.Segtext.Vaddr + ld.Segtext.Fileoff))
+	ctxt.Out.SeekSet(int64(sect.Vaddr - ld.Segtext.Vaddr + ld.Segtext.Fileoff))
 	ld.Codeblk(ctxt, int64(sect.Vaddr), int64(sect.Length))
 	for _, sect = range ld.Segtext.Sections[1:] {
-		ld.Cseek(int64(sect.Vaddr - ld.Segtext.Vaddr + ld.Segtext.Fileoff))
+		ctxt.Out.SeekSet(int64(sect.Vaddr - ld.Segtext.Vaddr + ld.Segtext.Fileoff))
 		ld.Datblk(ctxt, int64(sect.Vaddr), int64(sect.Length))
 	}
 
@@ -393,14 +393,14 @@ func asmb(ctxt *ld.Link) {
 		if ctxt.Debugvlog != 0 {
 			ctxt.Logf("%5.2f rodatblk\n", ld.Cputime())
 		}
-		ld.Cseek(int64(ld.Segrodata.Fileoff))
+		ctxt.Out.SeekSet(int64(ld.Segrodata.Fileoff))
 		ld.Datblk(ctxt, int64(ld.Segrodata.Vaddr), int64(ld.Segrodata.Filelen))
 	}
 	if ld.Segrelrodata.Filelen > 0 {
 		if ctxt.Debugvlog != 0 {
 			ctxt.Logf("%5.2f relrodatblk\n", ld.Cputime())
 		}
-		ld.Cseek(int64(ld.Segrelrodata.Fileoff))
+		ctxt.Out.SeekSet(int64(ld.Segrelrodata.Fileoff))
 		ld.Datblk(ctxt, int64(ld.Segrelrodata.Vaddr), int64(ld.Segrelrodata.Filelen))
 	}
 
@@ -408,10 +408,10 @@ func asmb(ctxt *ld.Link) {
 		ctxt.Logf("%5.2f datblk\n", ld.Cputime())
 	}
 
-	ld.Cseek(int64(ld.Segdata.Fileoff))
+	ctxt.Out.SeekSet(int64(ld.Segdata.Fileoff))
 	ld.Datblk(ctxt, int64(ld.Segdata.Vaddr), int64(ld.Segdata.Filelen))
 
-	ld.Cseek(int64(ld.Segdwarf.Fileoff))
+	ctxt.Out.SeekSet(int64(ld.Segdwarf.Fileoff))
 	ld.Dwarfblk(ctxt, int64(ld.Segdwarf.Vaddr), int64(ld.Segdwarf.Filelen))
 
 	machlink := uint32(0)
@@ -443,7 +443,7 @@ func asmb(ctxt *ld.Link) {
 			symo = uint32(ld.Segdwarf.Fileoff + uint64(ld.Rnd(int64(ld.Segdwarf.Filelen), int64(*ld.FlagRound))) + uint64(machlink))
 		}
 
-		ld.Cseek(int64(symo))
+		ctxt.Out.SeekSet(int64(symo))
 		switch ld.Headtype {
 		default:
 			if ld.Iself {
@@ -451,8 +451,8 @@ func asmb(ctxt *ld.Link) {
 					ctxt.Logf("%5.2f elfsym\n", ld.Cputime())
 				}
 				ld.Asmelfsym(ctxt)
-				ld.Cflush()
-				ld.Cwrite(ld.Elfstrdat)
+				ctxt.Out.Flush()
+				ctxt.Out.Write(ld.Elfstrdat)
 
 				if ld.Linkmode == ld.LinkExternal {
 					ld.Elfemitreloc(ctxt)
@@ -461,13 +461,13 @@ func asmb(ctxt *ld.Link) {
 
 		case objabi.Hplan9:
 			ld.Asmplan9sym(ctxt)
-			ld.Cflush()
+			ctxt.Out.Flush()
 
 			sym := ctxt.Syms.Lookup("pclntab", 0)
 			if sym != nil {
 				ld.Lcsize = int32(len(sym.P))
-				ld.Cwrite(sym.P)
-				ld.Cflush()
+				ctxt.Out.Write(sym.P)
+				ctxt.Out.Flush()
 			}
 
 		case objabi.Hdarwin:
@@ -480,18 +480,18 @@ func asmb(ctxt *ld.Link) {
 	if ctxt.Debugvlog != 0 {
 		ctxt.Logf("%5.2f header\n", ld.Cputime())
 	}
-	ld.Cseek(0)
+	ctxt.Out.SeekSet(0)
 	switch ld.Headtype {
 	default:
 	case objabi.Hplan9: /* plan 9 */
-		ld.Thearch.Lput(0x647)                      /* magic */
-		ld.Thearch.Lput(uint32(ld.Segtext.Filelen)) /* sizes */
-		ld.Thearch.Lput(uint32(ld.Segdata.Filelen))
-		ld.Thearch.Lput(uint32(ld.Segdata.Length - ld.Segdata.Filelen))
-		ld.Thearch.Lput(uint32(ld.Symsize))          /* nsyms */
-		ld.Thearch.Lput(uint32(ld.Entryvalue(ctxt))) /* va of entry */
-		ld.Thearch.Lput(0)
-		ld.Thearch.Lput(uint32(ld.Lcsize))
+		ctxt.Out.Write32(0x647)                      /* magic */
+		ctxt.Out.Write32(uint32(ld.Segtext.Filelen)) /* sizes */
+		ctxt.Out.Write32(uint32(ld.Segdata.Filelen))
+		ctxt.Out.Write32(uint32(ld.Segdata.Length - ld.Segdata.Filelen))
+		ctxt.Out.Write32(uint32(ld.Symsize))          /* nsyms */
+		ctxt.Out.Write32(uint32(ld.Entryvalue(ctxt))) /* va of entry */
+		ctxt.Out.Write32(0)
+		ctxt.Out.Write32(uint32(ld.Lcsize))
 
 	case objabi.Hlinux,
 		objabi.Hfreebsd,
@@ -504,7 +504,7 @@ func asmb(ctxt *ld.Link) {
 		ld.Asmbmacho(ctxt)
 	}
 
-	ld.Cflush()
+	ctxt.Out.Flush()
 	if *ld.FlagC {
 		fmt.Printf("textsize=%d\n", ld.Segtext.Filelen)
 		fmt.Printf("datsize=%d\n", ld.Segdata.Filelen)
diff --git a/src/cmd/link/internal/arm64/obj.go b/src/cmd/link/internal/arm64/obj.go
index b7aa795208..225cfbd294 100644
--- a/src/cmd/link/internal/arm64/obj.go
+++ b/src/cmd/link/internal/arm64/obj.go
@@ -56,12 +56,6 @@ func Init() (*sys.Arch, ld.Arch) {
 		Elfsetupplt:      elfsetupplt,
 		Gentext:          gentext,
 		Machoreloc1:      machoreloc1,
-		Lput:             ld.Lputl,
-		Wput:             ld.Wputl,
-		Vput:             ld.Vputl,
-		Append16:         ld.Append16l,
-		Append32:         ld.Append32l,
-		Append64:         ld.Append64l,
 
 		Linuxdynld: "/lib/ld-linux-aarch64.so.1",
 
diff --git a/src/cmd/link/internal/ld/data.go b/src/cmd/link/internal/ld/data.go
index 7cc382de7d..c4ffa20a57 100644
--- a/src/cmd/link/internal/ld/data.go
+++ b/src/cmd/link/internal/ld/data.go
@@ -849,7 +849,7 @@ func Codeblk(ctxt *Link, addr int64, size int64) {
 }
 func CodeblkPad(ctxt *Link, addr int64, size int64, pad []byte) {
 	if *flagA {
-		ctxt.Logf("codeblk [%#x,%#x) at offset %#x\n", addr, addr+size, coutbuf.Offset())
+		ctxt.Logf("codeblk [%#x,%#x) at offset %#x\n", addr, addr+size, ctxt.Out.Offset())
 	}
 
 	blk(ctxt, ctxt.Textp, addr, size, pad)
@@ -932,13 +932,13 @@ func blk(ctxt *Link, syms []*Symbol, addr, size int64, pad []byte) {
 			errorexit()
 		}
 		if addr < s.Value {
-			strnputPad("", int(s.Value-addr), pad)
+			ctxt.Out.WriteStringPad("", int(s.Value-addr), pad)
 			addr = s.Value
 		}
-		Cwrite(s.P)
+		ctxt.Out.Write(s.P)
 		addr += int64(len(s.P))
 		if addr < s.Value+s.Size {
-			strnputPad("", int(s.Value+s.Size-addr), pad)
+			ctxt.Out.WriteStringPad("", int(s.Value+s.Size-addr), pad)
 			addr = s.Value + s.Size
 		}
 		if addr != s.Value+s.Size {
@@ -951,14 +951,14 @@ func blk(ctxt *Link, syms []*Symbol, addr, size int64, pad []byte) {
 	}
 
 	if addr < eaddr {
-		strnputPad("", int(eaddr-addr), pad)
+		ctxt.Out.WriteStringPad("", int(eaddr-addr), pad)
 	}
-	Cflush()
+	ctxt.Out.Flush()
 }
 
 func Datblk(ctxt *Link, addr int64, size int64) {
 	if *flagA {
-		ctxt.Logf("datblk [%#x,%#x) at offset %#x\n", addr, addr+size, coutbuf.Offset())
+		ctxt.Logf("datblk [%#x,%#x) at offset %#x\n", addr, addr+size, ctxt.Out.Offset())
 	}
 
 	blk(ctxt, datap, addr, size, zeros[:])
@@ -1029,7 +1029,7 @@ func Datblk(ctxt *Link, addr int64, size int64) {
 
 func Dwarfblk(ctxt *Link, addr int64, size int64) {
 	if *flagA {
-		ctxt.Logf("dwarfblk [%#x,%#x) at offset %#x\n", addr, addr+size, coutbuf.Offset())
+		ctxt.Logf("dwarfblk [%#x,%#x) at offset %#x\n", addr, addr+size, ctxt.Out.Offset())
 	}
 
 	blk(ctxt, dwarfp, addr, size, zeros[:])
@@ -1037,31 +1037,6 @@ func Dwarfblk(ctxt *Link, addr int64, size int64) {
 
 var zeros [512]byte
 
-// strnput writes the first n bytes of s.
-// If n is larger than len(s),
-// it is padded with NUL bytes.
-func strnput(s string, n int) {
-	strnputPad(s, n, zeros[:])
-}
-
-// strnput writes the first n bytes of s.
-// If n is larger than len(s),
-// it is padded with the bytes in pad (repeated as needed).
-func strnputPad(s string, n int, pad []byte) {
-	if len(s) >= n {
-		Cwritestring(s[:n])
-	} else {
-		Cwritestring(s)
-		n -= len(s)
-		for n > len(pad) {
-			Cwrite(pad)
-			n -= len(pad)
-
-		}
-		Cwrite(pad[:n])
-	}
-}
-
 var strdata []*Symbol
 
 func addstrdata1(ctxt *Link, arg string) {
diff --git a/src/cmd/link/internal/ld/dwarf.go b/src/cmd/link/internal/ld/dwarf.go
index f8198a7446..c48a56dc08 100644
--- a/src/cmd/link/internal/ld/dwarf.go
+++ b/src/cmd/link/internal/ld/dwarf.go
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ package ld
 import (
 	"cmd/internal/dwarf"
 	"cmd/internal/objabi"
+	"cmd/internal/sys"
 	"fmt"
 	"log"
 	"os"
@@ -1137,7 +1138,7 @@ const (
 )
 
 // appendPCDeltaCFA appends per-PC CFA deltas to b and returns the final slice.
-func appendPCDeltaCFA(b []byte, deltapc, cfa int64) []byte {
+func appendPCDeltaCFA(arch *sys.Arch, b []byte, deltapc, cfa int64) []byte {
 	b = append(b, dwarf.DW_CFA_def_cfa_offset_sf)
 	b = dwarf.AppendSleb128(b, cfa/dataAlignmentFactor)
 
@@ -1148,11 +1149,11 @@ func appendPCDeltaCFA(b []byte, deltapc, cfa int64) []byte {
 		b = append(b, dwarf.DW_CFA_advance_loc1)
 		b = append(b, uint8(deltapc))
 	case deltapc < 0x10000:
-		b = append(b, dwarf.DW_CFA_advance_loc2)
-		b = Thearch.Append16(b, uint16(deltapc))
+		b = append(b, dwarf.DW_CFA_advance_loc2, 0, 0)
+		arch.ByteOrder.PutUint16(b[len(b)-2:], uint16(deltapc))
 	default:
-		b = append(b, dwarf.DW_CFA_advance_loc4)
-		b = Thearch.Append32(b, uint32(deltapc))
+		b = append(b, dwarf.DW_CFA_advance_loc4, 0, 0, 0, 0)
+		arch.ByteOrder.PutUint32(b[len(b)-4:], uint32(deltapc))
 	}
 	return b
 }
@@ -1243,9 +1244,9 @@ func writeframes(ctxt *Link, syms []*Symbol) []*Symbol {
 					deltaBuf = append(deltaBuf, dwarf.DW_CFA_same_value)
 					deltaBuf = dwarf.AppendUleb128(deltaBuf, uint64(Thearch.Dwarfreglr))
 				}
-				deltaBuf = appendPCDeltaCFA(deltaBuf, int64(nextpc)-int64(pcsp.pc), int64(pcsp.value))
+				deltaBuf = appendPCDeltaCFA(ctxt.Arch, deltaBuf, int64(nextpc)-int64(pcsp.pc), int64(pcsp.value))
 			} else {
-				deltaBuf = appendPCDeltaCFA(deltaBuf, int64(nextpc)-int64(pcsp.pc), int64(ctxt.Arch.PtrSize)+int64(pcsp.value))
+				deltaBuf = appendPCDeltaCFA(ctxt.Arch, deltaBuf, int64(nextpc)-int64(pcsp.pc), int64(ctxt.Arch.PtrSize)+int64(pcsp.value))
 			}
 		}
 		pad := int(Rnd(int64(len(deltaBuf)), int64(ctxt.Arch.PtrSize))) - len(deltaBuf)
@@ -1655,19 +1656,19 @@ func dwarfaddelfsectionsyms(ctxt *Link) {
 		return
 	}
 	sym := ctxt.Syms.Lookup(".debug_info", 0)
-	putelfsectionsym(sym, sym.Sect.Elfsect.shnum)
+	putelfsectionsym(ctxt.Out, sym, sym.Sect.Elfsect.shnum)
 	sym = ctxt.Syms.Lookup(".debug_abbrev", 0)
-	putelfsectionsym(sym, sym.Sect.Elfsect.shnum)
+	putelfsectionsym(ctxt.Out, sym, sym.Sect.Elfsect.shnum)
 	sym = ctxt.Syms.Lookup(".debug_line", 0)
-	putelfsectionsym(sym, sym.Sect.Elfsect.shnum)
+	putelfsectionsym(ctxt.Out, sym, sym.Sect.Elfsect.shnum)
 	sym = ctxt.Syms.Lookup(".debug_frame", 0)
-	putelfsectionsym(sym, sym.Sect.Elfsect.shnum)
+	putelfsectionsym(ctxt.Out, sym, sym.Sect.Elfsect.shnum)
 	sym = ctxt.Syms.Lookup(".debug_loc", 0)
 	if sym.Sect != nil {
-		putelfsectionsym(sym, sym.Sect.Elfsect.shnum)
+		putelfsectionsym(ctxt.Out, sym, sym.Sect.Elfsect.shnum)
 	}
 	sym = ctxt.Syms.Lookup(".debug_ranges", 0)
 	if sym.Sect != nil {
-		putelfsectionsym(sym, sym.Sect.Elfsect.shnum)
+		putelfsectionsym(ctxt.Out, sym, sym.Sect.Elfsect.shnum)
 	}
 }
diff --git a/src/cmd/link/internal/ld/elf.go b/src/cmd/link/internal/ld/elf.go
index c5bdff3daf..3b7f36c3ad 100644
--- a/src/cmd/link/internal/ld/elf.go
+++ b/src/cmd/link/internal/ld/elf.go
@@ -990,72 +990,72 @@ func fixElfPhdr(e *ElfPhdr) {
 	e.memsz += uint64(frag)
 }
 
-func elf64phdr(e *ElfPhdr) {
+func elf64phdr(out *OutBuf, e *ElfPhdr) {
 	if e.type_ == PT_LOAD {
 		fixElfPhdr(e)
 	}
 
-	Thearch.Lput(e.type_)
-	Thearch.Lput(e.flags)
-	Thearch.Vput(e.off)
-	Thearch.Vput(e.vaddr)
-	Thearch.Vput(e.paddr)
-	Thearch.Vput(e.filesz)
-	Thearch.Vput(e.memsz)
-	Thearch.Vput(e.align)
+	out.Write32(e.type_)
+	out.Write32(e.flags)
+	out.Write64(e.off)
+	out.Write64(e.vaddr)
+	out.Write64(e.paddr)
+	out.Write64(e.filesz)
+	out.Write64(e.memsz)
+	out.Write64(e.align)
 }
 
-func elf32phdr(e *ElfPhdr) {
+func elf32phdr(out *OutBuf, e *ElfPhdr) {
 	if e.type_ == PT_LOAD {
 		fixElfPhdr(e)
 	}
 
-	Thearch.Lput(e.type_)
-	Thearch.Lput(uint32(e.off))
-	Thearch.Lput(uint32(e.vaddr))
-	Thearch.Lput(uint32(e.paddr))
-	Thearch.Lput(uint32(e.filesz))
-	Thearch.Lput(uint32(e.memsz))
-	Thearch.Lput(e.flags)
-	Thearch.Lput(uint32(e.align))
+	out.Write32(e.type_)
+	out.Write32(uint32(e.off))
+	out.Write32(uint32(e.vaddr))
+	out.Write32(uint32(e.paddr))
+	out.Write32(uint32(e.filesz))
+	out.Write32(uint32(e.memsz))
+	out.Write32(e.flags)
+	out.Write32(uint32(e.align))
 }
 
-func elf64shdr(e *ElfShdr) {
-	Thearch.Lput(e.name)
-	Thearch.Lput(e.type_)
-	Thearch.Vput(e.flags)
-	Thearch.Vput(e.addr)
-	Thearch.Vput(e.off)
-	Thearch.Vput(e.size)
-	Thearch.Lput(e.link)
-	Thearch.Lput(e.info)
-	Thearch.Vput(e.addralign)
-	Thearch.Vput(e.entsize)
+func elf64shdr(out *OutBuf, e *ElfShdr) {
+	out.Write32(e.name)
+	out.Write32(e.type_)
+	out.Write64(e.flags)
+	out.Write64(e.addr)
+	out.Write64(e.off)
+	out.Write64(e.size)
+	out.Write32(e.link)
+	out.Write32(e.info)
+	out.Write64(e.addralign)
+	out.Write64(e.entsize)
 }
 
-func elf32shdr(e *ElfShdr) {
-	Thearch.Lput(e.name)
-	Thearch.Lput(e.type_)
-	Thearch.Lput(uint32(e.flags))
-	Thearch.Lput(uint32(e.addr))
-	Thearch.Lput(uint32(e.off))
-	Thearch.Lput(uint32(e.size))
-	Thearch.Lput(e.link)
-	Thearch.Lput(e.info)
-	Thearch.Lput(uint32(e.addralign))
-	Thearch.Lput(uint32(e.entsize))
+func elf32shdr(out *OutBuf, e *ElfShdr) {
+	out.Write32(e.name)
+	out.Write32(e.type_)
+	out.Write32(uint32(e.flags))
+	out.Write32(uint32(e.addr))
+	out.Write32(uint32(e.off))
+	out.Write32(uint32(e.size))
+	out.Write32(e.link)
+	out.Write32(e.info)
+	out.Write32(uint32(e.addralign))
+	out.Write32(uint32(e.entsize))
 }
 
-func elfwriteshdrs() uint32 {
+func elfwriteshdrs(out *OutBuf) uint32 {
 	if elf64 {
 		for i := 0; i < int(ehdr.shnum); i++ {
-			elf64shdr(shdr[i])
+			elf64shdr(out, shdr[i])
 		}
 		return uint32(ehdr.shnum) * ELF64SHDRSIZE
 	}
 
 	for i := 0; i < int(ehdr.shnum); i++ {
-		elf32shdr(shdr[i])
+		elf32shdr(out, shdr[i])
 	}
 	return uint32(ehdr.shnum) * ELF32SHDRSIZE
 }
@@ -1071,16 +1071,16 @@ func elfsetstring(s *Symbol, str string, off int) {
 	nelfstr++
 }
 
-func elfwritephdrs() uint32 {
+func elfwritephdrs(out *OutBuf) uint32 {
 	if elf64 {
 		for i := 0; i < int(ehdr.phnum); i++ {
-			elf64phdr(phdr[i])
+			elf64phdr(out, phdr[i])
 		}
 		return uint32(ehdr.phnum) * ELF64PHDRSIZE
 	}
 
 	for i := 0; i < int(ehdr.phnum); i++ {
-		elf32phdr(phdr[i])
+		elf32phdr(out, phdr[i])
 	}
 	return uint32(ehdr.phnum) * ELF32PHDRSIZE
 }
@@ -1119,47 +1119,47 @@ func getElfEhdr() *ElfEhdr {
 	return &ehdr
 }
 
-func elf64writehdr() uint32 {
-	Cwrite(ehdr.ident[:])
-	Thearch.Wput(ehdr.type_)
-	Thearch.Wput(ehdr.machine)
-	Thearch.Lput(ehdr.version)
-	Thearch.Vput(ehdr.entry)
-	Thearch.Vput(ehdr.phoff)
-	Thearch.Vput(ehdr.shoff)
-	Thearch.Lput(ehdr.flags)
-	Thearch.Wput(ehdr.ehsize)
-	Thearch.Wput(ehdr.phentsize)
-	Thearch.Wput(ehdr.phnum)
-	Thearch.Wput(ehdr.shentsize)
-	Thearch.Wput(ehdr.shnum)
-	Thearch.Wput(ehdr.shstrndx)
+func elf64writehdr(out *OutBuf) uint32 {
+	out.Write(ehdr.ident[:])
+	out.Write16(ehdr.type_)
+	out.Write16(ehdr.machine)
+	out.Write32(ehdr.version)
+	out.Write64(ehdr.entry)
+	out.Write64(ehdr.phoff)
+	out.Write64(ehdr.shoff)
+	out.Write32(ehdr.flags)
+	out.Write16(ehdr.ehsize)
+	out.Write16(ehdr.phentsize)
+	out.Write16(ehdr.phnum)
+	out.Write16(ehdr.shentsize)
+	out.Write16(ehdr.shnum)
+	out.Write16(ehdr.shstrndx)
 	return ELF64HDRSIZE
 }
 
-func elf32writehdr() uint32 {
-	Cwrite(ehdr.ident[:])
-	Thearch.Wput(ehdr.type_)
-	Thearch.Wput(ehdr.machine)
-	Thearch.Lput(ehdr.version)
-	Thearch.Lput(uint32(ehdr.entry))
-	Thearch.Lput(uint32(ehdr.phoff))
-	Thearch.Lput(uint32(ehdr.shoff))
-	Thearch.Lput(ehdr.flags)
-	Thearch.Wput(ehdr.ehsize)
-	Thearch.Wput(ehdr.phentsize)
-	Thearch.Wput(ehdr.phnum)
-	Thearch.Wput(ehdr.shentsize)
-	Thearch.Wput(ehdr.shnum)
-	Thearch.Wput(ehdr.shstrndx)
+func elf32writehdr(out *OutBuf) uint32 {
+	out.Write(ehdr.ident[:])
+	out.Write16(ehdr.type_)
+	out.Write16(ehdr.machine)
+	out.Write32(ehdr.version)
+	out.Write32(uint32(ehdr.entry))
+	out.Write32(uint32(ehdr.phoff))
+	out.Write32(uint32(ehdr.shoff))
+	out.Write32(ehdr.flags)
+	out.Write16(ehdr.ehsize)
+	out.Write16(ehdr.phentsize)
+	out.Write16(ehdr.phnum)
+	out.Write16(ehdr.shentsize)
+	out.Write16(ehdr.shnum)
+	out.Write16(ehdr.shstrndx)
 	return ELF32HDRSIZE
 }
 
-func elfwritehdr() uint32 {
+func elfwritehdr(out *OutBuf) uint32 {
 	if elf64 {
-		return elf64writehdr()
+		return elf64writehdr(out)
 	}
-	return elf32writehdr()
+	return elf32writehdr(out)
 }
 
 /* Taken directly from the definition document for ELF64 */
@@ -1217,11 +1217,11 @@ func elfinterp(sh *ElfShdr, startva uint64, resoff uint64, p string) int {
 	return n
 }
 
-func elfwriteinterp() int {
+func elfwriteinterp(out *OutBuf) int {
 	sh := elfshname(".interp")
-	Cseek(int64(sh.off))
-	coutbuf.WriteString(interp)
-	Cput(0)
+	out.SeekSet(int64(sh.off))
+	out.WriteString(interp)
+	out.Write8(0)
 	return int(sh.size)
 }
 
@@ -1240,15 +1240,15 @@ func elfnote(sh *ElfShdr, startva uint64, resoff uint64, sz int, alloc bool) int
 	return int(n)
 }
 
-func elfwritenotehdr(str string, namesz uint32, descsz uint32, tag uint32) *ElfShdr {
+func elfwritenotehdr(out *OutBuf, str string, namesz uint32, descsz uint32, tag uint32) *ElfShdr {
 	sh := elfshname(str)
 
 	// Write Elf_Note header.
-	Cseek(int64(sh.off))
+	out.SeekSet(int64(sh.off))
 
-	Thearch.Lput(namesz)
-	Thearch.Lput(descsz)
-	Thearch.Lput(tag)
+	out.Write32(namesz)
+	out.Write32(descsz)
+	out.Write32(tag)
 
 	return sh
 }
@@ -1268,19 +1268,18 @@ func elfnetbsdsig(sh *ElfShdr, startva uint64, resoff uint64) int {
 	return elfnote(sh, startva, resoff, n, true)
 }
 
-func elfwritenetbsdsig() int {
+func elfwritenetbsdsig(out *OutBuf) int {
 	// Write Elf_Note header.
-	sh := elfwritenotehdr(".note.netbsd.ident", ELF_NOTE_NETBSD_NAMESZ, ELF_NOTE_NETBSD_DESCSZ, ELF_NOTE_NETBSD_TAG)
+	sh := elfwritenotehdr(out, ".note.netbsd.ident", ELF_NOTE_NETBSD_NAMESZ, ELF_NOTE_NETBSD_DESCSZ, ELF_NOTE_NETBSD_TAG)
 
 	if sh == nil {
 		return 0
 	}
 
 	// Followed by NetBSD string and version.
-	Cwrite(ELF_NOTE_NETBSD_NAME)
-	Cput(0)
-
-	Thearch.Lput(ELF_NOTE_NETBSD_VERSION)
+	out.Write(ELF_NOTE_NETBSD_NAME)
+	out.Write8(0)
+	out.Write32(ELF_NOTE_NETBSD_VERSION)
 
 	return int(sh.size)
 }
@@ -1300,18 +1299,18 @@ func elfopenbsdsig(sh *ElfShdr, startva uint64, resoff uint64) int {
 	return elfnote(sh, startva, resoff, n, true)
 }
 
-func elfwriteopenbsdsig() int {
+func elfwriteopenbsdsig(out *OutBuf) int {
 	// Write Elf_Note header.
-	sh := elfwritenotehdr(".note.openbsd.ident", ELF_NOTE_OPENBSD_NAMESZ, ELF_NOTE_OPENBSD_DESCSZ, ELF_NOTE_OPENBSD_TAG)
+	sh := elfwritenotehdr(out, ".note.openbsd.ident", ELF_NOTE_OPENBSD_NAMESZ, ELF_NOTE_OPENBSD_DESCSZ, ELF_NOTE_OPENBSD_TAG)
 
 	if sh == nil {
 		return 0
 	}
 
 	// Followed by OpenBSD string and version.
-	Cwrite(ELF_NOTE_OPENBSD_NAME)
+	out.Write(ELF_NOTE_OPENBSD_NAME)
 
-	Thearch.Lput(ELF_NOTE_OPENBSD_VERSION)
+	out.Write32(ELF_NOTE_OPENBSD_VERSION)
 
 	return int(sh.size)
 }
@@ -1361,30 +1360,30 @@ func elfgobuildid(sh *ElfShdr, startva uint64, resoff uint64) int {
 	return elfnote(sh, startva, resoff, n, true)
 }
 
-func elfwritebuildinfo() int {
-	sh := elfwritenotehdr(".note.gnu.build-id", ELF_NOTE_BUILDINFO_NAMESZ, uint32(len(buildinfo)), ELF_NOTE_BUILDINFO_TAG)
+func elfwritebuildinfo(out *OutBuf) int {
+	sh := elfwritenotehdr(out, ".note.gnu.build-id", ELF_NOTE_BUILDINFO_NAMESZ, uint32(len(buildinfo)), ELF_NOTE_BUILDINFO_TAG)
 	if sh == nil {
 		return 0
 	}
 
-	Cwrite(ELF_NOTE_BUILDINFO_NAME)
-	Cwrite(buildinfo)
+	out.Write(ELF_NOTE_BUILDINFO_NAME)
+	out.Write(buildinfo)
 	var zero = make([]byte, 4)
-	Cwrite(zero[:int(Rnd(int64(len(buildinfo)), 4)-int64(len(buildinfo)))])
+	out.Write(zero[:int(Rnd(int64(len(buildinfo)), 4)-int64(len(buildinfo)))])
 
 	return int(sh.size)
 }
 
-func elfwritegobuildid() int {
-	sh := elfwritenotehdr(".note.go.buildid", uint32(len(ELF_NOTE_GO_NAME)), uint32(len(*flagBuildid)), ELF_NOTE_GOBUILDID_TAG)
+func elfwritegobuildid(out *OutBuf) int {
+	sh := elfwritenotehdr(out, ".note.go.buildid", uint32(len(ELF_NOTE_GO_NAME)), uint32(len(*flagBuildid)), ELF_NOTE_GOBUILDID_TAG)
 	if sh == nil {
 		return 0
 	}
 
-	Cwrite(ELF_NOTE_GO_NAME)
-	Cwrite([]byte(*flagBuildid))
+	out.Write(ELF_NOTE_GO_NAME)
+	out.Write([]byte(*flagBuildid))
 	var zero = make([]byte, 4)
-	Cwrite(zero[:int(Rnd(int64(len(*flagBuildid)), 4)-int64(len(*flagBuildid)))])
+	out.Write(zero[:int(Rnd(int64(len(*flagBuildid)), 4)-int64(len(*flagBuildid)))])
 
 	return int(sh.size)
 }
@@ -1766,7 +1765,7 @@ func elfrelocsect(ctxt *Link, sect *Section, syms []*Symbol) {
 		return
 	}
 
-	sect.Reloff = uint64(coutbuf.Offset())
+	sect.Reloff = uint64(ctxt.Out.Offset())
 	for i, s := range syms {
 		if !s.Attr.Reachable() {
 			continue
@@ -1806,12 +1805,12 @@ func elfrelocsect(ctxt *Link, sect *Section, syms []*Symbol) {
 		}
 	}
 
-	sect.Rellen = uint64(coutbuf.Offset()) - sect.Reloff
+	sect.Rellen = uint64(ctxt.Out.Offset()) - sect.Reloff
 }
 
 func Elfemitreloc(ctxt *Link) {
-	for coutbuf.Offset()&7 != 0 {
-		Cput(0)
+	for ctxt.Out.Offset()&7 != 0 {
+		ctxt.Out.Write8(0)
 	}
 
 	for _, sect := range Segtext.Sections {
@@ -2655,26 +2654,26 @@ elfobj:
 		pph.memsz = pph.filesz
 	}
 
-	Cseek(0)
+	ctxt.Out.SeekSet(0)
 	a := int64(0)
-	a += int64(elfwritehdr())
-	a += int64(elfwritephdrs())
-	a += int64(elfwriteshdrs())
+	a += int64(elfwritehdr(ctxt.Out))
+	a += int64(elfwritephdrs(ctxt.Out))
+	a += int64(elfwriteshdrs(ctxt.Out))
 	if !*FlagD {
-		a += int64(elfwriteinterp())
+		a += int64(elfwriteinterp(ctxt.Out))
 	}
 	if Linkmode != LinkExternal {
 		if Headtype == objabi.Hnetbsd {
-			a += int64(elfwritenetbsdsig())
+			a += int64(elfwritenetbsdsig(ctxt.Out))
 		}
 		if Headtype == objabi.Hopenbsd {
-			a += int64(elfwriteopenbsdsig())
+			a += int64(elfwriteopenbsdsig(ctxt.Out))
 		}
 		if len(buildinfo) > 0 {
-			a += int64(elfwritebuildinfo())
+			a += int64(elfwritebuildinfo(ctxt.Out))
 		}
 		if *flagBuildid != "" {
-			a += int64(elfwritegobuildid())
+			a += int64(elfwritegobuildid(ctxt.Out))
 		}
 	}
 
diff --git a/src/cmd/link/internal/ld/lib.go b/src/cmd/link/internal/ld/lib.go
index d72905058d..232ffeb240 100644
--- a/src/cmd/link/internal/ld/lib.go
+++ b/src/cmd/link/internal/ld/lib.go
@@ -105,14 +105,8 @@ type Arch struct {
 	Elfreloc1        func(*Link, *Reloc, int64) bool
 	Elfsetupplt      func(*Link)
 	Gentext          func(*Link)
-	Machoreloc1      func(*sys.Arch, *Symbol, *Reloc, int64) bool
-	PEreloc1         func(*sys.Arch, *Symbol, *Reloc, int64) bool
-	Wput             func(uint16)
-	Lput             func(uint32)
-	Vput             func(uint64)
-	Append16         func(b []byte, v uint16) []byte
-	Append32         func(b []byte, v uint32) []byte
-	Append64         func(b []byte, v uint64) []byte
+	Machoreloc1      func(*sys.Arch, *OutBuf, *Symbol, *Reloc, int64) bool
+	PEreloc1         func(*sys.Arch, *OutBuf, *Symbol, *Reloc, int64) bool
 
 	// TLSIEtoLE converts a TLS Initial Executable relocation to
 	// a TLS Local Executable relocation.
@@ -220,31 +214,6 @@ const (
 	Pkgdef
 )
 
-// TODO(dfc) outBuf duplicates bio.Writer
-type outBuf struct {
-	w   *bufio.Writer
-	f   *os.File
-	off int64
-}
-
-func (w *outBuf) Write(p []byte) (n int, err error) {
-	n, err = w.w.Write(p)
-	w.off += int64(n)
-	return n, err
-}
-
-func (w *outBuf) WriteString(s string) (n int, err error) {
-	n, err = coutbuf.w.WriteString(s)
-	w.off += int64(n)
-	return n, err
-}
-
-func (w *outBuf) Offset() int64 {
-	return w.off
-}
-
-var coutbuf outBuf
-
 const pkgdef = "__.PKGDEF"
 
 var (
@@ -297,8 +266,8 @@ func libinit(ctxt *Link) {
 		Exitf("cannot create %s: %v", *flagOutfile, err)
 	}
 
-	coutbuf.w = bufio.NewWriter(f)
-	coutbuf.f = f
+	ctxt.Out.w = bufio.NewWriter(f)
+	ctxt.Out.f = f
 
 	if *flagEntrySymbol == "" {
 		switch Buildmode {
@@ -315,23 +284,9 @@ func libinit(ctxt *Link) {
 }
 
 func errorexit() {
-	if coutbuf.f != nil {
-		if nerrors != 0 {
-			Cflush()
-		}
-		// For rmtemp run at atexit time on Windows.
-		if err := coutbuf.f.Close(); err != nil {
-			Exitf("close: %v", err)
-		}
-	}
-
 	if nerrors != 0 {
-		if coutbuf.f != nil {
-			mayberemoveoutfile()
-		}
 		Exit(2)
 	}
-
 	Exit(0)
 }
 
@@ -606,7 +561,7 @@ func (ctxt *Link) loadlib() {
 			}
 		}
 	} else {
-		hostlinksetup()
+		hostlinksetup(ctxt)
 	}
 
 	// We've loaded all the code now.
@@ -934,7 +889,7 @@ func rmtemp() {
 	os.RemoveAll(*flagTmpdir)
 }
 
-func hostlinksetup() {
+func hostlinksetup(ctxt *Link) {
 	if Linkmode != LinkExternal {
 		return
 	}
@@ -956,7 +911,7 @@ func hostlinksetup() {
 	}
 
 	// change our output to temporary object file
-	coutbuf.f.Close()
+	ctxt.Out.f.Close()
 	mayberemoveoutfile()
 
 	p := filepath.Join(*flagTmpdir, "go.o")
@@ -966,8 +921,9 @@ func hostlinksetup() {
 		Exitf("cannot create %s: %v", p, err)
 	}
 
-	coutbuf.w = bufio.NewWriter(f)
-	coutbuf.f = f
+	ctxt.Out.w = bufio.NewWriter(f)
+	ctxt.Out.f = f
+	ctxt.Out.off = 0
 }
 
 // hostobjCopy creates a copy of the object files in hostobj in a
@@ -1048,11 +1004,11 @@ func (ctxt *Link) archive() {
 
 	// Force the buffer to flush here so that external
 	// tools will see a complete file.
-	Cflush()
-	if err := coutbuf.f.Close(); err != nil {
+	ctxt.Out.Flush()
+	if err := ctxt.Out.f.Close(); err != nil {
 		Exitf("close: %v", err)
 	}
-	coutbuf.f = nil
+	ctxt.Out.f = nil
 
 	argv := []string{*flagExtar, "-q", "-c", "-s", *flagOutfile}
 	argv = append(argv, filepath.Join(*flagTmpdir, "go.o"))
@@ -1907,36 +1863,6 @@ func stkprint(ctxt *Link, ch *chain, limit int) {
 	}
 }
 
-func Cflush() {
-	if err := coutbuf.w.Flush(); err != nil {
-		Exitf("flushing %s: %v", coutbuf.f.Name(), err)
-	}
-}
-
-func Cseek(p int64) {
-	if p == coutbuf.off {
-		return
-	}
-	Cflush()
-	if _, err := coutbuf.f.Seek(p, 0); err != nil {
-		Exitf("seeking in output [0, 1]: %v", err)
-	}
-	coutbuf.off = p
-}
-
-func Cwritestring(s string) {
-	coutbuf.WriteString(s)
-}
-
-func Cwrite(p []byte) {
-	coutbuf.Write(p)
-}
-
-func Cput(c uint8) {
-	coutbuf.w.WriteByte(c)
-	coutbuf.off++
-}
-
 func usage() {
 	fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "usage: link [options] main.o\n")
 	objabi.Flagprint(2)
diff --git a/src/cmd/link/internal/ld/link.go b/src/cmd/link/internal/ld/link.go
index 0b4f64fedf..de0d3846be 100644
--- a/src/cmd/link/internal/ld/link.go
+++ b/src/cmd/link/internal/ld/link.go
@@ -212,6 +212,8 @@ type Shlib struct {
 // Link holds the context for writing object code from a compiler
 // or for reading that input into the linker.
 type Link struct {
+	Out *OutBuf
+
 	Syms *Symbols
 
 	Arch      *sys.Arch
diff --git a/src/cmd/link/internal/ld/macho.go b/src/cmd/link/internal/ld/macho.go
index 87c2d4f89b..dcdb1d697e 100644
--- a/src/cmd/link/internal/ld/macho.go
+++ b/src/cmd/link/internal/ld/macho.go
@@ -229,8 +229,8 @@ var dylib []string
 
 var linkoff int64
 
-func machowrite(arch *sys.Arch) int {
-	o1 := coutbuf.Offset()
+func machowrite(arch *sys.Arch, out *OutBuf) int {
+	o1 := out.Offset()
 
 	loadsize := 4 * 4 * ndebug
 	for i := 0; i < len(load); i++ {
@@ -245,97 +245,97 @@ func machowrite(arch *sys.Arch) int {
 	}
 
 	if arch.PtrSize == 8 {
-		Thearch.Lput(MH_MAGIC_64)
+		out.Write32(MH_MAGIC_64)
 	} else {
-		Thearch.Lput(MH_MAGIC)
+		out.Write32(MH_MAGIC)
 	}
-	Thearch.Lput(machohdr.cpu)
-	Thearch.Lput(machohdr.subcpu)
+	out.Write32(machohdr.cpu)
+	out.Write32(machohdr.subcpu)
 	if Linkmode == LinkExternal {
-		Thearch.Lput(MH_OBJECT) /* file type - mach object */
+		out.Write32(MH_OBJECT) /* file type - mach object */
 	} else {
-		Thearch.Lput(MH_EXECUTE) /* file type - mach executable */
+		out.Write32(MH_EXECUTE) /* file type - mach executable */
 	}
-	Thearch.Lput(uint32(len(load)) + uint32(nseg) + uint32(ndebug))
-	Thearch.Lput(uint32(loadsize))
+	out.Write32(uint32(len(load)) + uint32(nseg) + uint32(ndebug))
+	out.Write32(uint32(loadsize))
 	if nkind[SymKindUndef] == 0 {
-		Thearch.Lput(MH_NOUNDEFS) /* flags - no undefines */
+		out.Write32(MH_NOUNDEFS) /* flags - no undefines */
 	} else {
-		Thearch.Lput(0) /* flags */
+		out.Write32(0) /* flags */
 	}
 	if arch.PtrSize == 8 {
-		Thearch.Lput(0) /* reserved */
+		out.Write32(0) /* reserved */
 	}
 
 	for i := 0; i < nseg; i++ {
 		s := &seg[i]
 		if arch.PtrSize == 8 {
-			Thearch.Lput(LC_SEGMENT_64)
-			Thearch.Lput(72 + 80*s.nsect)
-			strnput(s.name, 16)
-			Thearch.Vput(s.vaddr)
-			Thearch.Vput(s.vsize)
-			Thearch.Vput(s.fileoffset)
-			Thearch.Vput(s.filesize)
-			Thearch.Lput(s.prot1)
-			Thearch.Lput(s.prot2)
-			Thearch.Lput(s.nsect)
-			Thearch.Lput(s.flag)
+			out.Write32(LC_SEGMENT_64)
+			out.Write32(72 + 80*s.nsect)
+			out.WriteStringN(s.name, 16)
+			out.Write64(s.vaddr)
+			out.Write64(s.vsize)
+			out.Write64(s.fileoffset)
+			out.Write64(s.filesize)
+			out.Write32(s.prot1)
+			out.Write32(s.prot2)
+			out.Write32(s.nsect)
+			out.Write32(s.flag)
 		} else {
-			Thearch.Lput(LC_SEGMENT)
-			Thearch.Lput(56 + 68*s.nsect)
-			strnput(s.name, 16)
-			Thearch.Lput(uint32(s.vaddr))
-			Thearch.Lput(uint32(s.vsize))
-			Thearch.Lput(uint32(s.fileoffset))
-			Thearch.Lput(uint32(s.filesize))
-			Thearch.Lput(s.prot1)
-			Thearch.Lput(s.prot2)
-			Thearch.Lput(s.nsect)
-			Thearch.Lput(s.flag)
+			out.Write32(LC_SEGMENT)
+			out.Write32(56 + 68*s.nsect)
+			out.WriteStringN(s.name, 16)
+			out.Write32(uint32(s.vaddr))
+			out.Write32(uint32(s.vsize))
+			out.Write32(uint32(s.fileoffset))
+			out.Write32(uint32(s.filesize))
+			out.Write32(s.prot1)
+			out.Write32(s.prot2)
+			out.Write32(s.nsect)
+			out.Write32(s.flag)
 		}
 
 		for j := uint32(0); j < s.nsect; j++ {
 			t := &s.sect[j]
 			if arch.PtrSize == 8 {
-				strnput(t.name, 16)
-				strnput(t.segname, 16)
-				Thearch.Vput(t.addr)
-				Thearch.Vput(t.size)
-				Thearch.Lput(t.off)
-				Thearch.Lput(t.align)
-				Thearch.Lput(t.reloc)
-				Thearch.Lput(t.nreloc)
-				Thearch.Lput(t.flag)
-				Thearch.Lput(t.res1) /* reserved */
-				Thearch.Lput(t.res2) /* reserved */
-				Thearch.Lput(0)      /* reserved */
+				out.WriteStringN(t.name, 16)
+				out.WriteStringN(t.segname, 16)
+				out.Write64(t.addr)
+				out.Write64(t.size)
+				out.Write32(t.off)
+				out.Write32(t.align)
+				out.Write32(t.reloc)
+				out.Write32(t.nreloc)
+				out.Write32(t.flag)
+				out.Write32(t.res1) /* reserved */
+				out.Write32(t.res2) /* reserved */
+				out.Write32(0)      /* reserved */
 			} else {
-				strnput(t.name, 16)
-				strnput(t.segname, 16)
-				Thearch.Lput(uint32(t.addr))
-				Thearch.Lput(uint32(t.size))
-				Thearch.Lput(t.off)
-				Thearch.Lput(t.align)
-				Thearch.Lput(t.reloc)
-				Thearch.Lput(t.nreloc)
-				Thearch.Lput(t.flag)
-				Thearch.Lput(t.res1) /* reserved */
-				Thearch.Lput(t.res2) /* reserved */
+				out.WriteStringN(t.name, 16)
+				out.WriteStringN(t.segname, 16)
+				out.Write32(uint32(t.addr))
+				out.Write32(uint32(t.size))
+				out.Write32(t.off)
+				out.Write32(t.align)
+				out.Write32(t.reloc)
+				out.Write32(t.nreloc)
+				out.Write32(t.flag)
+				out.Write32(t.res1) /* reserved */
+				out.Write32(t.res2) /* reserved */
 			}
 		}
 	}
 
 	for i := 0; i < len(load); i++ {
 		l := &load[i]
-		Thearch.Lput(l.type_)
-		Thearch.Lput(4 * (uint32(len(l.data)) + 2))
+		out.Write32(l.type_)
+		out.Write32(4 * (uint32(len(l.data)) + 2))
 		for j := 0; j < len(l.data); j++ {
-			Thearch.Lput(l.data[j])
+			out.Write32(l.data[j])
 		}
 	}
 
-	return int(coutbuf.Offset() - o1)
+	return int(out.Offset() - o1)
 }
 
 func (ctxt *Link) domacho() {
@@ -641,7 +641,7 @@ func Asmbmacho(ctxt *Link) {
 		ml.data[1] = 10<<16 | 7<<8 | 0<<0 // SDK 10.7.0
 	}
 
-	a := machowrite(ctxt.Arch)
+	a := machowrite(ctxt.Arch, ctxt.Out)
 	if int32(a) > HEADR {
 		Exitf("HEADR too small: %d > %d", a, HEADR)
 	}
@@ -878,12 +878,12 @@ func Domacholink(ctxt *Link) int64 {
 
 	if size > 0 {
 		linkoff = Rnd(int64(uint64(HEADR)+Segtext.Length), int64(*FlagRound)) + Rnd(int64(Segdata.Filelen), int64(*FlagRound)) + Rnd(int64(Segdwarf.Filelen), int64(*FlagRound))
-		Cseek(linkoff)
+		ctxt.Out.SeekSet(linkoff)
 
-		Cwrite(s1.P[:s1.Size])
-		Cwrite(s2.P[:s2.Size])
-		Cwrite(s3.P[:s3.Size])
-		Cwrite(s4.P[:s4.Size])
+		ctxt.Out.Write(s1.P[:s1.Size])
+		ctxt.Out.Write(s2.P[:s2.Size])
+		ctxt.Out.Write(s3.P[:s3.Size])
+		ctxt.Out.Write(s4.P[:s4.Size])
 	}
 
 	return Rnd(int64(size), int64(*FlagRound))
@@ -895,7 +895,7 @@ func machorelocsect(ctxt *Link, sect *Section, syms []*Symbol) {
 		return
 	}
 
-	sect.Reloff = uint64(coutbuf.Offset())
+	sect.Reloff = uint64(ctxt.Out.Offset())
 	for i, s := range syms {
 		if !s.Attr.Reachable() {
 			continue
@@ -926,18 +926,18 @@ func machorelocsect(ctxt *Link, sect *Section, syms []*Symbol) {
 			if !r.Xsym.Attr.Reachable() {
 				Errorf(sym, "unreachable reloc %d (%s) target %v", r.Type, RelocName(ctxt.Arch, r.Type), r.Xsym.Name)
 			}
-			if !Thearch.Machoreloc1(ctxt.Arch, sym, r, int64(uint64(sym.Value+int64(r.Off))-sect.Vaddr)) {
+			if !Thearch.Machoreloc1(ctxt.Arch, ctxt.Out, sym, r, int64(uint64(sym.Value+int64(r.Off))-sect.Vaddr)) {
 				Errorf(sym, "unsupported obj reloc %d (%s)/%d to %s", r.Type, RelocName(ctxt.Arch, r.Type), r.Siz, r.Sym.Name)
 			}
 		}
 	}
 
-	sect.Rellen = uint64(coutbuf.Offset()) - sect.Reloff
+	sect.Rellen = uint64(ctxt.Out.Offset()) - sect.Reloff
 }
 
 func Machoemitreloc(ctxt *Link) {
-	for coutbuf.Offset()&7 != 0 {
-		Cput(0)
+	for ctxt.Out.Offset()&7 != 0 {
+		ctxt.Out.Write8(0)
 	}
 
 	machorelocsect(ctxt, Segtext.Sections[0], ctxt.Textp)
diff --git a/src/cmd/link/internal/ld/outbuf.go b/src/cmd/link/internal/ld/outbuf.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..580435ad04
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/cmd/link/internal/ld/outbuf.go
@@ -0,0 +1,120 @@
+// Copyright 2017 The Go Authors. All rights reserved.
+// Use of this source code is governed by a BSD-style
+// license that can be found in the LICENSE file.
+
+package ld
+
+import (
+	"bufio"
+	"cmd/internal/sys"
+	"encoding/binary"
+	"os"
+)
+
+// OutBuf is a buffered file writer.
+//
+// It is simlar to the Writer in cmd/internal/bio with a few small differences.
+//
+// First, it tracks the output architecture and uses it to provide
+// endian helpers.
+//
+// Second, it provides a very cheap offset counter that doesn't require
+// any system calls to read the value.
+type OutBuf struct {
+	arch   *sys.Arch
+	off    int64
+	w      *bufio.Writer
+	f      *os.File
+	encbuf [8]byte // temp buffer used by WriteN methods
+}
+
+func (out *OutBuf) SeekSet(p int64) {
+	if p == out.off {
+		return
+	}
+	out.Flush()
+	if _, err := out.f.Seek(p, 0); err != nil {
+		Exitf("seeking to %d in %s: %v", p, out.f.Name(), err)
+	}
+	out.off = p
+}
+
+func (out *OutBuf) Offset() int64 {
+	return out.off
+}
+
+// Write writes the contents of v to the buffer.
+//
+// As Write is backed by a bufio.Writer, callers do not have
+// to explicitly handle the returned error as long as Flush is
+// eventually called.
+func (out *OutBuf) Write(v []byte) (int, error) {
+	n, err := out.w.Write(v)
+	out.off += int64(n)
+	return n, err
+}
+
+func (out *OutBuf) Write8(v uint8) {
+	if err := out.w.WriteByte(v); err == nil {
+		out.off++
+	}
+}
+
+func (out *OutBuf) Write16(v uint16) {
+	out.arch.ByteOrder.PutUint16(out.encbuf[:], v)
+	out.Write(out.encbuf[:2])
+}
+
+func (out *OutBuf) Write32(v uint32) {
+	out.arch.ByteOrder.PutUint32(out.encbuf[:], v)
+	out.Write(out.encbuf[:4])
+}
+
+func (out *OutBuf) Write32b(v uint32) {
+	binary.BigEndian.PutUint32(out.encbuf[:], v)
+	out.Write(out.encbuf[:4])
+}
+
+func (out *OutBuf) Write64(v uint64) {
+	out.arch.ByteOrder.PutUint64(out.encbuf[:], v)
+	out.Write(out.encbuf[:8])
+}
+
+func (out *OutBuf) Write64b(v uint64) {
+	binary.BigEndian.PutUint64(out.encbuf[:], v)
+	out.Write(out.encbuf[:8])
+}
+
+func (out *OutBuf) WriteString(s string) {
+	n, _ := out.w.WriteString(s)
+	out.off += int64(n)
+}
+
+// WriteStringN writes the first n bytes of s.
+// If n is larger than len(s) then it is padded with zero bytes.
+func (out *OutBuf) WriteStringN(s string, n int) {
+	out.WriteStringPad(s, n, zeros[:])
+}
+
+// WriteStringPad writes the first n bytes of s.
+// If n is larger than len(s) then it is padded with the bytes in pad (repeated as needed).
+func (out *OutBuf) WriteStringPad(s string, n int, pad []byte) {
+	if len(s) >= n {
+		out.WriteString(s[:n])
+	} else {
+		out.WriteString(s)
+		n -= len(s)
+		for n > len(pad) {
+			out.Write(pad)
+			n -= len(pad)
+
+		}
+		out.Write(pad[:n])
+	}
+}
+
+func (out *OutBuf) Flush() {
+	if err := out.w.Flush(); err != nil {
+		Exitf("flushing %s: %v", out.f.Name(), err)
+	}
+}
diff --git a/src/cmd/link/internal/ld/pe.go b/src/cmd/link/internal/ld/pe.go
index 78661fb4ea..7591437892 100644
--- a/src/cmd/link/internal/ld/pe.go
+++ b/src/cmd/link/internal/ld/pe.go
@@ -276,11 +276,11 @@ func (t *peStringTable) add(str string) int {
 }
 
 // write writes string table t into the output file.
-func (t *peStringTable) write() {
-	Lputl(uint32(t.size()))
+func (t *peStringTable) write(out *OutBuf) {
+	out.Write32(uint32(t.size()))
 	for _, s := range t.strings {
-		Cwritestring(s)
-		Cput(0)
+		out.WriteString(s)
+		out.Write8(0)
 	}
 }
 
@@ -322,12 +322,12 @@ func (sect *peSection) checkSegment(seg *Segment) {
 // pad adds zeros to the section sect. It writes as many bytes
 // as necessary to make section sect.SizeOfRawData bytes long.
 // It assumes that n bytes are already written to the file.
-func (sect *peSection) pad(n uint32) {
-	strnput("", int(sect.sizeOfRawData-n))
+func (sect *peSection) pad(out *OutBuf, n uint32) {
+	out.WriteStringN("", int(sect.sizeOfRawData-n))
 }
 
 // write writes COFF section sect into the output file.
-func (sect *peSection) write() error {
+func (sect *peSection) write(out *OutBuf) error {
 	h := pe.SectionHeader32{
 		VirtualSize:          sect.virtualSize,
 		SizeOfRawData:        sect.sizeOfRawData,
@@ -340,26 +340,26 @@ func (sect *peSection) write() error {
 		h.VirtualAddress = sect.virtualAddress
 	}
 	copy(h.Name[:], sect.shortName)
-	return binary.Write(&coutbuf, binary.LittleEndian, h)
+	return binary.Write(out, binary.LittleEndian, h)
 }
 
 // emitRelocations emits the relocation entries for the sect.
 // The actual relocations are emitted by relocfn.
 // This updates the corresponding PE section table entry
 // with the relocation offset and count.
-func (sect *peSection) emitRelocations(relocfn func() int) {
-	sect.pointerToRelocations = uint32(coutbuf.Offset())
+func (sect *peSection) emitRelocations(out *OutBuf, relocfn func() int) {
+	sect.pointerToRelocations = uint32(out.Offset())
 	// first entry: extended relocs
-	Lputl(0) // placeholder for number of relocation + 1
-	Lputl(0)
-	Wputl(0)
+	out.Write32(0) // placeholder for number of relocation + 1
+	out.Write32(0)
+	out.Write16(0)
 
 	n := relocfn() + 1
 
-	cpos := coutbuf.Offset()
-	Cseek(int64(sect.pointerToRelocations))
-	Lputl(uint32(n))
-	Cseek(cpos)
+	cpos := out.Offset()
+	out.SeekSet(int64(sect.pointerToRelocations))
+	out.Write32(uint32(n))
+	out.SeekSet(cpos)
 	if n > 0x10000 {
 		n = 0x10000
 		sect.characteristics |= IMAGE_SCN_LNK_NRELOC_OVFL
@@ -459,24 +459,24 @@ func (f *peFile) addInitArray(ctxt *Link) *peSection {
 	sect := f.addSection(".ctors", size, size)
 	sect.characteristics = IMAGE_SCN_CNT_INITIALIZED_DATA | IMAGE_SCN_MEM_READ
 	sect.sizeOfRawData = uint32(size)
-	Cseek(int64(sect.pointerToRawData))
-	sect.checkOffset(coutbuf.Offset())
+	ctxt.Out.SeekSet(int64(sect.pointerToRawData))
+	sect.checkOffset(ctxt.Out.Offset())
 
 	init_entry := ctxt.Syms.Lookup(*flagEntrySymbol, 0)
 	addr := uint64(init_entry.Value) - init_entry.Sect.Vaddr
 	switch objabi.GOARCH {
 	case "386":
-		Lputl(uint32(addr))
+		ctxt.Out.Write32(uint32(addr))
 	case "amd64":
-		Vputl(addr)
+		ctxt.Out.Write64(addr)
 	}
 	return sect
 }
 
 // emitRelocations emits relocation entries for go.o in external linking.
 func (f *peFile) emitRelocations(ctxt *Link) {
-	for coutbuf.Offset()&7 != 0 {
-		Cput(0)
+	for ctxt.Out.Offset()&7 != 0 {
+		ctxt.Out.Write8(0)
 	}
 
 	// relocsect relocates symbols from first in section sect, and returns
@@ -487,7 +487,7 @@ func (f *peFile) emitRelocations(ctxt *Link) {
 			return 0
 		}
 		relocs := 0
-		sect.Reloff = uint64(coutbuf.Offset())
+		sect.Reloff = uint64(ctxt.Out.Offset())
 		for i, s := range syms {
 			if !s.Attr.Reachable() {
 				continue
@@ -517,17 +517,17 @@ func (f *peFile) emitRelocations(ctxt *Link) {
 				if r.Xsym.Dynid < 0 {
 					Errorf(sym, "reloc %d to non-coff symbol %s (outer=%s) %d", r.Type, r.Sym.Name, r.Xsym.Name, r.Sym.Type)
 				}
-				if !Thearch.PEreloc1(ctxt.Arch, sym, r, int64(uint64(sym.Value+int64(r.Off))-base)) {
+				if !Thearch.PEreloc1(ctxt.Arch, ctxt.Out, sym, r, int64(uint64(sym.Value+int64(r.Off))-base)) {
 					Errorf(sym, "unsupported obj reloc %d/%d to %s", r.Type, r.Siz, r.Sym.Name)
 				}
 				relocs++
 			}
 		}
-		sect.Rellen = uint64(coutbuf.Offset()) - sect.Reloff
+		sect.Rellen = uint64(ctxt.Out.Offset()) - sect.Reloff
 		return relocs
 	}
 
-	f.textSect.emitRelocations(func() int {
+	f.textSect.emitRelocations(ctxt.Out, func() int {
 		n := relocsect(Segtext.Sections[0], ctxt.Textp, Segtext.Vaddr)
 		for _, sect := range Segtext.Sections[1:] {
 			n += relocsect(sect, datap, Segtext.Vaddr)
@@ -535,7 +535,7 @@ func (f *peFile) emitRelocations(ctxt *Link) {
 		return n
 	})
 
-	f.dataSect.emitRelocations(func() int {
+	f.dataSect.emitRelocations(ctxt.Out, func() int {
 		var n int
 		for _, sect := range Segdata.Sections {
 			n += relocsect(sect, datap, Segdata.Vaddr)
@@ -547,7 +547,7 @@ dwarfLoop:
 	for _, sect := range Segdwarf.Sections {
 		for _, pesect := range f.sections {
 			if sect.Name == pesect.name {
-				pesect.emitRelocations(func() int {
+				pesect.emitRelocations(ctxt.Out, func() int {
 					return relocsect(sect, dwarfp, sect.Vaddr)
 				})
 				continue dwarfLoop
@@ -556,17 +556,17 @@ dwarfLoop:
 		Errorf(nil, "emitRelocations: could not find %q section", sect.Name)
 	}
 
-	f.ctorsSect.emitRelocations(func() int {
+	f.ctorsSect.emitRelocations(ctxt.Out, func() int {
 		dottext := ctxt.Syms.Lookup(".text", 0)
-		Lputl(0)
-		Lputl(uint32(dottext.Dynid))
+		ctxt.Out.Write32(0)
+		ctxt.Out.Write32(uint32(dottext.Dynid))
 		switch objabi.GOARCH {
 		default:
 			Errorf(dottext, "unknown architecture for PE: %q\n", objabi.GOARCH)
 		case "386":
-			Wputl(IMAGE_REL_I386_DIR32)
+			ctxt.Out.Write16(IMAGE_REL_I386_DIR32)
 		case "amd64":
-			Wputl(IMAGE_REL_AMD64_ADDR64)
+			ctxt.Out.Write16(IMAGE_REL_AMD64_ADDR64)
 		}
 		return 1
 	})
@@ -574,18 +574,18 @@ dwarfLoop:
 
 // writeSymbol appends symbol s to file f symbol table.
 // It also sets s.Dynid to written symbol number.
-func (f *peFile) writeSymbol(s *Symbol, value int64, sectidx int, typ uint16, class uint8) {
+func (f *peFile) writeSymbol(out *OutBuf, s *Symbol, value int64, sectidx int, typ uint16, class uint8) {
 	if len(s.Name) > 8 {
-		Lputl(0)
-		Lputl(uint32(f.stringTable.add(s.Name)))
+		out.Write32(0)
+		out.Write32(uint32(f.stringTable.add(s.Name)))
 	} else {
-		strnput(s.Name, 8)
+		out.WriteStringN(s.Name, 8)
 	}
-	Lputl(uint32(value))
-	Wputl(uint16(sectidx))
-	Wputl(typ)
-	Cput(class)
-	Cput(0) // no aux entries
+	out.Write32(uint32(value))
+	out.Write16(uint16(sectidx))
+	out.Write16(typ)
+	out.Write8(class)
+	out.Write8(0) // no aux entries
 
 	s.Dynid = int32(f.symbolCount)
 
@@ -662,7 +662,7 @@ func (f *peFile) writeSymbols(ctxt *Link) {
 		if s.Version != 0 || (s.Type&SHIDDEN != 0) || s.Attr.Local() {
 			class = IMAGE_SYM_CLASS_STATIC
 		}
-		f.writeSymbol(s, value, sect, typ, uint8(class))
+		f.writeSymbol(ctxt.Out, s, value, sect, typ, uint8(class))
 	}
 
 	if Linkmode == LinkExternal {
@@ -670,7 +670,7 @@ func (f *peFile) writeSymbols(ctxt *Link) {
 		// .ctors and .debug_* section relocations refer to it.
 		for _, pesect := range f.sections {
 			sym := ctxt.Syms.Lookup(pesect.name, 0)
-			f.writeSymbol(sym, 0, pesect.index, IMAGE_SYM_TYPE_NULL, IMAGE_SYM_CLASS_STATIC)
+			f.writeSymbol(ctxt.Out, sym, 0, pesect.index, IMAGE_SYM_TYPE_NULL, IMAGE_SYM_CLASS_STATIC)
 		}
 	}
 
@@ -679,7 +679,7 @@ func (f *peFile) writeSymbols(ctxt *Link) {
 
 // writeSymbolTableAndStringTable writes out symbol and string tables for peFile f.
 func (f *peFile) writeSymbolTableAndStringTable(ctxt *Link) {
-	f.symtabOffset = coutbuf.Offset()
+	f.symtabOffset = ctxt.Out.Offset()
 
 	// write COFF symbol table
 	if !*FlagS || Linkmode == LinkExternal {
@@ -698,14 +698,14 @@ func (f *peFile) writeSymbolTableAndStringTable(ctxt *Link) {
 	}
 
 	// write COFF string table
-	f.stringTable.write()
+	f.stringTable.write(ctxt.Out)
 	if Linkmode != LinkExternal {
-		h.pad(uint32(size))
+		h.pad(ctxt.Out, uint32(size))
 	}
 }
 
 // writeFileHeader writes COFF file header for peFile f.
-func (f *peFile) writeFileHeader(arch *sys.Arch) {
+func (f *peFile) writeFileHeader(arch *sys.Arch, out *OutBuf) {
 	var fh pe.FileHeader
 
 	switch arch.Family {
@@ -741,7 +741,7 @@ func (f *peFile) writeFileHeader(arch *sys.Arch) {
 	fh.PointerToSymbolTable = uint32(f.symtabOffset)
 	fh.NumberOfSymbols = uint32(f.symbolCount)
 
-	binary.Write(&coutbuf, binary.LittleEndian, &fh)
+	binary.Write(out, binary.LittleEndian, &fh)
 }
 
 // writeOptionalHeader writes COFF optional header for peFile f.
@@ -854,9 +854,9 @@ func (f *peFile) writeOptionalHeader(ctxt *Link) {
 	}
 
 	if pe64 != 0 {
-		binary.Write(&coutbuf, binary.LittleEndian, &oh64)
+		binary.Write(ctxt.Out, binary.LittleEndian, &oh64)
 	} else {
-		binary.Write(&coutbuf, binary.LittleEndian, &oh)
+		binary.Write(ctxt.Out, binary.LittleEndian, &oh)
 	}
 }
 
@@ -917,27 +917,27 @@ func Peinit(ctxt *Link) {
 }
 
 func pewrite(ctxt *Link) {
-	Cseek(0)
+	ctxt.Out.SeekSet(0)
 	if Linkmode != LinkExternal {
-		Cwrite(dosstub)
-		strnput("PE", 4)
+		ctxt.Out.Write(dosstub)
+		ctxt.Out.WriteStringN("PE", 4)
 	}
 
-	pefile.writeFileHeader(ctxt.Arch)
+	pefile.writeFileHeader(ctxt.Arch, ctxt.Out)
 
 	pefile.writeOptionalHeader(ctxt)
 
 	for _, sect := range pefile.sections {
-		sect.write()
+		sect.write(ctxt.Out)
 	}
 }
 
-func strput(s string) {
-	coutbuf.WriteString(s)
-	Cput(0)
+func strput(out *OutBuf, s string) {
+	out.WriteString(s)
+	out.Write8(0)
 	// string must be padded to even size
 	if (len(s)+1)%2 != 0 {
-		Cput(0)
+		out.Write8(0)
 	}
 }
 
@@ -1039,7 +1039,7 @@ func peimporteddlls() []string {
 }
 
 func addimports(ctxt *Link, datsect *peSection) {
-	startoff := coutbuf.Offset()
+	startoff := ctxt.Out.Offset()
 	dynamic := ctxt.Syms.Lookup(".windynamic", 0)
 
 	// skip import descriptor table (will write it later)
@@ -1048,90 +1048,91 @@ func addimports(ctxt *Link, datsect *peSection) {
 	for d := dr; d != nil; d = d.next {
 		n++
 	}
-	Cseek(startoff + int64(binary.Size(&IMAGE_IMPORT_DESCRIPTOR{}))*int64(n+1))
+	ctxt.Out.SeekSet(startoff + int64(binary.Size(&IMAGE_IMPORT_DESCRIPTOR{}))*int64(n+1))
 
 	// write dll names
 	for d := dr; d != nil; d = d.next {
-		d.nameoff = uint64(coutbuf.Offset()) - uint64(startoff)
-		strput(d.name)
+		d.nameoff = uint64(ctxt.Out.Offset()) - uint64(startoff)
+		strput(ctxt.Out, d.name)
 	}
 
 	// write function names
 	var m *Imp
 	for d := dr; d != nil; d = d.next {
 		for m = d.ms; m != nil; m = m.next {
-			m.off = uint64(pefile.nextSectOffset) + uint64(coutbuf.Offset()) - uint64(startoff)
-			Wputl(0) // hint
-			strput(m.s.Extname)
+			m.off = uint64(pefile.nextSectOffset) + uint64(ctxt.Out.Offset()) - uint64(startoff)
+			ctxt.Out.Write16(0) // hint
+			strput(ctxt.Out, m.s.Extname)
 		}
 	}
 
 	// write OriginalFirstThunks
-	oftbase := uint64(coutbuf.Offset()) - uint64(startoff)
+	oftbase := uint64(ctxt.Out.Offset()) - uint64(startoff)
 
-	n = uint64(coutbuf.Offset())
+	n = uint64(ctxt.Out.Offset())
 	for d := dr; d != nil; d = d.next {
-		d.thunkoff = uint64(coutbuf.Offset()) - n
+		d.thunkoff = uint64(ctxt.Out.Offset()) - n
 		for m = d.ms; m != nil; m = m.next {
 			if pe64 != 0 {
-				Vputl(m.off)
+				ctxt.Out.Write64(m.off)
 			} else {
-				Lputl(uint32(m.off))
+				ctxt.Out.Write32(uint32(m.off))
 			}
 		}
 
 		if pe64 != 0 {
-			Vputl(0)
+			ctxt.Out.Write64(0)
 		} else {
-			Lputl(0)
+			ctxt.Out.Write32(0)
 		}
 	}
 
 	// add pe section and pad it at the end
-	n = uint64(coutbuf.Offset()) - uint64(startoff)
+	n = uint64(ctxt.Out.Offset()) - uint64(startoff)
 
 	isect := pefile.addSection(".idata", int(n), int(n))
 	isect.characteristics = IMAGE_SCN_CNT_INITIALIZED_DATA | IMAGE_SCN_MEM_READ | IMAGE_SCN_MEM_WRITE
 	isect.checkOffset(startoff)
-	isect.pad(uint32(n))
-	endoff := coutbuf.Offset()
+	isect.pad(ctxt.Out, uint32(n))
+	endoff := ctxt.Out.Offset()
 
 	// write FirstThunks (allocated in .data section)
 	ftbase := uint64(dynamic.Value) - uint64(datsect.virtualAddress) - PEBASE
 
-	Cseek(int64(uint64(datsect.pointerToRawData) + ftbase))
+	ctxt.Out.SeekSet(int64(uint64(datsect.pointerToRawData) + ftbase))
 	for d := dr; d != nil; d = d.next {
 		for m = d.ms; m != nil; m = m.next {
 			if pe64 != 0 {
-				Vputl(m.off)
+				ctxt.Out.Write64(m.off)
 			} else {
-				Lputl(uint32(m.off))
+				ctxt.Out.Write32(uint32(m.off))
 			}
 		}
 
 		if pe64 != 0 {
-			Vputl(0)
+			ctxt.Out.Write64(0)
 		} else {
-			Lputl(0)
+			ctxt.Out.Write32(0)
 		}
 	}
 
 	// finally write import descriptor table
-	Cseek(startoff)
+	out := ctxt.Out
+	out.SeekSet(startoff)
 
 	for d := dr; d != nil; d = d.next {
-		Lputl(uint32(uint64(isect.virtualAddress) + oftbase + d.thunkoff))
-		Lputl(0)
-		Lputl(0)
-		Lputl(uint32(uint64(isect.virtualAddress) + d.nameoff))
-		Lputl(uint32(uint64(datsect.virtualAddress) + ftbase + d.thunkoff))
+		out.Write32(uint32(uint64(isect.virtualAddress) + oftbase + d.thunkoff))
+		out.Write32(0)
+		out.Write32(0)
+		out.Write32(uint32(uint64(isect.virtualAddress) + d.nameoff))
+		out.Write32(uint32(uint64(datsect.virtualAddress) + ftbase + d.thunkoff))
 	}
 
-	Lputl(0) //end
-	Lputl(0)
-	Lputl(0)
-	Lputl(0)
-	Lputl(0)
+	out.Write32(0) //end
+	out.Write32(0)
+	out.Write32(0)
+	out.Write32(0)
+	out.Write32(0)
 
 	// update data directory
 	pefile.dataDirectory[IMAGE_DIRECTORY_ENTRY_IMPORT].VirtualAddress = isect.virtualAddress
@@ -1139,7 +1140,7 @@ func addimports(ctxt *Link, datsect *peSection) {
 	pefile.dataDirectory[IMAGE_DIRECTORY_ENTRY_IAT].VirtualAddress = uint32(dynamic.Value - PEBASE)
 	pefile.dataDirectory[IMAGE_DIRECTORY_ENTRY_IAT].Size = uint32(dynamic.Size)
 
-	Cseek(endoff)
+	out.SeekSet(endoff)
 }
 
 type byExtname []*Symbol
@@ -1180,7 +1181,7 @@ func addexports(ctxt *Link) {
 
 	sect := pefile.addSection(".edata", size, size)
 	sect.characteristics = IMAGE_SCN_CNT_INITIALIZED_DATA | IMAGE_SCN_MEM_READ
-	sect.checkOffset(coutbuf.Offset())
+	sect.checkOffset(ctxt.Out.Offset())
 	va := int(sect.virtualAddress)
 	pefile.dataDirectory[IMAGE_DIRECTORY_ENTRY_EXPORT].VirtualAddress = uint32(va)
 	pefile.dataDirectory[IMAGE_DIRECTORY_ENTRY_EXPORT].Size = sect.virtualSize
@@ -1200,34 +1201,36 @@ func addexports(ctxt *Link) {
 	e.AddressOfNames = uint32(vaName)
 	e.AddressOfNameOrdinals = uint32(vaNa)
 
+	out := ctxt.Out
+
 	// put IMAGE_EXPORT_DIRECTORY
-	binary.Write(&coutbuf, binary.LittleEndian, &e)
+	binary.Write(out, binary.LittleEndian, &e)
 
 	// put EXPORT Address Table
 	for i := 0; i < nexport; i++ {
-		Lputl(uint32(dexport[i].Value - PEBASE))
+		out.Write32(uint32(dexport[i].Value - PEBASE))
 	}
 
 	// put EXPORT Name Pointer Table
 	v := int(e.Name + uint32(len(*flagOutfile)) + 1)
 
 	for i := 0; i < nexport; i++ {
-		Lputl(uint32(v))
+		out.Write32(uint32(v))
 		v += len(dexport[i].Extname) + 1
 	}
 
 	// put EXPORT Ordinal Table
 	for i := 0; i < nexport; i++ {
-		Wputl(uint16(i))
+		out.Write16(uint16(i))
 	}
 
 	// put Names
-	strnput(*flagOutfile, len(*flagOutfile)+1)
+	out.WriteStringN(*flagOutfile, len(*flagOutfile)+1)
 
 	for i := 0; i < nexport; i++ {
-		strnput(dexport[i].Extname, len(dexport[i].Extname)+1)
+		out.WriteStringN(dexport[i].Extname, len(dexport[i].Extname)+1)
 	}
-	sect.pad(uint32(size))
+	sect.pad(out, uint32(size))
 }
 
 func (ctxt *Link) dope() {
@@ -1256,7 +1259,7 @@ func addpersrc(ctxt *Link) {
 
 	h := pefile.addSection(".rsrc", int(rsrcsym.Size), int(rsrcsym.Size))
 	h.characteristics = IMAGE_SCN_MEM_READ | IMAGE_SCN_MEM_WRITE | IMAGE_SCN_CNT_INITIALIZED_DATA
-	h.checkOffset(coutbuf.Offset())
+	h.checkOffset(ctxt.Out.Offset())
 
 	// relocation
 	var p []byte
@@ -1275,8 +1278,8 @@ func addpersrc(ctxt *Link) {
 		p[3] = byte(val >> 24)
 	}
 
-	Cwrite(rsrcsym.P)
-	h.pad(uint32(rsrcsym.Size))
+	ctxt.Out.Write(rsrcsym.P)
+	h.pad(ctxt.Out, uint32(rsrcsym.Size))
 
 	// update data directory
 	pefile.dataDirectory[IMAGE_DIRECTORY_ENTRY_RESOURCE].VirtualAddress = h.virtualAddress
@@ -1325,7 +1328,7 @@ func Asmbpe(ctxt *Link) {
 		pefile.ctorsSect = pefile.addInitArray(ctxt)
 	}
 
-	Cseek(int64(pefile.nextFileOffset))
+	ctxt.Out.SeekSet(int64(pefile.nextFileOffset))
 	if Linkmode != LinkExternal {
 		addimports(ctxt, d)
 		addexports(ctxt)
diff --git a/src/cmd/link/internal/ld/sym.go b/src/cmd/link/internal/ld/sym.go
index 6e239d79a5..0bb5841d72 100644
--- a/src/cmd/link/internal/ld/sym.go
+++ b/src/cmd/link/internal/ld/sym.go
@@ -47,6 +47,7 @@ func linknew(arch *sys.Arch) *Link {
 			},
 			Allsym: make([]*Symbol, 0, 100000),
 		},
+		Out:          &OutBuf{arch: arch},
 		Arch:         arch,
 		LibraryByPkg: make(map[string]*Library),
 	}
@@ -55,6 +56,13 @@ func linknew(arch *sys.Arch) *Link {
 		log.Fatalf("invalid objabi.GOARCH %s (want %s)", objabi.GOARCH, arch.Name)
 	}
 
+	AtExit(func() {
+		if nerrors > 0 && ctxt.Out.f != nil {
+			ctxt.Out.f.Close()
+			mayberemoveoutfile()
+		}
+	})
+
 	return ctxt
 }
 
diff --git a/src/cmd/link/internal/ld/symtab.go b/src/cmd/link/internal/ld/symtab.go
index 61f986904b..2fe7b6b278 100644
--- a/src/cmd/link/internal/ld/symtab.go
+++ b/src/cmd/link/internal/ld/symtab.go
@@ -52,22 +52,22 @@ func putelfstr(s string) int {
 	return off
 }
 
-func putelfsyment(off int, addr int64, size int64, info int, shndx int, other int) {
+func putelfsyment(out *OutBuf, off int, addr int64, size int64, info int, shndx int, other int) {
 	if elf64 {
-		Thearch.Lput(uint32(off))
-		Cput(uint8(info))
-		Cput(uint8(other))
-		Thearch.Wput(uint16(shndx))
-		Thearch.Vput(uint64(addr))
-		Thearch.Vput(uint64(size))
+		out.Write32(uint32(off))
+		out.Write8(uint8(info))
+		out.Write8(uint8(other))
+		out.Write16(uint16(shndx))
+		out.Write64(uint64(addr))
+		out.Write64(uint64(size))
 		Symsize += ELF64SYMSIZE
 	} else {
-		Thearch.Lput(uint32(off))
-		Thearch.Lput(uint32(addr))
-		Thearch.Lput(uint32(size))
-		Cput(uint8(info))
-		Cput(uint8(other))
-		Thearch.Wput(uint16(shndx))
+		out.Write32(uint32(off))
+		out.Write32(uint32(addr))
+		out.Write32(uint32(size))
+		out.Write8(uint8(info))
+		out.Write8(uint8(other))
+		out.Write16(uint16(shndx))
 		Symsize += ELF32SYMSIZE
 	}
 }
@@ -174,7 +174,7 @@ func putelfsym(ctxt *Link, x *Symbol, s string, t SymbolType, addr int64, go_ *S
 		// (*Symbol).ElfsymForReloc). This is approximately equivalent to the
 		// ELF linker -Bsymbolic-functions option, but that is buggy on
 		// several platforms.
-		putelfsyment(putelfstr("local."+s), addr, size, STB_LOCAL<<4|typ&0xf, elfshnum, other)
+		putelfsyment(ctxt.Out, putelfstr("local."+s), addr, size, STB_LOCAL<<4|typ&0xf, elfshnum, other)
 		x.LocalElfsym = int32(numelfsym)
 		numelfsym++
 		return
@@ -182,20 +182,20 @@ func putelfsym(ctxt *Link, x *Symbol, s string, t SymbolType, addr int64, go_ *S
 		return
 	}
 
-	putelfsyment(putelfstr(s), addr, size, bind<<4|typ&0xf, elfshnum, other)
+	putelfsyment(ctxt.Out, putelfstr(s), addr, size, bind<<4|typ&0xf, elfshnum, other)
 	x.Elfsym = int32(numelfsym)
 	numelfsym++
 }
 
-func putelfsectionsym(s *Symbol, shndx int) {
-	putelfsyment(0, 0, 0, STB_LOCAL<<4|STT_SECTION, shndx, 0)
+func putelfsectionsym(out *OutBuf, s *Symbol, shndx int) {
+	putelfsyment(out, 0, 0, 0, STB_LOCAL<<4|STT_SECTION, shndx, 0)
 	s.Elfsym = int32(numelfsym)
 	numelfsym++
 }
 
 func Asmelfsym(ctxt *Link) {
 	// the first symbol entry is reserved
-	putelfsyment(0, 0, 0, STB_LOCAL<<4|STT_NOTYPE, 0, 0)
+	putelfsyment(ctxt.Out, 0, 0, 0, STB_LOCAL<<4|STT_NOTYPE, 0, 0)
 
 	dwarfaddelfsectionsyms(ctxt)
 
@@ -203,7 +203,7 @@ func Asmelfsym(ctxt *Link) {
 	// Avoid having the working directory inserted into the symbol table.
 	// It is added with a name to avoid problems with external linking
 	// encountered on some versions of Solaris. See issue #14957.
-	putelfsyment(putelfstr("go.go"), 0, 0, STB_LOCAL<<4|STT_FILE, SHN_ABS, 0)
+	putelfsyment(ctxt.Out, putelfstr("go.go"), 0, 0, STB_LOCAL<<4|STT_FILE, SHN_ABS, 0)
 	numelfsym++
 
 	elfbind = STB_LOCAL
@@ -226,15 +226,15 @@ func putplan9sym(ctxt *Link, x *Symbol, s string, typ SymbolType, addr int64, go
 	case AutoSym, ParamSym, FrameSym:
 		l := 4
 		if Headtype == objabi.Hplan9 && ctxt.Arch.Family == sys.AMD64 && !Flag8 {
-			Lputb(uint32(addr >> 32))
+			ctxt.Out.Write32b(uint32(addr >> 32))
 			l = 8
 		}
 
-		Lputb(uint32(addr))
-		Cput(uint8(t + 0x80)) /* 0x80 is variable length */
+		ctxt.Out.Write32b(uint32(addr))
+		ctxt.Out.Write8(uint8(t + 0x80)) /* 0x80 is variable length */
 
-		Cwritestring(s)
-		Cput(0)
+		ctxt.Out.WriteString(s)
+		ctxt.Out.Write8(0)
 
 		Symsize += int32(l) + 1 + int32(len(s)) + 1
 
@@ -249,40 +249,6 @@ func Asmplan9sym(ctxt *Link) {
 
 var symt *Symbol
 
-var encbuf [10]byte
-
-func Wputb(w uint16) { Cwrite(Append16b(encbuf[:0], w)) }
-func Lputb(l uint32) { Cwrite(Append32b(encbuf[:0], l)) }
-func Vputb(v uint64) { Cwrite(Append64b(encbuf[:0], v)) }
-
-func Wputl(w uint16) { Cwrite(Append16l(encbuf[:0], w)) }
-func Lputl(l uint32) { Cwrite(Append32l(encbuf[:0], l)) }
-func Vputl(v uint64) { Cwrite(Append64l(encbuf[:0], v)) }
-
-func Append16b(b []byte, v uint16) []byte {
-	return append(b, uint8(v>>8), uint8(v))
-}
-func Append16l(b []byte, v uint16) []byte {
-	return append(b, uint8(v), uint8(v>>8))
-}
-
-func Append32b(b []byte, v uint32) []byte {
-	return append(b, uint8(v>>24), uint8(v>>16), uint8(v>>8), uint8(v))
-}
-func Append32l(b []byte, v uint32) []byte {
-	return append(b, uint8(v), uint8(v>>8), uint8(v>>16), uint8(v>>24))
-}
-
-func Append64b(b []byte, v uint64) []byte {
-	return append(b, uint8(v>>56), uint8(v>>48), uint8(v>>40), uint8(v>>32),
-		uint8(v>>24), uint8(v>>16), uint8(v>>8), uint8(v))
-}
-
-func Append64l(b []byte, v uint64) []byte {
-	return append(b, uint8(v), uint8(v>>8), uint8(v>>16), uint8(v>>24),
-		uint8(v>>32), uint8(v>>40), uint8(v>>48), uint8(v>>56))
-}
-
 type byPkg []*Library
 
 func (libs byPkg) Len() int {
diff --git a/src/cmd/link/internal/ld/util.go b/src/cmd/link/internal/ld/util.go
index 4b726367e8..85a0e2e4be 100644
--- a/src/cmd/link/internal/ld/util.go
+++ b/src/cmd/link/internal/ld/util.go
@@ -92,10 +92,7 @@ func Exit(code int) {
 // Exitf logs an error message then calls Exit(2).
 func Exitf(format string, a ...interface{}) {
 	fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, os.Args[0]+": "+format+"\n", a...)
-	if coutbuf.f != nil {
-		coutbuf.f.Close()
-		mayberemoveoutfile()
-	}
+	nerrors++
 	Exit(2)
 }
 
diff --git a/src/cmd/link/internal/mips/asm.go b/src/cmd/link/internal/mips/asm.go
index 8c7f744e70..2f5008f089 100644
--- a/src/cmd/link/internal/mips/asm.go
+++ b/src/cmd/link/internal/mips/asm.go
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ func adddynrel(ctxt *ld.Link, s *ld.Symbol, r *ld.Reloc) bool {
 }
 
 func elfreloc1(ctxt *ld.Link, r *ld.Reloc, sectoff int64) bool {
-	ld.Thearch.Lput(uint32(sectoff))
+	ctxt.Out.Write32(uint32(sectoff))
 
 	elfsym := r.Xsym.ElfsymForReloc()
 	switch r.Type {
@@ -58,15 +58,15 @@ func elfreloc1(ctxt *ld.Link, r *ld.Reloc, sectoff int64) bool {
 		if r.Siz != 4 {
 			return false
 		}
-		ld.Thearch.Lput(ld.R_MIPS_32 | uint32(elfsym)<<8)
+		ctxt.Out.Write32(ld.R_MIPS_32 | uint32(elfsym)<<8)
 	case objabi.R_ADDRMIPS:
-		ld.Thearch.Lput(ld.R_MIPS_LO16 | uint32(elfsym)<<8)
+		ctxt.Out.Write32(ld.R_MIPS_LO16 | uint32(elfsym)<<8)
 	case objabi.R_ADDRMIPSU:
-		ld.Thearch.Lput(ld.R_MIPS_HI16 | uint32(elfsym)<<8)
+		ctxt.Out.Write32(ld.R_MIPS_HI16 | uint32(elfsym)<<8)
 	case objabi.R_ADDRMIPSTLS:
-		ld.Thearch.Lput(ld.R_MIPS_TLS_TPREL_LO16 | uint32(elfsym)<<8)
+		ctxt.Out.Write32(ld.R_MIPS_TLS_TPREL_LO16 | uint32(elfsym)<<8)
 	case objabi.R_CALLMIPS, objabi.R_JMPMIPS:
-		ld.Thearch.Lput(ld.R_MIPS_26 | uint32(elfsym)<<8)
+		ctxt.Out.Write32(ld.R_MIPS_26 | uint32(elfsym)<<8)
 	}
 
 	return true
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ func elfsetupplt(ctxt *ld.Link) {
 	return
 }
 
-func machoreloc1(arch *sys.Arch, s *ld.Symbol, r *ld.Reloc, sectoff int64) bool {
+func machoreloc1(arch *sys.Arch, out *ld.OutBuf, s *ld.Symbol, r *ld.Reloc, sectoff int64) bool {
 	return false
 }
 
@@ -175,10 +175,10 @@ func asmb(ctxt *ld.Link) {
 	}
 
 	sect := ld.Segtext.Sections[0]
-	ld.Cseek(int64(sect.Vaddr - ld.Segtext.Vaddr + ld.Segtext.Fileoff))
+	ctxt.Out.SeekSet(int64(sect.Vaddr - ld.Segtext.Vaddr + ld.Segtext.Fileoff))
 	ld.Codeblk(ctxt, int64(sect.Vaddr), int64(sect.Length))
 	for _, sect = range ld.Segtext.Sections[1:] {
-		ld.Cseek(int64(sect.Vaddr - ld.Segtext.Vaddr + ld.Segtext.Fileoff))
+		ctxt.Out.SeekSet(int64(sect.Vaddr - ld.Segtext.Vaddr + ld.Segtext.Fileoff))
 		ld.Datblk(ctxt, int64(sect.Vaddr), int64(sect.Length))
 	}
 
@@ -187,7 +187,7 @@ func asmb(ctxt *ld.Link) {
 			ctxt.Logf("%5.2f rodatblk\n", ld.Cputime())
 		}
 
-		ld.Cseek(int64(ld.Segrodata.Fileoff))
+		ctxt.Out.SeekSet(int64(ld.Segrodata.Fileoff))
 		ld.Datblk(ctxt, int64(ld.Segrodata.Vaddr), int64(ld.Segrodata.Filelen))
 	}
 
@@ -195,10 +195,10 @@ func asmb(ctxt *ld.Link) {
 		ctxt.Logf("%5.2f datblk\n", ld.Cputime())
 	}
 
-	ld.Cseek(int64(ld.Segdata.Fileoff))
+	ctxt.Out.SeekSet(int64(ld.Segdata.Fileoff))
 	ld.Datblk(ctxt, int64(ld.Segdata.Vaddr), int64(ld.Segdata.Filelen))
 
-	ld.Cseek(int64(ld.Segdwarf.Fileoff))
+	ctxt.Out.SeekSet(int64(ld.Segdwarf.Fileoff))
 	ld.Dwarfblk(ctxt, int64(ld.Segdwarf.Vaddr), int64(ld.Segdwarf.Filelen))
 
 	/* output symbol table */
@@ -216,13 +216,13 @@ func asmb(ctxt *ld.Link) {
 		symo = uint32(ld.Segdwarf.Fileoff + ld.Segdwarf.Filelen)
 		symo = uint32(ld.Rnd(int64(symo), int64(*ld.FlagRound)))
 
-		ld.Cseek(int64(symo))
+		ctxt.Out.SeekSet(int64(symo))
 		if ctxt.Debugvlog != 0 {
 			ctxt.Logf("%5.2f elfsym\n", ld.Cputime())
 		}
 		ld.Asmelfsym(ctxt)
-		ld.Cflush()
-		ld.Cwrite(ld.Elfstrdat)
+		ctxt.Out.Flush()
+		ctxt.Out.Write(ld.Elfstrdat)
 
 		if ctxt.Debugvlog != 0 {
 			ctxt.Logf("%5.2f dwarf\n", ld.Cputime())
@@ -237,7 +237,7 @@ func asmb(ctxt *ld.Link) {
 		ctxt.Logf("%5.2f header\n", ld.Cputime())
 	}
 
-	ld.Cseek(0)
+	ctxt.Out.SeekSet(0)
 	switch ld.Headtype {
 	default:
 		ld.Errorf(nil, "unsupported operating system")
@@ -245,7 +245,7 @@ func asmb(ctxt *ld.Link) {
 		ld.Asmbelf(ctxt, int64(symo))
 	}
 
-	ld.Cflush()
+	ctxt.Out.Flush()
 	if *ld.FlagC {
 		fmt.Printf("textsize=%d\n", ld.Segtext.Filelen)
 		fmt.Printf("datsize=%d\n", ld.Segdata.Filelen)
diff --git a/src/cmd/link/internal/mips/obj.go b/src/cmd/link/internal/mips/obj.go
index 0bc7aff546..3a3aadf720 100644
--- a/src/cmd/link/internal/mips/obj.go
+++ b/src/cmd/link/internal/mips/obj.go
@@ -69,22 +69,6 @@ func Init() (*sys.Arch, ld.Arch) {
 		Solarisdynld:   "XXX",
 	}
 
-	if arch == sys.ArchMIPSLE {
-		theArch.Lput = ld.Lputl
-		theArch.Wput = ld.Wputl
-		theArch.Vput = ld.Vputl
-		theArch.Append16 = ld.Append16l
-		theArch.Append32 = ld.Append32l
-		theArch.Append64 = ld.Append64l
-	} else {
-		theArch.Lput = ld.Lputb
-		theArch.Wput = ld.Wputb
-		theArch.Vput = ld.Vputb
-		theArch.Append16 = ld.Append16b
-		theArch.Append32 = ld.Append32b
-		theArch.Append64 = ld.Append64b
-	}
-
 	return arch, theArch
 }
 
diff --git a/src/cmd/link/internal/mips64/asm.go b/src/cmd/link/internal/mips64/asm.go
index d7a70a84c5..c61421e10c 100644
--- a/src/cmd/link/internal/mips64/asm.go
+++ b/src/cmd/link/internal/mips64/asm.go
@@ -55,36 +55,36 @@ func elfreloc1(ctxt *ld.Link, r *ld.Reloc, sectoff int64) bool {
 	//		type	uint8
 	//		addend	int64
 
-	ld.Thearch.Vput(uint64(sectoff))
+	ctxt.Out.Write64(uint64(sectoff))
 
 	elfsym := r.Xsym.ElfsymForReloc()
-	ld.Thearch.Lput(uint32(elfsym))
-	ld.Cput(0)
-	ld.Cput(0)
-	ld.Cput(0)
+	ctxt.Out.Write32(uint32(elfsym))
+	ctxt.Out.Write8(0)
+	ctxt.Out.Write8(0)
+	ctxt.Out.Write8(0)
 	switch r.Type {
 	default:
 		return false
 	case objabi.R_ADDR:
 		switch r.Siz {
 		case 4:
-			ld.Cput(ld.R_MIPS_32)
+			ctxt.Out.Write8(ld.R_MIPS_32)
 		case 8:
-			ld.Cput(ld.R_MIPS_64)
+			ctxt.Out.Write8(ld.R_MIPS_64)
 		default:
 			return false
 		}
 	case objabi.R_ADDRMIPS:
-		ld.Cput(ld.R_MIPS_LO16)
+		ctxt.Out.Write8(ld.R_MIPS_LO16)
 	case objabi.R_ADDRMIPSU:
-		ld.Cput(ld.R_MIPS_HI16)
+		ctxt.Out.Write8(ld.R_MIPS_HI16)
 	case objabi.R_ADDRMIPSTLS:
-		ld.Cput(ld.R_MIPS_TLS_TPREL_LO16)
+		ctxt.Out.Write8(ld.R_MIPS_TLS_TPREL_LO16)
 	case objabi.R_CALLMIPS,
 		objabi.R_JMPMIPS:
-		ld.Cput(ld.R_MIPS_26)
+		ctxt.Out.Write8(ld.R_MIPS_26)
 	}
-	ld.Thearch.Vput(uint64(r.Xadd))
+	ctxt.Out.Write64(uint64(r.Xadd))
 
 	return true
 }
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@ func elfsetupplt(ctxt *ld.Link) {
 	return
 }
 
-func machoreloc1(arch *sys.Arch, s *ld.Symbol, r *ld.Reloc, sectoff int64) bool {
+func machoreloc1(arch *sys.Arch, out *ld.OutBuf, s *ld.Symbol, r *ld.Reloc, sectoff int64) bool {
 	return false
 }
 
@@ -182,10 +182,10 @@ func asmb(ctxt *ld.Link) {
 	}
 
 	sect := ld.Segtext.Sections[0]
-	ld.Cseek(int64(sect.Vaddr - ld.Segtext.Vaddr + ld.Segtext.Fileoff))
+	ctxt.Out.SeekSet(int64(sect.Vaddr - ld.Segtext.Vaddr + ld.Segtext.Fileoff))
 	ld.Codeblk(ctxt, int64(sect.Vaddr), int64(sect.Length))
 	for _, sect = range ld.Segtext.Sections[1:] {
-		ld.Cseek(int64(sect.Vaddr - ld.Segtext.Vaddr + ld.Segtext.Fileoff))
+		ctxt.Out.SeekSet(int64(sect.Vaddr - ld.Segtext.Vaddr + ld.Segtext.Fileoff))
 		ld.Datblk(ctxt, int64(sect.Vaddr), int64(sect.Length))
 	}
 
@@ -193,14 +193,14 @@ func asmb(ctxt *ld.Link) {
 		if ctxt.Debugvlog != 0 {
 			ctxt.Logf("%5.2f rodatblk\n", ld.Cputime())
 		}
-		ld.Cseek(int64(ld.Segrodata.Fileoff))
+		ctxt.Out.SeekSet(int64(ld.Segrodata.Fileoff))
 		ld.Datblk(ctxt, int64(ld.Segrodata.Vaddr), int64(ld.Segrodata.Filelen))
 	}
 	if ld.Segrelrodata.Filelen > 0 {
 		if ctxt.Debugvlog != 0 {
 			ctxt.Logf("%5.2f rodatblk\n", ld.Cputime())
 		}
-		ld.Cseek(int64(ld.Segrelrodata.Fileoff))
+		ctxt.Out.SeekSet(int64(ld.Segrelrodata.Fileoff))
 		ld.Datblk(ctxt, int64(ld.Segrelrodata.Vaddr), int64(ld.Segrelrodata.Filelen))
 	}
 
@@ -208,10 +208,10 @@ func asmb(ctxt *ld.Link) {
 		ctxt.Logf("%5.2f datblk\n", ld.Cputime())
 	}
 
-	ld.Cseek(int64(ld.Segdata.Fileoff))
+	ctxt.Out.SeekSet(int64(ld.Segdata.Fileoff))
 	ld.Datblk(ctxt, int64(ld.Segdata.Vaddr), int64(ld.Segdata.Filelen))
 
-	ld.Cseek(int64(ld.Segdwarf.Fileoff))
+	ctxt.Out.SeekSet(int64(ld.Segdwarf.Fileoff))
 	ld.Dwarfblk(ctxt, int64(ld.Segdwarf.Vaddr), int64(ld.Segdwarf.Filelen))
 
 	/* output symbol table */
@@ -235,7 +235,7 @@ func asmb(ctxt *ld.Link) {
 			symo = uint32(ld.Segdata.Fileoff + ld.Segdata.Filelen)
 		}
 
-		ld.Cseek(int64(symo))
+		ctxt.Out.SeekSet(int64(symo))
 		switch ld.Headtype {
 		default:
 			if ld.Iself {
@@ -243,8 +243,8 @@ func asmb(ctxt *ld.Link) {
 					ctxt.Logf("%5.2f elfsym\n", ld.Cputime())
 				}
 				ld.Asmelfsym(ctxt)
-				ld.Cflush()
-				ld.Cwrite(ld.Elfstrdat)
+				ctxt.Out.Flush()
+				ctxt.Out.Write(ld.Elfstrdat)
 
 				if ld.Linkmode == ld.LinkExternal {
 					ld.Elfemitreloc(ctxt)
@@ -253,13 +253,13 @@ func asmb(ctxt *ld.Link) {
 
 		case objabi.Hplan9:
 			ld.Asmplan9sym(ctxt)
-			ld.Cflush()
+			ctxt.Out.Flush()
 
 			sym := ctxt.Syms.Lookup("pclntab", 0)
 			if sym != nil {
 				ld.Lcsize = int32(len(sym.P))
-				ld.Cwrite(sym.P)
-				ld.Cflush()
+				ctxt.Out.Write(sym.P)
+				ctxt.Out.Flush()
 			}
 		}
 	}
@@ -267,7 +267,7 @@ func asmb(ctxt *ld.Link) {
 	if ctxt.Debugvlog != 0 {
 		ctxt.Logf("%5.2f header\n", ld.Cputime())
 	}
-	ld.Cseek(0)
+	ctxt.Out.SeekSet(0)
 	switch ld.Headtype {
 	default:
 	case objabi.Hplan9: /* plan 9 */
@@ -275,14 +275,14 @@ func asmb(ctxt *ld.Link) {
 		if ctxt.Arch == sys.ArchMIPS64LE {
 			magic = uint32(4*26*26 + 7)
 		}
-		ld.Thearch.Lput(magic)                      /* magic */
-		ld.Thearch.Lput(uint32(ld.Segtext.Filelen)) /* sizes */
-		ld.Thearch.Lput(uint32(ld.Segdata.Filelen))
-		ld.Thearch.Lput(uint32(ld.Segdata.Length - ld.Segdata.Filelen))
-		ld.Thearch.Lput(uint32(ld.Symsize))          /* nsyms */
-		ld.Thearch.Lput(uint32(ld.Entryvalue(ctxt))) /* va of entry */
-		ld.Thearch.Lput(0)
-		ld.Thearch.Lput(uint32(ld.Lcsize))
+		ctxt.Out.Write32(magic)                      /* magic */
+		ctxt.Out.Write32(uint32(ld.Segtext.Filelen)) /* sizes */
+		ctxt.Out.Write32(uint32(ld.Segdata.Filelen))
+		ctxt.Out.Write32(uint32(ld.Segdata.Length - ld.Segdata.Filelen))
+		ctxt.Out.Write32(uint32(ld.Symsize))          /* nsyms */
+		ctxt.Out.Write32(uint32(ld.Entryvalue(ctxt))) /* va of entry */
+		ctxt.Out.Write32(0)
+		ctxt.Out.Write32(uint32(ld.Lcsize))
 
 	case objabi.Hlinux,
 		objabi.Hfreebsd,
@@ -292,7 +292,7 @@ func asmb(ctxt *ld.Link) {
 		ld.Asmbelf(ctxt, int64(symo))
 	}
 
-	ld.Cflush()
+	ctxt.Out.Flush()
 	if *ld.FlagC {
 		fmt.Printf("textsize=%d\n", ld.Segtext.Filelen)
 		fmt.Printf("datsize=%d\n", ld.Segdata.Filelen)
diff --git a/src/cmd/link/internal/mips64/obj.go b/src/cmd/link/internal/mips64/obj.go
index e89a5e3841..c3b810afc4 100644
--- a/src/cmd/link/internal/mips64/obj.go
+++ b/src/cmd/link/internal/mips64/obj.go
@@ -66,21 +66,6 @@ func Init() (*sys.Arch, ld.Arch) {
 		Dragonflydynld: "XXX",
 		Solarisdynld:   "XXX",
 	}
-	if arch == sys.ArchMIPS64LE {
-		theArch.Lput = ld.Lputl
-		theArch.Wput = ld.Wputl
-		theArch.Vput = ld.Vputl
-		theArch.Append16 = ld.Append16l
-		theArch.Append32 = ld.Append32l
-		theArch.Append64 = ld.Append64l
-	} else {
-		theArch.Lput = ld.Lputb
-		theArch.Wput = ld.Wputb
-		theArch.Vput = ld.Vputb
-		theArch.Append16 = ld.Append16b
-		theArch.Append32 = ld.Append32b
-		theArch.Append64 = ld.Append64b
-	}
 
 	return arch, theArch
 }
diff --git a/src/cmd/link/internal/ppc64/asm.go b/src/cmd/link/internal/ppc64/asm.go
index aead0008a2..caef2061a3 100644
--- a/src/cmd/link/internal/ppc64/asm.go
+++ b/src/cmd/link/internal/ppc64/asm.go
@@ -370,7 +370,7 @@ func adddynrel(ctxt *ld.Link, s *ld.Symbol, r *ld.Reloc) bool {
 }
 
 func elfreloc1(ctxt *ld.Link, r *ld.Reloc, sectoff int64) bool {
-	ld.Thearch.Vput(uint64(sectoff))
+	ctxt.Out.Write64(uint64(sectoff))
 
 	elfsym := r.Xsym.ElfsymForReloc()
 	switch r.Type {
@@ -379,60 +379,60 @@ func elfreloc1(ctxt *ld.Link, r *ld.Reloc, sectoff int64) bool {
 	case objabi.R_ADDR:
 		switch r.Siz {
 		case 4:
-			ld.Thearch.Vput(ld.R_PPC64_ADDR32 | uint64(elfsym)<<32)
+			ctxt.Out.Write64(ld.R_PPC64_ADDR32 | uint64(elfsym)<<32)
 		case 8:
-			ld.Thearch.Vput(ld.R_PPC64_ADDR64 | uint64(elfsym)<<32)
+			ctxt.Out.Write64(ld.R_PPC64_ADDR64 | uint64(elfsym)<<32)
 		default:
 			return false
 		}
 	case objabi.R_POWER_TLS:
-		ld.Thearch.Vput(ld.R_PPC64_TLS | uint64(elfsym)<<32)
+		ctxt.Out.Write64(ld.R_PPC64_TLS | uint64(elfsym)<<32)
 	case objabi.R_POWER_TLS_LE:
-		ld.Thearch.Vput(ld.R_PPC64_TPREL16 | uint64(elfsym)<<32)
+		ctxt.Out.Write64(ld.R_PPC64_TPREL16 | uint64(elfsym)<<32)
 	case objabi.R_POWER_TLS_IE:
-		ld.Thearch.Vput(ld.R_PPC64_GOT_TPREL16_HA | uint64(elfsym)<<32)
-		ld.Thearch.Vput(uint64(r.Xadd))
-		ld.Thearch.Vput(uint64(sectoff + 4))
-		ld.Thearch.Vput(ld.R_PPC64_GOT_TPREL16_LO_DS | uint64(elfsym)<<32)
+		ctxt.Out.Write64(ld.R_PPC64_GOT_TPREL16_HA | uint64(elfsym)<<32)
+		ctxt.Out.Write64(uint64(r.Xadd))
+		ctxt.Out.Write64(uint64(sectoff + 4))
+		ctxt.Out.Write64(ld.R_PPC64_GOT_TPREL16_LO_DS | uint64(elfsym)<<32)
 	case objabi.R_ADDRPOWER:
-		ld.Thearch.Vput(ld.R_PPC64_ADDR16_HA | uint64(elfsym)<<32)
-		ld.Thearch.Vput(uint64(r.Xadd))
-		ld.Thearch.Vput(uint64(sectoff + 4))
-		ld.Thearch.Vput(ld.R_PPC64_ADDR16_LO | uint64(elfsym)<<32)
+		ctxt.Out.Write64(ld.R_PPC64_ADDR16_HA | uint64(elfsym)<<32)
+		ctxt.Out.Write64(uint64(r.Xadd))
+		ctxt.Out.Write64(uint64(sectoff + 4))
+		ctxt.Out.Write64(ld.R_PPC64_ADDR16_LO | uint64(elfsym)<<32)
 	case objabi.R_ADDRPOWER_DS:
-		ld.Thearch.Vput(ld.R_PPC64_ADDR16_HA | uint64(elfsym)<<32)
-		ld.Thearch.Vput(uint64(r.Xadd))
-		ld.Thearch.Vput(uint64(sectoff + 4))
-		ld.Thearch.Vput(ld.R_PPC64_ADDR16_LO_DS | uint64(elfsym)<<32)
+		ctxt.Out.Write64(ld.R_PPC64_ADDR16_HA | uint64(elfsym)<<32)
+		ctxt.Out.Write64(uint64(r.Xadd))
+		ctxt.Out.Write64(uint64(sectoff + 4))
+		ctxt.Out.Write64(ld.R_PPC64_ADDR16_LO_DS | uint64(elfsym)<<32)
 	case objabi.R_ADDRPOWER_GOT:
-		ld.Thearch.Vput(ld.R_PPC64_GOT16_HA | uint64(elfsym)<<32)
-		ld.Thearch.Vput(uint64(r.Xadd))
-		ld.Thearch.Vput(uint64(sectoff + 4))
-		ld.Thearch.Vput(ld.R_PPC64_GOT16_LO_DS | uint64(elfsym)<<32)
+		ctxt.Out.Write64(ld.R_PPC64_GOT16_HA | uint64(elfsym)<<32)
+		ctxt.Out.Write64(uint64(r.Xadd))
+		ctxt.Out.Write64(uint64(sectoff + 4))
+		ctxt.Out.Write64(ld.R_PPC64_GOT16_LO_DS | uint64(elfsym)<<32)
 	case objabi.R_ADDRPOWER_PCREL:
-		ld.Thearch.Vput(ld.R_PPC64_REL16_HA | uint64(elfsym)<<32)
-		ld.Thearch.Vput(uint64(r.Xadd))
-		ld.Thearch.Vput(uint64(sectoff + 4))
-		ld.Thearch.Vput(ld.R_PPC64_REL16_LO | uint64(elfsym)<<32)
+		ctxt.Out.Write64(ld.R_PPC64_REL16_HA | uint64(elfsym)<<32)
+		ctxt.Out.Write64(uint64(r.Xadd))
+		ctxt.Out.Write64(uint64(sectoff + 4))
+		ctxt.Out.Write64(ld.R_PPC64_REL16_LO | uint64(elfsym)<<32)
 		r.Xadd += 4
 	case objabi.R_ADDRPOWER_TOCREL:
-		ld.Thearch.Vput(ld.R_PPC64_TOC16_HA | uint64(elfsym)<<32)
-		ld.Thearch.Vput(uint64(r.Xadd))
-		ld.Thearch.Vput(uint64(sectoff + 4))
-		ld.Thearch.Vput(ld.R_PPC64_TOC16_LO | uint64(elfsym)<<32)
+		ctxt.Out.Write64(ld.R_PPC64_TOC16_HA | uint64(elfsym)<<32)
+		ctxt.Out.Write64(uint64(r.Xadd))
+		ctxt.Out.Write64(uint64(sectoff + 4))
+		ctxt.Out.Write64(ld.R_PPC64_TOC16_LO | uint64(elfsym)<<32)
 	case objabi.R_ADDRPOWER_TOCREL_DS:
-		ld.Thearch.Vput(ld.R_PPC64_TOC16_HA | uint64(elfsym)<<32)
-		ld.Thearch.Vput(uint64(r.Xadd))
-		ld.Thearch.Vput(uint64(sectoff + 4))
-		ld.Thearch.Vput(ld.R_PPC64_TOC16_LO_DS | uint64(elfsym)<<32)
+		ctxt.Out.Write64(ld.R_PPC64_TOC16_HA | uint64(elfsym)<<32)
+		ctxt.Out.Write64(uint64(r.Xadd))
+		ctxt.Out.Write64(uint64(sectoff + 4))
+		ctxt.Out.Write64(ld.R_PPC64_TOC16_LO_DS | uint64(elfsym)<<32)
 	case objabi.R_CALLPOWER:
 		if r.Siz != 4 {
 			return false
 		}
-		ld.Thearch.Vput(ld.R_PPC64_REL24 | uint64(elfsym)<<32)
+		ctxt.Out.Write64(ld.R_PPC64_REL24 | uint64(elfsym)<<32)
 
 	}
-	ld.Thearch.Vput(uint64(r.Xadd))
+	ctxt.Out.Write64(uint64(r.Xadd))
 
 	return true
 }
@@ -448,7 +448,7 @@ func elfsetupplt(ctxt *ld.Link) {
 	}
 }
 
-func machoreloc1(arch *sys.Arch, s *ld.Symbol, r *ld.Reloc, sectoff int64) bool {
+func machoreloc1(arch *sys.Arch, out *ld.OutBuf, s *ld.Symbol, r *ld.Reloc, sectoff int64) bool {
 	return false
 }
 
@@ -910,7 +910,7 @@ func asmb(ctxt *ld.Link) {
 	}
 
 	for _, sect := range ld.Segtext.Sections {
-		ld.Cseek(int64(sect.Vaddr - ld.Segtext.Vaddr + ld.Segtext.Fileoff))
+		ctxt.Out.SeekSet(int64(sect.Vaddr - ld.Segtext.Vaddr + ld.Segtext.Fileoff))
 		// Handle additional text sections with Codeblk
 		if sect.Name == ".text" {
 			ld.Codeblk(ctxt, int64(sect.Vaddr), int64(sect.Length))
@@ -923,14 +923,14 @@ func asmb(ctxt *ld.Link) {
 		if ctxt.Debugvlog != 0 {
 			ctxt.Logf("%5.2f rodatblk\n", ld.Cputime())
 		}
-		ld.Cseek(int64(ld.Segrodata.Fileoff))
+		ctxt.Out.SeekSet(int64(ld.Segrodata.Fileoff))
 		ld.Datblk(ctxt, int64(ld.Segrodata.Vaddr), int64(ld.Segrodata.Filelen))
 	}
 	if ld.Segrelrodata.Filelen > 0 {
 		if ctxt.Debugvlog != 0 {
 			ctxt.Logf("%5.2f relrodatblk\n", ld.Cputime())
 		}
-		ld.Cseek(int64(ld.Segrelrodata.Fileoff))
+		ctxt.Out.SeekSet(int64(ld.Segrelrodata.Fileoff))
 		ld.Datblk(ctxt, int64(ld.Segrelrodata.Vaddr), int64(ld.Segrelrodata.Filelen))
 	}
 
@@ -938,10 +938,10 @@ func asmb(ctxt *ld.Link) {
 		ctxt.Logf("%5.2f datblk\n", ld.Cputime())
 	}
 
-	ld.Cseek(int64(ld.Segdata.Fileoff))
+	ctxt.Out.SeekSet(int64(ld.Segdata.Fileoff))
 	ld.Datblk(ctxt, int64(ld.Segdata.Vaddr), int64(ld.Segdata.Filelen))
 
-	ld.Cseek(int64(ld.Segdwarf.Fileoff))
+	ctxt.Out.SeekSet(int64(ld.Segdwarf.Fileoff))
 	ld.Dwarfblk(ctxt, int64(ld.Segdwarf.Vaddr), int64(ld.Segdwarf.Filelen))
 
 	/* output symbol table */
@@ -965,7 +965,7 @@ func asmb(ctxt *ld.Link) {
 			symo = uint32(ld.Segdata.Fileoff + ld.Segdata.Filelen)
 		}
 
-		ld.Cseek(int64(symo))
+		ctxt.Out.SeekSet(int64(symo))
 		switch ld.Headtype {
 		default:
 			if ld.Iself {
@@ -973,8 +973,8 @@ func asmb(ctxt *ld.Link) {
 					ctxt.Logf("%5.2f elfsym\n", ld.Cputime())
 				}
 				ld.Asmelfsym(ctxt)
-				ld.Cflush()
-				ld.Cwrite(ld.Elfstrdat)
+				ctxt.Out.Flush()
+				ctxt.Out.Write(ld.Elfstrdat)
 
 				if ld.Linkmode == ld.LinkExternal {
 					ld.Elfemitreloc(ctxt)
@@ -983,13 +983,13 @@ func asmb(ctxt *ld.Link) {
 
 		case objabi.Hplan9:
 			ld.Asmplan9sym(ctxt)
-			ld.Cflush()
+			ctxt.Out.Flush()
 
 			sym := ctxt.Syms.Lookup("pclntab", 0)
 			if sym != nil {
 				ld.Lcsize = int32(len(sym.P))
-				ld.Cwrite(sym.P)
-				ld.Cflush()
+				ctxt.Out.Write(sym.P)
+				ctxt.Out.Flush()
 			}
 		}
 	}
@@ -997,18 +997,18 @@ func asmb(ctxt *ld.Link) {
 	if ctxt.Debugvlog != 0 {
 		ctxt.Logf("%5.2f header\n", ld.Cputime())
 	}
-	ld.Cseek(0)
+	ctxt.Out.SeekSet(0)
 	switch ld.Headtype {
 	default:
 	case objabi.Hplan9: /* plan 9 */
-		ld.Thearch.Lput(0x647)                      /* magic */
-		ld.Thearch.Lput(uint32(ld.Segtext.Filelen)) /* sizes */
-		ld.Thearch.Lput(uint32(ld.Segdata.Filelen))
-		ld.Thearch.Lput(uint32(ld.Segdata.Length - ld.Segdata.Filelen))
-		ld.Thearch.Lput(uint32(ld.Symsize))          /* nsyms */
-		ld.Thearch.Lput(uint32(ld.Entryvalue(ctxt))) /* va of entry */
-		ld.Thearch.Lput(0)
-		ld.Thearch.Lput(uint32(ld.Lcsize))
+		ctxt.Out.Write32(0x647)                      /* magic */
+		ctxt.Out.Write32(uint32(ld.Segtext.Filelen)) /* sizes */
+		ctxt.Out.Write32(uint32(ld.Segdata.Filelen))
+		ctxt.Out.Write32(uint32(ld.Segdata.Length - ld.Segdata.Filelen))
+		ctxt.Out.Write32(uint32(ld.Symsize))          /* nsyms */
+		ctxt.Out.Write32(uint32(ld.Entryvalue(ctxt))) /* va of entry */
+		ctxt.Out.Write32(0)
+		ctxt.Out.Write32(uint32(ld.Lcsize))
 
 	case objabi.Hlinux,
 		objabi.Hfreebsd,
@@ -1018,7 +1018,7 @@ func asmb(ctxt *ld.Link) {
 		ld.Asmbelf(ctxt, int64(symo))
 	}
 
-	ld.Cflush()
+	ctxt.Out.Flush()
 	if *ld.FlagC {
 		fmt.Printf("textsize=%d\n", ld.Segtext.Filelen)
 		fmt.Printf("datsize=%d\n", ld.Segdata.Filelen)
diff --git a/src/cmd/link/internal/ppc64/obj.go b/src/cmd/link/internal/ppc64/obj.go
index 07e8a31a78..49c3fe129d 100644
--- a/src/cmd/link/internal/ppc64/obj.go
+++ b/src/cmd/link/internal/ppc64/obj.go
@@ -71,22 +71,6 @@ func Init() (*sys.Arch, ld.Arch) {
 		Solarisdynld:   "XXX",
 	}
 
-	if arch == sys.ArchPPC64LE {
-		theArch.Lput = ld.Lputl
-		theArch.Wput = ld.Wputl
-		theArch.Vput = ld.Vputl
-		theArch.Append16 = ld.Append16l
-		theArch.Append32 = ld.Append32l
-		theArch.Append64 = ld.Append64l
-	} else {
-		theArch.Lput = ld.Lputb
-		theArch.Wput = ld.Wputb
-		theArch.Vput = ld.Vputb
-		theArch.Append16 = ld.Append16b
-		theArch.Append32 = ld.Append32b
-		theArch.Append64 = ld.Append64b
-	}
-
 	return arch, theArch
 }
 
diff --git a/src/cmd/link/internal/s390x/asm.go b/src/cmd/link/internal/s390x/asm.go
index 4fcb5055c9..aa0fcb7b86 100644
--- a/src/cmd/link/internal/s390x/asm.go
+++ b/src/cmd/link/internal/s390x/asm.go
@@ -234,7 +234,7 @@ func adddynrel(ctxt *ld.Link, s *ld.Symbol, r *ld.Reloc) bool {
 }
 
 func elfreloc1(ctxt *ld.Link, r *ld.Reloc, sectoff int64) bool {
-	ld.Thearch.Vput(uint64(sectoff))
+	ctxt.Out.Write64(uint64(sectoff))
 
 	elfsym := r.Xsym.ElfsymForReloc()
 	switch r.Type {
@@ -246,30 +246,30 @@ func elfreloc1(ctxt *ld.Link, r *ld.Reloc, sectoff int64) bool {
 			return false
 		case 4:
 			// WARNING - silently ignored by linker in ELF64
-			ld.Thearch.Vput(ld.R_390_TLS_LE32 | uint64(elfsym)<<32)
+			ctxt.Out.Write64(ld.R_390_TLS_LE32 | uint64(elfsym)<<32)
 		case 8:
 			// WARNING - silently ignored by linker in ELF32
-			ld.Thearch.Vput(ld.R_390_TLS_LE64 | uint64(elfsym)<<32)
+			ctxt.Out.Write64(ld.R_390_TLS_LE64 | uint64(elfsym)<<32)
 		}
 	case objabi.R_TLS_IE:
 		switch r.Siz {
 		default:
 			return false
 		case 4:
-			ld.Thearch.Vput(ld.R_390_TLS_IEENT | uint64(elfsym)<<32)
+			ctxt.Out.Write64(ld.R_390_TLS_IEENT | uint64(elfsym)<<32)
 		}
 	case objabi.R_ADDR:
 		switch r.Siz {
 		default:
 			return false
 		case 4:
-			ld.Thearch.Vput(ld.R_390_32 | uint64(elfsym)<<32)
+			ctxt.Out.Write64(ld.R_390_32 | uint64(elfsym)<<32)
 		case 8:
-			ld.Thearch.Vput(ld.R_390_64 | uint64(elfsym)<<32)
+			ctxt.Out.Write64(ld.R_390_64 | uint64(elfsym)<<32)
 		}
 	case objabi.R_GOTPCREL:
 		if r.Siz == 4 {
-			ld.Thearch.Vput(ld.R_390_GOTENT | uint64(elfsym)<<32)
+			ctxt.Out.Write64(ld.R_390_GOTENT | uint64(elfsym)<<32)
 		} else {
 			return false
 		}
@@ -320,10 +320,10 @@ func elfreloc1(ctxt *ld.Link, r *ld.Reloc, sectoff int64) bool {
 		if elfrel == ld.R_390_NONE {
 			return false // unsupported size/dbl combination
 		}
-		ld.Thearch.Vput(uint64(elfrel) | uint64(elfsym)<<32)
+		ctxt.Out.Write64(uint64(elfrel) | uint64(elfsym)<<32)
 	}
 
-	ld.Thearch.Vput(uint64(r.Xadd))
+	ctxt.Out.Write64(uint64(r.Xadd))
 	return true
 }
 
@@ -377,7 +377,7 @@ func elfsetupplt(ctxt *ld.Link) {
 	}
 }
 
-func machoreloc1(arch *sys.Arch, s *ld.Symbol, r *ld.Reloc, sectoff int64) bool {
+func machoreloc1(arch *sys.Arch, out *ld.OutBuf, s *ld.Symbol, r *ld.Reloc, sectoff int64) bool {
 	return false
 }
 
@@ -508,10 +508,10 @@ func asmb(ctxt *ld.Link) {
 	}
 
 	sect := ld.Segtext.Sections[0]
-	ld.Cseek(int64(sect.Vaddr - ld.Segtext.Vaddr + ld.Segtext.Fileoff))
+	ctxt.Out.SeekSet(int64(sect.Vaddr - ld.Segtext.Vaddr + ld.Segtext.Fileoff))
 	ld.Codeblk(ctxt, int64(sect.Vaddr), int64(sect.Length))
 	for _, sect = range ld.Segtext.Sections[1:] {
-		ld.Cseek(int64(sect.Vaddr - ld.Segtext.Vaddr + ld.Segtext.Fileoff))
+		ctxt.Out.SeekSet(int64(sect.Vaddr - ld.Segtext.Vaddr + ld.Segtext.Fileoff))
 		ld.Datblk(ctxt, int64(sect.Vaddr), int64(sect.Length))
 	}
 
@@ -519,14 +519,14 @@ func asmb(ctxt *ld.Link) {
 		if ctxt.Debugvlog != 0 {
 			ctxt.Logf("%5.2f rodatblk\n", ld.Cputime())
 		}
-		ld.Cseek(int64(ld.Segrodata.Fileoff))
+		ctxt.Out.SeekSet(int64(ld.Segrodata.Fileoff))
 		ld.Datblk(ctxt, int64(ld.Segrodata.Vaddr), int64(ld.Segrodata.Filelen))
 	}
 	if ld.Segrelrodata.Filelen > 0 {
 		if ctxt.Debugvlog != 0 {
 			ctxt.Logf("%5.2f rodatblk\n", ld.Cputime())
 		}
-		ld.Cseek(int64(ld.Segrelrodata.Fileoff))
+		ctxt.Out.SeekSet(int64(ld.Segrelrodata.Fileoff))
 		ld.Datblk(ctxt, int64(ld.Segrelrodata.Vaddr), int64(ld.Segrelrodata.Filelen))
 	}
 
@@ -534,10 +534,10 @@ func asmb(ctxt *ld.Link) {
 		ctxt.Logf("%5.2f datblk\n", ld.Cputime())
 	}
 
-	ld.Cseek(int64(ld.Segdata.Fileoff))
+	ctxt.Out.SeekSet(int64(ld.Segdata.Fileoff))
 	ld.Datblk(ctxt, int64(ld.Segdata.Vaddr), int64(ld.Segdata.Filelen))
 
-	ld.Cseek(int64(ld.Segdwarf.Fileoff))
+	ctxt.Out.SeekSet(int64(ld.Segdwarf.Fileoff))
 	ld.Dwarfblk(ctxt, int64(ld.Segdwarf.Vaddr), int64(ld.Segdwarf.Filelen))
 
 	/* output symbol table */
@@ -555,13 +555,13 @@ func asmb(ctxt *ld.Link) {
 		symo = uint32(ld.Segdwarf.Fileoff + ld.Segdwarf.Filelen)
 		symo = uint32(ld.Rnd(int64(symo), int64(*ld.FlagRound)))
 
-		ld.Cseek(int64(symo))
+		ctxt.Out.SeekSet(int64(symo))
 		if ctxt.Debugvlog != 0 {
 			ctxt.Logf("%5.2f elfsym\n", ld.Cputime())
 		}
 		ld.Asmelfsym(ctxt)
-		ld.Cflush()
-		ld.Cwrite(ld.Elfstrdat)
+		ctxt.Out.Flush()
+		ctxt.Out.Write(ld.Elfstrdat)
 
 		if ctxt.Debugvlog != 0 {
 			ctxt.Logf("%5.2f dwarf\n", ld.Cputime())
@@ -575,7 +575,7 @@ func asmb(ctxt *ld.Link) {
 	if ctxt.Debugvlog != 0 {
 		ctxt.Logf("%5.2f header\n", ld.Cputime())
 	}
-	ld.Cseek(0)
+	ctxt.Out.SeekSet(0)
 	switch ld.Headtype {
 	default:
 		ld.Errorf(nil, "unsupported operating system")
@@ -583,7 +583,7 @@ func asmb(ctxt *ld.Link) {
 		ld.Asmbelf(ctxt, int64(symo))
 	}
 
-	ld.Cflush()
+	ctxt.Out.Flush()
 	if *ld.FlagC {
 		fmt.Printf("textsize=%d\n", ld.Segtext.Filelen)
 		fmt.Printf("datsize=%d\n", ld.Segdata.Filelen)
diff --git a/src/cmd/link/internal/s390x/obj.go b/src/cmd/link/internal/s390x/obj.go
index ce480d2eeb..47b22c1033 100644
--- a/src/cmd/link/internal/s390x/obj.go
+++ b/src/cmd/link/internal/s390x/obj.go
@@ -56,12 +56,6 @@ func Init() (*sys.Arch, ld.Arch) {
 		Elfsetupplt:      elfsetupplt,
 		Gentext:          gentext,
 		Machoreloc1:      machoreloc1,
-		Lput:             ld.Lputb,
-		Wput:             ld.Wputb,
-		Vput:             ld.Vputb,
-		Append16:         ld.Append16b,
-		Append32:         ld.Append32b,
-		Append64:         ld.Append64b,
 
 		Linuxdynld: "/lib64/ld64.so.1",
 
diff --git a/src/cmd/link/internal/x86/asm.go b/src/cmd/link/internal/x86/asm.go
index 02f5562d5f..8a78445be2 100644
--- a/src/cmd/link/internal/x86/asm.go
+++ b/src/cmd/link/internal/x86/asm.go
@@ -342,7 +342,7 @@ func adddynrel(ctxt *ld.Link, s *ld.Symbol, r *ld.Reloc) bool {
 }
 
 func elfreloc1(ctxt *ld.Link, r *ld.Reloc, sectoff int64) bool {
-	ld.Thearch.Lput(uint32(sectoff))
+	ctxt.Out.Write32(uint32(sectoff))
 
 	elfsym := r.Xsym.ElfsymForReloc()
 	switch r.Type {
@@ -350,16 +350,16 @@ func elfreloc1(ctxt *ld.Link, r *ld.Reloc, sectoff int64) bool {
 		return false
 	case objabi.R_ADDR:
 		if r.Siz == 4 {
-			ld.Thearch.Lput(ld.R_386_32 | uint32(elfsym)<<8)
+			ctxt.Out.Write32(ld.R_386_32 | uint32(elfsym)<<8)
 		} else {
 			return false
 		}
 	case objabi.R_GOTPCREL:
 		if r.Siz == 4 {
-			ld.Thearch.Lput(ld.R_386_GOTPC)
+			ctxt.Out.Write32(ld.R_386_GOTPC)
 			if r.Xsym.Name != "_GLOBAL_OFFSET_TABLE_" {
-				ld.Thearch.Lput(uint32(sectoff))
-				ld.Thearch.Lput(ld.R_386_GOT32 | uint32(elfsym)<<8)
+				ctxt.Out.Write32(uint32(sectoff))
+				ctxt.Out.Write32(ld.R_386_GOT32 | uint32(elfsym)<<8)
 			}
 		} else {
 			return false
@@ -367,30 +367,30 @@ func elfreloc1(ctxt *ld.Link, r *ld.Reloc, sectoff int64) bool {
 	case objabi.R_CALL:
 		if r.Siz == 4 {
 			if r.Xsym.Type == ld.SDYNIMPORT {
-				ld.Thearch.Lput(ld.R_386_PLT32 | uint32(elfsym)<<8)
+				ctxt.Out.Write32(ld.R_386_PLT32 | uint32(elfsym)<<8)
 			} else {
-				ld.Thearch.Lput(ld.R_386_PC32 | uint32(elfsym)<<8)
+				ctxt.Out.Write32(ld.R_386_PC32 | uint32(elfsym)<<8)
 			}
 		} else {
 			return false
 		}
 	case objabi.R_PCREL:
 		if r.Siz == 4 {
-			ld.Thearch.Lput(ld.R_386_PC32 | uint32(elfsym)<<8)
+			ctxt.Out.Write32(ld.R_386_PC32 | uint32(elfsym)<<8)
 		} else {
 			return false
 		}
 	case objabi.R_TLS_LE:
 		if r.Siz == 4 {
-			ld.Thearch.Lput(ld.R_386_TLS_LE | uint32(elfsym)<<8)
+			ctxt.Out.Write32(ld.R_386_TLS_LE | uint32(elfsym)<<8)
 		} else {
 			return false
 		}
 	case objabi.R_TLS_IE:
 		if r.Siz == 4 {
-			ld.Thearch.Lput(ld.R_386_GOTPC)
-			ld.Thearch.Lput(uint32(sectoff))
-			ld.Thearch.Lput(ld.R_386_TLS_GOTIE | uint32(elfsym)<<8)
+			ctxt.Out.Write32(ld.R_386_GOTPC)
+			ctxt.Out.Write32(uint32(sectoff))
+			ctxt.Out.Write32(ld.R_386_TLS_GOTIE | uint32(elfsym)<<8)
 		} else {
 			return false
 		}
@@ -399,7 +399,7 @@ func elfreloc1(ctxt *ld.Link, r *ld.Reloc, sectoff int64) bool {
 	return true
 }
 
-func machoreloc1(arch *sys.Arch, s *ld.Symbol, r *ld.Reloc, sectoff int64) bool {
+func machoreloc1(arch *sys.Arch, out *ld.OutBuf, s *ld.Symbol, r *ld.Reloc, sectoff int64) bool {
 	var v uint32
 
 	rs := r.Xsym
@@ -444,12 +444,12 @@ func machoreloc1(arch *sys.Arch, s *ld.Symbol, r *ld.Reloc, sectoff int64) bool
 		v |= 3 << 25
 	}
 
-	ld.Thearch.Lput(uint32(sectoff))
-	ld.Thearch.Lput(v)
+	out.Write32(uint32(sectoff))
+	out.Write32(v)
 	return true
 }
 
-func pereloc1(arch *sys.Arch, s *ld.Symbol, r *ld.Reloc, sectoff int64) bool {
+func pereloc1(arch *sys.Arch, out *ld.OutBuf, s *ld.Symbol, r *ld.Reloc, sectoff int64) bool {
 	var v uint32
 
 	rs := r.Xsym
@@ -459,8 +459,8 @@ func pereloc1(arch *sys.Arch, s *ld.Symbol, r *ld.Reloc, sectoff int64) bool {
 		return false
 	}
 
-	ld.Thearch.Lput(uint32(sectoff))
-	ld.Thearch.Lput(uint32(rs.Dynid))
+	out.Write32(uint32(sectoff))
+	out.Write32(uint32(rs.Dynid))
 
 	switch r.Type {
 	default:
@@ -477,7 +477,7 @@ func pereloc1(arch *sys.Arch, s *ld.Symbol, r *ld.Reloc, sectoff int64) bool {
 		v = ld.IMAGE_REL_I386_REL32
 	}
 
-	ld.Thearch.Wput(uint16(v))
+	out.Write16(uint16(v))
 
 	return true
 }
@@ -621,11 +621,11 @@ func asmb(ctxt *ld.Link) {
 	}
 
 	sect := ld.Segtext.Sections[0]
-	ld.Cseek(int64(sect.Vaddr - ld.Segtext.Vaddr + ld.Segtext.Fileoff))
+	ctxt.Out.SeekSet(int64(sect.Vaddr - ld.Segtext.Vaddr + ld.Segtext.Fileoff))
 	// 0xCC is INT $3 - breakpoint instruction
 	ld.CodeblkPad(ctxt, int64(sect.Vaddr), int64(sect.Length), []byte{0xCC})
 	for _, sect = range ld.Segtext.Sections[1:] {
-		ld.Cseek(int64(sect.Vaddr - ld.Segtext.Vaddr + ld.Segtext.Fileoff))
+		ctxt.Out.SeekSet(int64(sect.Vaddr - ld.Segtext.Vaddr + ld.Segtext.Fileoff))
 		ld.Datblk(ctxt, int64(sect.Vaddr), int64(sect.Length))
 	}
 
@@ -634,14 +634,14 @@ func asmb(ctxt *ld.Link) {
 			ctxt.Logf("%5.2f rodatblk\n", ld.Cputime())
 		}
 
-		ld.Cseek(int64(ld.Segrodata.Fileoff))
+		ctxt.Out.SeekSet(int64(ld.Segrodata.Fileoff))
 		ld.Datblk(ctxt, int64(ld.Segrodata.Vaddr), int64(ld.Segrodata.Filelen))
 	}
 	if ld.Segrelrodata.Filelen > 0 {
 		if ctxt.Debugvlog != 0 {
 			ctxt.Logf("%5.2f relrodatblk\n", ld.Cputime())
 		}
-		ld.Cseek(int64(ld.Segrelrodata.Fileoff))
+		ctxt.Out.SeekSet(int64(ld.Segrelrodata.Fileoff))
 		ld.Datblk(ctxt, int64(ld.Segrelrodata.Vaddr), int64(ld.Segrelrodata.Filelen))
 	}
 
@@ -649,10 +649,10 @@ func asmb(ctxt *ld.Link) {
 		ctxt.Logf("%5.2f datblk\n", ld.Cputime())
 	}
 
-	ld.Cseek(int64(ld.Segdata.Fileoff))
+	ctxt.Out.SeekSet(int64(ld.Segdata.Fileoff))
 	ld.Datblk(ctxt, int64(ld.Segdata.Vaddr), int64(ld.Segdata.Filelen))
 
-	ld.Cseek(int64(ld.Segdwarf.Fileoff))
+	ctxt.Out.SeekSet(int64(ld.Segdwarf.Fileoff))
 	ld.Dwarfblk(ctxt, int64(ld.Segdwarf.Vaddr), int64(ld.Segdwarf.Filelen))
 
 	machlink := uint32(0)
@@ -687,7 +687,7 @@ func asmb(ctxt *ld.Link) {
 			symo = uint32(ld.Rnd(int64(symo), ld.PEFILEALIGN))
 		}
 
-		ld.Cseek(int64(symo))
+		ctxt.Out.SeekSet(int64(symo))
 		switch ld.Headtype {
 		default:
 			if ld.Iself {
@@ -695,8 +695,8 @@ func asmb(ctxt *ld.Link) {
 					ctxt.Logf("%5.2f elfsym\n", ld.Cputime())
 				}
 				ld.Asmelfsym(ctxt)
-				ld.Cflush()
-				ld.Cwrite(ld.Elfstrdat)
+				ctxt.Out.Flush()
+				ctxt.Out.Write(ld.Elfstrdat)
 
 				if ld.Linkmode == ld.LinkExternal {
 					ld.Elfemitreloc(ctxt)
@@ -705,13 +705,13 @@ func asmb(ctxt *ld.Link) {
 
 		case objabi.Hplan9:
 			ld.Asmplan9sym(ctxt)
-			ld.Cflush()
+			ctxt.Out.Flush()
 
 			sym := ctxt.Syms.Lookup("pclntab", 0)
 			if sym != nil {
 				ld.Lcsize = int32(len(sym.P))
-				ld.Cwrite(sym.P)
-				ld.Cflush()
+				ctxt.Out.Write(sym.P)
+				ctxt.Out.Flush()
 			}
 
 		case objabi.Hwindows:
@@ -729,20 +729,20 @@ func asmb(ctxt *ld.Link) {
 	if ctxt.Debugvlog != 0 {
 		ctxt.Logf("%5.2f headr\n", ld.Cputime())
 	}
-	ld.Cseek(0)
+	ctxt.Out.SeekSet(0)
 	switch ld.Headtype {
 	default:
 	case objabi.Hplan9: /* plan9 */
 		magic := int32(4*11*11 + 7)
 
-		ld.Lputb(uint32(magic))              /* magic */
-		ld.Lputb(uint32(ld.Segtext.Filelen)) /* sizes */
-		ld.Lputb(uint32(ld.Segdata.Filelen))
-		ld.Lputb(uint32(ld.Segdata.Length - ld.Segdata.Filelen))
-		ld.Lputb(uint32(ld.Symsize))          /* nsyms */
-		ld.Lputb(uint32(ld.Entryvalue(ctxt))) /* va of entry */
-		ld.Lputb(uint32(ld.Spsize))           /* sp offsets */
-		ld.Lputb(uint32(ld.Lcsize))           /* line offsets */
+		ctxt.Out.Write32b(uint32(magic))              /* magic */
+		ctxt.Out.Write32b(uint32(ld.Segtext.Filelen)) /* sizes */
+		ctxt.Out.Write32b(uint32(ld.Segdata.Filelen))
+		ctxt.Out.Write32b(uint32(ld.Segdata.Length - ld.Segdata.Filelen))
+		ctxt.Out.Write32b(uint32(ld.Symsize))          /* nsyms */
+		ctxt.Out.Write32b(uint32(ld.Entryvalue(ctxt))) /* va of entry */
+		ctxt.Out.Write32b(uint32(ld.Spsize))           /* sp offsets */
+		ctxt.Out.Write32b(uint32(ld.Lcsize))           /* line offsets */
 
 	case objabi.Hdarwin:
 		ld.Asmbmacho(ctxt)
@@ -758,5 +758,5 @@ func asmb(ctxt *ld.Link) {
 		ld.Asmbpe(ctxt)
 	}
 
-	ld.Cflush()
+	ctxt.Out.Flush()
 }
diff --git a/src/cmd/link/internal/x86/obj.go b/src/cmd/link/internal/x86/obj.go
index ca4875c1af..542ce15204 100644
--- a/src/cmd/link/internal/x86/obj.go
+++ b/src/cmd/link/internal/x86/obj.go
@@ -57,12 +57,6 @@ func Init() (*sys.Arch, ld.Arch) {
 		Gentext:          gentext,
 		Machoreloc1:      machoreloc1,
 		PEreloc1:         pereloc1,
-		Lput:             ld.Lputl,
-		Wput:             ld.Wputl,
-		Vput:             ld.Vputl,
-		Append16:         ld.Append16l,
-		Append32:         ld.Append32l,
-		Append64:         ld.Append64l,
 
 		Linuxdynld:   "/lib/ld-linux.so.2",
 		Freebsddynld: "/usr/libexec/ld-elf.so.1",