* bfd-in.h (STRING_AND_COMMA): New macro. Takes one constant string as its

  argument and emits the string followed by a comma and then the length of
  the string.
  (CONST_STRNEQ): New macro.  Checks to see if a variable string has a constant
  string as its initial characters.
  (CONST_STRNCPY): New macro.  Copies a constant string to the start of a
  variable string.
* bfd-in2.h: Regenerate.
* <remainign files>: Make use of the new macros.

66 files changed, 618 insertions, 546 deletions

diff --git a/bfd/ChangeLog b/bfd/ChangeLog
index 8222b435598..fa9e137e084 100644
--- a/bfd/ChangeLog
+++ b/bfd/ChangeLog
@@ -1,3 +1,71 @@
+2006-09-16  Nick Clifton  <nickc@redhat.com>
+	    Pedro Alves  <pedro_alves@portugalmail.pt>
+
+	* bfd-in.h (STRING_AND_COMMA): New macro.  Takes one constant
+	string as its argument and emits the string followed by a comma
+	and then the length of the string.
+	(CONST_STRNEQ): New macro.  Checks to see if a variable string
+	has a constant string as its initial characters.
+	(CONST_STRNCPY): New macro.  Copies a constant string to the start
+	of a variable string.
+	* bfd-in2.h: Regenerate.
+	* archive.c: Make use of the new macros.
+	* archive64.c: Likewise.
+	* bfd.c: Likewise.
+	* coff-ppc.c: Likewise.
+	* coff-stgo32.c: Likewise.
+	* coffcode.h: Likewise.
+	* cofflink.c: Likewise.
+	* cpu-i960.c: Likewise.
+	* dwarf2.c: Likewise.
+	* ecoff.c: Likewise.
+	* elf-m10300.c: Likewise.
+	* elf.c: Likewise.
+	* elf32-arm.c: Likewise.
+	* elf32-bfin.c: Likewise.
+	* elf32-cris.c: Likewise.
+	* elf32-hppa.c: Likewise.
+	* elf32-i370.c: Likewise.
+	* elf32-i386.c: Likewise.
+	* elf32-iq2000.c: Likewise.
+	* elf32-m32r.c: Likewise.
+	* elf32-m68hc11.c: Likewise.
+	* elf32-m68hc12.c: Likewise.
+	* elf32-m68k.c: Likewise.
+	* elf32-mcore.c: Likewise.
+	* elf32-ppc.c: Likewise.
+	* elf32-s390.c: Likewise.
+	* elf32-sh-symbian.c: Likewise.
+	* elf32-sh.c: Likewise.
+	* elf32-sh64.c: Likewise.
+	* elf32-v850.c: Likewise.
+	* elf32-vax.c: Likewise.
+	* elf32-xtensa.c: Likewise.
+	* elf64-alpha.c: Likewise.
+	* elf64-hppa.c: Likewise.
+	* elf64-mmix.c: Likewise.
+	* elf64-ppc.c: Likewise.
+	* elf64-s390.c: Likewise.
+	* elf64-sh64.c: Likewise.
+	* elf64-x86-64.c: Likewise.
+	* elflink.c: Likewise.
+	* elfxx-ia64.c: Likewise.
+	* elfxx-mips.c: Likewise.
+	* elfxx-sparc.c: Likewise.
+	* hpux-core.c: Likewise.
+	* i386linux.c: Likewise.
+	* ieee.c: Likewise.
+	* libpei.h: Likewise.
+	* linker.c: Likewise.
+	* m68klinux.c: Likewise.
+	* mmo.c: Likewise.
+	* nlmcode.h: Likewise.
+	* osf-core.c: Likewise.
+	* pef.c: Likewise.
+	* som.c: Likewise.
+	* sparclinux.c: Likewise.
+	* vms-hdr.c: Likewise.
+
 2006-09-14  Alan Modra  <amodra@bigpond.net.au>
 
 	PR 3182
diff --git a/bfd/archive.c b/bfd/archive.c
index 24bb048138b..947506d0002 100644
--- a/bfd/archive.c
+++ b/bfd/archive.c
@@ -912,12 +912,12 @@ bfd_slurp_armap (bfd *abfd)
   if (bfd_seek (abfd, (file_ptr) -16, SEEK_CUR) != 0)
     return FALSE;
 
-  if (!strncmp (nextname, "__.SYMDEF       ", 16)
-      || !strncmp (nextname, "__.SYMDEF/      ", 16)) /* old Linux archives */
+  if (CONST_STRNEQ (nextname, "__.SYMDEF       ")
+      || CONST_STRNEQ (nextname, "__.SYMDEF/      ")) /* Old Linux archives.  */
     return do_slurp_bsd_armap (abfd);
-  else if (!strncmp (nextname, "/               ", 16))
+  else if (CONST_STRNEQ (nextname, "/               "))
     return do_slurp_coff_armap (abfd);
-  else if (!strncmp (nextname, "/SYM64/         ", 16))
+  else if (CONST_STRNEQ (nextname, "/SYM64/         "))
     {
       /* 64bit ELF (Irix 6) archive.  */
 #ifdef BFD64
@@ -963,11 +963,11 @@ bfd_slurp_bsd_armap_f2 (bfd *abfd)
   if (bfd_seek (abfd, (file_ptr) -16, SEEK_CUR) != 0)
     return FALSE;
 
-  if (!strncmp (nextname, "__.SYMDEF       ", 16)
-      || !strncmp (nextname, "__.SYMDEF/      ", 16)) /* Old Linux archives.  */
+  if (CONST_STRNEQ (nextname, "__.SYMDEF       ")
+      || CONST_STRNEQ (nextname, "__.SYMDEF/      ")) /* Old Linux archives.  */
     return do_slurp_bsd_armap (abfd);
 
-  if (strncmp (nextname, "/               ", 16))
+  if (! CONST_STRNEQ (nextname, "/               "))
     {
       bfd_has_map (abfd) = FALSE;
       return TRUE;
@@ -1063,8 +1063,8 @@ _bfd_slurp_extended_name_table (bfd *abfd)
       if (bfd_seek (abfd, (file_ptr) -16, SEEK_CUR) != 0)
 	return FALSE;
 
-      if (strncmp (nextname, "ARFILENAMES/    ", 16) != 0 &&
-	  strncmp (nextname, "//              ", 16) != 0)
+      if (! CONST_STRNEQ (nextname, "ARFILENAMES/    ")
+	  && ! CONST_STRNEQ (nextname, "//              "))
 	{
 	  bfd_ardata (abfd)->extended_names = NULL;
 	  bfd_ardata (abfd)->extended_names_size = 0;
diff --git a/bfd/archive64.c b/bfd/archive64.c
index 3b28f853c21..4fc8b851939 100644
--- a/bfd/archive64.c
+++ b/bfd/archive64.c
@@ -1,25 +1,25 @@
 /* MIPS-specific support for 64-bit ELF
-   Copyright 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003
+   Copyright 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2006
    Free Software Foundation, Inc.
    Ian Lance Taylor, Cygnus Support
    Linker support added by Mark Mitchell, CodeSourcery, LLC.
    <mark@codesourcery.com>
 
-This file is part of BFD, the Binary File Descriptor library.
+   This file is part of BFD, the Binary File Descriptor library.
 
-This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
-it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
-the Free Software Foundation; either version 2 of the License, or
-(at your option) any later version.
+   This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
+   it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
+   the Free Software Foundation; either version 2 of the License, or
+   (at your option) any later version.
 
-This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
-but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
-MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
-GNU General Public License for more details.
+   This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+   but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+   MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+   GNU General Public License for more details.
 
-You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
-along with this program; if not, write to the Free Software
-Foundation, Inc., 51 Franklin Street - Fifth Floor, Boston, MA 02110-1301, USA.  */
+   You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+   along with this program; if not, write to the Free Software
+   Foundation, Inc., 51 Franklin Street - Fifth Floor, Boston, MA 02110-1301, USA.  */
 
 /* This file supports the 64-bit (MIPS) ELF archives.  */
 
@@ -65,10 +65,10 @@ bfd_elf64_archive_slurp_armap (bfd *abfd)
     return FALSE;
 
   /* Archives with traditional armaps are still permitted.  */
-  if (strncmp (nextname, "/               ", 16) == 0)
+  if (CONST_STRNEQ (nextname, "/               "))
     return bfd_slurp_armap (abfd);
 
-  if (strncmp (nextname, "/SYM64/         ", 16) != 0)
+  if (! CONST_STRNEQ (nextname, "/SYM64/         "))
     {
       bfd_has_map (abfd) = FALSE;
       return TRUE;
diff --git a/bfd/bfd-in.h b/bfd/bfd-in.h
index 6ceb0dbdac3..c11880e9537 100644
--- a/bfd/bfd-in.h
+++ b/bfd/bfd-in.h
@@ -43,6 +43,25 @@ extern "C" {
 #endif
 #endif
 
+/* This is a utility macro to handle the situation where the code
+   wants to place a constant string into the code, followed by a
+   comma and then the length of the string.  Doing this by hand
+   is error prone, so using this macro is safer.  The macro will
+   also safely handle the case where a NULL is passed as the arg.  */
+#define STRING_COMMA_LEN(STR) (STR), ((STR) ? sizeof (STR) - 1 : 0)
+/* Unfortunately it is not possible to use the STRING_COMMA_LEN macro
+   to create the arguments to another macro, since the preprocessor
+   will mis-count the number of arguments to the outer macro (by not
+   evaluating STRING_COMMA_LEN and so missing the comma).  This is a
+   problem for example when trying to use STRING_COMMA_LEN to build
+   the arguments to the strncmp() macro.  Hence this alternative
+   definition of strncmp is provided here.
+   
+   Note - these macros do NOT work if STR2 is not a constant string.  */
+#define CONST_STRNEQ(STR1,STR2) (strncmp ((STR1), (STR2), sizeof (STR2) - 1) == 0)
+#define CONST_STRNCPY(STR1,STR2) strncpy ((STR1), (STR2), sizeof (STR2) - 1)
+
+
 /* The word size used by BFD on the host.  This may be 64 with a 32
    bit target if the host is 64 bit, or if other 64 bit targets have
    been selected with --enable-targets, or if --enable-64-bit-bfd.  */
diff --git a/bfd/bfd-in2.h b/bfd/bfd-in2.h
index b75c8e2510c..841cc465509 100644
--- a/bfd/bfd-in2.h
+++ b/bfd/bfd-in2.h
@@ -50,6 +50,25 @@ extern "C" {
 #endif
 #endif
 
+/* This is a utility macro to handle the situation where the code
+   wants to place a constant string into the code, followed by a
+   comma and then the length of the string.  Doing this by hand
+   is error prone, so using this macro is safer.  The macro will
+   also safely handle the case where a NULL is passed as the arg.  */
+#define STRING_COMMA_LEN(STR) (STR), ((STR) ? sizeof (STR) - 1 : 0)
+/* Unfortunately it is not possible to use the STRING_COMMA_LEN macro
+   to create the arguments to another macro, since the preprocessor
+   will mis-count the number of arguments to the outer macro (by not
+   evaluating STRING_COMMA_LEN and so missing the comma).  This is a
+   problem for example when trying to use STRING_COMMA_LEN to build
+   the arguments to the strncmp() macro.  Hence this alternative
+   definition of strncmp is provided here.
+   
+   Note - these macros do NOT work if STR2 is not a constant string.  */
+#define CONST_STRNEQ(STR1,STR2) (strncmp ((STR1), (STR2), sizeof (STR2) - 1) == 0)
+#define CONST_STRNCPY(STR1,STR2) strncpy ((STR1), (STR2), sizeof (STR2) - 1)
+
+
 /* The word size used by BFD on the host.  This may be 64 with a 32
    bit target if the host is 64 bit, or if other 64 bit targets have
    been selected with --enable-targets, or if --enable-64-bit-bfd.  */
diff --git a/bfd/bfd.c b/bfd/bfd.c
index 13fbf93628a..7f59adb1302 100644
--- a/bfd/bfd.c
+++ b/bfd/bfd.c
@@ -881,7 +881,7 @@ bfd_get_sign_extend_vma (bfd *abfd)
      no place to store this information in the COFF back end.
      Should enough other COFF targets add support for DWARF2,
      a place will have to be found.  Until then, this hack will do.  */
-  if (strncmp (name, "coff-go32", sizeof ("coff-go32") - 1) == 0
+  if (CONST_STRNEQ (name, "coff-go32")
       || strcmp (name, "pe-i386") == 0
       || strcmp (name, "pei-i386") == 0
       || strcmp (name, "pe-arm-wince-little") == 0
diff --git a/bfd/coff-ppc.c b/bfd/coff-ppc.c
index b4427936933..0ef37852345 100644
--- a/bfd/coff-ppc.c
+++ b/bfd/coff-ppc.c
@@ -1332,7 +1332,7 @@ coff_ppc_relocate_section (output_bfd, info, input_bfd, input_section,
 
 	    DUMP_RELOC2 (howto->name, rel);
 
-	    if (strncmp(".idata$2",input_section->name,8) == 0 && first_thunk_address == 0)
+	    if (CONST_STRNEQ (input_section->name, ".idata$2") && first_thunk_address == 0)
 	      {
 		/* Set magic values.  */
 		int idata5offset;
diff --git a/bfd/coff-stgo32.c b/bfd/coff-stgo32.c
index 3c5fdbb6e80..61f18f0c1f3 100644
--- a/bfd/coff-stgo32.c
+++ b/bfd/coff-stgo32.c
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 /* BFD back-end for Intel 386 COFF files (DJGPP variant with a stub).
-   Copyright 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
+   Copyright 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2006 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
    Written by Robert Hoehne.
 
    This file is part of BFD, the Binary File Descriptor library.
@@ -354,7 +354,7 @@ create_go32_stub (abfd)
 	  close (f);
 	  goto stub_end;
 	}
-      if (memcmp (magic, "go32stub", 8) != 0)
+      if (! CONST_STRNEQ (magic, "go32stub"))
 	{
 	  close (f);
 	  goto stub_end;
diff --git a/bfd/coffcode.h b/bfd/coffcode.h
index fa0a206a5ef..0c7f897453b 100644
--- a/bfd/coffcode.h
+++ b/bfd/coffcode.h
@@ -427,7 +427,7 @@ sec_to_styp_flags (const char *sec_name, flagword sec_flags)
       styp_flags = STYP_LIT;
 #endif /* _LIT */
     }
-  else if (!strncmp (sec_name, DOT_DEBUG, sizeof (DOT_DEBUG) - 1))
+  else if (CONST_STRNEQ (sec_name, DOT_DEBUG))
     {
       /* Handle the XCOFF debug section and DWARF2 debug sections.  */
       if (!sec_name[6])
@@ -435,12 +435,12 @@ sec_to_styp_flags (const char *sec_name, flagword sec_flags)
       else
         styp_flags = STYP_DEBUG_INFO;
     }
-  else if (!strncmp (sec_name, ".stab", 5))
+  else if (CONST_STRNEQ (sec_name, ".stab"))
     {
       styp_flags = STYP_DEBUG_INFO;
     }
 #ifdef COFF_LONG_SECTION_NAMES
-  else if (!strncmp (sec_name, GNU_LINKONCE_WI, sizeof (GNU_LINKONCE_WI) - 1))
+  else if (CONST_STRNEQ (sec_name, GNU_LINKONCE_WI))
     {
       styp_flags = STYP_DEBUG_INFO;
     }
@@ -529,8 +529,8 @@ sec_to_styp_flags (const char *sec_name, flagword sec_flags)
      but there are more IMAGE_SCN_* flags.  */
 
   /* FIXME: There is no gas syntax to specify the debug section flag.  */
-  if (strncmp (sec_name, DOT_DEBUG, sizeof (DOT_DEBUG) - 1) == 0
-      || strncmp (sec_name, GNU_LINKONCE_WI, sizeof (GNU_LINKONCE_WI) - 1) == 0)
+  if (CONST_STRNEQ (sec_name, DOT_DEBUG)
+      || CONST_STRNEQ (sec_name, GNU_LINKONCE_WI))
     sec_flags = SEC_DEBUGGING;
 
   /* skip LOAD */
@@ -674,14 +674,14 @@ styp_to_sec_flags (bfd *abfd ATTRIBUTE_UNUSED,
 #endif
 	sec_flags |= SEC_ALLOC;
     }
-  else if (strncmp (name, DOT_DEBUG, sizeof (DOT_DEBUG) - 1) == 0
+  else if (CONST_STRNEQ (name, DOT_DEBUG)
 #ifdef _COMMENT
 	   || strcmp (name, _COMMENT) == 0
 #endif
 #ifdef COFF_LONG_SECTION_NAMES
-	   || strncmp (name, GNU_LINKONCE_WI, sizeof (GNU_LINKONCE_WI) - 1) == 0
+	   || CONST_STRNEQ (name, GNU_LINKONCE_WI)
 #endif
-	   || strncmp (name, ".stab", 5) == 0)
+	   || CONST_STRNEQ (name, ".stab"))
     {
 #ifdef COFF_PAGE_SIZE
       sec_flags |= SEC_DEBUGGING;
@@ -715,7 +715,7 @@ styp_to_sec_flags (bfd *abfd ATTRIBUTE_UNUSED,
      The symbols will be defined as weak, so that multiple definitions
      are permitted.  The GNU linker extension is to actually discard
      all but one of the sections.  */
-  if (strncmp (name, ".gnu.linkonce", sizeof ".gnu.linkonce" - 1) == 0)
+  if (CONST_STRNEQ (name, ".gnu.linkonce"))
     sec_flags |= SEC_LINK_ONCE | SEC_LINK_DUPLICATES_DISCARD;
 #endif
 
@@ -1071,7 +1071,7 @@ styp_to_sec_flags (bfd *abfd,
 	  /* The MS PE spec sets the DISCARDABLE flag on .reloc sections
 	     but we do not want them to be labelled as debug section, since
 	     then strip would remove them.  */
-	  if (strncmp (name, ".reloc", sizeof ".reloc" - 1) != 0)
+	  if (! CONST_STRNEQ (name, ".reloc"))
 	    sec_flags |= SEC_DEBUGGING;
 	  break;
 	case IMAGE_SCN_MEM_SHARED:
@@ -1126,7 +1126,7 @@ styp_to_sec_flags (bfd *abfd,
      The symbols will be defined as weak, so that multiple definitions
      are permitted.  The GNU linker extension is to actually discard
      all but one of the sections.  */
-  if (strncmp (name, ".gnu.linkonce", sizeof ".gnu.linkonce" - 1) == 0)
+  if (CONST_STRNEQ (name, ".gnu.linkonce"))
     sec_flags |= SEC_LINK_ONCE | SEC_LINK_DUPLICATES_DISCARD;
 #endif
 
diff --git a/bfd/cofflink.c b/bfd/cofflink.c
index 40f5a700929..6e15a025931 100644
--- a/bfd/cofflink.c
+++ b/bfd/cofflink.c
@@ -232,7 +232,7 @@ coff_link_check_ar_symbols (bfd *abfd,
 	  /* Auto import.  */
 	  if (!h
 	      && info->pei386_auto_import
-	      && !strncmp (name,"__imp_", 6))
+	      && CONST_STRNEQ (name, "__imp_"))
 	    h = bfd_link_hash_lookup (info->hash, name + 6, FALSE, FALSE, TRUE);
 
 	  /* We are only interested in symbols that are currently
@@ -439,7 +439,7 @@ coff_link_add_symbols (bfd *abfd,
 		  || classification == COFF_SYMBOL_PE_SECTION)
 	      && coff_section_data (abfd, section) != NULL
 	      && coff_section_data (abfd, section)->comdat != NULL
-	      && strncmp (name, "??_", 3) == 0
+	      && CONST_STRNEQ (name, "??_")
 	      && strcmp (name, coff_section_data (abfd, section)->comdat->name) == 0)
 	    {
 	      if (*sym_hash == NULL)
@@ -583,7 +583,7 @@ coff_link_add_symbols (bfd *abfd,
 	  asection *stab;
 	  
 	  for (stab = abfd->sections; stab; stab = stab->next)
-	    if (strncmp (".stab", stab->name, 5) == 0
+	    if (CONST_STRNEQ (".stab", stab->name)
 		&& (!stab->name[5]
 		    || (stab->name[5] == '.' && ISDIGIT (stab->name[6]))))
 	    {
@@ -1232,7 +1232,7 @@ process_embedded_commands (bfd *output_bfd,
 	  s++;
 	  continue;
 	}
-      if (strncmp (s, "-attr", 5) == 0)
+      if (CONST_STRNEQ (s, "-attr"))
 	{
 	  char *name;
 	  char *attribs;
@@ -1272,11 +1272,11 @@ process_embedded_commands (bfd *output_bfd,
 		asec->flags |= SEC_READONLY;
 	    }
 	}
-      else if (strncmp (s,"-heap", 5) == 0)
-	s = dores_com (s+5, output_bfd, 1);
+      else if (CONST_STRNEQ (s, "-heap"))
+	s = dores_com (s + 5, output_bfd, 1);
 
-      else if (strncmp (s,"-stack", 6) == 0)
-	s = dores_com (s+6, output_bfd, 0);
+      else if (CONST_STRNEQ (s, "-stack"))
+	s = dores_com (s + 6, output_bfd, 0);
 
       else
 	s++;
diff --git a/bfd/cpu-i960.c b/bfd/cpu-i960.c
index 7a9be7ca640..e7ccd46894d 100644
--- a/bfd/cpu-i960.c
+++ b/bfd/cpu-i960.c
@@ -1,23 +1,23 @@
 /* BFD library support routines for the i960 architecture.
-   Copyright 1990, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1996, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002
+   Copyright 1990, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1996, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2006
    Free Software Foundation, Inc.
    Hacked by Steve Chamberlain of Cygnus Support.
 
-This file is part of BFD, the Binary File Descriptor library.
+   This file is part of BFD, the Binary File Descriptor library.
 
-This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
-it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
-the Free Software Foundation; either version 2 of the License, or
-(at your option) any later version.
+   This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
+   it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
+   the Free Software Foundation; either version 2 of the License, or
+   (at your option) any later version.
 
-This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
-but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
-MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
-GNU General Public License for more details.
+   This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+   but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+   MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+   GNU General Public License for more details.
 
-You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
-along with this program; if not, write to the Free Software
-Foundation, Inc., 51 Franklin Street - Fifth Floor, Boston, MA 02110-1301, USA.  */
+   You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+   along with this program; if not, write to the Free Software
+   Foundation, Inc., 51 Franklin Street - Fifth Floor, Boston, MA 02110-1301, USA.  */
 
 #include "bfd.h"
 #include "sysdep.h"
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ scan_960_mach (ap, string)
     }
   /* In some bfds the cpu-id is written as "80960KA", "80960KB",
      "80960CA" or "80960MC".  */
-  else if (strncmp ("80960", string, 5) == 0)
+  else if (CONST_STRNEQ (string, "80960"))
     {
       string += 5;
 
diff --git a/bfd/dwarf2.c b/bfd/dwarf2.c
index b55f2faec47..b0571143590 100644
--- a/bfd/dwarf2.c
+++ b/bfd/dwarf2.c
@@ -2181,7 +2181,7 @@ find_debug_info (bfd *abfd, asection *after_sec)
       if (strcmp (msec->name, DWARF2_DEBUG_INFO) == 0)
 	return msec;
 
-      if (strncmp (msec->name, GNU_LINKONCE_INFO, strlen (GNU_LINKONCE_INFO)) == 0)
+      if (CONST_STRNEQ (msec->name, GNU_LINKONCE_INFO))
 	return msec;
 
       msec = msec->next;
diff --git a/bfd/ecoff.c b/bfd/ecoff.c
index 386227b1ccf..eef59dc0f14 100644
--- a/bfd/ecoff.c
+++ b/bfd/ecoff.c
@@ -2861,7 +2861,7 @@ _bfd_ecoff_slurp_armap (bfd *abfd)
      bfd_slurp_armap, but that seems inappropriate since no other
      target uses this format.  Instead, we check directly for a COFF
      armap.  */
-  if (strneq (nextname, "/               ", 16))
+  if (CONST_STRNEQ (nextname, "/               "))
     return bfd_slurp_armap (abfd);
 
   /* See if the first element is an armap.  */
diff --git a/bfd/elf-m10300.c b/bfd/elf-m10300.c
index a8f4836e709..351d01c7318 100644
--- a/bfd/elf-m10300.c
+++ b/bfd/elf-m10300.c
@@ -2,21 +2,21 @@
    Copyright 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005,
    2006 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
 
-This file is part of BFD, the Binary File Descriptor library.
+   This file is part of BFD, the Binary File Descriptor library.
 
-This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
-it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
-the Free Software Foundation; either version 2 of the License, or
-(at your option) any later version.
+   This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
+   it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
+   the Free Software Foundation; either version 2 of the License, or
+   (at your option) any later version.
 
-This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
-but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
-MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
-GNU General Public License for more details.
+   This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+   but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+   MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+   GNU General Public License for more details.
 
-You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
-along with this program; if not, write to the Free Software
-Foundation, Inc., 51 Franklin Street - Fifth Floor, Boston, MA 02110-1301, USA.  */
+   You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+   along with this program; if not, write to the Free Software
+   Foundation, Inc., 51 Franklin Street - Fifth Floor, Boston, MA 02110-1301, USA.  */
 
 #include "bfd.h"
 #include "sysdep.h"
@@ -886,7 +886,7 @@ mn10300_elf_check_relocs (abfd, info, sec, relocs)
 		  if (name == NULL)
 		    return FALSE;
 
-		  BFD_ASSERT (strncmp (name, ".rela", 5) == 0
+		  BFD_ASSERT (CONST_STRNEQ (name, ".rela")
 			      && strcmp (bfd_get_section_name (abfd, sec),
 					 name + 5) == 0);
 
@@ -1036,7 +1036,7 @@ mn10300_elf_final_link_relocate (howto, input_bfd, output_bfd,
 	      if (name == NULL)
 		return FALSE;
 
-	      BFD_ASSERT (strncmp (name, ".rela", 5) == 0
+	      BFD_ASSERT (CONST_STRNEQ (name, ".rela")
 			  && strcmp (bfd_get_section_name (input_bfd,
 							   input_section),
 				     name + 5) == 0);
@@ -4310,7 +4310,7 @@ _bfd_mn10300_elf_size_dynamic_sections (output_bfd, info)
 	  /* Remember whether there is a PLT.  */
 	  plt = s->size != 0;
 	}
-      else if (strncmp (name, ".rela", 5) == 0)
+      else if (CONST_STRNEQ (name, ".rela"))
 	{
 	  if (s->size != 0)
 	    {
@@ -4343,7 +4343,7 @@ _bfd_mn10300_elf_size_dynamic_sections (output_bfd, info)
 	      s->reloc_count = 0;
 	    }
 	}
-      else if (strncmp (name, ".got", 4) != 0
+      else if (! CONST_STRNEQ (name, ".got")
 	       && strcmp (name, ".dynbss") != 0)
 	/* It's not one of our sections, so don't allocate space.  */
 	continue;
diff --git a/bfd/elf.c b/bfd/elf.c
index ce8f4bccb5f..83bfcef8430 100644
--- a/bfd/elf.c
+++ b/bfd/elf.c
@@ -816,22 +816,22 @@ _bfd_elf_make_section_from_shdr (bfd *abfd,
 	  int len;
 	} debug_sections [] =
 	{
-	  { "debug",		 5  },	/* 'd' */
+	  { STRING_COMMA_LEN ("debug") },	/* 'd' */
 	  { NULL,		 0  },	/* 'e' */
 	  { NULL,		 0  },	/* 'f' */
-	  { "gnu.linkonce.wi.", 16 },	/* 'g' */
+	  { STRING_COMMA_LEN ("gnu.linkonce.wi.") },	/* 'g' */
 	  { NULL,		 0  },	/* 'h' */
 	  { NULL,		 0  },	/* 'i' */
 	  { NULL,		 0  },	/* 'j' */
 	  { NULL,		 0  },	/* 'k' */
-	  { "line",		 4  },	/* 'l' */
+	  { STRING_COMMA_LEN ("line") },	/* 'l' */
 	  { NULL,		 0  },	/* 'm' */
 	  { NULL,		 0  },	/* 'n' */
 	  { NULL,		 0  },	/* 'o' */
 	  { NULL,		 0  },	/* 'p' */
 	  { NULL,		 0  },	/* 'q' */
 	  { NULL,		 0  },	/* 'r' */
-	  { "stab",		 4  }	/* 's' */
+	  { STRING_COMMA_LEN ("stab") }	/* 's' */
 	};
       
       if (name [0] == '.')
@@ -852,7 +852,7 @@ _bfd_elf_make_section_from_shdr (bfd *abfd,
      The symbols will be defined as weak, so that multiple definitions
      are permitted.  The GNU linker extension is to actually discard
      all but one of the sections.  */
-  if (strncmp (name, ".gnu.linkonce", sizeof ".gnu.linkonce" - 1) == 0
+  if (CONST_STRNEQ (name, ".gnu.linkonce")
       && elf_next_in_group (newsect) == NULL)
     flags |= SEC_LINK_ONCE | SEC_LINK_DUPLICATES_DISCARD;
 
@@ -2281,109 +2281,109 @@ bfd_section_from_elf_index (bfd *abfd, unsigned int index)
 
 static const struct bfd_elf_special_section special_sections_b[] =
 {
-  { ".bss",            4, -2, SHT_NOBITS,   SHF_ALLOC + SHF_WRITE },
-  { NULL,              0,  0, 0,            0 }
+  { STRING_COMMA_LEN (".bss"), -2, SHT_NOBITS,   SHF_ALLOC + SHF_WRITE },
+  { NULL,                   0,  0, 0,            0 }
 };
 
 static const struct bfd_elf_special_section special_sections_c[] =
 {
-  { ".comment",        8,  0, SHT_PROGBITS, 0 },
-  { NULL,              0,  0, 0,            0 }
+  { STRING_COMMA_LEN (".comment"), 0, SHT_PROGBITS, 0 },
+  { NULL,                       0, 0, 0,            0 }
 };
 
 static const struct bfd_elf_special_section special_sections_d[] =
 {
-  { ".data",           5, -2, SHT_PROGBITS, SHF_ALLOC + SHF_WRITE },
-  { ".data1",          6,  0, SHT_PROGBITS, SHF_ALLOC + SHF_WRITE },
-  { ".debug",          6,  0, SHT_PROGBITS, 0 },
-  { ".debug_line",    11,  0, SHT_PROGBITS, 0 },
-  { ".debug_info",    11,  0, SHT_PROGBITS, 0 },
-  { ".debug_abbrev",  13,  0, SHT_PROGBITS, 0 },
-  { ".debug_aranges", 14,  0, SHT_PROGBITS, 0 },
-  { ".dynamic",        8,  0, SHT_DYNAMIC,  SHF_ALLOC },
-  { ".dynstr",         7,  0, SHT_STRTAB,   SHF_ALLOC },
-  { ".dynsym",         7,  0, SHT_DYNSYM,   SHF_ALLOC },
-  { NULL,              0,  0, 0,            0 }
+  { STRING_COMMA_LEN (".data"),         -2, SHT_PROGBITS, SHF_ALLOC + SHF_WRITE },
+  { STRING_COMMA_LEN (".data1"),         0, SHT_PROGBITS, SHF_ALLOC + SHF_WRITE },
+  { STRING_COMMA_LEN (".debug"),         0, SHT_PROGBITS, 0 },
+  { STRING_COMMA_LEN (".debug_line"),    0, SHT_PROGBITS, 0 },
+  { STRING_COMMA_LEN (".debug_info"),    0, SHT_PROGBITS, 0 },
+  { STRING_COMMA_LEN (".debug_abbrev"),  0, SHT_PROGBITS, 0 },
+  { STRING_COMMA_LEN (".debug_aranges"), 0, SHT_PROGBITS, 0 },
+  { STRING_COMMA_LEN (".dynamic"),       0, SHT_DYNAMIC,  SHF_ALLOC },
+  { STRING_COMMA_LEN (".dynstr"),        0, SHT_STRTAB,   SHF_ALLOC },
+  { STRING_COMMA_LEN (".dynsym"),        0, SHT_DYNSYM,   SHF_ALLOC },
+  { NULL,                      0,        0, 0,            0 }
 };
 
 static const struct bfd_elf_special_section special_sections_f[] =
 {
-  { ".fini",           5,  0, SHT_PROGBITS, SHF_ALLOC + SHF_EXECINSTR },
-  { ".fini_array",    11,  0, SHT_FINI_ARRAY, SHF_ALLOC + SHF_WRITE },
-  { NULL,              0,  0, 0,            0 }
+  { STRING_COMMA_LEN (".fini"),       0, SHT_PROGBITS,   SHF_ALLOC + SHF_EXECINSTR },
+  { STRING_COMMA_LEN (".fini_array"), 0, SHT_FINI_ARRAY, SHF_ALLOC + SHF_WRITE },
+  { NULL,                          0, 0, 0,              0 }
 };
 
 static const struct bfd_elf_special_section special_sections_g[] =
 {
-  { ".gnu.linkonce.b",15, -2, SHT_NOBITS,   SHF_ALLOC + SHF_WRITE },
-  { ".got",            4,  0, SHT_PROGBITS, SHF_ALLOC + SHF_WRITE },
-  { ".gnu.version",   12,  0, SHT_GNU_versym, 0 },
-  { ".gnu.version_d", 14,  0, SHT_GNU_verdef, 0 },
-  { ".gnu.version_r", 14,  0, SHT_GNU_verneed, 0 },
-  { ".gnu.liblist",   12,  0, SHT_GNU_LIBLIST, SHF_ALLOC },
-  { ".gnu.conflict",  13,  0, SHT_RELA,     SHF_ALLOC },
-  { ".gnu.hash",       9,  0, SHT_GNU_HASH, SHF_ALLOC },
-  { NULL,              0,  0, 0,            0 }
+  { STRING_COMMA_LEN (".gnu.linkonce.b"), -2, SHT_NOBITS,      SHF_ALLOC + SHF_WRITE },
+  { STRING_COMMA_LEN (".got"),             0, SHT_PROGBITS,    SHF_ALLOC + SHF_WRITE },
+  { STRING_COMMA_LEN (".gnu.version"),     0, SHT_GNU_versym,  0 },
+  { STRING_COMMA_LEN (".gnu.version_d"),   0, SHT_GNU_verdef,  0 },
+  { STRING_COMMA_LEN (".gnu.version_r"),   0, SHT_GNU_verneed, 0 },
+  { STRING_COMMA_LEN (".gnu.liblist"),     0, SHT_GNU_LIBLIST, SHF_ALLOC },
+  { STRING_COMMA_LEN (".gnu.conflict"),    0, SHT_RELA,        SHF_ALLOC },
+  { STRING_COMMA_LEN (".gnu.hash"),        0, SHT_GNU_HASH,    SHF_ALLOC },
+  { NULL,                        0,        0, 0,               0 }
 };
 
 static const struct bfd_elf_special_section special_sections_h[] =
 {
-  { ".hash",           5,  0, SHT_HASH,     SHF_ALLOC },
-  { NULL,              0,  0, 0,            0 }
+  { STRING_COMMA_LEN (".hash"), 0, SHT_HASH,     SHF_ALLOC },
+  { NULL,                    0, 0, 0,            0 }
 };
 
 static const struct bfd_elf_special_section special_sections_i[] =
 {
-  { ".init",           5,  0, SHT_PROGBITS, SHF_ALLOC + SHF_EXECINSTR },
-  { ".init_array",    11,  0, SHT_INIT_ARRAY, SHF_ALLOC + SHF_WRITE },
-  { ".interp",         7,  0, SHT_PROGBITS, 0 },
-  { NULL,              0,  0, 0,            0 }
+  { STRING_COMMA_LEN (".init"),       0, SHT_PROGBITS,   SHF_ALLOC + SHF_EXECINSTR },
+  { STRING_COMMA_LEN (".init_array"), 0, SHT_INIT_ARRAY, SHF_ALLOC + SHF_WRITE },
+  { STRING_COMMA_LEN (".interp"),     0, SHT_PROGBITS,   0 },
+  { NULL,                      0,     0, 0,              0 }
 };
 
 static const struct bfd_elf_special_section special_sections_l[] =
 {
-  { ".line",           5,  0, SHT_PROGBITS, 0 },
-  { NULL,              0,  0, 0,            0 }
+  { STRING_COMMA_LEN (".line"), 0, SHT_PROGBITS, 0 },
+  { NULL,                    0, 0, 0,            0 }
 };
 
 static const struct bfd_elf_special_section special_sections_n[] =
 {
-  { ".note.GNU-stack",15,  0, SHT_PROGBITS, 0 },
-  { ".note",           5, -1, SHT_NOTE,     0 },
-  { NULL,              0,  0, 0,            0 }
+  { STRING_COMMA_LEN (".note.GNU-stack"), 0, SHT_PROGBITS, 0 },
+  { STRING_COMMA_LEN (".note"),          -1, SHT_NOTE,     0 },
+  { NULL,                    0,           0, 0,            0 }
 };
 
 static const struct bfd_elf_special_section special_sections_p[] =
 {
-  { ".preinit_array", 14,  0, SHT_PREINIT_ARRAY, SHF_ALLOC + SHF_WRITE },
-  { ".plt",            4,  0, SHT_PROGBITS, SHF_ALLOC + SHF_EXECINSTR },
-  { NULL,              0,  0, 0,            0 }
+  { STRING_COMMA_LEN (".preinit_array"), 0, SHT_PREINIT_ARRAY, SHF_ALLOC + SHF_WRITE },
+  { STRING_COMMA_LEN (".plt"),           0, SHT_PROGBITS,      SHF_ALLOC + SHF_EXECINSTR },
+  { NULL,                   0,           0, 0,                 0 }
 };
 
 static const struct bfd_elf_special_section special_sections_r[] =
 {
-  { ".rodata",         7, -2, SHT_PROGBITS, SHF_ALLOC },
-  { ".rodata1",        8,  0, SHT_PROGBITS, SHF_ALLOC },
-  { ".rela",           5, -1, SHT_RELA,     0 },
-  { ".rel",            4, -1, SHT_REL,      0 },
-  { NULL,              0,  0, 0,            0 }
+  { STRING_COMMA_LEN (".rodata"), -2, SHT_PROGBITS, SHF_ALLOC },
+  { STRING_COMMA_LEN (".rodata1"), 0, SHT_PROGBITS, SHF_ALLOC },
+  { STRING_COMMA_LEN (".rela"),   -1, SHT_RELA,     0 },
+  { STRING_COMMA_LEN (".rel"),    -1, SHT_REL,      0 },
+  { NULL,                   0,     0, 0,            0 }
 };
 
 static const struct bfd_elf_special_section special_sections_s[] =
 {
-  { ".shstrtab",       9,  0, SHT_STRTAB,   0 },
-  { ".strtab",         7,  0, SHT_STRTAB,   0 },
-  { ".symtab",         7,  0, SHT_SYMTAB,   0 },
-  { ".stabstr",        5,  3, SHT_STRTAB,   0 },
-  { NULL,              0,  0, 0,            0 }
+  { STRING_COMMA_LEN (".shstrtab"), 0, SHT_STRTAB, 0 },
+  { STRING_COMMA_LEN (".strtab"),   0, SHT_STRTAB, 0 },
+  { STRING_COMMA_LEN (".symtab"),   0, SHT_SYMTAB, 0 },
+  { STRING_COMMA_LEN (".stabstr"),  3, SHT_STRTAB, 0 },
+  { NULL,                       0,  0, 0,          0 }
 };
 
 static const struct bfd_elf_special_section special_sections_t[] =
 {
-  { ".text",           5, -2, SHT_PROGBITS, SHF_ALLOC + SHF_EXECINSTR },
-  { ".tbss",           5, -2, SHT_NOBITS,   SHF_ALLOC + SHF_WRITE + SHF_TLS },
-  { ".tdata",          6, -2, SHT_PROGBITS, SHF_ALLOC + SHF_WRITE + SHF_TLS },
-  { NULL,              0,  0, 0,            0 }
+  { STRING_COMMA_LEN (".text"),  -2, SHT_PROGBITS, SHF_ALLOC + SHF_EXECINSTR },
+  { STRING_COMMA_LEN (".tbss"),  -2, SHT_NOBITS,   SHF_ALLOC + SHF_WRITE + SHF_TLS },
+  { STRING_COMMA_LEN (".tdata"), -2, SHT_PROGBITS, SHF_ALLOC + SHF_WRITE + SHF_TLS },
+  { NULL,                     0,  0, 0,            0 }
 };
 
 static const struct bfd_elf_special_section *special_sections[] =
@@ -3238,7 +3238,7 @@ assign_section_numbers (bfd *abfd, struct bfd_link_info *link_info)
 	     string section.  We look for a section with the same name
 	     but without the trailing ``str'', and set its sh_link
 	     field to point to this section.  */
-	  if (strncmp (sec->name, ".stab", sizeof ".stab" - 1) == 0
+	  if (CONST_STRNEQ (sec->name, ".stab")
 	      && strcmp (sec->name + strlen (sec->name) - 3, "str") == 0)
 	    {
 	      size_t len;
@@ -3646,7 +3646,7 @@ get_program_header_size (bfd *abfd, struct bfd_link_info *info)
   for (s = abfd->sections; s != NULL; s = s->next)
     {
       if ((s->flags & SEC_LOAD) != 0
-	  && strncmp (s->name, ".note", 5) == 0)
+	  && CONST_STRNEQ (s->name, ".note"))
 	{
 	  /* We need a PT_NOTE segment.  */
 	  ++segs;
@@ -4028,7 +4028,7 @@ _bfd_elf_map_sections_to_segments (bfd *abfd, struct bfd_link_info *info)
       for (s = abfd->sections; s != NULL; s = s->next)
 	{
 	  if ((s->flags & SEC_LOAD) != 0
-	      && strncmp (s->name, ".note", 5) == 0)
+	      && CONST_STRNEQ (s->name, ".note"))
 	    {
 	      amt = sizeof (struct elf_segment_map);
 	      m = bfd_zalloc (abfd, amt);
@@ -8291,12 +8291,12 @@ elfcore_read_notes (bfd *abfd, file_ptr offset, bfd_size_type size)
       in.descdata = in.namedata + BFD_ALIGN (in.namesz, 4);
       in.descpos = offset + (in.descdata - buf);
 
-      if (strncmp (in.namedata, "NetBSD-CORE", 11) == 0)
+      if (CONST_STRNEQ (in.namedata, "NetBSD-CORE"))
         {
           if (! elfcore_grok_netbsd_note (abfd, &in))
             goto error;
         }
-      else if (strncmp (in.namedata, "QNX", 3) == 0)
+      else if (CONST_STRNEQ (in.namedata, "QNX"))
 	{
 	  if (! elfcore_grok_nto_note (abfd, &in))
 	    goto error;
@@ -8675,10 +8675,8 @@ bfd_elf_match_symbols_in_sections (asection *sec1, asection *sec2)
 
   /* If both are .gnu.linkonce sections, they have to have the same
      section name.  */
-  if (strncmp (sec1->name, ".gnu.linkonce",
-	       sizeof ".gnu.linkonce" - 1) == 0
-      && strncmp (sec2->name, ".gnu.linkonce",
-		  sizeof ".gnu.linkonce" - 1) == 0)
+  if (CONST_STRNEQ (sec1->name, ".gnu.linkonce")
+      && CONST_STRNEQ (sec2->name, ".gnu.linkonce"))
     return strcmp (sec1->name + sizeof ".gnu.linkonce",
 		   sec2->name + sizeof ".gnu.linkonce") == 0;
 
diff --git a/bfd/elf32-arm.c b/bfd/elf32-arm.c
index 8db3c8cb2fd..f46b6ae58bc 100644
--- a/bfd/elf32-arm.c
+++ b/bfd/elf32-arm.c
@@ -2221,9 +2221,9 @@ reloc_section_p (struct elf32_arm_link_hash_table *htab,
 		 const char *name, asection *s)
 {
   if (htab->use_rel)
-    return strncmp (name, ".rel", 4) == 0 && strcmp (s->name, name + 4) == 0;
+    return CONST_STRNEQ (name, ".rel") && strcmp (s->name, name + 4) == 0;
   else
-    return strncmp (name, ".rela", 5) == 0 && strcmp (s->name, name + 5) == 0;
+    return CONST_STRNEQ (name, ".rela") && strcmp (s->name, name + 5) == 0;
 }
 
 /* Create .got, .gotplt, and .rel(a).got sections in DYNOBJ, and set up
@@ -7938,7 +7938,7 @@ elf32_arm_size_dynamic_sections (bfd * output_bfd ATTRIBUTE_UNUSED,
 	  /* Remember whether there is a PLT.  */
 	  plt = s->size != 0;
 	}
-      else if (strncmp (name, ".rel", 4) == 0)
+      else if (CONST_STRNEQ (name, ".rel"))
 	{
 	  if (s->size != 0)
 	    {
@@ -7952,7 +7952,7 @@ elf32_arm_size_dynamic_sections (bfd * output_bfd ATTRIBUTE_UNUSED,
 	      s->reloc_count = 0;
 	    }
 	}
-      else if (strncmp (name, ".got", 4) != 0
+      else if (! CONST_STRNEQ (name, ".got")
 	       && strcmp (name, ".dynbss") != 0)
 	{
 	  /* It's not one of our sections, so don't allocate space.  */
@@ -8680,12 +8680,8 @@ elf32_arm_final_write_processing (bfd *abfd, bfd_boolean linker ATTRIBUTE_UNUSED
 static bfd_boolean
 is_arm_elf_unwind_section_name (bfd * abfd ATTRIBUTE_UNUSED, const char * name)
 {
-  size_t len1, len2;
-
-  len1 = sizeof (ELF_STRING_ARM_unwind) - 1;
-  len2 = sizeof (ELF_STRING_ARM_unwind_once) - 1;
-  return (strncmp (name, ELF_STRING_ARM_unwind, len1) == 0
-	  || strncmp (name, ELF_STRING_ARM_unwind_once, len2) == 0);
+  return (CONST_STRNEQ (name, ELF_STRING_ARM_unwind)
+	  || CONST_STRNEQ (name, ELF_STRING_ARM_unwind_once));
 }
 
 
@@ -9656,18 +9652,18 @@ elf32_arm_symbian_special_sections[] =
      the loadable read-only segment.  The post-linker may wish to
      refer to these sections, but they are not part of the final
      program image.  */
-  { ".dynamic",        8,  0, SHT_DYNAMIC,  0 },
-  { ".dynstr",         7,  0, SHT_STRTAB,   0 },
-  { ".dynsym",         7,  0, SHT_DYNSYM,   0 },
-  { ".got",            4,  0, SHT_PROGBITS, 0 },
-  { ".hash",           5,  0, SHT_HASH,     0 },
+  { STRING_COMMA_LEN (".dynamic"),       0, SHT_DYNAMIC,  0 },
+  { STRING_COMMA_LEN (".dynstr"),        0, SHT_STRTAB,   0 },
+  { STRING_COMMA_LEN (".dynsym"),        0, SHT_DYNSYM,   0 },
+  { STRING_COMMA_LEN (".got"),           0, SHT_PROGBITS, 0 },
+  { STRING_COMMA_LEN (".hash"),          0, SHT_HASH,     0 },
   /* These sections do not need to be writable as the SymbianOS
      postlinker will arrange things so that no dynamic relocation is
      required.  */
-  { ".init_array",    11,  0, SHT_INIT_ARRAY, SHF_ALLOC },
-  { ".fini_array",    11,  0, SHT_FINI_ARRAY, SHF_ALLOC },
-  { ".preinit_array", 14,  0, SHT_PREINIT_ARRAY, SHF_ALLOC },
-  { NULL,              0,  0, 0,            0 }
+  { STRING_COMMA_LEN (".init_array"),    0, SHT_INIT_ARRAY,    SHF_ALLOC },
+  { STRING_COMMA_LEN (".fini_array"),    0, SHT_FINI_ARRAY,    SHF_ALLOC },
+  { STRING_COMMA_LEN (".preinit_array"), 0, SHT_PREINIT_ARRAY, SHF_ALLOC },
+  { NULL,                             0, 0, 0,                 0 }
 };
 
 static void
diff --git a/bfd/elf32-bfin.c b/bfd/elf32-bfin.c
index 54900d05c75..6ceaeb0e089 100644
--- a/bfd/elf32-bfin.c
+++ b/bfd/elf32-bfin.c
@@ -5292,7 +5292,7 @@ bfin_size_dynamic_sections (bfd * output_bfd ATTRIBUTE_UNUSED,
 
       strip = FALSE;
 
-       if (strncmp (name, ".rela", 5) == 0)
+       if (CONST_STRNEQ (name, ".rela"))
 	{
 	  if (s->size == 0)
 	    {
@@ -5316,7 +5316,7 @@ bfin_size_dynamic_sections (bfd * output_bfd ATTRIBUTE_UNUSED,
 	      s->reloc_count = 0;
 	    }
 	}
-      else if (strncmp (name, ".got", 4) != 0)
+      else if (! CONST_STRNEQ (name, ".got"))
 	{
 	  /* It's not one of our sections, so don't allocate space.  */
 	  continue;
diff --git a/bfd/elf32-cris.c b/bfd/elf32-cris.c
index 4019e34e26b..121b85d814d 100644
--- a/bfd/elf32-cris.c
+++ b/bfd/elf32-cris.c
@@ -1388,7 +1388,7 @@ cris_elf_relocate_section (output_bfd, info, input_bfd, input_section,
 		  if (name == NULL)
 		    return FALSE;
 
-		  BFD_ASSERT (strncmp (name, ".rela", 5) == 0
+		  BFD_ASSERT (CONST_STRNEQ (name, ".rela")
 			      && strcmp (bfd_get_section_name (input_bfd,
 							       input_section),
 					 name + 5) == 0);
@@ -2799,7 +2799,7 @@ cris_elf_check_relocs (abfd, info, sec, relocs)
 	      if (name == NULL)
 		return FALSE;
 
-	      BFD_ASSERT (strncmp (name, ".rela", 5) == 0
+	      BFD_ASSERT (CONST_STRNEQ (name, ".rela")
 			  && strcmp (bfd_get_section_name (abfd, sec),
 				     name + 5) == 0);
 
@@ -2962,7 +2962,7 @@ elf_cris_size_dynamic_sections (output_bfd, info)
 	  /* Remember whether there is a PLT.  */
 	  plt = s->size != 0;
 	}
-      else if (strncmp (name, ".rela", 5) == 0)
+      else if (CONST_STRNEQ (name, ".rela"))
 	{
 	  if (s->size != 0)
 	    {
@@ -2976,7 +2976,7 @@ elf_cris_size_dynamic_sections (output_bfd, info)
 	      s->reloc_count = 0;
 	    }
 	}
-      else if (strncmp (name, ".got", 4) != 0
+      else if (! CONST_STRNEQ (name, ".got")
 	       && strcmp (name, ".dynbss") != 0)
 	{
 	  /* It's not one of our sections, so don't allocate space.  */
diff --git a/bfd/elf32-hppa.c b/bfd/elf32-hppa.c
index 10a1183ea05..07a448c6f40 100644
--- a/bfd/elf32-hppa.c
+++ b/bfd/elf32-hppa.c
@@ -2442,7 +2442,7 @@ elf32_hppa_size_dynamic_sections (bfd *output_bfd ATTRIBUTE_UNUSED,
       else if (sec == htab->sgot
 	       || sec == htab->sdynbss)
 	;
-      else if (strncmp (bfd_get_section_name (dynobj, sec), ".rela", 5) == 0)
+      else if (CONST_STRNEQ (bfd_get_section_name (dynobj, sec), ".rela"))
 	{
 	  if (sec->size != 0)
 	    {
diff --git a/bfd/elf32-i370.c b/bfd/elf32-i370.c
index 6a013f8165f..3c7c37239aa 100644
--- a/bfd/elf32-i370.c
+++ b/bfd/elf32-i370.c
@@ -655,7 +655,7 @@ i370_elf_size_dynamic_sections (bfd *output_bfd,
 	  /* Remember whether there is a PLT.  */
 	  plt = s->size != 0;
 	}
-      else if (strncmp (name, ".rela", 5) == 0)
+      else if (CONST_STRNEQ (name, ".rela"))
 	{
 	  if (s->size != 0)
 	    {
@@ -867,7 +867,7 @@ i370_elf_check_relocs (bfd *abfd,
 	      if (name == NULL)
 		return FALSE;
 
-	      BFD_ASSERT (strncmp (name, ".rela", 5) == 0
+	      BFD_ASSERT (CONST_STRNEQ (name, ".rela")
 			  && strcmp (bfd_get_section_name (abfd, sec), name + 5) == 0);
 
 	      sreloc = bfd_get_section_by_name (dynobj, name);
@@ -1236,7 +1236,7 @@ i370_elf_relocate_section (bfd *output_bfd,
 		  if (name == NULL)
 		    return FALSE;
 
-		  BFD_ASSERT (strncmp (name, ".rela", 5) == 0
+		  BFD_ASSERT (CONST_STRNEQ (name, ".rela")
 			      && strcmp (bfd_get_section_name (input_bfd,
 							       input_section),
 					 name + 5) == 0);
diff --git a/bfd/elf32-i386.c b/bfd/elf32-i386.c
index 7fb142289ac..88f4de78ede 100644
--- a/bfd/elf32-i386.c
+++ b/bfd/elf32-i386.c
@@ -1177,7 +1177,7 @@ elf_i386_check_relocs (bfd *abfd,
 		  if (name == NULL)
 		    return FALSE;
 
-		  if (strncmp (name, ".rel", 4) != 0
+		  if (! CONST_STRNEQ (name, ".rel")
 		      || strcmp (bfd_get_section_name (abfd, sec),
 				 name + 4) != 0)
 		    {
@@ -2029,7 +2029,7 @@ elf_i386_size_dynamic_sections (bfd *output_bfd ATTRIBUTE_UNUSED,
 	  if (htab->elf.hplt != NULL)
 	    strip_section = FALSE;
 	}
-      else if (strncmp (bfd_get_section_name (dynobj, s), ".rel", 4) == 0)
+      else if (CONST_STRNEQ (bfd_get_section_name (dynobj, s), ".rel"))
 	{
 	  if (s->size != 0 && s != htab->srelplt && s != htab->srelplt2)
 	    relocs = TRUE;
diff --git a/bfd/elf32-iq2000.c b/bfd/elf32-iq2000.c
index 146dcaaecaf..f51ca07af22 100644
--- a/bfd/elf32-iq2000.c
+++ b/bfd/elf32-iq2000.c
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 /* IQ2000-specific support for 32-bit ELF.
-   Copyright (C) 2003, 2004, 2005 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
+   Copyright (C) 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
 
    This file is part of BFD, the Binary File Descriptor library.
 
@@ -452,9 +452,9 @@ iq2000_elf_check_relocs (bfd *abfd,
 
 	case R_IQ2000_32:
 	  /* For debug section, change to special harvard-aware relocations.  */
-	  if (memcmp (sec->name, ".debug", 6) == 0
-	      || memcmp (sec->name, ".stab", 5) == 0
-	      || memcmp (sec->name, ".eh_frame", 9) == 0)
+	  if (CONST_STRNEQ (sec->name, ".debug")
+	      || CONST_STRNEQ (sec->name, ".stab")
+	      || CONST_STRNEQ (sec->name, ".eh_frame"))
 	    {
 	      ((Elf_Internal_Rela *) rel)->r_info
 		= ELF32_R_INFO (ELF32_R_SYM (rel->r_info), R_IQ2000_32_DEBUG);
diff --git a/bfd/elf32-m32r.c b/bfd/elf32-m32r.c
index 6c42c2f5b60..7f4acac1c02 100644
--- a/bfd/elf32-m32r.c
+++ b/bfd/elf32-m32r.c
@@ -2309,7 +2309,7 @@ m32r_elf_size_dynamic_sections (bfd *output_bfd ATTRIBUTE_UNUSED,
           /* Strip this section if we don't need it; see the
              comment below.  */
         }
-      else if (strncmp (bfd_get_section_name (dynobj, s), ".rela", 5) == 0)
+      else if (CONST_STRNEQ (bfd_get_section_name (dynobj, s), ".rela"))
         {
           if (s->size != 0 && s != htab->srelplt)
             relocs = TRUE;
@@ -2933,7 +2933,7 @@ m32r_elf_relocate_section (bfd *output_bfd ATTRIBUTE_UNUSED,
                       if (name == NULL)
                         return FALSE;
 
-                      BFD_ASSERT (strncmp (name, ".rela", 5) == 0
+                      BFD_ASSERT (CONST_STRNEQ (name, ".rela")
                                   && strcmp (bfd_get_section_name (input_bfd,
                                                                    input_section),
                                              name + 5) == 0);
@@ -3990,7 +3990,7 @@ m32r_elf_check_relocs (bfd *abfd,
                   if (name == NULL)
                     return FALSE;
 
-                  BFD_ASSERT (strncmp (name, ".rela", 5) == 0
+                  BFD_ASSERT (CONST_STRNEQ (name, ".rela")
                               && strcmp (bfd_get_section_name (abfd, sec),
                                          name + 5) == 0);
 
@@ -4082,9 +4082,9 @@ m32r_elf_check_relocs (bfd *abfd,
 
 static const struct bfd_elf_special_section m32r_elf_special_sections[] =
 {
-  { ".sbss",    5, -2, SHT_NOBITS,   SHF_ALLOC + SHF_WRITE },
-  { ".sdata",   6, -2, SHT_PROGBITS, SHF_ALLOC + SHF_WRITE },
-  { NULL,       0,  0, 0,            0 }
+  { STRING_COMMA_LEN (".sbss"),  -2, SHT_NOBITS,   SHF_ALLOC + SHF_WRITE },
+  { STRING_COMMA_LEN (".sdata"), -2, SHT_PROGBITS, SHF_ALLOC + SHF_WRITE },
+  { NULL,                     0,  0, 0,            0 }
 };
 
 static bfd_boolean
diff --git a/bfd/elf32-m68hc11.c b/bfd/elf32-m68hc11.c
index d61590ff486..68e55893d63 100644
--- a/bfd/elf32-m68hc11.c
+++ b/bfd/elf32-m68hc11.c
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 /* Motorola 68HC11-specific support for 32-bit ELF
-   Copyright 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004
+   Copyright 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006
    Free Software Foundation, Inc.
    Contributed by Stephane Carrez (stcarrez@nerim.fr)
    (Heavily copied from the D10V port by Martin Hunt (hunt@cygnus.com))
@@ -1259,11 +1259,11 @@ m68hc11_elf_relax_delete_bytes (bfd *abfd, asection *sec,
      vectors.  */
 static const struct bfd_elf_special_section elf32_m68hc11_special_sections[] =
 {
-  { ".eeprom",   7, 0, SHT_PROGBITS, SHF_ALLOC + SHF_WRITE },
-  { ".page0",    6, 0, SHT_PROGBITS, SHF_ALLOC + SHF_WRITE },
-  { ".softregs", 9, 0, SHT_NOBITS,   SHF_ALLOC + SHF_WRITE },
-  { ".vectors",  8, 0, SHT_PROGBITS, SHF_ALLOC },
-  { NULL,        0, 0, 0,            0 }
+  { STRING_COMMA_LEN (".eeprom"),   0, SHT_PROGBITS, SHF_ALLOC + SHF_WRITE },
+  { STRING_COMMA_LEN (".page0"),    0, SHT_PROGBITS, SHF_ALLOC + SHF_WRITE },
+  { STRING_COMMA_LEN (".softregs"), 0, SHT_NOBITS,   SHF_ALLOC + SHF_WRITE },
+  { STRING_COMMA_LEN (".vectors"),  0, SHT_PROGBITS, SHF_ALLOC },
+  { NULL,                       0,  0, 0,            0 }
 };
 
 #define ELF_ARCH		bfd_arch_m68hc11
diff --git a/bfd/elf32-m68hc12.c b/bfd/elf32-m68hc12.c
index b52f3fff853..b98615708f2 100644
--- a/bfd/elf32-m68hc12.c
+++ b/bfd/elf32-m68hc12.c
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 /* Motorola 68HC12-specific support for 32-bit ELF
-   Copyright 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
+   Copyright 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
    Contributed by Stephane Carrez (stcarrez@nerim.fr)
    (Heavily copied from the D10V port by Martin Hunt (hunt@cygnus.com))
 
@@ -537,11 +537,11 @@ m68hc12_elf_set_mach_from_flags (bfd *abfd)
      vectors.  */
 static const struct bfd_elf_special_section elf32_m68hc12_special_sections[] =
 {
-  { ".eeprom",   7, 0, SHT_PROGBITS, SHF_ALLOC + SHF_WRITE },
-  { ".page0",    6, 0, SHT_PROGBITS, SHF_ALLOC + SHF_WRITE },
-  { ".softregs", 9, 0, SHT_NOBITS,   SHF_ALLOC + SHF_WRITE },
-  { ".vectors",  8, 0, SHT_PROGBITS, SHF_ALLOC },
-  { NULL,        0, 0, 0,            0 }
+  { STRING_COMMA_LEN (".eeprom"),   0, SHT_PROGBITS, SHF_ALLOC + SHF_WRITE },
+  { STRING_COMMA_LEN (".page0"),    0, SHT_PROGBITS, SHF_ALLOC + SHF_WRITE },
+  { STRING_COMMA_LEN (".softregs"), 0, SHT_NOBITS,   SHF_ALLOC + SHF_WRITE },
+  { STRING_COMMA_LEN (".vectors"),  0, SHT_PROGBITS, SHF_ALLOC },
+  { NULL,                       0,  0, 0,            0 }
 };
 
 #define ELF_ARCH		bfd_arch_m68hc12
diff --git a/bfd/elf32-m68k.c b/bfd/elf32-m68k.c
index e8bb275f6fa..0cab8d93c7c 100644
--- a/bfd/elf32-m68k.c
+++ b/bfd/elf32-m68k.c
@@ -864,7 +864,7 @@ elf_m68k_check_relocs (abfd, info, sec, relocs)
 		  if (name == NULL)
 		    return FALSE;
 
-		  BFD_ASSERT (strncmp (name, ".rela", 5) == 0
+		  BFD_ASSERT (CONST_STRNEQ (name, ".rela")
 			      && strcmp (bfd_get_section_name (abfd, sec),
 					 name + 5) == 0);
 
@@ -1402,7 +1402,7 @@ elf_m68k_size_dynamic_sections (output_bfd, info)
 	  /* Remember whether there is a PLT.  */
 	  plt = s->size != 0;
 	}
-      else if (strncmp (name, ".rela", 5) == 0)
+      else if (CONST_STRNEQ (name, ".rela"))
 	{
 	  if (s->size != 0)
 	    {
@@ -1413,7 +1413,7 @@ elf_m68k_size_dynamic_sections (output_bfd, info)
 	      s->reloc_count = 0;
 	    }
 	}
-      else if (strncmp (name, ".got", 4) != 0
+      else if (! CONST_STRNEQ (name, ".got")
 	       && strcmp (name, ".dynbss") != 0)
 	{
 	  /* It's not one of our sections, so don't allocate space.  */
diff --git a/bfd/elf32-mcore.c b/bfd/elf32-mcore.c
index ed0123d553b..e978cdc0051 100644
--- a/bfd/elf32-mcore.c
+++ b/bfd/elf32-mcore.c
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 /* Motorola MCore specific support for 32-bit ELF
-   Copyright 1994, 1995, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005
+   Copyright 1994, 1995, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006
    Free Software Foundation, Inc.
 
    This file is part of BFD, the Binary File Descriptor library.
@@ -637,9 +637,9 @@ mcore_elf_check_relocs (bfd * abfd,
 
 static const struct bfd_elf_special_section mcore_elf_special_sections[]=
 {
-  { ".ctors",   6, -2, SHT_PROGBITS, SHF_ALLOC + SHF_WRITE },
-  { ".dtors",   6, -2, SHT_PROGBITS, SHF_ALLOC + SHF_WRITE },
-  { NULL,       0,  0, 0,            0 }
+  { STRING_COMMA_LEN (".ctors"), -2, SHT_PROGBITS, SHF_ALLOC + SHF_WRITE },
+  { STRING_COMMA_LEN (".dtors"), -2, SHT_PROGBITS, SHF_ALLOC + SHF_WRITE },
+  { NULL,                     0,  0, 0,            0 }
 };
 
 #define TARGET_BIG_SYM		bfd_elf32_mcore_big_vec
diff --git a/bfd/elf32-ppc.c b/bfd/elf32-ppc.c
index 6e80a1e29c2..98dc93fcdde 100644
--- a/bfd/elf32-ppc.c
+++ b/bfd/elf32-ppc.c
@@ -1896,21 +1896,21 @@ ppc_elf_additional_program_headers (bfd *abfd,
 
 static const struct bfd_elf_special_section ppc_elf_special_sections[] =
 {
-  { ".plt",              4,  0, SHT_NOBITS,   SHF_ALLOC + SHF_EXECINSTR },
-  { ".sbss",             5, -2, SHT_NOBITS,   SHF_ALLOC + SHF_WRITE },
-  { ".sbss2",            6, -2, SHT_PROGBITS, SHF_ALLOC },
-  { ".sdata",            6, -2, SHT_PROGBITS, SHF_ALLOC + SHF_WRITE },
-  { ".sdata2",           7, -2, SHT_PROGBITS, SHF_ALLOC },
-  { ".tags",             5,  0, SHT_ORDERED,  SHF_ALLOC },
-  { ".PPC.EMB.apuinfo", 16,  0, SHT_NOTE,     0 },
-  { ".PPC.EMB.sbss0",   14,  0, SHT_PROGBITS, SHF_ALLOC },
-  { ".PPC.EMB.sdata0",  15,  0, SHT_PROGBITS, SHF_ALLOC },
-  { NULL,                0,  0, 0,            0 }
+  { STRING_COMMA_LEN (".plt"),             0, SHT_NOBITS,   SHF_ALLOC + SHF_EXECINSTR },
+  { STRING_COMMA_LEN (".sbss"),           -2, SHT_NOBITS,   SHF_ALLOC + SHF_WRITE },
+  { STRING_COMMA_LEN (".sbss2"),          -2, SHT_PROGBITS, SHF_ALLOC },
+  { STRING_COMMA_LEN (".sdata"),          -2, SHT_PROGBITS, SHF_ALLOC + SHF_WRITE },
+  { STRING_COMMA_LEN (".sdata2"),         -2, SHT_PROGBITS, SHF_ALLOC },
+  { STRING_COMMA_LEN (".tags"),            0, SHT_ORDERED,  SHF_ALLOC },
+  { STRING_COMMA_LEN (".PPC.EMB.apuinfo"), 0, SHT_NOTE,     0 },
+  { STRING_COMMA_LEN (".PPC.EMB.sbss0"),   0, SHT_PROGBITS, SHF_ALLOC },
+  { STRING_COMMA_LEN (".PPC.EMB.sdata0"),  0, SHT_PROGBITS, SHF_ALLOC },
+  { NULL,                              0,  0, 0,            0 }
 };
 
 /* This is what we want for new plt/got.  */
 static struct bfd_elf_special_section ppc_alt_plt =
-  { ".plt",              4,  0, SHT_PROGBITS, SHF_ALLOC };
+  { STRING_COMMA_LEN (".plt"),             0, SHT_PROGBITS, SHF_ALLOC };
 
 static const struct bfd_elf_special_section *
 ppc_elf_get_sec_type_attr (bfd *abfd ATTRIBUTE_UNUSED, asection *sec)
@@ -3436,7 +3436,7 @@ ppc_elf_check_relocs (bfd *abfd,
 		  if (name == NULL)
 		    return FALSE;
 
-		  BFD_ASSERT (strncmp (name, ".rela", 5) == 0
+		  BFD_ASSERT (CONST_STRNEQ (name, ".rela")
 			      && strcmp (bfd_get_section_name (abfd, sec),
 					 name + 5) == 0);
 
@@ -4864,7 +4864,7 @@ ppc_elf_size_dynamic_sections (bfd *output_bfd ATTRIBUTE_UNUSED,
 	{
 	  /* Strip these too.  */
 	}
-      else if (strncmp (bfd_get_section_name (dynobj, s), ".rela", 5) == 0)
+      else if (CONST_STRNEQ (bfd_get_section_name (dynobj, s), ".rela"))
 	{
 	  if (s->size != 0)
 	    {
@@ -6242,7 +6242,7 @@ ppc_elf_relocate_section (bfd *output_bfd,
 		  if (name == NULL)
 		    return FALSE;
 
-		  BFD_ASSERT (strncmp (name, ".rela", 5) == 0
+		  BFD_ASSERT (CONST_STRNEQ (name, ".rela")
 			      && strcmp (bfd_get_section_name (input_bfd,
 							       input_section),
 					 name + 5) == 0);
@@ -6445,9 +6445,9 @@ ppc_elf_relocate_section (bfd *output_bfd,
 
 	    BFD_ASSERT (sec != NULL);
 	    name = bfd_get_section_name (abfd, sec->output_section);
-	    if (! ((strncmp (name, ".sdata", 6) == 0
+	    if (! ((CONST_STRNEQ (name, ".sdata")
 		    && (name[6] == 0 || name[6] == '.'))
-		   || (strncmp (name, ".sbss", 5) == 0
+		   || (CONST_STRNEQ (name, ".sbss")
 		       && (name[5] == 0 || name[5] == '.'))))
 	      {
 		(*_bfd_error_handler)
@@ -6473,8 +6473,8 @@ ppc_elf_relocate_section (bfd *output_bfd,
 
 	    BFD_ASSERT (sec != NULL);
 	    name = bfd_get_section_name (abfd, sec->output_section);
-	    if (! (strncmp (name, ".sdata2", 7) == 0
-		   || strncmp (name, ".sbss2", 6) == 0))
+	    if (! (CONST_STRNEQ (name, ".sdata2")
+		   || CONST_STRNEQ (name, ".sbss2")))
 	      {
 		(*_bfd_error_handler)
 		  (_("%B: the target (%s) of a %s relocation is "
@@ -6505,9 +6505,9 @@ ppc_elf_relocate_section (bfd *output_bfd,
 
 	    BFD_ASSERT (sec != NULL);
 	    name = bfd_get_section_name (abfd, sec->output_section);
-	    if (((strncmp (name, ".sdata", 6) == 0
+	    if (((CONST_STRNEQ (name, ".sdata")
 		  && (name[6] == 0 || name[6] == '.'))
-		 || (strncmp (name, ".sbss", 5) == 0
+		 || (CONST_STRNEQ (name, ".sbss")
 		     && (name[5] == 0 || name[5] == '.'))))
 	      {
 		reg = 13;
@@ -6517,8 +6517,8 @@ ppc_elf_relocate_section (bfd *output_bfd,
 			   + sh->root.u.def.section->output_section->vma);
 	      }
 
-	    else if (strncmp (name, ".sdata2", 7) == 0
-		     || strncmp (name, ".sbss2", 6) == 0)
+	    else if (CONST_STRNEQ (name, ".sdata2")
+		     || CONST_STRNEQ (name, ".sbss2"))
 	      {
 		reg = 2;
 		sh = htab->sdata[1].sym;
diff --git a/bfd/elf32-s390.c b/bfd/elf32-s390.c
index e2934cff573..7b3c2d3ade6 100644
--- a/bfd/elf32-s390.c
+++ b/bfd/elf32-s390.c
@@ -1273,7 +1273,7 @@ elf_s390_check_relocs (abfd, info, sec, relocs)
 		  if (name == NULL)
 		    return FALSE;
 
-		  if (strncmp (name, ".rela", 5) != 0
+		  if (! CONST_STRNEQ (name, ".rela")
 		      || strcmp (bfd_get_section_name (abfd, sec),
 				 name + 5) != 0)
 		    {
@@ -2126,7 +2126,7 @@ elf_s390_size_dynamic_sections (output_bfd, info)
 	  /* Strip this section if we don't need it; see the
 	     comment below.  */
 	}
-      else if (strncmp (bfd_get_section_name (dynobj, s), ".rela", 5) == 0)
+      else if (CONST_STRNEQ (bfd_get_section_name (dynobj, s), ".rela"))
 	{
 	  if (s->size != 0)
 	    relocs = TRUE;
diff --git a/bfd/elf32-sh-symbian.c b/bfd/elf32-sh-symbian.c
index 9ca0564c36c..7ea9207009f 100644
--- a/bfd/elf32-sh-symbian.c
+++ b/bfd/elf32-sh-symbian.c
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 /* Renesas / SuperH specific support for Symbian 32-bit ELF files
-   Copyright 2004, 2005
+   Copyright 2004, 2005, 2006
    Free Software Foundation, Inc.
    Contributed by Red Hat
 
@@ -225,7 +225,7 @@ sh_symbian_process_embedded_commands (struct bfd_link_info *info, bfd * abfd,
 	  break;
 
 	case 'I':
-	  if (strncmp (s, DIRECTIVE_IMPORT, strlen (DIRECTIVE_IMPORT)))
+	  if (! CONST_STRNEQ (s, DIRECTIVE_IMPORT))
 	    result = FALSE;
 	  else
 	    {
@@ -261,9 +261,9 @@ sh_symbian_process_embedded_commands (struct bfd_link_info *info, bfd * abfd,
 	      name_end_char = * new_name_end;
 	      * new_name_end = 0;
 
-	      /* Check to see if 'AS '... is present.  If se we have an IMPORT AS
-		 directive, otherwise we have an IMPORT directive.  */
-	      if (strncmp (s, DIRECTIVE_AS, strlen (DIRECTIVE_AS)))
+	      /* Check to see if 'AS '... is present.  If so we have an
+		 IMPORT AS directive, otherwise we have an IMPORT directive.  */
+	      if (! CONST_STRNEQ (s, DIRECTIVE_AS))
 		{
 		  /* Skip the new-line at the end of the name.  */
 		  if (SYMBIAN_DEBUG && name_end_char != '\n')
@@ -327,7 +327,7 @@ sh_symbian_process_embedded_commands (struct bfd_link_info *info, bfd * abfd,
 	  break;
 
 	case 'E':
-	  if (strncmp (s, DIRECTIVE_EXPORT, strlen (DIRECTIVE_EXPORT)))
+	  if (! CONST_STRNEQ (s, DIRECTIVE_EXPORT))
 	    result = FALSE;
 	  else
 	    {
diff --git a/bfd/elf32-sh.c b/bfd/elf32-sh.c
index a4109016017..19ee8b636e5 100644
--- a/bfd/elf32-sh.c
+++ b/bfd/elf32-sh.c
@@ -3042,7 +3042,7 @@ sh_elf_size_dynamic_sections (bfd *output_bfd ATTRIBUTE_UNUSED,
 	  /* Strip this section if we don't need it; see the
 	     comment below.  */
 	}
-      else if (strncmp (bfd_get_section_name (dynobj, s), ".rela", 5) == 0)
+      else if (CONST_STRNEQ (bfd_get_section_name (dynobj, s), ".rela"))
 	{
 	  if (s->size != 0 && s != htab->srelplt && s != htab->srelplt2)
 	    relocs = TRUE;
@@ -3585,7 +3585,7 @@ sh_elf_relocate_section (bfd *output_bfd, struct bfd_link_info *info,
 		  if (name == NULL)
 		    return FALSE;
 
-		  BFD_ASSERT (strncmp (name, ".rela", 5) == 0
+		  BFD_ASSERT (CONST_STRNEQ (name, ".rela")
 			      && strcmp (bfd_get_section_name (input_bfd,
 							       input_section),
 					 name + 5) == 0);
@@ -4311,7 +4311,7 @@ sh_elf_relocate_section (bfd *output_bfd, struct bfd_link_info *info,
 		if (name == NULL)
 		  return FALSE;
 
-		BFD_ASSERT (strncmp (name, ".rela", 5) == 0
+		BFD_ASSERT (CONST_STRNEQ (name, ".rela")
 			    && strcmp (bfd_get_section_name (input_bfd,
 							     input_section),
 				       name + 5) == 0);
@@ -5200,7 +5200,7 @@ sh_elf_check_relocs (bfd *abfd, struct bfd_link_info *info, asection *sec,
 		  if (name == NULL)
 		    return FALSE;
 
-		  BFD_ASSERT (strncmp (name, ".rela", 5) == 0
+		  BFD_ASSERT (CONST_STRNEQ (name, ".rela")
 			      && strcmp (bfd_get_section_name (abfd, sec),
 					 name + 5) == 0);
 
diff --git a/bfd/elf32-sh64.c b/bfd/elf32-sh64.c
index 55aa25b7de9..03d5e3e9df1 100644
--- a/bfd/elf32-sh64.c
+++ b/bfd/elf32-sh64.c
@@ -759,8 +759,8 @@ sh64_elf_merge_symbol_attribute (struct elf_link_hash_entry *h,
 
 static const struct bfd_elf_special_section sh64_elf_special_sections[] =
 {
-  { ".cranges", 8, 0, SHT_PROGBITS, 0 },
-  { NULL,       0, 0, 0,            0 }
+  { STRING_COMMA_LEN (".cranges"), 0, SHT_PROGBITS, 0 },
+  { NULL,                       0, 0, 0,            0 }
 };
 
 #undef	TARGET_BIG_SYM
diff --git a/bfd/elf32-v850.c b/bfd/elf32-v850.c
index e3f1240bf58..1b288e41380 100644
--- a/bfd/elf32-v850.c
+++ b/bfd/elf32-v850.c
@@ -3028,33 +3028,32 @@ v850_elf_relax_section (bfd *abfd,
 
 static const struct bfd_elf_special_section v850_elf_special_sections[] =
 {
-  { ".call_table_data", 16,  0, SHT_PROGBITS,     (SHF_ALLOC
-                                                   + SHF_WRITE) },
-  { ".call_table_text", 16,  0, SHT_PROGBITS,     (SHF_ALLOC + SHF_WRITE
-                                                   + SHF_EXECINSTR) },
-  { ".rosdata",          8, -2, SHT_PROGBITS,     (SHF_ALLOC
-                                                   + SHF_V850_GPREL) },
-  { ".rozdata",          8, -2, SHT_PROGBITS,     (SHF_ALLOC
-                                                   + SHF_V850_R0REL) },
-  { ".sbss",             5, -2, SHT_NOBITS,       (SHF_ALLOC + SHF_WRITE
-                                                   + SHF_V850_GPREL) },
-  { ".scommon",          8, -2, SHT_V850_SCOMMON, (SHF_ALLOC + SHF_WRITE
-                                                   + SHF_V850_GPREL) },
-  { ".sdata",            6, -2, SHT_PROGBITS,     (SHF_ALLOC + SHF_WRITE
-                                                   + SHF_V850_GPREL) },
-  { ".tbss",             5, -2, SHT_NOBITS,       (SHF_ALLOC + SHF_WRITE
-                                                   + SHF_V850_EPREL) },
-  { ".tcommon",          8, -2, SHT_V850_TCOMMON, (SHF_ALLOC + SHF_WRITE
-                                                   + SHF_V850_R0REL) },
-  { ".tdata",            6, -2, SHT_PROGBITS,     (SHF_ALLOC + SHF_WRITE
-                                                   + SHF_V850_EPREL) },
-  { ".zbss",             5, -2, SHT_NOBITS,       (SHF_ALLOC + SHF_WRITE
-                                                   + SHF_V850_R0REL) },
-  { ".zcommon",          8, -2, SHT_V850_ZCOMMON, (SHF_ALLOC + SHF_WRITE
-                                                   + SHF_V850_R0REL) },
-  { ".zdata",            6, -2, SHT_PROGBITS,     (SHF_ALLOC + SHF_WRITE
-                                                   + SHF_V850_R0REL) },
-  { NULL,        0, 0, 0,            0 }
+  { STRING_COMMA_LEN (".call_table_data"), 0, SHT_PROGBITS,     (SHF_ALLOC + SHF_WRITE) },
+  { STRING_COMMA_LEN (".call_table_text"), 0, SHT_PROGBITS,     (SHF_ALLOC + SHF_WRITE
+								 + SHF_EXECINSTR) },
+  { STRING_COMMA_LEN (".rosdata"),        -2, SHT_PROGBITS,     (SHF_ALLOC
+								 + SHF_V850_GPREL) },
+  { STRING_COMMA_LEN (".rozdata"),        -2, SHT_PROGBITS,     (SHF_ALLOC
+								 + SHF_V850_R0REL) },
+  { STRING_COMMA_LEN (".sbss"),           -2, SHT_NOBITS,       (SHF_ALLOC + SHF_WRITE
+								 + SHF_V850_GPREL) },
+  { STRING_COMMA_LEN (".scommon"),        -2, SHT_V850_SCOMMON, (SHF_ALLOC + SHF_WRITE
+								 + SHF_V850_GPREL) },
+  { STRING_COMMA_LEN (".sdata"),          -2, SHT_PROGBITS,     (SHF_ALLOC + SHF_WRITE
+								 + SHF_V850_GPREL) },
+  { STRING_COMMA_LEN (".tbss"),           -2, SHT_NOBITS,       (SHF_ALLOC + SHF_WRITE
+								 + SHF_V850_EPREL) },
+  { STRING_COMMA_LEN (".tcommon"),        -2, SHT_V850_TCOMMON, (SHF_ALLOC + SHF_WRITE
+								 + SHF_V850_R0REL) },
+  { STRING_COMMA_LEN (".tdata"),          -2, SHT_PROGBITS,     (SHF_ALLOC + SHF_WRITE
+								 + SHF_V850_EPREL) },
+  { STRING_COMMA_LEN (".zbss"),           -2, SHT_NOBITS,       (SHF_ALLOC + SHF_WRITE
+								 + SHF_V850_R0REL) },
+  { STRING_COMMA_LEN (".zcommon"),        -2, SHT_V850_ZCOMMON, (SHF_ALLOC + SHF_WRITE
+								 + SHF_V850_R0REL) },
+  { STRING_COMMA_LEN (".zdata"),          -2, SHT_PROGBITS,     (SHF_ALLOC + SHF_WRITE
+								 + SHF_V850_R0REL) },
+  { NULL,                     0,           0, 0,                0 }
 };
 
 #define TARGET_LITTLE_SYM			bfd_elf32_v850_vec
diff --git a/bfd/elf32-vax.c b/bfd/elf32-vax.c
index bf481e459e7..62735a69f43 100644
--- a/bfd/elf32-vax.c
+++ b/bfd/elf32-vax.c
@@ -738,7 +738,7 @@ elf_vax_check_relocs (bfd *abfd, struct bfd_link_info *info, asection *sec,
 		  if (name == NULL)
 		    return FALSE;
 
-		  BFD_ASSERT (strncmp (name, ".rela", 5) == 0
+		  BFD_ASSERT (CONST_STRNEQ (name, ".rela")
 			      && strcmp (bfd_get_section_name (abfd, sec),
 					 name + 5) == 0);
 
@@ -1194,7 +1194,7 @@ elf_vax_size_dynamic_sections (bfd *output_bfd, struct bfd_link_info *info)
 	  /* Remember whether there is a PLT.  */
 	  plt = s->size != 0;
 	}
-      else if (strncmp (name, ".rela", 5) == 0)
+      else if (CONST_STRNEQ (name, ".rela"))
 	{
 	  if (s->size != 0)
 	    {
@@ -1226,7 +1226,7 @@ elf_vax_size_dynamic_sections (bfd *output_bfd, struct bfd_link_info *info)
 	      s->reloc_count = 0;
 	    }
 	}
-      else if (strncmp (name, ".got", 4) != 0
+      else if (! CONST_STRNEQ (name, ".got")
 	       && strcmp (name, ".dynbss") != 0)
 	{
 	  /* It's not one of our sections, so don't allocate space.  */
@@ -1646,7 +1646,7 @@ elf_vax_relocate_section (bfd *output_bfd,
 		  if (name == NULL)
 		    return FALSE;
 
-		  BFD_ASSERT (strncmp (name, ".rela", 5) == 0
+		  BFD_ASSERT (CONST_STRNEQ (name, ".rela")
 			      && strcmp (bfd_get_section_name (input_bfd,
 							       input_section),
 					 name + 5) == 0);
diff --git a/bfd/elf32-xtensa.c b/bfd/elf32-xtensa.c
index 88365ddd32a..12af7c30e7e 100644
--- a/bfd/elf32-xtensa.c
+++ b/bfd/elf32-xtensa.c
@@ -1409,7 +1409,7 @@ elf_xtensa_size_dynamic_sections (bfd *output_bfd ATTRIBUTE_UNUSED,
 	 of the dynobj section names depend upon the input files.  */
       name = bfd_get_section_name (dynobj, s);
 
-      if (strncmp (name, ".rela", 5) == 0)
+      if (CONST_STRNEQ (name, ".rela"))
 	{
 	  if (s->size != 0)
 	    {
@@ -1423,8 +1423,8 @@ elf_xtensa_size_dynamic_sections (bfd *output_bfd ATTRIBUTE_UNUSED,
 	      s->reloc_count = 0;
 	    }
 	}
-      else if (strncmp (name, ".plt.", 5) != 0
-	       && strncmp (name, ".got.plt.", 9) != 0
+      else if (! CONST_STRNEQ (name, ".plt.")
+	       && ! CONST_STRNEQ (name, ".got.plt.")
 	       && strcmp (name, ".got") != 0
 	       && strcmp (name, ".plt") != 0
 	       && strcmp (name, ".got.plt") != 0
@@ -8854,10 +8854,8 @@ relax_property_section (bfd *abfd,
     }
 
   is_full_prop_section =
-    ((strncmp (sec->name, XTENSA_PROP_SEC_NAME,
-	       sizeof (XTENSA_PROP_SEC_NAME) - 1) == 0)
-     || (strncmp (sec->name, ".gnu.linkonce.prop.",
-		  sizeof ".gnu.linkonce.prop." - 1) == 0));
+    (   CONST_STRNEQ (sec->name, XTENSA_PROP_SEC_NAME)
+     || CONST_STRNEQ (sec->name, ".gnu.linkonce.prop."));
 
   if (internal_relocs)
     {
@@ -9518,23 +9516,19 @@ pcrel_reloc_fits (xtensa_opcode opc,
 
 
 static int linkonce_len = sizeof (".gnu.linkonce.") - 1;
-static int insn_sec_len = sizeof (XTENSA_INSN_SEC_NAME) - 1;
-static int lit_sec_len = sizeof (XTENSA_LIT_SEC_NAME) - 1;
-static int prop_sec_len = sizeof (XTENSA_PROP_SEC_NAME) - 1;
-
 
 static bfd_boolean 
 xtensa_is_property_section (asection *sec)
 {
-  if (strncmp (XTENSA_INSN_SEC_NAME, sec->name, insn_sec_len) == 0
-      || strncmp (XTENSA_LIT_SEC_NAME, sec->name, lit_sec_len) == 0
-      || strncmp (XTENSA_PROP_SEC_NAME, sec->name, prop_sec_len) == 0)
+  if (CONST_STRNEQ (sec->name, XTENSA_INSN_SEC_NAME)
+      || CONST_STRNEQ (sec->name, XTENSA_LIT_SEC_NAME)
+      || CONST_STRNEQ (sec->name, XTENSA_PROP_SEC_NAME))
     return TRUE;
 
   if (strncmp (".gnu.linkonce.", sec->name, linkonce_len) == 0
-      && (strncmp (&sec->name[linkonce_len], "x.", 2) == 0
-	  || strncmp (&sec->name[linkonce_len], "p.", 2) == 0
-	  || strncmp (&sec->name[linkonce_len], "prop.", 5) == 0))
+      && (CONST_STRNEQ (&sec->name[linkonce_len], "x.")
+	  || CONST_STRNEQ (&sec->name[linkonce_len], "p.")
+	  || CONST_STRNEQ (&sec->name[linkonce_len], "prop.")))
     return TRUE;
 
   return FALSE;
@@ -9544,7 +9538,7 @@ xtensa_is_property_section (asection *sec)
 static bfd_boolean 
 xtensa_is_littable_section (asection *sec)
 {
-  if (strncmp (XTENSA_LIT_SEC_NAME, sec->name, lit_sec_len) == 0)
+  if (CONST_STRNEQ (sec->name, XTENSA_LIT_SEC_NAME))
     return TRUE;
 
   if (strncmp (".gnu.linkonce.", sec->name, linkonce_len) == 0
@@ -9646,7 +9640,7 @@ xtensa_get_property_section (asection *sec, const char *base_name)
       suffix = sec->name + linkonce_len;
       /* For backward compatibility, replace "t." instead of inserting
          the new linkonce_kind (but not for "prop" sections).  */
-      if (strncmp (suffix, "t.", 2) == 0 && linkonce_kind[1] == '.')
+      if (CONST_STRNEQ (suffix, "t.") && linkonce_kind[1] == '.')
         suffix += 2;
       strcat (prop_sec_name + linkonce_len, suffix);
     }
@@ -9680,10 +9674,8 @@ xtensa_get_property_section (asection *sec, const char *base_name)
 flagword
 xtensa_get_property_predef_flags (asection *sec)
 {
-  if (strncmp (sec->name, XTENSA_INSN_SEC_NAME,
-	       sizeof (XTENSA_INSN_SEC_NAME) - 1) == 0
-      || strncmp (sec->name, ".gnu.linkonce.x.",
-		  sizeof ".gnu.linkonce.x." - 1) == 0)
+  if (CONST_STRNEQ (sec->name, XTENSA_INSN_SEC_NAME)
+      || CONST_STRNEQ (sec->name, ".gnu.linkonce.x."))
     return (XTENSA_PROP_INSN
 	    | XTENSA_PROP_INSN_NO_TRANSFORM
 	    | XTENSA_PROP_INSN_NO_REORDER);
@@ -9717,7 +9709,7 @@ xtensa_callback_required_dependence (bfd *abfd,
   /* ".plt*" sections have no explicit relocations but they contain L32R
      instructions that reference the corresponding ".got.plt*" sections.  */
   if ((sec->flags & SEC_LINKER_CREATED) != 0
-      && strncmp (sec->name, ".plt", 4) == 0)
+      && CONST_STRNEQ (sec->name, ".plt"))
     {
       asection *sgotplt;
 
@@ -9794,10 +9786,10 @@ xtensa_callback_required_dependence (bfd *abfd,
    module loader so that the literals are not placed after the text.  */
 static const struct bfd_elf_special_section elf_xtensa_special_sections[] =
 {
-  { ".fini.literal", 13, 0, SHT_PROGBITS, SHF_ALLOC + SHF_EXECINSTR },
-  { ".init.literal", 13, 0, SHT_PROGBITS, SHF_ALLOC + SHF_EXECINSTR },
-  { ".literal",       8, 0, SHT_PROGBITS, SHF_ALLOC + SHF_EXECINSTR },
-  { NULL,             0, 0, 0,            0 }
+  { STRING_COMMA_LEN (".fini.literal"), 0, SHT_PROGBITS, SHF_ALLOC + SHF_EXECINSTR },
+  { STRING_COMMA_LEN (".init.literal"), 0, SHT_PROGBITS, SHF_ALLOC + SHF_EXECINSTR },
+  { STRING_COMMA_LEN (".literal"),      0, SHT_PROGBITS, SHF_ALLOC + SHF_EXECINSTR },
+  { NULL,                       0,      0, 0,            0 }
 };
 
 #ifndef ELF_ARCH
diff --git a/bfd/elf64-alpha.c b/bfd/elf64-alpha.c
index 0823f5c3eca..f37a3174d31 100644
--- a/bfd/elf64-alpha.c
+++ b/bfd/elf64-alpha.c
@@ -1901,7 +1901,7 @@ elf64_alpha_check_relocs (bfd *abfd, struct bfd_link_info *info,
 	      if (rel_sec_name == NULL)
 		return FALSE;
 
-	      BFD_ASSERT (strncmp (rel_sec_name, ".rela", 5) == 0
+	      BFD_ASSERT (CONST_STRNEQ (rel_sec_name, ".rela")
 			  && strcmp (bfd_get_section_name (abfd, sec),
 				     rel_sec_name+5) == 0);
 	    }
@@ -2761,7 +2761,7 @@ elf64_alpha_size_dynamic_sections (bfd *output_bfd ATTRIBUTE_UNUSED,
 	 of the dynobj section names depend upon the input files.  */
       name = bfd_get_section_name (dynobj, s);
 
-      if (strncmp (name, ".rela", 5) == 0)
+      if (CONST_STRNEQ (name, ".rela"))
 	{
 	  if (s->size != 0)
 	    {
@@ -2773,7 +2773,7 @@ elf64_alpha_size_dynamic_sections (bfd *output_bfd ATTRIBUTE_UNUSED,
 	      s->reloc_count = 0;
 	    }
 	}
-      else if (strncmp (name, ".got", 4) != 0
+      else if (! CONST_STRNEQ (name, ".got")
 	       && strcmp (name, ".plt") != 0
 	       && strcmp (name, ".dynbss") != 0)
 	{
@@ -5148,9 +5148,9 @@ elf64_alpha_reloc_type_class (const Elf_Internal_Rela *rela)
 
 static const struct bfd_elf_special_section elf64_alpha_special_sections[] =
 {
-  { ".sbss",  5, -2, SHT_NOBITS,   SHF_ALLOC + SHF_WRITE + SHF_ALPHA_GPREL },
-  { ".sdata", 6, -2, SHT_PROGBITS, SHF_ALLOC + SHF_WRITE + SHF_ALPHA_GPREL },
-  { NULL,     0,  0, 0,            0 }
+  { STRING_COMMA_LEN (".sbss"),  -2, SHT_NOBITS,   SHF_ALLOC + SHF_WRITE + SHF_ALPHA_GPREL },
+  { STRING_COMMA_LEN (".sdata"), -2, SHT_PROGBITS, SHF_ALLOC + SHF_WRITE + SHF_ALPHA_GPREL },
+  { NULL,                     0,  0, 0,            0 }
 };
 
 /* ECOFF swapping routines.  These are used when dealing with the
diff --git a/bfd/elf64-hppa.c b/bfd/elf64-hppa.c
index 7fcc94f6b3e..4ff7e6adf50 100644
--- a/bfd/elf64-hppa.c
+++ b/bfd/elf64-hppa.c
@@ -517,12 +517,12 @@ get_reloc_section (abfd, hppa_info, sec)
   if (srel_name == NULL)
     return FALSE;
 
-  BFD_ASSERT ((strncmp (srel_name, ".rela", 5) == 0
+  BFD_ASSERT ((CONST_STRNEQ (srel_name, ".rela")
 	       && strcmp (bfd_get_section_name (abfd, sec),
-			  srel_name+5) == 0)
-	      || (strncmp (srel_name, ".rel", 4) == 0
+			  srel_name + 5) == 0)
+	      || (CONST_STRNEQ (srel_name, ".rel")
 		  && strcmp (bfd_get_section_name (abfd, sec),
-			     srel_name+4) == 0));
+			     srel_name + 4) == 0));
 
   dynobj = hppa_info->root.dynobj;
   if (!dynobj)
@@ -1713,13 +1713,13 @@ elf64_hppa_size_dynamic_sections (output_bfd, info)
 	  plt = s->size != 0;
 	}
       else if (strcmp (name, ".opd") == 0
-	       || strncmp (name, ".dlt", 4) == 0
+	       || CONST_STRNEQ (name, ".dlt")
 	       || strcmp (name, ".stub") == 0
 	       || strcmp (name, ".got") == 0)
 	{
 	  /* Strip this section if we don't need it; see the comment below.  */
 	}
-      else if (strncmp (name, ".rela", 5) == 0)
+      else if (CONST_STRNEQ (name, ".rela"))
 	{
 	  if (s->size != 0)
 	    {
@@ -2752,14 +2752,14 @@ elf64_hppa_section_from_phdr (bfd *abfd, Elf_Internal_Phdr *hdr, int index,
 
 static const struct bfd_elf_special_section elf64_hppa_special_sections[] =
 {
-  { ".fini",   5, 0, SHT_PROGBITS, SHF_ALLOC + SHF_WRITE },
-  { ".init",   5, 0, SHT_PROGBITS, SHF_ALLOC + SHF_WRITE },
-  { ".plt",    4, 0, SHT_PROGBITS, SHF_ALLOC + SHF_WRITE + SHF_PARISC_SHORT },
-  { ".dlt",    4, 0, SHT_PROGBITS, SHF_ALLOC + SHF_WRITE + SHF_PARISC_SHORT },
-  { ".sdata",  6, 0, SHT_PROGBITS, SHF_ALLOC + SHF_WRITE + SHF_PARISC_SHORT },
-  { ".sbss",   5, 0, SHT_NOBITS, SHF_ALLOC + SHF_WRITE + SHF_PARISC_SHORT },
-  { ".tbss",   5, 0, SHT_NOBITS, SHF_ALLOC + SHF_WRITE + SHF_HP_TLS },
-  { NULL,      0, 0, 0,            0 }
+  { STRING_COMMA_LEN (".fini"),  0, SHT_PROGBITS, SHF_ALLOC + SHF_WRITE },
+  { STRING_COMMA_LEN (".init"),  0, SHT_PROGBITS, SHF_ALLOC + SHF_WRITE },
+  { STRING_COMMA_LEN (".plt"),   0, SHT_PROGBITS, SHF_ALLOC + SHF_WRITE + SHF_PARISC_SHORT },
+  { STRING_COMMA_LEN (".dlt"),   0, SHT_PROGBITS, SHF_ALLOC + SHF_WRITE + SHF_PARISC_SHORT },
+  { STRING_COMMA_LEN (".sdata"), 0, SHT_PROGBITS, SHF_ALLOC + SHF_WRITE + SHF_PARISC_SHORT },
+  { STRING_COMMA_LEN (".sbss"),  0, SHT_NOBITS, SHF_ALLOC + SHF_WRITE + SHF_PARISC_SHORT },
+  { STRING_COMMA_LEN (".tbss"),  0, SHT_NOBITS, SHF_ALLOC + SHF_WRITE + SHF_HP_TLS },
+  { NULL,                    0,  0, 0,            0 }
 };
 
 /* The hash bucket size is the standard one, namely 4.  */
diff --git a/bfd/elf64-mmix.c b/bfd/elf64-mmix.c
index d8dfc56c078..881ba38b034 100644
--- a/bfd/elf64-mmix.c
+++ b/bfd/elf64-mmix.c
@@ -2193,8 +2193,7 @@ mmix_elf_add_symbol_hook (abfd, info, sym, namep, flagsp, secp, valp)
       (*secp)->flags |= SEC_LINKER_CREATED;
     }
   else if ((*namep)[0] == '_' && (*namep)[1] == '_' && (*namep)[2] == '.'
-	   && strncmp (*namep, MMIX_LOC_SECTION_START_SYMBOL_PREFIX,
-		       strlen (MMIX_LOC_SECTION_START_SYMBOL_PREFIX)) == 0)
+	   && CONST_STRNEQ (*namep, MMIX_LOC_SECTION_START_SYMBOL_PREFIX))
     {
       /* See if we have another one.  */
       struct bfd_link_hash_entry *h = bfd_link_hash_lookup (info->hash,
diff --git a/bfd/elf64-ppc.c b/bfd/elf64-ppc.c
index 4fd6bf76319..6917623b027 100644
--- a/bfd/elf64-ppc.c
+++ b/bfd/elf64-ppc.c
@@ -2520,13 +2520,13 @@ ppc64_elf_merge_private_bfd_data (bfd *ibfd, bfd *obfd)
 
 static const struct bfd_elf_special_section ppc64_elf_special_sections[]=
 {
-  { ".plt",     4,  0, SHT_NOBITS,   0 },
-  { ".sbss",    5, -2, SHT_NOBITS,   SHF_ALLOC + SHF_WRITE },
-  { ".sdata",   6, -2, SHT_PROGBITS, SHF_ALLOC + SHF_WRITE },
-  { ".toc",     4,  0, SHT_PROGBITS, SHF_ALLOC + SHF_WRITE },
-  { ".toc1",    5,  0, SHT_PROGBITS, SHF_ALLOC + SHF_WRITE },
-  { ".tocbss",  7,  0, SHT_NOBITS,   SHF_ALLOC + SHF_WRITE },
-  { NULL,       0,  0, 0,            0 }
+  { STRING_COMMA_LEN (".plt"),    0, SHT_NOBITS,   0 },
+  { STRING_COMMA_LEN (".sbss"),  -2, SHT_NOBITS,   SHF_ALLOC + SHF_WRITE },
+  { STRING_COMMA_LEN (".sdata"), -2, SHT_PROGBITS, SHF_ALLOC + SHF_WRITE },
+  { STRING_COMMA_LEN (".toc"),    0, SHT_PROGBITS, SHF_ALLOC + SHF_WRITE },
+  { STRING_COMMA_LEN (".toc1"),   0, SHT_PROGBITS, SHF_ALLOC + SHF_WRITE },
+  { STRING_COMMA_LEN (".tocbss"), 0, SHT_NOBITS,   SHF_ALLOC + SHF_WRITE },
+  { NULL,                     0,  0, 0,            0 }
 };
 
 struct _ppc64_elf_section_data
@@ -4575,7 +4575,7 @@ ppc64_elf_check_relocs (bfd *abfd, struct bfd_link_info *info,
 		  || h == &htab->tls_get_addr_fd->elf)
 		sec->has_tls_reloc = 1;
 	      else if (htab->tls_get_addr == NULL
-		       && !strncmp (h->root.root.string, ".__tls_get_addr", 15)
+		       && CONST_STRNEQ (h->root.root.string, ".__tls_get_addr")
 		       && (h->root.root.string[15] == 0
 			   || h->root.root.string[15] == '@'))
 		{
@@ -4583,7 +4583,7 @@ ppc64_elf_check_relocs (bfd *abfd, struct bfd_link_info *info,
 		  sec->has_tls_reloc = 1;
 		}
 	      else if (htab->tls_get_addr_fd == NULL
-		       && !strncmp (h->root.root.string, "__tls_get_addr", 14)
+		       && CONST_STRNEQ (h->root.root.string, "__tls_get_addr")
 		       && (h->root.root.string[14] == 0
 			   || h->root.root.string[14] == '@'))
 		{
@@ -4776,7 +4776,7 @@ ppc64_elf_check_relocs (bfd *abfd, struct bfd_link_info *info,
 		  if (name == NULL)
 		    return FALSE;
 
-		  if (strncmp (name, ".rela", 5) != 0
+		  if (! CONST_STRNEQ (name, ".rela")
 		      || strcmp (bfd_get_section_name (abfd, sec),
 				 name + 5) != 0)
 		    {
@@ -7913,7 +7913,7 @@ ppc64_elf_size_dynamic_sections (bfd *output_bfd ATTRIBUTE_UNUSED,
 	  /* Strip this section if we don't need it; see the
 	     comment below.  */
 	}
-      else if (strncmp (bfd_get_section_name (dynobj, s), ".rela", 5) == 0)
+      else if (CONST_STRNEQ (bfd_get_section_name (dynobj, s), ".rela"))
 	{
 	  if (s->size != 0)
 	    {
diff --git a/bfd/elf64-s390.c b/bfd/elf64-s390.c
index 72d8432f75a..05be62fb26f 100644
--- a/bfd/elf64-s390.c
+++ b/bfd/elf64-s390.c
@@ -1238,7 +1238,7 @@ elf_s390_check_relocs (abfd, info, sec, relocs)
 		  if (name == NULL)
 		    return FALSE;
 
-		  if (strncmp (name, ".rela", 5) != 0
+		  if (! CONST_STRNEQ (name, ".rela")
 		      || strcmp (bfd_get_section_name (abfd, sec),
 				 name + 5) != 0)
 		    {
@@ -2098,7 +2098,7 @@ elf_s390_size_dynamic_sections (output_bfd, info)
 	  /* Strip this section if we don't need it; see the
 	     comment below.  */
 	}
-      else if (strncmp (bfd_get_section_name (dynobj, s), ".rela", 5) == 0)
+      else if (CONST_STRNEQ (bfd_get_section_name (dynobj, s), ".rela"))
 	{
 	  if (s->size != 0 && s != htab->srelplt)
 	    relocs = TRUE;
diff --git a/bfd/elf64-sh64.c b/bfd/elf64-sh64.c
index 4d6d8d5645f..d972fc68bc3 100644
--- a/bfd/elf64-sh64.c
+++ b/bfd/elf64-sh64.c
@@ -1709,7 +1709,7 @@ sh_elf64_relocate_section (bfd *output_bfd ATTRIBUTE_UNUSED,
 		  if (name == NULL)
 		    return FALSE;
 
-		  BFD_ASSERT (strncmp (name, ".rela", 5) == 0
+		  BFD_ASSERT (CONST_STRNEQ (name, ".rela")
 			      && strcmp (bfd_get_section_name (input_bfd,
 							       input_section),
 					 name + 5) == 0);
@@ -2731,7 +2731,7 @@ sh_elf64_check_relocs (bfd *abfd, struct bfd_link_info *info,
 		  if (name == NULL)
 		    return FALSE;
 
-		  BFD_ASSERT (strncmp (name, ".rela", 5) == 0
+		  BFD_ASSERT (CONST_STRNEQ (name, ".rela")
 			      && strcmp (bfd_get_section_name (abfd, sec),
 					 name + 5) == 0);
 
@@ -3591,7 +3591,7 @@ sh64_elf64_size_dynamic_sections (bfd *output_bfd,
 	  /* Remember whether there is a PLT.  */
 	  plt = s->size != 0;
 	}
-      else if (strncmp (name, ".rela", 5) == 0)
+      else if (CONST_STRNEQ (name, ".rela"))
 	{
 	  if (s->size != 0)
 	    {
@@ -3624,7 +3624,7 @@ sh64_elf64_size_dynamic_sections (bfd *output_bfd,
 	      s->reloc_count = 0;
 	    }
 	}
-      else if (strncmp (name, ".got", 4) != 0
+      else if (! CONST_STRNEQ (name, ".got")
 	       && strcmp (name, ".dynbss") != 0)
 	{
 	  /* It's not one of our sections, so don't allocate space.  */
@@ -4070,8 +4070,8 @@ sh64_elf64_merge_symbol_attribute (struct elf_link_hash_entry *h,
 
 static const struct bfd_elf_special_section sh64_elf64_special_sections[]=
 {
-  { ".cranges", 8, 0, SHT_PROGBITS, 0 },
-  { NULL,       0, 0, 0,            0 }
+  { STRING_COMMA_LEN (".cranges"), 0, SHT_PROGBITS, 0 },
+  { NULL,                       0, 0, 0,            0 }
 };
 
 #define TARGET_BIG_SYM		bfd_elf64_sh64_vec
diff --git a/bfd/elf64-x86-64.c b/bfd/elf64-x86-64.c
index d84b82ea39c..c2cf6a43f9d 100644
--- a/bfd/elf64-x86-64.c
+++ b/bfd/elf64-x86-64.c
@@ -1025,7 +1025,7 @@ elf64_x86_64_check_relocs (bfd *abfd, struct bfd_link_info *info, asection *sec,
 		  if (name == NULL)
 		    return FALSE;
 
-		  if (strncmp (name, ".rela", 5) != 0
+		  if (! CONST_STRNEQ (name, ".rela")
 		      || strcmp (bfd_get_section_name (abfd, sec),
 				 name + 5) != 0)
 		    {
@@ -1883,7 +1883,7 @@ elf64_x86_64_size_dynamic_sections (bfd *output_bfd ATTRIBUTE_UNUSED,
 	  /* Strip this section if we don't need it; see the
 	     comment below.  */
 	}
-      else if (strncmp (bfd_get_section_name (dynobj, s), ".rela", 5) == 0)
+      else if (CONST_STRNEQ (bfd_get_section_name (dynobj, s), ".rela"))
 	{
 	  if (s->size != 0 && s != htab->srelplt)
 	    relocs = TRUE;
@@ -3636,13 +3636,13 @@ elf64_x86_64_hash_symbol (struct elf_link_hash_entry *h)
 static const struct bfd_elf_special_section 
   elf64_x86_64_special_sections[]=
 {
-  { ".gnu.linkonce.lb",	16, -2, SHT_NOBITS,   SHF_ALLOC + SHF_WRITE + SHF_X86_64_LARGE},
-  { ".gnu.linkonce.lr",	16, -2, SHT_PROGBITS, SHF_ALLOC + SHF_X86_64_LARGE},
-  { ".gnu.linkonce.lt",	16, -2, SHT_PROGBITS, SHF_ALLOC + SHF_EXECINSTR + SHF_X86_64_LARGE},
-  { ".lbss",	5, -2, SHT_NOBITS,   SHF_ALLOC + SHF_WRITE + SHF_X86_64_LARGE},
-  { ".ldata",	6, -2, SHT_PROGBITS, SHF_ALLOC + SHF_WRITE + SHF_X86_64_LARGE},
-  { ".lrodata",	8, -2, SHT_PROGBITS, SHF_ALLOC + SHF_X86_64_LARGE},
-  { NULL,	0,  0, 0,            0 }
+  { STRING_COMMA_LEN (".gnu.linkonce.lb"), -2, SHT_NOBITS,   SHF_ALLOC + SHF_WRITE + SHF_X86_64_LARGE},
+  { STRING_COMMA_LEN (".gnu.linkonce.lr"), -2, SHT_PROGBITS, SHF_ALLOC + SHF_X86_64_LARGE},
+  { STRING_COMMA_LEN (".gnu.linkonce.lt"), -2, SHT_PROGBITS, SHF_ALLOC + SHF_EXECINSTR + SHF_X86_64_LARGE},
+  { STRING_COMMA_LEN (".lbss"),	           -2, SHT_NOBITS,   SHF_ALLOC + SHF_WRITE + SHF_X86_64_LARGE},
+  { STRING_COMMA_LEN (".ldata"),	   -2, SHT_PROGBITS, SHF_ALLOC + SHF_WRITE + SHF_X86_64_LARGE},
+  { STRING_COMMA_LEN (".lrodata"),	   -2, SHT_PROGBITS, SHF_ALLOC + SHF_X86_64_LARGE},
+  { NULL,	                0,          0, 0,            0 }
 };
 
 #define TARGET_LITTLE_SYM		    bfd_elf64_x86_64_vec
diff --git a/bfd/elflink.c b/bfd/elflink.c
index a1bc864a00d..9b455784948 100644
--- a/bfd/elflink.c
+++ b/bfd/elflink.c
@@ -3204,7 +3204,7 @@ elf_link_add_object_symbols (bfd *abfd, struct bfd_link_info *info)
 	  const char *name;
 
 	  name = bfd_get_section_name (abfd, s);
-	  if (strncmp (name, ".gnu.warning.", sizeof ".gnu.warning." - 1) == 0)
+	  if (CONST_STRNEQ (name, ".gnu.warning."))
 	    {
 	      char *msg;
 	      bfd_size_type sz;
@@ -4552,7 +4552,7 @@ elf_link_add_object_symbols (bfd *abfd, struct bfd_link_info *info)
 	  asection *stab;
 
 	  for (stab = abfd->sections; stab; stab = stab->next)
-	    if (strncmp (".stab", stab->name, 5) == 0
+	    if (CONST_STRNEQ (stab->name, ".stab")
 		&& (!stab->name[5] ||
 		    (stab->name[5] == '.' && ISDIGIT (stab->name[6])))
 		&& (stab->flags & SEC_MERGE) == 0
@@ -9694,7 +9694,7 @@ bfd_elf_gc_sections (bfd *abfd, struct bfd_link_info *info)
       for (o = sub->sections; o != NULL; o = o->next)
 	if (!o->gc_mark && o->gc_mark_from_eh && (o->flags & SEC_CODE) == 0)
 	  {
-	    if (strncmp (o->name, ".gcc_except_table.", 18) == 0)
+	    if (CONST_STRNEQ (o->name, ".gcc_except_table."))
 	      {
 		unsigned long len;
 		char *fn_name;
@@ -9704,7 +9704,7 @@ bfd_elf_gc_sections (bfd *abfd, struct bfd_link_info *info)
 		fn_name = bfd_malloc (len + 6);
 		if (fn_name == NULL)
 		  return FALSE;
-		memcpy (fn_name, ".text.", 6);
+		memcpy (fn_name, STRING_COMMA_LEN (".text."));
 		memcpy (fn_name + 6, o->name + 18, len);
 		fn_text = bfd_get_section_by_name (sub, fn_name);
 		free (fn_name);
@@ -10224,7 +10224,7 @@ _bfd_elf_section_already_linked (bfd *abfd, struct bfd_section * sec)
 
   name = bfd_get_section_name (abfd, sec);
 
-  if (strncmp (name, ".gnu.linkonce.", sizeof (".gnu.linkonce.") - 1) == 0
+  if (CONST_STRNEQ (name, ".gnu.linkonce.")
       && (p = strchr (name + sizeof (".gnu.linkonce.") - 1, '.')) != NULL)
     p++;
   else
diff --git a/bfd/elfxx-ia64.c b/bfd/elfxx-ia64.c
index 2af3fb452bd..0b6f26a695c 100644
--- a/bfd/elfxx-ia64.c
+++ b/bfd/elfxx-ia64.c
@@ -1424,22 +1424,15 @@ elfNN_ia64_relax_ldxmov (contents, off)
 /* Return TRUE if NAME is an unwind table section name.  */
 
 static inline bfd_boolean
-is_unwind_section_name (abfd, name)
-	bfd *abfd;
-	const char *name;
+is_unwind_section_name (bfd *abfd, const char *name)
 {
-  size_t len1, len2, len3;
-
   if (elfNN_ia64_hpux_vec (abfd->xvec)
       && !strcmp (name, ELF_STRING_ia64_unwind_hdr))
     return FALSE;
 
-  len1 = sizeof (ELF_STRING_ia64_unwind) - 1;
-  len2 = sizeof (ELF_STRING_ia64_unwind_info) - 1;
-  len3 = sizeof (ELF_STRING_ia64_unwind_once) - 1;
-  return ((strncmp (name, ELF_STRING_ia64_unwind, len1) == 0
-	   && strncmp (name, ELF_STRING_ia64_unwind_info, len2) != 0)
-	  || strncmp (name, ELF_STRING_ia64_unwind_once, len3) == 0);
+  return ((CONST_STRNEQ (name, ELF_STRING_ia64_unwind)
+	   && ! CONST_STRNEQ (name, ELF_STRING_ia64_unwind_info))
+	  || CONST_STRNEQ (name, ELF_STRING_ia64_unwind_once));
 }
 
 /* Handle an IA-64 specific section when reading an object file.  This
@@ -2621,10 +2614,10 @@ get_reloc_section (abfd, ia64_info, sec, create)
   if (srel_name == NULL)
     return NULL;
 
-  BFD_ASSERT ((strncmp (srel_name, ".rela", 5) == 0
+  BFD_ASSERT ((CONST_STRNEQ (srel_name, ".rela")
 	       && strcmp (bfd_get_section_name (abfd, sec),
 			  srel_name+5) == 0)
-	      || (strncmp (srel_name, ".rel", 4) == 0
+	      || (CONST_STRNEQ (srel_name, ".rel")
 		  && strcmp (bfd_get_section_name (abfd, sec),
 			     srel_name+4) == 0));
 
@@ -3702,7 +3695,7 @@ elfNN_ia64_size_dynamic_sections (output_bfd, info)
 
 	  if (strcmp (name, ".got.plt") == 0)
 	    strip = FALSE;
-	  else if (strncmp (name, ".rel", 4) == 0)
+	  else if (CONST_STRNEQ (name, ".rel"))
 	    {
 	      if (!strip)
 		{
@@ -5569,9 +5562,9 @@ elfNN_ia64_reloc_type_class (rela)
 
 static const struct bfd_elf_special_section elfNN_ia64_special_sections[] =
 {
-  { ".sbss",  5, -1, SHT_NOBITS,   SHF_ALLOC + SHF_WRITE + SHF_IA_64_SHORT },
-  { ".sdata", 6, -1, SHT_PROGBITS, SHF_ALLOC + SHF_WRITE + SHF_IA_64_SHORT },
-  { NULL,        0, 0, 0,            0 }
+  { STRING_COMMA_LEN (".sbss"),  -1, SHT_NOBITS,   SHF_ALLOC + SHF_WRITE + SHF_IA_64_SHORT },
+  { STRING_COMMA_LEN (".sdata"), -1, SHT_PROGBITS, SHF_ALLOC + SHF_WRITE + SHF_IA_64_SHORT },
+  { NULL,                    0,   0, 0,            0 }
 };
 
 static bfd_boolean
@@ -5598,7 +5591,7 @@ elfNN_ia64_object_p (bfd *abfd)
       if (elf_sec_group (sec) == NULL
 	  && ((sec->flags & (SEC_LINK_ONCE | SEC_CODE | SEC_GROUP))
 	      == (SEC_LINK_ONCE | SEC_CODE))
-	  && strncmp (sec->name, ".gnu.linkonce.t.", 16) == 0)
+	  && CONST_STRNEQ (sec->name, ".gnu.linkonce.t."))
 	{
 	  name = sec->name + 16;
 
diff --git a/bfd/elfxx-mips.c b/bfd/elfxx-mips.c
index cdc81a229d5..d0116227c7b 100644
--- a/bfd/elfxx-mips.c
+++ b/bfd/elfxx-mips.c
@@ -4098,8 +4098,8 @@ mips_elf_calculate_relocation (bfd *abfd, bfd *input_bfd,
 	  sec = NULL;
 	  for (o = input_bfd->sections; o != NULL; o = o->next)
 	    {
-	      if (strncmp (bfd_get_section_name (input_bfd, o),
-			   CALL_FP_STUB, sizeof CALL_FP_STUB - 1) == 0)
+	      if (CONST_STRNEQ (bfd_get_section_name (input_bfd, o),
+				CALL_FP_STUB))
 		{
 		  sec = h->call_fp_stub;
 		  break;
@@ -4690,9 +4690,9 @@ mips_elf_stub_section_p (bfd *abfd ATTRIBUTE_UNUSED, asection *section)
 {
   const char *name = bfd_get_section_name (abfd, section);
 
-  return (strncmp (name, FN_STUB, sizeof FN_STUB - 1) == 0
-	  || strncmp (name, CALL_STUB, sizeof CALL_STUB - 1) == 0
-	  || strncmp (name, CALL_FP_STUB, sizeof CALL_FP_STUB - 1) == 0);
+  return (CONST_STRNEQ (name, FN_STUB)
+	  || CONST_STRNEQ (name, CALL_STUB)
+	  || CONST_STRNEQ (name, CALL_FP_STUB));
 }
 
 /* Add room for N relocations to the .rel(a).dyn section in ABFD.  */
@@ -5407,7 +5407,7 @@ _bfd_mips_elf_section_from_shdr (bfd *abfd,
 	return FALSE;
       break;
     case SHT_MIPS_GPTAB:
-      if (strncmp (name, ".gptab.", sizeof ".gptab." - 1) != 0)
+      if (! CONST_STRNEQ (name, ".gptab."))
 	return FALSE;
       break;
     case SHT_MIPS_UCODE:
@@ -5430,7 +5430,7 @@ _bfd_mips_elf_section_from_shdr (bfd *abfd,
 	return FALSE;
       break;
     case SHT_MIPS_CONTENT:
-      if (strncmp (name, ".MIPS.content", sizeof ".MIPS.content" - 1) != 0)
+      if (! CONST_STRNEQ (name, ".MIPS.content"))
 	return FALSE;
       break;
     case SHT_MIPS_OPTIONS:
@@ -5438,7 +5438,7 @@ _bfd_mips_elf_section_from_shdr (bfd *abfd,
 	return FALSE;
       break;
     case SHT_MIPS_DWARF:
-      if (strncmp (name, ".debug_", sizeof ".debug_" - 1) != 0)
+      if (! CONST_STRNEQ (name, ".debug_"))
 	return FALSE;
       break;
     case SHT_MIPS_SYMBOL_LIB:
@@ -5446,9 +5446,8 @@ _bfd_mips_elf_section_from_shdr (bfd *abfd,
 	return FALSE;
       break;
     case SHT_MIPS_EVENTS:
-      if (strncmp (name, ".MIPS.events", sizeof ".MIPS.events" - 1) != 0
-	  && strncmp (name, ".MIPS.post_rel",
-		      sizeof ".MIPS.post_rel" - 1) != 0)
+      if (! CONST_STRNEQ (name, ".MIPS.events")
+	  && ! CONST_STRNEQ (name, ".MIPS.post_rel"))
 	return FALSE;
       break;
     default:
@@ -5568,7 +5567,7 @@ _bfd_mips_elf_fake_sections (bfd *abfd, Elf_Internal_Shdr *hdr, asection *sec)
     }
   else if (strcmp (name, ".conflict") == 0)
     hdr->sh_type = SHT_MIPS_CONFLICT;
-  else if (strncmp (name, ".gptab.", sizeof ".gptab." - 1) == 0)
+  else if (CONST_STRNEQ (name, ".gptab."))
     {
       hdr->sh_type = SHT_MIPS_GPTAB;
       hdr->sh_entsize = sizeof (Elf32_External_gptab);
@@ -5625,7 +5624,7 @@ _bfd_mips_elf_fake_sections (bfd *abfd, Elf_Internal_Shdr *hdr, asection *sec)
       hdr->sh_type = SHT_MIPS_IFACE;
       hdr->sh_flags |= SHF_MIPS_NOSTRIP;
     }
-  else if (strncmp (name, ".MIPS.content", strlen (".MIPS.content")) == 0)
+  else if (CONST_STRNEQ (name, ".MIPS.content"))
     {
       hdr->sh_type = SHT_MIPS_CONTENT;
       hdr->sh_flags |= SHF_MIPS_NOSTRIP;
@@ -5637,7 +5636,7 @@ _bfd_mips_elf_fake_sections (bfd *abfd, Elf_Internal_Shdr *hdr, asection *sec)
       hdr->sh_entsize = 1;
       hdr->sh_flags |= SHF_MIPS_NOSTRIP;
     }
-  else if (strncmp (name, ".debug_", sizeof ".debug_" - 1) == 0)
+  else if (CONST_STRNEQ (name, ".debug_"))
     hdr->sh_type = SHT_MIPS_DWARF;
   else if (strcmp (name, ".MIPS.symlib") == 0)
     {
@@ -5645,9 +5644,8 @@ _bfd_mips_elf_fake_sections (bfd *abfd, Elf_Internal_Shdr *hdr, asection *sec)
       /* The sh_link and sh_info fields are set in
          final_write_processing.  */
     }
-  else if (strncmp (name, ".MIPS.events", sizeof ".MIPS.events" - 1) == 0
-	   || strncmp (name, ".MIPS.post_rel",
-		       sizeof ".MIPS.post_rel" - 1) == 0)
+  else if (CONST_STRNEQ (name, ".MIPS.events")
+	   || CONST_STRNEQ (name, ".MIPS.post_rel"))
     {
       hdr->sh_type = SHT_MIPS_EVENTS;
       hdr->sh_flags |= SHF_MIPS_NOSTRIP;
@@ -6118,7 +6116,7 @@ _bfd_mips_elf_check_relocs (bfd *abfd, struct bfd_link_info *info,
   /* Check for the mips16 stub sections.  */
 
   name = bfd_get_section_name (abfd, sec);
-  if (strncmp (name, FN_STUB, sizeof FN_STUB - 1) == 0)
+  if (CONST_STRNEQ (name, FN_STUB))
     {
       unsigned long r_symndx;
 
@@ -6143,12 +6141,9 @@ _bfd_mips_elf_check_relocs (bfd *abfd, struct bfd_link_info *info,
 	      /* We can ignore stub sections when looking for relocs.  */
 	      if ((o->flags & SEC_RELOC) == 0
 		  || o->reloc_count == 0
-		  || strncmp (bfd_get_section_name (abfd, o), FN_STUB,
-			      sizeof FN_STUB - 1) == 0
-		  || strncmp (bfd_get_section_name (abfd, o), CALL_STUB,
-			      sizeof CALL_STUB - 1) == 0
-		  || strncmp (bfd_get_section_name (abfd, o), CALL_FP_STUB,
-			      sizeof CALL_FP_STUB - 1) == 0)
+		  || CONST_STRNEQ (bfd_get_section_name (abfd, o), FN_STUB)
+		  || CONST_STRNEQ (bfd_get_section_name (abfd, o), CALL_STUB)
+		  || CONST_STRNEQ (bfd_get_section_name (abfd, o), CALL_FP_STUB))
 		continue;
 
 	      sec_relocs
@@ -6224,8 +6219,8 @@ _bfd_mips_elf_check_relocs (bfd *abfd, struct bfd_link_info *info,
 	  mips_elf_hash_table (info)->mips16_stubs_seen = TRUE;
 	}
     }
-  else if (strncmp (name, CALL_STUB, sizeof CALL_STUB - 1) == 0
-	   || strncmp (name, CALL_FP_STUB, sizeof CALL_FP_STUB - 1) == 0)
+  else if (CONST_STRNEQ (name, CALL_STUB)
+	   || CONST_STRNEQ (name, CALL_FP_STUB))
     {
       unsigned long r_symndx;
       struct mips_elf_link_hash_entry *h;
@@ -6254,7 +6249,7 @@ _bfd_mips_elf_check_relocs (bfd *abfd, struct bfd_link_info *info,
 
       /* H is the symbol this stub is for.  */
 
-      if (strncmp (name, CALL_FP_STUB, sizeof CALL_FP_STUB - 1) == 0)
+      if (CONST_STRNEQ (name, CALL_FP_STUB))
 	loc = &h->call_fp_stub;
       else
 	loc = &h->call_stub;
@@ -6639,12 +6634,9 @@ _bfd_mips_elf_check_relocs (bfd *abfd, struct bfd_link_info *info,
          References from a stub section do not count.  */
       if (h != NULL
 	  && r_type != R_MIPS16_26
-	  && strncmp (bfd_get_section_name (abfd, sec), FN_STUB,
-		      sizeof FN_STUB - 1) != 0
-	  && strncmp (bfd_get_section_name (abfd, sec), CALL_STUB,
-		      sizeof CALL_STUB - 1) != 0
-	  && strncmp (bfd_get_section_name (abfd, sec), CALL_FP_STUB,
-		      sizeof CALL_FP_STUB - 1) != 0)
+	  && ! CONST_STRNEQ (bfd_get_section_name (abfd, sec), FN_STUB)
+	  && ! CONST_STRNEQ (bfd_get_section_name (abfd, sec), CALL_STUB)
+	  && ! CONST_STRNEQ (bfd_get_section_name (abfd, sec), CALL_FP_STUB))
 	{
 	  struct mips_elf_link_hash_entry *mh;
 
@@ -7292,7 +7284,7 @@ _bfd_mips_elf_size_dynamic_sections (bfd *output_bfd,
       if ((s->flags & SEC_LINKER_CREATED) == 0)
 	continue;
 
-      if (strncmp (name, ".rel", 4) == 0)
+      if (CONST_STRNEQ (name, ".rel"))
 	{
 	  if (s->size != 0)
 	    {
@@ -7344,7 +7336,7 @@ _bfd_mips_elf_size_dynamic_sections (bfd *output_bfd,
 	      mips_elf_allocate_dynamic_relocations (dynobj, info, count);
 	    }
 	}
-      else if (!htab->is_vxworks && strncmp (name, ".got", 4) == 0)
+      else if (!htab->is_vxworks && CONST_STRNEQ (name, ".got"))
 	{
 	  /* _bfd_mips_elf_always_size_sections() has already done
 	     most of the work, but some symbols may have been mapped
@@ -7420,16 +7412,16 @@ _bfd_mips_elf_size_dynamic_sections (bfd *output_bfd,
 	}
       else if (! info->shared
 	       && ! mips_elf_hash_table (info)->use_rld_obj_head
-	       && strncmp (name, ".rld_map", 8) == 0)
+	       && CONST_STRNEQ (name, ".rld_map"))
 	{
 	  /* We add a room for __rld_map.  It will be filled in by the
 	     rtld to contain a pointer to the _r_debug structure.  */
 	  s->size += 4;
 	}
       else if (SGI_COMPAT (output_bfd)
-	       && strncmp (name, ".compact_rel", 12) == 0)
+	       && CONST_STRNEQ (name, ".compact_rel"))
 	s->size += mips_elf_hash_table (info)->compact_rel_size;
-      else if (strncmp (name, ".init", 5) != 0
+      else if (! CONST_STRNEQ (name, ".init")
 	       && s != htab->sgotplt
 	       && s != htab->splt)
 	{
@@ -9089,7 +9081,7 @@ _bfd_mips_elf_final_write_processing (bfd *abfd,
 	  BFD_ASSERT ((*hdrpp)->bfd_section != NULL);
 	  name = bfd_get_section_name (abfd, (*hdrpp)->bfd_section);
 	  BFD_ASSERT (name != NULL
-		      && strncmp (name, ".gptab.", sizeof ".gptab." - 1) == 0);
+		      && CONST_STRNEQ (name, ".gptab."));
 	  sec = bfd_get_section_by_name (abfd, name + sizeof ".gptab" - 1);
 	  BFD_ASSERT (sec != NULL);
 	  (*hdrpp)->sh_info = elf_section_data (sec)->this_idx;
@@ -9099,8 +9091,7 @@ _bfd_mips_elf_final_write_processing (bfd *abfd,
 	  BFD_ASSERT ((*hdrpp)->bfd_section != NULL);
 	  name = bfd_get_section_name (abfd, (*hdrpp)->bfd_section);
 	  BFD_ASSERT (name != NULL
-		      && strncmp (name, ".MIPS.content",
-				  sizeof ".MIPS.content" - 1) == 0);
+		      && CONST_STRNEQ (name, ".MIPS.content"));
 	  sec = bfd_get_section_by_name (abfd,
 					 name + sizeof ".MIPS.content" - 1);
 	  BFD_ASSERT (sec != NULL);
@@ -9120,13 +9111,12 @@ _bfd_mips_elf_final_write_processing (bfd *abfd,
 	  BFD_ASSERT ((*hdrpp)->bfd_section != NULL);
 	  name = bfd_get_section_name (abfd, (*hdrpp)->bfd_section);
 	  BFD_ASSERT (name != NULL);
-	  if (strncmp (name, ".MIPS.events", sizeof ".MIPS.events" - 1) == 0)
+	  if (CONST_STRNEQ (name, ".MIPS.events"))
 	    sec = bfd_get_section_by_name (abfd,
 					   name + sizeof ".MIPS.events" - 1);
 	  else
 	    {
-	      BFD_ASSERT (strncmp (name, ".MIPS.post_rel",
-				   sizeof ".MIPS.post_rel" - 1) == 0);
+	      BFD_ASSERT (CONST_STRNEQ (name, ".MIPS.post_rel"));
 	      sec = bfd_get_section_by_name (abfd,
 					     (name
 					      + sizeof ".MIPS.post_rel" - 1));
@@ -10435,7 +10425,7 @@ _bfd_mips_elf_final_link (bfd *abfd, struct bfd_link_info *info)
 	  mdebug_sec = o;
 	}
 
-      if (strncmp (o->name, ".gptab.", sizeof ".gptab." - 1) == 0)
+      if (CONST_STRNEQ (o->name, ".gptab."))
 	{
 	  const char *subname;
 	  unsigned int c;
@@ -11106,13 +11096,13 @@ _bfd_mips_elf_print_private_bfd_data (bfd *abfd, void *ptr)
 
 const struct bfd_elf_special_section _bfd_mips_elf_special_sections[] =
 {
-  { ".lit4",   5,  0, SHT_PROGBITS,   SHF_ALLOC + SHF_WRITE + SHF_MIPS_GPREL },
-  { ".lit8",   5,  0, SHT_PROGBITS,   SHF_ALLOC + SHF_WRITE + SHF_MIPS_GPREL },
-  { ".mdebug", 7,  0, SHT_MIPS_DEBUG, 0 },
-  { ".sbss",   5, -2, SHT_NOBITS,     SHF_ALLOC + SHF_WRITE + SHF_MIPS_GPREL },
-  { ".sdata",  6, -2, SHT_PROGBITS,   SHF_ALLOC + SHF_WRITE + SHF_MIPS_GPREL },
-  { ".ucode",  6,  0, SHT_MIPS_UCODE, 0 },
-  { NULL,      0,  0, 0,              0 }
+  { STRING_COMMA_LEN (".lit4"),   0, SHT_PROGBITS,   SHF_ALLOC + SHF_WRITE + SHF_MIPS_GPREL },
+  { STRING_COMMA_LEN (".lit8"),   0, SHT_PROGBITS,   SHF_ALLOC + SHF_WRITE + SHF_MIPS_GPREL },
+  { STRING_COMMA_LEN (".mdebug"), 0, SHT_MIPS_DEBUG, 0 },
+  { STRING_COMMA_LEN (".sbss"),  -2, SHT_NOBITS,     SHF_ALLOC + SHF_WRITE + SHF_MIPS_GPREL },
+  { STRING_COMMA_LEN (".sdata"), -2, SHT_PROGBITS,   SHF_ALLOC + SHF_WRITE + SHF_MIPS_GPREL },
+  { STRING_COMMA_LEN (".ucode"),  0, SHT_MIPS_UCODE, 0 },
+  { NULL,                     0,  0, 0,              0 }
 };
 
 /* Merge non visibility st_other attributes.  Ensure that the
diff --git a/bfd/elfxx-sparc.c b/bfd/elfxx-sparc.c
index 6da70a32f86..63eed174aa2 100644
--- a/bfd/elfxx-sparc.c
+++ b/bfd/elfxx-sparc.c
@@ -1430,7 +1430,7 @@ _bfd_sparc_elf_check_relocs (bfd *abfd, struct bfd_link_info *info,
 		  if (name == NULL)
 		    return FALSE;
 
-		  BFD_ASSERT (strncmp (name, ".rela", 5) == 0
+		  BFD_ASSERT (CONST_STRNEQ (name, ".rela")
 			      && strcmp (bfd_get_section_name (abfd, sec),
 					 name + 5) == 0);
 
@@ -2290,7 +2290,7 @@ _bfd_sparc_elf_size_dynamic_sections (bfd *output_bfd,
 	  /* Strip this section if we don't need it; see the
 	     comment below.  */
 	}
-      else if (strncmp (s->name, ".rela", 5) == 0)
+      else if (CONST_STRNEQ (s->name, ".rela"))
 	{
 	  if (s->size != 0)
 	    {
diff --git a/bfd/hpux-core.c b/bfd/hpux-core.c
index b3c070c5e29..e8a5e31b1ec 100644
--- a/bfd/hpux-core.c
+++ b/bfd/hpux-core.c
@@ -144,7 +144,7 @@ thread_section_p (bfd *abfd ATTRIBUTE_UNUSED,
                   asection *sect,
                   void *obj ATTRIBUTE_UNUSED)
 {
-  return (strncmp (sect->name, ".reg/", 5) == 0);
+  return CONST_STRNEQ (sect->name, ".reg/");
 }
 
 /* this function builds a bfd target if the file is a corefile.
diff --git a/bfd/i386linux.c b/bfd/i386linux.c
index 519c40e1766..99d1c06c5be 100644
--- a/bfd/i386linux.c
+++ b/bfd/i386linux.c
@@ -93,8 +93,7 @@ i386linux_write_object_contents (abfd)
 #define	GOT_REF_PREFIX	"__GOT_"
 #endif
 
-#define IS_GOT_SYM(name) \
-  (strncmp (name, GOT_REF_PREFIX, sizeof GOT_REF_PREFIX - 1) == 0)
+#define IS_GOT_SYM(name)   (CONST_STRNEQ (name, GOT_REF_PREFIX))
 
 /* See if a symbol name is a reference to the procedure linkage table.  */
 
@@ -102,8 +101,7 @@ i386linux_write_object_contents (abfd)
 #define	PLT_REF_PREFIX	"__PLT_"
 #endif
 
-#define IS_PLT_SYM(name) \
-  (strncmp (name, PLT_REF_PREFIX, sizeof PLT_REF_PREFIX - 1) == 0)
+#define IS_PLT_SYM(name)  (CONST_STRNEQ (name, PLT_REF_PREFIX))
 
 /* This string is used to generate specialized error messages.  */
 
@@ -441,8 +439,7 @@ linux_tally_symbols (h, data)
     h = (struct linux_link_hash_entry *) h->root.root.u.i.link;
 
   if (h->root.root.type == bfd_link_hash_undefined
-      && strncmp (h->root.root.root.string, NEEDS_SHRLIB,
-		  sizeof NEEDS_SHRLIB - 1) == 0)
+      && CONST_STRNEQ (h->root.root.root.string, NEEDS_SHRLIB))
     {
       const char *name;
       char *p;
diff --git a/bfd/ieee.c b/bfd/ieee.c
index f8d4e800235..0d60ad1e19c 100644
--- a/bfd/ieee.c
+++ b/bfd/ieee.c
@@ -1875,8 +1875,8 @@ ieee_object_p (bfd *abfd)
 	    family[9] = '\0';
 	  }
       }
-    else if ((strncmp (processor, "cpu32", 5) == 0) /* CPU32 and CPU32+ */
-	     || (strncmp (processor, "CPU32", 5) == 0))
+    else if ((CONST_STRNEQ (processor, "cpu32")) /* CPU32 and CPU32+  */
+	     || (CONST_STRNEQ (processor, "CPU32")))
       strcpy (family, "68332");
     else
       {
diff --git a/bfd/libpei.h b/bfd/libpei.h
index f0f6580fe4b..b01e222ede9 100644
--- a/bfd/libpei.h
+++ b/bfd/libpei.h
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 /* Support for the generic parts of PE/PEI; common header information.
-   Copyright 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005
+   Copyright 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006
    Free Software Foundation, Inc.
    Written by Cygnus Solutions.
 
@@ -271,9 +271,9 @@
 #endif /* !COFF_WITH_pep */
 
 /* Macro: Returns true if the bfd is a PE executable as opposed to a PE object file.  */
-#define bfd_pe_executable_p(abfd) \
-  (strncmp ((abfd)->xvec->name, "pei-", 4) == 0		\
-   || strncmp ((abfd)->xvec->name, "efi-app-", 8) == 0)
+#define bfd_pe_executable_p(abfd)			\
+  (CONST_STRNEQ ((abfd)->xvec->name, "pei-")		\
+   || CONST_STRNEQ ((abfd)->xvec->name, "efi-app-"))
 
 /* These functions are architecture dependent, and are in peicode.h:
    coff_swap_reloc_in
diff --git a/bfd/linker.c b/bfd/linker.c
index 14eeae4df0c..ea14d7645d4 100644
--- a/bfd/linker.c
+++ b/bfd/linker.c
@@ -562,11 +562,11 @@ bfd_wrapped_link_hash_lookup (bfd *abfd,
 
 #undef WRAP
 
-#undef REAL
+#undef  REAL
 #define REAL "__real_"
 
       if (*l == '_'
-	  && strncmp (l, REAL, sizeof REAL - 1) == 0
+	  && CONST_STRNEQ (l, REAL)
 	  && bfd_hash_lookup (info->wrap_hash, l + sizeof REAL - 1,
 			      FALSE, FALSE) != NULL)
 	{
@@ -1659,8 +1659,7 @@ _bfd_generic_link_add_one_symbol (struct bfd_link_info *info,
 		s = name + 1;
 		while (*s == '_')
 		  ++s;
-		if (s[0] == 'G'
-		    && strncmp (s, CONS_PREFIX, CONS_PREFIX_LEN - 1) == 0)
+		if (s[0] == 'G' && CONST_STRNEQ (s, CONS_PREFIX))
 		  {
 		    char c;
 
diff --git a/bfd/m68klinux.c b/bfd/m68klinux.c
index 03f8eaac0f0..f2295d12204 100644
--- a/bfd/m68klinux.c
+++ b/bfd/m68klinux.c
@@ -94,8 +94,7 @@ m68klinux_write_object_contents (abfd)
 #define	GOT_REF_PREFIX	"__GOT_"
 #endif
 
-#define IS_GOT_SYM(name) \
-  (strncmp (name, GOT_REF_PREFIX, sizeof GOT_REF_PREFIX - 1) == 0)
+#define IS_GOT_SYM(name)  (CONST_STRNEQ (name, GOT_REF_PREFIX))
 
 /* See if a symbol name is a reference to the procedure linkage table.  */
 
@@ -103,8 +102,7 @@ m68klinux_write_object_contents (abfd)
 #define	PLT_REF_PREFIX	"__PLT_"
 #endif
 
-#define IS_PLT_SYM(name) \
-  (strncmp (name, PLT_REF_PREFIX, sizeof PLT_REF_PREFIX - 1) == 0)
+#define IS_PLT_SYM(name)  (CONST_STRNEQ (name, PLT_REF_PREFIX))
 
 /* This string is used to generate specialized error messages.  */
 
@@ -445,8 +443,7 @@ linux_tally_symbols (h, data)
     h = (struct linux_link_hash_entry *) h->root.root.u.i.link;
 
   if (h->root.root.type == bfd_link_hash_undefined
-      && strncmp (h->root.root.root.string, NEEDS_SHRLIB,
-		  sizeof NEEDS_SHRLIB - 1) == 0)
+      && CONST_STRNEQ (h->root.root.root.string, NEEDS_SHRLIB))
     {
       const char *name;
       char *p;
diff --git a/bfd/mmo.c b/bfd/mmo.c
index 9ee539baece..077e3a8b8a0 100644
--- a/bfd/mmo.c
+++ b/bfd/mmo.c
@@ -2421,10 +2421,10 @@ mmo_internal_write_section (bfd *abfd, asection *sec)
       bfd_set_error (bfd_error_bad_value);
       return FALSE;
     }
-  else if (strncmp (sec->name, MMIX_OTHER_SPEC_SECTION_PREFIX,
-		    strlen (MMIX_OTHER_SPEC_SECTION_PREFIX)) == 0)
+  else if (CONST_STRNEQ (sec->name, MMIX_OTHER_SPEC_SECTION_PREFIX))
     {
       int n = atoi (sec->name + strlen (MMIX_OTHER_SPEC_SECTION_PREFIX));
+
       mmo_write_tetra_raw (abfd, (LOP << 24) | (LOP_SPEC << 16) | n);
       return (! abfd->tdata.mmo_data->have_error
 	      && mmo_write_chunk_list (abfd, mmo_section_data (sec)->head));
diff --git a/bfd/nlmcode.h b/bfd/nlmcode.h
index a7d3985c6a7..30e6f47b357 100644
--- a/bfd/nlmcode.h
+++ b/bfd/nlmcode.h
@@ -174,7 +174,7 @@ nlm_swap_auxiliary_headers_in (bfd *abfd)
 	return FALSE;
       if (bfd_seek (abfd, position, SEEK_SET) != 0)
 	return FALSE;
-      if (strncmp (tempstr, "VeRsIoN#", 8) == 0)
+      if (CONST_STRNEQ (tempstr, "VeRsIoN#"))
 	{
 	  Nlm_External_Version_Header thdr;
 
@@ -196,7 +196,7 @@ nlm_swap_auxiliary_headers_in (bfd *abfd)
 	  nlm_version_header (abfd)->day =
 	    get_word (abfd, (bfd_byte *) thdr.day);
 	}
-      else if (strncmp (tempstr, "MeSsAgEs", 8) == 0)
+      else if (CONST_STRNEQ (tempstr, "MeSsAgEs"))
 	{
 	  Nlm_External_Extended_Header thdr;
 
@@ -264,7 +264,7 @@ nlm_swap_auxiliary_headers_in (bfd *abfd)
 	  nlm_extended_header (abfd)->reserved5 =
 	    get_word (abfd, (bfd_byte *) thdr.reserved5);
 	}
-      else if (strncmp (tempstr, "CoPyRiGhT=", 10) == 0)
+      else if (CONST_STRNEQ (tempstr, "CoPyRiGhT="))
 	{
 	  amt = sizeof (nlm_copyright_header (abfd)->stamp);
 	  if (bfd_bread ((void *) nlm_copyright_header (abfd)->stamp,
@@ -280,7 +280,7 @@ nlm_swap_auxiliary_headers_in (bfd *abfd)
 			amt, abfd) != amt)
 	    return FALSE;
 	}
-      else if (strncmp (tempstr, "CuStHeAd", 8) == 0)
+      else if (CONST_STRNEQ (tempstr, "CuStHeAd"))
 	{
 	  Nlm_External_Custom_Header thdr;
 	  bfd_size_type hdrLength;
@@ -345,7 +345,7 @@ nlm_swap_auxiliary_headers_in (bfd *abfd)
 	  /* If we have found a Cygnus header, process it.  Otherwise,
 	     just save the associated data without trying to interpret
 	     it.  */
-	  if (strncmp (dataStamp, "CyGnUsEx", 8) == 0)
+	  if (CONST_STRNEQ (dataStamp, "CyGnUsEx"))
 	    {
 	      file_ptr pos;
 	      bfd_byte *contents;
@@ -364,7 +364,7 @@ nlm_swap_auxiliary_headers_in (bfd *abfd)
 	      if (bfd_seek (abfd, pos, SEEK_SET) != 0)
 		return FALSE;
 
-	      memcpy (nlm_cygnus_ext_header (abfd), "CyGnUsEx", 8);
+	      memcpy (nlm_cygnus_ext_header (abfd), STRING_COMMA_LEN ("CyGnUsEx"));
 	      nlm_cygnus_ext_header (abfd)->offset = dataOffset;
 	      nlm_cygnus_ext_header (abfd)->length = dataLength;
 
@@ -645,7 +645,7 @@ nlm_swap_auxiliary_headers_out (bfd *abfd)
     {
       Nlm_External_Version_Header thdr;
 
-      memcpy (thdr.stamp, "VeRsIoN#", 8);
+      memcpy (thdr.stamp, STRING_COMMA_LEN ("VeRsIoN#"));
       put_word (abfd, (bfd_vma) nlm_version_header (abfd)->majorVersion,
 		(bfd_byte *) thdr.majorVersion);
       put_word (abfd, (bfd_vma) nlm_version_header (abfd)->minorVersion,
@@ -672,7 +672,7 @@ nlm_swap_auxiliary_headers_out (bfd *abfd)
     {
       Nlm_External_Copyright_Header thdr;
 
-      memcpy (thdr.stamp, "CoPyRiGhT=", 10);
+      memcpy (thdr.stamp, STRING_COMMA_LEN ("CoPyRiGhT="));
       amt = sizeof (thdr.stamp);
       if (bfd_bwrite ((void *) thdr.stamp, amt, abfd) != amt)
 	return FALSE;
@@ -694,7 +694,7 @@ nlm_swap_auxiliary_headers_out (bfd *abfd)
     {
       Nlm_External_Extended_Header thdr;
 
-      memcpy (thdr.stamp, "MeSsAgEs", 8);
+      memcpy (thdr.stamp, STRING_COMMA_LEN ("MeSsAgEs"));
       put_word (abfd,
 		(bfd_vma) nlm_extended_header (abfd)->languageID,
 		(bfd_byte *) thdr.languageID);
@@ -797,7 +797,7 @@ nlm_swap_auxiliary_headers_out (bfd *abfd)
 
       ds = find_nonzero (nlm_custom_header (abfd)->dataStamp,
 			 sizeof (nlm_custom_header (abfd)->dataStamp));
-      memcpy (thdr.stamp, "CuStHeAd", 8);
+      memcpy (thdr.stamp, STRING_COMMA_LEN ("CuStHeAd"));
       hdrLength = (2 * NLM_TARGET_LONG_SIZE + (ds ? 8 : 0)
 		   + nlm_custom_header (abfd)->hdrLength);
       put_word (abfd, hdrLength, thdr.length);
@@ -831,14 +831,14 @@ nlm_swap_auxiliary_headers_out (bfd *abfd)
     {
       Nlm_External_Custom_Header thdr;
 
-      memcpy (thdr.stamp, "CuStHeAd", 8);
+      memcpy (thdr.stamp, STRING_COMMA_LEN ("CuStHeAd"));
       put_word (abfd, (bfd_vma) 2 * NLM_TARGET_LONG_SIZE + 8,
 		(bfd_byte *) thdr.length);
       put_word (abfd, (bfd_vma) nlm_cygnus_ext_header (abfd)->offset,
 		(bfd_byte *) thdr.dataOffset);
       put_word (abfd, (bfd_vma) nlm_cygnus_ext_header (abfd)->length,
 		(bfd_byte *) thdr.dataLength);
-      memcpy (thdr.dataStamp, "CyGnUsEx", 8);
+      memcpy (thdr.dataStamp, STRING_COMMA_LEN ("CyGnUsEx"));
       amt = sizeof (thdr);
       if (bfd_bwrite ((void *) &thdr, amt, abfd) != amt)
 	return FALSE;
diff --git a/bfd/osf-core.c b/bfd/osf-core.c
index 1d3802bf82f..9bba6e78ddd 100644
--- a/bfd/osf-core.c
+++ b/bfd/osf-core.c
@@ -94,7 +94,7 @@ osf_core_core_file_p (abfd)
   if (val != sizeof core_header)
     return NULL;
 
-  if (strncmp (core_header.magic, "Core", 4) != 0)
+  if (! CONST_STRNEQ (core_header.magic, "Core"))
     return NULL;
 
   core_hdr (abfd) = (struct osf_core_struct *)
diff --git a/bfd/pef.c b/bfd/pef.c
index 63e557acaa5..23715f44c2d 100644
--- a/bfd/pef.c
+++ b/bfd/pef.c
@@ -209,7 +209,7 @@ bfd_pef_print_symbol (bfd *abfd,
     default:
       bfd_print_symbol_vandf (abfd, (void *) file, symbol);
       fprintf (file, " %-5s %s", symbol->section->name, symbol->name);
-      if (strncmp (symbol->name, "__traceback_", strlen ("__traceback_")) == 0)
+      if (CONST_STRNEQ (symbol->name, "__traceback_"))
 	{
 	  unsigned char *buf = alloca (symbol->udata.i);
 	  size_t offset = symbol->value + 4;
diff --git a/bfd/som.c b/bfd/som.c
index ead05f94746..4d00d49a323 100644
--- a/bfd/som.c
+++ b/bfd/som.c
@@ -4374,12 +4374,12 @@ som_slurp_symbol_table (bfd *abfd)
 	  && sym->symbol.name[strlen (sym->symbol.name) - 1] == '$'
 	  && !strcmp (sym->symbol.name, sym->symbol.section->name))
 	sym->symbol.flags |= BSF_SECTION_SYM;
-      else if (!strncmp (sym->symbol.name, "L$0\002", 4))
+      else if (CONST_STRNEQ (sym->symbol.name, "L$0\002"))
 	{
 	  sym->symbol.flags |= BSF_SECTION_SYM;
 	  sym->symbol.name = sym->symbol.section->name;
 	}
-      else if (!strncmp (sym->symbol.name, "L$0\001", 4))
+      else if (CONST_STRNEQ (sym->symbol.name, "L$0\001"))
 	sym->symbol.flags |= BSF_DEBUGGING;
 
       /* Note increment at bottom of loop, since we skip some symbols
@@ -5653,7 +5653,7 @@ som_slurp_armap (bfd *abfd)
     return FALSE;
 
   /* For archives without .o files there is no symbol table.  */
-  if (strncmp (nextname, "/               ", 16))
+  if (! CONST_STRNEQ (nextname, "/               "))
     {
       bfd_has_map (abfd) = FALSE;
       return TRUE;
diff --git a/bfd/sparclinux.c b/bfd/sparclinux.c
index 6b534e3a4d3..243e85028d0 100644
--- a/bfd/sparclinux.c
+++ b/bfd/sparclinux.c
@@ -2,22 +2,22 @@
    Copyright 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002,
    2003, 2004, 2006 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
 
-This file is part of BFD, the Binary File Descriptor library.
+   This file is part of BFD, the Binary File Descriptor library.
 
-This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
-it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
-the Free Software Foundation; either version 2 of the License, or
-(at your option) any later version.
+   This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
+   it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
+   the Free Software Foundation; either version 2 of the License, or
+   (at your option) any later version.
 
-This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
-but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
-MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
-GNU General Public License for more details.
+   This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+   but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+   MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+   GNU General Public License for more details.
 
-You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
-along with this program; if not, write to the Free Software
-Foundation, Inc., 51 Franklin Street - Fifth Floor, Boston, MA 02110-1301,
-USA.  */
+   You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+   along with this program; if not, write to the Free Software
+   Foundation, Inc., 51 Franklin Street - Fifth Floor, Boston, MA 02110-1301,
+   USA.  */
 
 #define TARGET_PAGE_SIZE	4096
 #define ZMAGIC_DISK_BLOCK_SIZE	1024
@@ -94,8 +94,7 @@ sparclinux_write_object_contents (abfd)
 #define GOT_REF_PREFIX  "__GOT_"
 #endif
 
-#define IS_GOT_SYM(name) \
-  (strncmp (name, GOT_REF_PREFIX, sizeof GOT_REF_PREFIX - 1) == 0)
+#define IS_GOT_SYM(name)  (CONST_STRNEQ (name, GOT_REF_PREFIX))
 
 /* See if a symbol name is a reference to the procedure linkage table.  */
 
@@ -103,8 +102,7 @@ sparclinux_write_object_contents (abfd)
 #define PLT_REF_PREFIX  "__PLT_"
 #endif
 
-#define IS_PLT_SYM(name) \
-  (strncmp (name, PLT_REF_PREFIX, sizeof PLT_REF_PREFIX - 1) == 0)
+#define IS_PLT_SYM(name)  (CONST_STRNEQ (name, PLT_REF_PREFIX))
 
 /* This string is used to generate specialized error messages.  */
 
@@ -428,9 +426,7 @@ linux_add_one_symbol (info, abfd, name, flags, section, value, string,
    This function is called via linux_link_hash_traverse.  */
 
 static bfd_boolean
-linux_tally_symbols (h, data)
-     struct linux_link_hash_entry *h;
-     PTR data;
+linux_tally_symbols (struct linux_link_hash_entry *h, void * data)
 {
   struct bfd_link_info *info = (struct bfd_link_info *) data;
   struct fixup *f, *f1;
@@ -442,8 +438,7 @@ linux_tally_symbols (h, data)
     h = (struct linux_link_hash_entry *) h->root.root.u.i.link;
 
   if (h->root.root.type == bfd_link_hash_undefined
-      && strncmp (h->root.root.root.string, NEEDS_SHRLIB,
-		  sizeof NEEDS_SHRLIB - 1) == 0)
+      && CONST_STRNEQ (h->root.root.root.string, NEEDS_SHRLIB))
     {
       const char *name;
       char *p;
diff --git a/bfd/vms-hdr.c b/bfd/vms-hdr.c
index 24a0aec1a0c..67c22b300d1 100644
--- a/bfd/vms-hdr.c
+++ b/bfd/vms-hdr.c
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 /* vms-hdr.c -- BFD back-end for VMS/VAX (openVMS/VAX) and
    EVAX (openVMS/Alpha) files.
-   Copyright 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005
+   Copyright 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006
    Free Software Foundation, Inc.
 
    HDR record handling functions
@@ -248,7 +248,7 @@ _bfd_vms_write_hdr (bfd *abfd, int objtype)
 
   /* LMN.  */
   _bfd_vms_output_begin (abfd, EOBJ_S_C_EMH, EMH_S_C_LNM);
-  _bfd_vms_output_dump (abfd, (unsigned char *)"GAS proGIS", 10);
+  _bfd_vms_output_dump (abfd, (unsigned char *) STRING_COMMA_LEN ("GAS proGIS"));
   _bfd_vms_output_flush (abfd);
 
   /* SRC.  */
@@ -260,7 +260,7 @@ _bfd_vms_write_hdr (bfd *abfd, int objtype)
 
       if (symbol->flags & BSF_FILE)
 	{
-	  if (strncmp ((char *)symbol->name, "<CASE:", 6) == 0)
+	  if (CONST_STRNEQ ((char *)symbol->name, "<CASE:"))
 	    {
 	      PRIV (flag_hash_long_names) = symbol->name[6] - '0';
 	      PRIV (flag_show_after_trunc) = symbol->name[7] - '0';
@@ -280,13 +280,13 @@ _bfd_vms_write_hdr (bfd *abfd, int objtype)
     }
 
   if (symnum == abfd->symcount)
-    _bfd_vms_output_dump (abfd, (unsigned char *)"noname", 6);
+    _bfd_vms_output_dump (abfd, (unsigned char *) STRING_COMMA_LEN ("noname"));
 
   _bfd_vms_output_flush (abfd);
 
   /* TTL.  */
   _bfd_vms_output_begin (abfd, EOBJ_S_C_EMH, EMH_S_C_TTL);
-  _bfd_vms_output_dump (abfd, (unsigned char *)"TTL", 3);
+  _bfd_vms_output_dump (abfd, (unsigned char *) STRING_COMMA_LEN ("TTL"));
   _bfd_vms_output_flush (abfd);
 
   /* CPR.  */
diff --git a/opcodes/ChangeLog b/opcodes/ChangeLog
index 290b8d47a03..e87e62a760f 100644
--- a/opcodes/ChangeLog
+++ b/opcodes/ChangeLog
@@ -1,3 +1,14 @@
+2006-09-16  Nick Clifton  <nickc@redhat.com>
+	    Pedro Alves  <pedro_alves@portugalmail.pt>
+
+	* arm-dis.c: Make use of new STRING_COMMA_LEN and CONST_STRNEQ
+	macros defined in bfd.h.
+	* cris-dis.c: Likewise.
+	* h8300-dis.c: Likewise.
+	* i386-dis.c: Likewise.
+	* ia64-gen.c: Likewise.
+	* mips-dis: Likewise.
+
 2006-09-04  Paul Brook  <paul@codesourcery.com>
 
 	* arm-dis.c (neon_opcode): Fix suffix on VMOVN.
diff --git a/opcodes/arm-dis.c b/opcodes/arm-dis.c
index 45e5da7c570..d87e1eb7556 100644
--- a/opcodes/arm-dis.c
+++ b/opcodes/arm-dis.c
@@ -3653,7 +3653,7 @@ parse_arm_disassembler_option (char *option)
   if (option == NULL)
     return;
 
-  if (strneq (option, "reg-names-", 10))
+  if (CONST_STRNEQ (option, "reg-names-"))
     {
       int i;
 
@@ -3670,9 +3670,9 @@ parse_arm_disassembler_option (char *option)
 	/* XXX - should break 'option' at following delimiter.  */
 	fprintf (stderr, _("Unrecognised register name set: %s\n"), option);
     }
-  else if (strneq (option, "force-thumb", 11))
+  else if (CONST_STRNEQ (option, "force-thumb"))
     force_thumb = 1;
-  else if (strneq (option, "no-force-thumb", 14))
+  else if (CONST_STRNEQ (option, "no-force-thumb"))
     force_thumb = 0;
   else
     /* XXX - should break 'option' at following delimiter.  */
diff --git a/opcodes/cris-dis.c b/opcodes/cris-dis.c
index f6c63cb280d..137bed7e6d5 100644
--- a/opcodes/cris-dis.c
+++ b/opcodes/cris-dis.c
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 /* Disassembler code for CRIS.
-   Copyright 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
+   Copyright 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
    Contributed by Axis Communications AB, Lund, Sweden.
    Written by Hans-Peter Nilsson.
 
@@ -783,7 +783,7 @@ print_with_operands (const struct cris_opcode *opcodep,
      better way).  */
   if (opcodep->name[0] == 'j')
     {
-      if (strncmp (opcodep->name, "jsr", 3) == 0)
+      if (CONST_STRNEQ (opcodep->name, "jsr"))
 	/* It's "jsr" or "jsrc".  */
 	info->insn_type = dis_jsr;
       else
@@ -1360,16 +1360,16 @@ print_with_operands (const struct cris_opcode *opcodep,
      itself or in a "move.d const,rN, sub.d rN,rM"-like sequence.  */
   if (TRACE_CASE && case_offset_counter == 0)
     {
-      if (strncmp (opcodep->name, "sub", 3) == 0)
+      if (CONST_STRNEQ (opcodep->name, "sub"))
 	case_offset = last_immediate;
 
       /* It could also be an "add", if there are negative case-values.  */
-      else if (strncmp (opcodep->name, "add", 3) == 0)
+      else if (CONST_STRNEQ (opcodep->name, "add"))
 	/* The first case is the negated operand to the add.  */
 	case_offset = -last_immediate;
 
       /* A bound insn will tell us the number of cases.  */
-      else if (strncmp (opcodep->name, "bound", 5) == 0)
+      else if (CONST_STRNEQ (opcodep->name, "bound"))
 	no_of_case_offsets = last_immediate + 1;
 
       /* A jump or jsr or branch breaks the chain of insns for a
diff --git a/opcodes/h8300-dis.c b/opcodes/h8300-dis.c
index 769c12e37d4..d8973813a73 100644
--- a/opcodes/h8300-dis.c
+++ b/opcodes/h8300-dis.c
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 /* Disassemble h8300 instructions.
-   Copyright 1993, 1994, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005
+   Copyright 1993, 1994, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006
    Free Software Foundation, Inc.
 
    This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
@@ -638,7 +638,7 @@ bfd_h8_disassemble (bfd_vma addr, disassemble_info *info, int mach)
 			       regno[1]);
 		      return qi->length;
 		    }
-		  if (strncmp (q->name, "mova", 4) == 0)
+		  if (CONST_STRNEQ (q->name, "mova"))
 		    {
 		      op_type *args = q->args.nib;
 
diff --git a/opcodes/i386-dis.c b/opcodes/i386-dis.c
index 18ca5decc65..bcf30802297 100644
--- a/opcodes/i386-dis.c
+++ b/opcodes/i386-dis.c
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 /* Print i386 instructions for GDB, the GNU debugger.
    Copyright 1988, 1989, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999,
-   2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
+   2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
 
    This file is part of GDB.
 
@@ -2667,44 +2667,44 @@ print_insn (bfd_vma pc, disassemble_info *info)
 
   for (p = info->disassembler_options; p != NULL; )
     {
-      if (strncmp (p, "x86-64", 6) == 0)
+      if (CONST_STRNEQ (p, "x86-64"))
 	{
 	  address_mode = mode_64bit;
 	  priv.orig_sizeflag = AFLAG | DFLAG;
 	}
-      else if (strncmp (p, "i386", 4) == 0)
+      else if (CONST_STRNEQ (p, "i386"))
 	{
 	  address_mode = mode_32bit;
 	  priv.orig_sizeflag = AFLAG | DFLAG;
 	}
-      else if (strncmp (p, "i8086", 5) == 0)
+      else if (CONST_STRNEQ (p, "i8086"))
 	{
 	  address_mode = mode_16bit;
 	  priv.orig_sizeflag = 0;
 	}
-      else if (strncmp (p, "intel", 5) == 0)
+      else if (CONST_STRNEQ (p, "intel"))
 	{
 	  intel_syntax = 1;
 	}
-      else if (strncmp (p, "att", 3) == 0)
+      else if (CONST_STRNEQ (p, "att"))
 	{
 	  intel_syntax = 0;
 	}
-      else if (strncmp (p, "addr", 4) == 0)
+      else if (CONST_STRNEQ (p, "addr"))
 	{
 	  if (p[4] == '1' && p[5] == '6')
 	    priv.orig_sizeflag &= ~AFLAG;
 	  else if (p[4] == '3' && p[5] == '2')
 	    priv.orig_sizeflag |= AFLAG;
 	}
-      else if (strncmp (p, "data", 4) == 0)
+      else if (CONST_STRNEQ (p, "data"))
 	{
 	  if (p[4] == '1' && p[5] == '6')
 	    priv.orig_sizeflag &= ~DFLAG;
 	  else if (p[4] == '3' && p[5] == '2')
 	    priv.orig_sizeflag |= DFLAG;
 	}
-      else if (strncmp (p, "suffix", 6) == 0)
+      else if (CONST_STRNEQ (p, "suffix"))
 	priv.orig_sizeflag |= SUFFIX_ALWAYS;
 
       p = strchr (p, ',');
@@ -5207,9 +5207,9 @@ PNI_Fixup (int extrachar ATTRIBUTE_UNUSED, int sizeflag)
 	  && (prefixes & PREFIX_ADDR)
 	  && olen >= (4 + 7)
 	  && *(p - 1) == ' '
-	  && strncmp (p - 7, "addr", 4) == 0
-	  && (strncmp (p - 3, "16", 2) == 0
-	      || strncmp (p - 3, "32", 2) == 0))
+	  && CONST_STRNEQ (p - 7, "addr")
+	  && (CONST_STRNEQ (p - 3, "16")
+	      || CONST_STRNEQ (p - 3, "32")))
 	p -= 7;
 
       if (rm)
diff --git a/opcodes/ia64-gen.c b/opcodes/ia64-gen.c
index 556228319a8..b1d0225262f 100644
--- a/opcodes/ia64-gen.c
+++ b/opcodes/ia64-gen.c
@@ -467,7 +467,7 @@ fetch_insn_class (const char *full_name, int create)
   int ind;
   int is_class = 0;
 
-  if (strncmp (full_name, "IC:", 3) == 0)
+  if (CONST_STRNEQ (full_name, "IC:"))
     {
       name = xstrdup (full_name + 3);
       is_class = 1;
@@ -749,7 +749,7 @@ parse_resource_users (ref, usersp, nusersp, notesp)
          are read.  Only create new classes if it's *not* an insn class,
          or if it's a composite class (which wouldn't necessarily be in the IC
          table).  */
-      if (strncmp (name, "IC:", 3) != 0 || xsect != NULL)
+      if (! CONST_STRNEQ (name, "IC:") || xsect != NULL)
         create = 1;
       
       iclass = fetch_insn_class (name, create);
@@ -1034,7 +1034,7 @@ in_iclass (struct ia64_opcode *idesc, struct iclass *ic,
 
   if (ic->comment)
     {
-      if (!strncmp (ic->comment, "Format", 6))
+      if (CONST_STRNEQ (ic->comment, "Format"))
         {
           /* Assume that the first format seen is the most restrictive, and
              only keep a later one if it looks like it's more restrictive.  */
@@ -1050,7 +1050,7 @@ in_iclass (struct ia64_opcode *idesc, struct iclass *ic,
           else
             format = ic->comment;
         }
-      else if (!strncmp (ic->comment, "Field", 5))
+      else if (CONST_STRNEQ (ic->comment, "Field"))
         {
           if (field)
             warn (_("overlapping field %s->%s\n"),
@@ -1064,7 +1064,7 @@ in_iclass (struct ia64_opcode *idesc, struct iclass *ic,
      instructions.  */
   if (ic->nsubs == 0 && ic->nxsubs == 0)
     {
-      int is_mov = strncmp (idesc->name, "mov", 3) == 0;
+      int is_mov = CONST_STRNEQ (idesc->name, "mov");
       int plain_mov = strcmp (idesc->name, "mov") == 0;
       int len = strlen(ic->name);
 
@@ -1123,32 +1123,32 @@ in_iclass (struct ia64_opcode *idesc, struct iclass *ic,
 
       if (resolved && format)
         {
-          if (strncmp (idesc->name, "dep", 3) == 0
+          if (CONST_STRNEQ (idesc->name, "dep")
                    && strstr (format, "I13") != NULL)
             resolved = idesc->operands[1] == IA64_OPND_IMM8;
-          else if (strncmp (idesc->name, "chk", 3) == 0
+          else if (CONST_STRNEQ (idesc->name, "chk")
                    && strstr (format, "M21") != NULL)
             resolved = idesc->operands[0] == IA64_OPND_F2;
-          else if (strncmp (idesc->name, "lfetch", 6) == 0)
+          else if (CONST_STRNEQ (idesc->name, "lfetch"))
             resolved = (strstr (format, "M14 M15") != NULL
                         && (idesc->operands[1] == IA64_OPND_R2
                             || idesc->operands[1] == IA64_OPND_IMM9b));
-          else if (strncmp (idesc->name, "br.call", 7) == 0
+          else if (CONST_STRNEQ (idesc->name, "br.call")
                    && strstr (format, "B5") != NULL)
             resolved = idesc->operands[1] == IA64_OPND_B2;
-          else if (strncmp (idesc->name, "br.call", 7) == 0
+          else if (CONST_STRNEQ (idesc->name, "br.call")
                    && strstr (format, "B3") != NULL)
             resolved = idesc->operands[1] == IA64_OPND_TGT25c;
-          else if (strncmp (idesc->name, "brp", 3) == 0
+          else if (CONST_STRNEQ (idesc->name, "brp")
                    && strstr (format, "B7") != NULL)
             resolved = idesc->operands[0] == IA64_OPND_B2;
           else if (strcmp (ic->name, "invala") == 0)
             resolved = strcmp (idesc->name, ic->name) == 0;
-	  else if (strncmp (idesc->name, "st", 2) == 0
+	  else if (CONST_STRNEQ (idesc->name, "st")
 		   && (strstr (format, "M5") != NULL
 		       || strstr (format, "M10") != NULL))
 	    resolved = idesc->flags & IA64_OPCODE_POSTINC;
-	  else if (strncmp (idesc->name, "ld", 2) == 0
+	  else if (CONST_STRNEQ (idesc->name, "ld")
 		   && (strstr (format, "M2 M3") != NULL
 		       || strstr (format, "M12") != NULL
 		       || strstr (format, "M7 M8") != NULL))
@@ -1161,7 +1161,7 @@ in_iclass (struct ia64_opcode *idesc, struct iclass *ic,
          plain brl matches brl.cond.  */
       if (!resolved
           && (strcmp (idesc->name, "brl") == 0
-              || strncmp (idesc->name, "brl.", 4) == 0)
+              || CONST_STRNEQ (idesc->name, "brl."))
           && strcmp (ic->name, "brl.cond") == 0)
         {
           resolved = 1;
@@ -1170,7 +1170,7 @@ in_iclass (struct ia64_opcode *idesc, struct iclass *ic,
       /* Misc br variations ('.cond' is optional).  */
       if (!resolved 
           && (strcmp (idesc->name, "br") == 0
-              || strncmp (idesc->name, "br.", 3) == 0)
+              || CONST_STRNEQ (idesc->name, "br."))
           && strcmp (ic->name, "br.cond") == 0)
         {
           if (format)
@@ -1183,7 +1183,7 @@ in_iclass (struct ia64_opcode *idesc, struct iclass *ic,
         }
 
       /* probe variations.  */
-      if (!resolved && strncmp (idesc->name, "probe", 5) == 0)
+      if (!resolved && CONST_STRNEQ (idesc->name, "probe"))
         {
           resolved = strcmp (ic->name, "probe") == 0 
             && !((strstr (idesc->name, "fault") != NULL) 
@@ -1217,7 +1217,7 @@ in_iclass (struct ia64_opcode *idesc, struct iclass *ic,
             }
 
           /* Some variants of mov and mov.[im].  */
-          if (!resolved && strncmp (ic->name, "mov_", 4) == 0)
+          if (!resolved && CONST_STRNEQ (ic->name, "mov_"))
 	    resolved = in_iclass_mov_x (idesc, ic, format, field);
         }
 
@@ -1476,13 +1476,13 @@ lookup_specifier (const char *name)
       warn (_("Don't know how to specify # dependency %s\n"),
 	    name);
     }
-  else if (strncmp (name, "AR[FPSR]", 8) == 0)
+  else if (CONST_STRNEQ (name, "AR[FPSR]"))
     return IA64_RS_AR_FPSR;
-  else if (strncmp (name, "AR[", 3) == 0)
+  else if (CONST_STRNEQ (name, "AR["))
     return IA64_RS_ARX;
-  else if (strncmp (name, "CR[", 3) == 0)
+  else if (CONST_STRNEQ (name, "CR["))
     return IA64_RS_CRX;
-  else if (strncmp (name, "PSR.", 4) == 0)
+  else if (CONST_STRNEQ (name, "PSR."))
     return IA64_RS_PSR;
   else if (strcmp (name, "InService*") == 0)
     return IA64_RS_INSERVICE;
@@ -2448,7 +2448,7 @@ insert_opcode_dependencies (opc, cmp)
       int j;
 
       if (strcmp (opc->name, "cmp.eq.and") == 0
-          && strncmp (rs->name, "PR%", 3) == 0
+          && CONST_STRNEQ (rs->name, "PR%")
           && rs->mode == 1)
         no_class_found = 99;
 
@@ -2459,7 +2459,7 @@ insert_opcode_dependencies (opc, cmp)
           if (in_iclass (opc, ics[rs->regs[j]], NULL, NULL, &ic_note))
             {
               /* We can ignore ic_note 11 for non PR resources.  */
-              if (ic_note == 11 && strncmp (rs->name, "PR", 2) != 0)
+              if (ic_note == 11 && ! CONST_STRNEQ (rs->name, "PR"))
                 ic_note = 0;
 
               if (ic_note != 0 && rs->regnotes[j] != 0
@@ -2487,7 +2487,7 @@ insert_opcode_dependencies (opc, cmp)
           if (in_iclass (opc, ics[rs->chks[j]], NULL, NULL, &ic_note))
             {
               /* We can ignore ic_note 11 for non PR resources.  */
-              if (ic_note == 11 && strncmp (rs->name, "PR", 2) != 0)
+              if (ic_note == 11 && ! CONST_STRNEQ (rs->name, "PR"))
                 ic_note = 0;
 
               if (ic_note != 0 && rs->chknotes[j] != 0
diff --git a/opcodes/mips-dis.c b/opcodes/mips-dis.c
index b0562ea2523..8af043c977a 100644
--- a/opcodes/mips-dis.c
+++ b/opcodes/mips-dis.c
@@ -575,7 +575,7 @@ parse_mips_dis_option (const char *option, unsigned int len)
   const struct mips_arch_choice *chosen_arch;
 
   /* Try to match options that are simple flags */
-  if (strncmp (option, "no-aliases", 10) == 0)
+  if (CONST_STRNEQ (option, "no-aliases"))
     {
       no_aliases = 1;
       return;