diff --git a/include/link.h b/include/link.h
index 15a28787928d6..5dffe7bc64355 100644
--- a/include/link.h
+++ b/include/link.h
@@ -115,6 +115,7 @@ struct	Prog
 	uchar	ft;	/* 6l, 8l oclass cache */
 	uchar	tt;	// 6l, 8l
 	uchar	isize;	// 6l, 8l
+	uchar	printed;
 
 	char	width;	/* fake for DATA */
 	char	mode;	/* 16, 32, or 64 in 6l, 8l; internal use in 5g, 6g, 8g */
@@ -145,6 +146,7 @@ struct	LSym
 	uchar	localentry;	// ppc64: instrs between global & local entry
 	uchar	seenglobl;
 	uchar	onlist;	// on the textp or datap lists
+	uchar	printed;
 	int16	symid;	// for writing .5/.6/.8 files
 	int32	dynid;
 	int32	sig;
@@ -300,6 +302,7 @@ struct	Hist
 	char*	name;
 	int32	line;
 	int32	offset;
+	uchar	printed;
 };
 
 struct	Plist
diff --git a/src/liblink/objfile.c b/src/liblink/objfile.c
index 6711aaf77697a..8c2257de8a5a4 100644
--- a/src/liblink/objfile.c
+++ b/src/liblink/objfile.c
@@ -119,29 +119,45 @@ static char *rdstring(Biobuf*);
 static void rddata(Biobuf*, uchar**, int*);
 static LSym *rdsym(Link*, Biobuf*, char*);
 
-void	writeobjdirect(Link*, Biobuf*);
+void	writeobjdirect(Link *ctxt, Biobuf *b);
+
+void	writeobjgo1(Link*, char*);
+void	writeobjgo2(Link*, char*, int64);
+
+extern char *outfile;
 
 void
 writeobj(Link *ctxt, Biobuf *b)
 {
-	char *cmd[3];
-	
-	// TODO(rsc): Use 'go tool objwriter' to write object file,
-	// allowing the bulk of liblink to be moved into Go.
-	// As a first step, we check that we can invoke objwriter at all
-	// (it is an empty program for now).
-	// This tests the cmd/dist bootstrap process, making sure
-	// that objwriter is available when it needs to be.
-	// Once the support mechanisms are there, we can put the
-	// real code in.
-	
-	cmd[0] = smprint("%s/pkg/tool/%s_%s/objwriter", getgoroot(), getgohostos(), getgohostarch());
-	cmd[1] = "ping";
-	cmd[2] = nil;
-	if(runcmd(cmd) < 0)
-		sysfatal("cannot run objwriter: %r");
+	vlong start;
+	char *env;
+
+	// If $GOOBJ > 0, invoke the Go version of the liblink
+	// output routines via a subprocess.
+	// If $GOOBJ == 1, copy that subprocess's output to
+	// the actual output file.
+	// If $GOOBJ >= 2, generate output using the usual C version
+	// but then check that the subprocess wrote the same bytes.
+	// $GOOBJ is a temporary setting for the transition to a
+	// Go liblink back end. Once the C liblink back ends are deleted,
+	// we will hard code the GOOBJ=1 behavior.
+	env = getenv("GOOBJ");
+	if(env == nil)
+		env = "2";
+	if(atoi(env) == 0) {
+		writeobjdirect(ctxt, b);
+		return;
+	}
 
-	writeobjdirect(ctxt, b);
+	Bflush(b);
+	start = Boffset(b);
+	writeobjgo1(ctxt, outfile);
+	if(atoi(env) > 1) {
+		writeobjdirect(ctxt, b);
+		Bflush(b);
+	}
+	writeobjgo2(ctxt, outfile, start);
+	Bseek(b, 0, 2);
 }
 
 // The Go and C compilers, and the assembler, call writeobj to write
diff --git a/src/liblink/objfilego.c b/src/liblink/objfilego.c
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000..4d0336e912b95
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/liblink/objfilego.c
@@ -0,0 +1,337 @@
+// Copyright 2015 The Go Authors.  All rights reserved.
+// Use of this source code is governed by a BSD-style
+// license that can be found in the LICENSE file.
+
+// Writing of internal program representation to a serialized form
+// so that the Go translation of these routines can do the actual
+// program layout.
+// The serialized form and this code support the piecewise transition
+// from C to Go and will be removed along with the rest of the C code
+// when it is no longer needed.
+// There has been no attempt to make it particularly efficient, nor will there be.
+
+#include <u.h>
+#include <libc.h>
+#include <bio.h>
+#include <link.h>
+
+/*c2go
+
+char *mktempdir(void);
+int runcmd(char**);
+void removeall(char*);
+*/
+
+static void printtype(Link*, Biobuf*, int);
+static void printsym(Link*, Biobuf*, LSym*);
+static void printprog(Link*, Biobuf*, Prog*);
+static void printaddr(Link*, Biobuf*, Addr*);
+static void printhist(Link*, Biobuf*, Hist*);
+static void printint(Link*, Biobuf*, int64);
+static void printstr(Link*, Biobuf*, char*);
+static void printptr(Link*, Biobuf*, void*);
+
+#undef waitpid
+
+enum
+{
+	TypeEnd = 0,
+	TypeCtxt,
+	TypePlist,
+	TypeSym,
+	TypeProg,
+	TypeAddr,
+	TypeHist,
+};
+
+void
+writeobjgo1(Link *ctxt, char *outfile)
+{
+	int i;
+	char *p;
+	Biobuf *bw;
+	Plist *pl;
+	
+	p = smprint("%s.goliblink.in", outfile);
+	bw = Bopen(p, OWRITE);
+	if(bw == nil)
+		sysfatal("writing liblinktest input: %r");
+
+	printtype(ctxt, bw, TypeCtxt);
+	printstr(ctxt, bw, ctxt->arch->name);
+	printint(ctxt, bw, ctxt->goarm);
+	printint(ctxt, bw, ctxt->debugasm);
+	printstr(ctxt, bw, ctxt->trimpath);
+	printptr(ctxt, bw, ctxt->plist);
+	printptr(ctxt, bw, ctxt->plast);
+	printptr(ctxt, bw, ctxt->hist);
+	printptr(ctxt, bw, ctxt->ehist);
+	for(i = 0; i < LINKHASH; i++) {
+		if(ctxt->hash[i] != nil) {
+			printint(ctxt, bw, i);
+			printptr(ctxt, bw, ctxt->hash[i]);
+		}
+	}
+	printint(ctxt, bw, -1);
+
+	printhist(ctxt, bw, ctxt->hist);
+	printhist(ctxt, bw, ctxt->ehist);
+
+	for(pl=ctxt->plist; pl != nil; pl = pl->link) {
+		printtype(ctxt, bw, TypePlist);
+		printptr(ctxt, bw, pl);
+		printint(ctxt, bw, pl->recur);
+		printptr(ctxt, bw, pl->name);
+		printptr(ctxt, bw, pl->firstpc);
+		printptr(ctxt, bw, pl->link);
+		printsym(ctxt, bw, pl->name);
+		printprog(ctxt, bw, pl->firstpc);
+	}
+	
+	for(i = 0; i < LINKHASH; i++)
+		printsym(ctxt, bw, ctxt->hash[i]);
+
+	printtype(ctxt, bw, TypeEnd);
+	Bterm(bw);
+}
+
+void
+writeobjgo2(Link *ctxt, char *outfile, int64 offset)
+{
+	char *p, *env, *prog, *cmd[10];
+	char offsetbuf[20];
+	
+	USED(ctxt);
+
+	env = getenv("GOOBJWRITER");
+	if(env != nil && env[0] != '\0')
+		prog = env;
+	else
+		prog = smprint("%s/pkg/tool/%s_%s/objwriter", getgoroot(), getgohostos(), getgohostarch());
+
+	p = smprint("%s.goliblink.in", outfile);
+	
+	snprint(offsetbuf, sizeof offsetbuf, "%lld", offset);
+	
+	cmd[0] = prog;
+	cmd[1] = p;
+	cmd[2] = outfile;
+	cmd[3] = offsetbuf;
+	cmd[4] = ctxt->arch->name;
+	cmd[5] = nil;
+	if(runcmd(cmd) < 0)
+		sysfatal("running %s: %r", prog);
+
+	env = getenv("GOOBJ");
+	if(env == nil || atoi(env) <= 2)
+		remove(p);
+}
+
+static void
+printtype(Link *ctxt, Biobuf *bw, int t)
+{
+	printint(ctxt, bw, t);
+}
+
+static void
+printint(Link *ctxt, Biobuf *bw, int64 v)
+{
+	uint64 u;
+	
+	USED(ctxt);
+
+	u = (uint64)(v<<1) ^ (uint64)(v>>63);
+	while(u >= 0x80) {
+		Bputc(bw, u&0x7F | 0x80);
+		u >>= 7;
+	}
+	Bputc(bw, u);
+}
+
+static void
+printstr(Link *ctxt, Biobuf *bw, char *s)
+{
+	if(s == nil)
+		s = "";
+	printint(ctxt, bw, strlen(s));
+	Bwrite(bw, s, strlen(s));
+}
+
+static void
+printptr(Link *ctxt, Biobuf *bw, void *v)
+{
+	printint(ctxt, bw, (int64)(uintptr)v);
+}
+
+static void
+printsym(Link *ctxt, Biobuf *bw, LSym *s)
+{
+	int i;
+	Reloc *r;
+
+	if(s == nil || s->printed)
+		return;
+	s->printed = 1;
+	printtype(ctxt, bw, TypeSym);
+	printptr(ctxt, bw, s);
+	printstr(ctxt, bw, s->name);
+	printstr(ctxt, bw, s->extname);
+	printint(ctxt, bw, s->type);
+	printint(ctxt, bw, s->version);
+	printint(ctxt, bw, s->dupok);
+	printint(ctxt, bw, s->external);
+	printint(ctxt, bw, s->nosplit);
+	printint(ctxt, bw, s->reachable);
+	printint(ctxt, bw, s->cgoexport);
+	printint(ctxt, bw, s->special);
+	printint(ctxt, bw, s->stkcheck);
+	printint(ctxt, bw, s->hide);
+	printint(ctxt, bw, s->leaf);
+	printint(ctxt, bw, s->fnptr);
+	printint(ctxt, bw, s->seenglobl);
+	printint(ctxt, bw, s->onlist);
+	printint(ctxt, bw, s->symid);
+	printint(ctxt, bw, s->dynid);
+	printint(ctxt, bw, s->sig);
+	printint(ctxt, bw, s->plt);
+	printint(ctxt, bw, s->got);
+	printint(ctxt, bw, s->align);
+	printint(ctxt, bw, s->elfsym);
+	printint(ctxt, bw, s->args);
+	printint(ctxt, bw, s->locals);
+	printint(ctxt, bw, s->value);
+	printint(ctxt, bw, s->size);
+	printptr(ctxt, bw, s->hash);
+	printptr(ctxt, bw, s->allsym);
+	printptr(ctxt, bw, s->next);
+	printptr(ctxt, bw, s->sub);
+	printptr(ctxt, bw, s->outer);
+	printptr(ctxt, bw, s->gotype);
+	printptr(ctxt, bw, s->reachparent);
+	printptr(ctxt, bw, s->queue);
+	printstr(ctxt, bw, s->file);
+	printstr(ctxt, bw, s->dynimplib);
+	printstr(ctxt, bw, s->dynimpvers);
+	printptr(ctxt, bw, s->text);
+	printptr(ctxt, bw, s->etext);
+	printint(ctxt, bw, s->np);
+	Bwrite(bw, s->p, s->np);
+	printint(ctxt, bw, s->nr);
+	for(i=0; i<s->nr; i++) {
+		r = s->r+i;
+		printint(ctxt, bw, r->off);
+		printint(ctxt, bw, r->siz);
+		printint(ctxt, bw, r->done);
+		printint(ctxt, bw, r->type);
+		printint(ctxt, bw, r->add);
+		printint(ctxt, bw, r->xadd);
+		printptr(ctxt, bw, r->sym);
+		printptr(ctxt, bw, r->xsym);
+	}
+	
+	printsym(ctxt, bw, s->hash);
+	printsym(ctxt, bw, s->allsym);
+	printsym(ctxt, bw, s->next);
+	printsym(ctxt, bw, s->sub);
+	printsym(ctxt, bw, s->outer);
+	printsym(ctxt, bw, s->gotype);
+	printsym(ctxt, bw, s->reachparent);
+	printsym(ctxt, bw, s->queue);
+	printprog(ctxt, bw, s->text);
+	printprog(ctxt, bw, s->etext);
+	for(i=0; i<s->nr; i++) {
+		r = s->r+i;
+		printsym(ctxt, bw, r->sym);
+		printsym(ctxt, bw, r->xsym);
+	}
+}
+
+static void
+printprog(Link *ctxt, Biobuf *bw, Prog *p0)
+{
+	Prog *p, *q;
+
+	for(p = p0; p != nil && !p->printed; p=p->link) {
+		p->printed = 1;
+	
+		printtype(ctxt, bw, TypeProg);
+		printptr(ctxt, bw, p);
+		printint(ctxt, bw, p->pc);
+		printint(ctxt, bw, p->lineno);
+		printptr(ctxt, bw, p->link);
+		printint(ctxt, bw, p->as);
+		printint(ctxt, bw, p->reg);
+		printint(ctxt, bw, p->scond);
+		printint(ctxt, bw, p->width);
+		printaddr(ctxt, bw, &p->from);
+		printaddr(ctxt, bw, &p->from3);
+		printaddr(ctxt, bw, &p->to);
+		printsym(ctxt, bw, p->from.sym);
+		printsym(ctxt, bw, p->from.gotype);
+		printsym(ctxt, bw, p->to.sym);
+		printsym(ctxt, bw, p->to.gotype);
+	}
+	
+	q = p;
+	for(p=p0; p!=q; p=p->link) {
+		if(p->from.type == ctxt->arch->D_BRANCH)
+			printprog(ctxt, bw, p->from.u.branch);
+		if(p->to.type == ctxt->arch->D_BRANCH)
+			printprog(ctxt, bw, p->to.u.branch);
+	}
+}
+
+static void
+printaddr(Link *ctxt, Biobuf *bw, Addr *a)
+{
+	static char zero[8];
+
+	printtype(ctxt, bw, TypeAddr);
+	printint(ctxt, bw, a->offset);
+	if(a->type == ctxt->arch->D_FCONST) {
+		uint64 u;
+		float64 f;
+		f = a->u.dval;
+		memmove(&u, &f, 8);
+		printint(ctxt, bw, u);
+	} else
+		printint(ctxt, bw, 0);
+	if(a->type == ctxt->arch->D_SCONST)
+		Bwrite(bw, a->u.sval, 8);
+	else
+		Bwrite(bw, zero, 8);
+	if(a->type == ctxt->arch->D_BRANCH)
+		printptr(ctxt, bw, a->u.branch);
+	else	
+		printptr(ctxt, bw, nil);
+	printptr(ctxt, bw, a->sym);
+	printptr(ctxt, bw, a->gotype);
+	printint(ctxt, bw, a->type);
+	printint(ctxt, bw, a->index);
+	printint(ctxt, bw, a->scale);
+	printint(ctxt, bw, a->reg);
+	printint(ctxt, bw, a->name);
+	printint(ctxt, bw, a->class);
+	printint(ctxt, bw, a->etype);
+	printint(ctxt, bw, a->offset2);
+	printint(ctxt, bw, a->width);
+}
+
+static void
+printhist(Link *ctxt, Biobuf *bw, Hist *h)
+{
+	if(h == nil || h->printed)
+		return;
+	h->printed = 1;
+
+	printtype(ctxt, bw, TypeHist);
+	printptr(ctxt, bw, h);
+	printptr(ctxt, bw, h->link);
+	if(h->name == nil)
+		printstr(ctxt, bw, "<no name>");
+	else
+		printstr(ctxt, bw, h->name);
+	printint(ctxt, bw, h->line);
+	printint(ctxt, bw, h->offset);
+	printhist(ctxt, bw, h->link);
+}