example of embedding a generated executable inside another one

bootloader.zig

pub export fn _start() void {}

build.zig

const std = @import("std");

pub fn build(b: *std.Build) void {
    const target = b.standardTargetOptions(.{});
    const optimize = b.standardOptimizeOption(.{});

    const bootloader = b.addExecutable(.{
        .name = "bootloader",
        .root_source_file = .{ .path = "bootloader.zig" },
        .target = .{
            .cpu_arch = .x86,
            .os_tag = .freestanding,
        },
        .optimize = .ReleaseSmall,
    });

    const exe = b.addExecutable(.{
        .name = "embed-generated-file",
        .root_source_file = .{ .path = "main.zig" },
        .target = target,
        .optimize = optimize,
    });
    exe.addAnonymousModule("bootloader.elf", .{
        .source_file = bootloader.getOutputSource(),
    });
    exe.install();
}

main.zig

const std = @import("std");
const blah = @embedFile("bootloader.elf");

pub fn main() !void {
    std.debug.print("first 3 bytes: " ++ blah[0..3] ++ "\n", .{});
}