3 ms·

Fortunately Homebrew and MacPorts can just ship a gcc and get on with things.

• A1kmm 16y ago
  You can compile, but you can't link with the standard GNU toolchain to get a usable library (at least last I heard), because binutils simply doesn't support the Mach-O format (see http://gcc.gnu.org/ml/gcc/2009-09/msg00121.html http://gcc.gnu.org/ml/gcc/2009-09/msg00121.html).
  • archgrove 16y ago
    I believe Apple's version of binutils is cctools, which is at http://www.opensource.apple.com/source/cctools/cctools-782/ http://www.opensource.apple.com/source/cctools/cctools-782/ . It includes ld and as. As you mention, the standard GNU source for binutils won't build, as it doesn't understand Mach-O, but MacPorts would seem to be free to use cctools for linking/assembling. If this turns into a "real issue", such that XCode 3 was rescinded and XCode 4 remained paid only - as opposed to some stupid accounting problem which might mean it would be bundled free with Lion, with XC3 hanging around for (Snow) Leopard - then I suspect we'll soon see MacPorts or their kin come up with a downloadable toolchain based on this existing Apple open source work that would allow them to continue virtually unchanged.
    • strmpnk 16y ago
      While it's not really useful for regular building, it seems like Joe Damato has made some progress on getting some of the binutils code working. http://twitter.com/joedamato/status/41235981722066944 http://twitter.com/joedamato/status/41235981722066944
  • ryanpetrich 16y ago
    Their linker is open source: http://www.opensource.apple.com/source/ld64/ http://www.opensource.apple.com/source/ld64/
• spitfire 16y ago
  Why do they even need to compile on your system? They should be shipping binaries for 99.99999% of the users out there and an easy way to recompile for that last gentoo holdout ^W^WHPC system.