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The problem here is that Debian can't cross-compile itself like NixOS can. Insisting that the entire distro be native-compiled on every architecture inherently
by crotchfire 3y ago
The problem here is that Debian can't cross-compile itself like NixOS can.
Insisting that the entire distro be native-compiled on every architecture inherently favors "big-iron" architectures, and disfavors chips found in routers.
- kaashif 3y agoInsisting the distro be native compiled on every arch means you actually know the entire toolchain works on the arch. A step further would be requiring it's done on real hardware and not emulated or virtual hardware. I recall some story about some NetBSD port (vax I think) with cross compiled binaries being broken on real hardware for years before anyone noticed.
- crotchfire 3y agoYou can cross-compile everything and just run the third stage of the gcc bootstrap (where it compiles itself and checks that the output matches) on native hardware. Then you only need one native machine instead of an entire buildfarm of them.