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build change to require a C++ compiler is a no go. One of the reasons to install gcc on a machine is the absence of a descent C++ compiler. 20 years ago, the C

by reacweb 14y ago

build change to require a C++ compiler is a no go. One of the reasons to install gcc on a machine is the absence of a descent C++ compiler. 20 years ago, the C compiler of Sun was completely broken and we were happy to have gcc.

twoodfin 14y ago
In my experience, a modern version of gcc is extremely difficult to bootstrap on anything but a fairly modern platform (e.g., I was having a hell of a time getting it going on HP-UX 11.23 with a ~2006 compiler). That's not a criticism of gcc. I'm only suggesting that if your platform lacks a modern (read: C++03-compliant) C++ compiler, you were probably already out of luck trying to get 4.7 bootstrapped.
- vinayan3 14y ago
  Hmm if you statically link everything gcc needs would cross-compiling from another computer not feasible?
  - jlgreco 14y ago
    Feasible? Yes. I've cross-compiled GCC a few times in the past year or so. But it sure as hell isn't pleasant. ;)
billpg 14y ago
You could still use the older GCC? Sun's CC -> Old GCC -> New GCC
tzs 14y ago
It's not 20 years ago. Nowadays pretty much everyone has access to a Windows or Linux PC, or an OS X Mac, and so has ready access to good compilers. The way you'd handle that Sun nowadays is to build a cross compiler for Sun on your Windows or Linux PC or your Mac, and then use that to build the compiler for your Sun.
- astrodust 14y ago
  The default compilers are nowhere near as bad, but even then, if you're not running a binary gcc, you're just asking for trouble. It's pretty hard to find a platform for which you can't find a pre-compiled gcc. This was not always the case.
molo 14y ago
Converting the stage 1 bootstrapping compiler to C++ is a bad idea IMO. There any many embedded platforms without a C++ compiler (except perhaps downrev gcc).
- eliasmacpherson 14y ago
  so cross compilation is the only option for these embedded platforms?
  - mbreese 14y ago
    Don't you generally cross compile on embedded platforms anyway?
    - mansr 14y ago
      If you don't cross-compile, I would say it's not an embedded platform.
- CJefferson 14y ago
  I wonder if you have tried building gcc recently? While it doesn't require a C++ compiler, in the last few years it has required an increasing list of fairly modern libraries. I don't think requiring a C++ compiler will make things that much harder.
- klodolph 14y ago
  Why are you bootstrapping on an embedded platform?
duaneb 14y ago
So bootstrap the build with gcc 4.7.

by reacweb 14y ago

twoodfin 14y ago

In my experience, a modern version of gcc is extremely difficult to bootstrap on anything but a fairly modern platform (e.g., I was having a hell of a time getting it going on HP-UX 11.23 with a ~2006 compiler). That's not a criticism of gcc. I'm only suggesting that if your platform lacks a modern (read: C++03-compliant) C++ compiler, you were probably already out of luck trying to get 4.7 bootstrapped.

vinayan3 14y ago
Hmm if you statically link everything gcc needs would cross-compiling from another computer not feasible?
- jlgreco 14y ago
  Feasible? Yes. I've cross-compiled GCC a few times in the past year or so. But it sure as hell isn't pleasant. ;)

billpg 14y ago

You could still use the older GCC? Sun's CC -> Old GCC -> New GCC

tzs 14y ago

It's not 20 years ago. Nowadays pretty much everyone has access to a Windows or Linux PC, or an OS X Mac, and so has ready access to good compilers. The way you'd handle that Sun nowadays is to build a cross compiler for Sun on your Windows or Linux PC or your Mac, and then use that to build the compiler for your Sun.

astrodust 14y ago
The default compilers are nowhere near as bad, but even then, if you're not running a binary gcc, you're just asking for trouble. It's pretty hard to find a platform for which you can't find a pre-compiled gcc. This was not always the case.

molo 14y ago

Converting the stage 1 bootstrapping compiler to C++ is a bad idea IMO. There any many embedded platforms without a C++ compiler (except perhaps downrev gcc).

eliasmacpherson 14y ago
so cross compilation is the only option for these embedded platforms?
- mbreese 14y ago
  Don't you generally cross compile on embedded platforms anyway?
  - mansr 14y ago
    If you don't cross-compile, I would say it's not an embedded platform.
CJefferson 14y ago
I wonder if you have tried building gcc recently? While it doesn't require a C++ compiler, in the last few years it has required an increasing list of fairly modern libraries. I don't think requiring a C++ compiler will make things that much harder.
klodolph 14y ago
Why are you bootstrapping on an embedded platform?

duaneb 14y ago

So bootstrap the build with gcc 4.7.