Linux Collaboration - Compiler
by Todd "zaz" Koeckeritz · in Torque Game Engine · 03/05/2006 (6:59 am) · 3 replies
I felt it might make sense to have another subissue on compilers as the main Linux Collaboration thread is getting so huge. I mention one minor issue here, but I'm sure there are others.
The reason for my post is I'm planning on switching compilers on my main box from the SuSE 3.3.5 official build to a SuSE 3.4.2 unofficial build. The reason for this is to move away from bugs in the gcc 3.3.x line.
This can affect the linux version of TGE in several ways. First, while I don't think TGE is currently getting bit by some of the gcc 3.3.x bugs, it could start to tickle them at some point. In fact we did probably work aroud a few 3.3.x bugs, like that time bug in x86CPUInfo.c. More issues like that might affect development as time goes on.
Second, I'm not sure how many others are working with gcc 3.3.x. If I'm the only one, it might make sense for me to continue to be able to build under 3.3.x if it isn't decided to not support 3.3.x. This isn't a huge deal unless I upgrade from SuSE 9.3 to SuSE 10.0 or move to ubuntu. Presently, I'd just have to remove a few gcc 3.4.x rpms and install a few gcc 3.3.5 rpms to enable myself to build TGE under 3.3.x. If I do upgrade though, both of those distros are gcc 4.x based and it'd likely be harder for me to be switching back and forth.
So, my question boils down to whether or not it makes sense to continue to support a compiler with know problems ? Also, if we do continue to support gcc 3.3.x, are we in a position to continue support of it if I'm not able to build with it anymore ?
The reason for my post is I'm planning on switching compilers on my main box from the SuSE 3.3.5 official build to a SuSE 3.4.2 unofficial build. The reason for this is to move away from bugs in the gcc 3.3.x line.
This can affect the linux version of TGE in several ways. First, while I don't think TGE is currently getting bit by some of the gcc 3.3.x bugs, it could start to tickle them at some point. In fact we did probably work aroud a few 3.3.x bugs, like that time bug in x86CPUInfo.c. More issues like that might affect development as time goes on.
Second, I'm not sure how many others are working with gcc 3.3.x. If I'm the only one, it might make sense for me to continue to be able to build under 3.3.x if it isn't decided to not support 3.3.x. This isn't a huge deal unless I upgrade from SuSE 9.3 to SuSE 10.0 or move to ubuntu. Presently, I'd just have to remove a few gcc 3.4.x rpms and install a few gcc 3.3.5 rpms to enable myself to build TGE under 3.3.x. If I do upgrade though, both of those distros are gcc 4.x based and it'd likely be harder for me to be switching back and forth.
So, my question boils down to whether or not it makes sense to continue to support a compiler with know problems ? Also, if we do continue to support gcc 3.3.x, are we in a position to continue support of it if I'm not able to build with it anymore ?
About the author
#2
03/12/2006 (3:09 pm)
I'm leaning towards the gcc4 side. It *is* quickly becoming the standard for distros, and the current HEAD of TGE does build on it. 
#3
Come to think of it, it is good practice to have a auto-sustaining build of your program, so you won't need dependencies in the distro (except the libc of course).
Personally, I would say the 3.3 branch is superseded. The fact that the HEAD branch builds on it is a signal that it is taken into consideration by the engine maintainers.
04/17/2006 (6:06 am)
Where ABI comes into play, the 3.4 branch and the 4.0 branch are the same if I'm not mistaken, so you won't have big problems when building for distro's that use one of those compilers as base. Come to think of it, it is good practice to have a auto-sustaining build of your program, so you won't need dependencies in the distro (except the libc of course).
Personally, I would say the 3.3 branch is superseded. The fact that the HEAD branch builds on it is a signal that it is taken into consideration by the engine maintainers.
Torque Owner Keith Frampton