Re: Switching the default for -fabi-version

[Mark Mitchell <mark at codesourcery dot com>]

On Tue, 2003-10-21 at 16:44, Mike Stump wrote:
> On Tuesday, October 21, 2003, at 04:24 PM, Mark Mitchell wrote:
> > Since nobody really objected to David Moore's suggestion that we make
> > -fabi-version=2 the default, I plan to change the default value of the
> > flag on the mainline in the next few days.
> >
> > If you object, speak up now!
> 
> Wait a few days or so, then consider putting this on the announce list. 
>   That way we pick up folks that would not otherwise read the minutia of 
> day-to-day gcc development.  Plug in architectures, openoffice, GTK, Qt 
> come to mind...
> 
> I don't expect anyone to object...  but I think it is good to 
> communicate with users on important points like this.

Actually, I think that's not an appropriate use of the announce list.

The average announce reader wants to know when a new release is out so
they go download it.

Understanding what this change even means requires an in-depth knowledge
of compilers and C++.

"Hi.  We're planning to change the default C++ ABI in the next version
of G++.  You won't notice because (a) you'll have to recompile
everything anyhow to use the library that comes with the new G++, and
(b) this only affects weird corner-cases.  However, if you happen to
have no weird corner-cases and are going to try to use the new compiler
with the old library, you might care.

So, do you object?"

I think that, given that the only people likely to notice are people who
are operating way outside the mainstream of C++ development, this is not
a decision that needs to be pre-announced.  It should of course go in
the release notes.

-- 
Mark Mitchell <mark@codesourcery.com>
CodeSourcery, LLC