Re: Converting GCC to compilation with C++

[Robert Dewar <dewar at gnat dot com>]

Dave Korn wrote:

>   I just think people should be able to download and build the sources to
> get a native compiler on any hosted system, without there being a
> requirement beyond what the system comes with out-of-the-box. 

Well we lost this long ago, many systems have no C compiler at all
out-of-the-box.

> If the
> manufacturer doesn't supply a binary distro, and gcc can't be built on the
> native system's tools, then it's a barrier to entry if the whole thing has
> to be cross-built on some other system altogether that already has native
> gcc available.  Maybe not a huge one, but I'm in favour of making it as easy
> as possible for people to get to grips with the whole concept of open source
> in that way.

How many people in the category of people trying to "get to grips with
the whole contept of open source" are in the category of people trying 
to port the GNU C compiler to new architectures? Not many I would guess.