Re: No console output: gcj Windows cross-compiler

[Mohan Embar <gnustuff at thisiscool dot com>]

Hi Ranjit,

>> One way of doing that is by whetting Windows developers' appetites
>> with MinGW gcj, thereby turning them on to free software, Open
>> Source, free OSes, etc. From my personal experience, many of those
>> interested in MinGW gcj are also interested in producing Linux x86
>> executables too, which in turns forces their exposure to Linux.
>> People wanting to build MinGW gcj also have to be exposed to Linux
>> for an optimal build experience. It's all part of the Master Plan.
>
>Let me clarify: whatever little work I have done on GCJ is not
>because I have a nefarious plan to force every Windows user
>to "convert" to Linux.

For the record: I was joking about this. I didn't / don't have
any illusions about your doing any Win32 hacking.

>I personally find Linux to be a far saner and faster development
>environment. I also value the fact that I can actually see the
>source code for every component in the system and rebuild
>the whole thing myself. This is therefore a platform that I care
>for (among the few platforms that I have been exposed to).

While we're digressing here, I like Linux too. I also like Windows.
Not so much the company behind it or the technical "merits" of it,
but because it's something tangible to hack at. I'll play around
with basically anything you put in front of me - in that sense, I
guess I have fewer scruples than what kinds of food I eat. (Plus
I find that having a foot in the Win32 door makes me more marketable.)

My tiny hidden agenda of exposing Win32 developers to Linux via MinGW
gcj is a personal one. I understand that advancing it rests solely on
me and whoever shares my vision. One sort of dilemma I have (and again,
this is purely personal and I welcome discussion about this off-list or
on some other more appropriate list) is similar to one I share with fellow
vegetarians: When you set up your vegetarian-friendly store, do you only
sell plant-based products because it would be ethically impossible for you
to sell animal products, or do you compromise your ideals by selling both
sorts of products in hopes of exposing meat-eaters to the vegetarian way
of life? The latter scenario is potentially more expedient, but it's not
for everyone.

>On a project like GCJ/GCC that is largely driven by volunteer
>effort, the "best" support will always be for the platforms that
>people care for and are willing to put in the hacking effort for.
>Of course, people can be paid moolah and made to hack for
>other platforms.

I've always understood this and I agree. Again, I was teasing you
a bit (especially since I remember an off-list conversation from
a few years ago of a certain someone in Bangalore going on and on
about how important the Win32 platform was). I wish I had more time
to hack on this, and I have very pleasant memories of how encouraging
and accepting people are when I make a contribution.

-- Mohan
http://www.thisiscool.com/
http://www.animalsong.org/