Binary Compatibility [was Re: libstdc++ compatibility]

[Brendan Kehoe <brendan at cygnus dot com>]

> The question in my mind is how can we test this functionality?  Just being
> able to build the old library isn't enough, we have to verify to some extent
> that it is compatible with the old one.
> 
> We've also got to get a handle on when we actually make incompatible changes.
> We've started thinking about that some, but not enough IMHO.
> 
> Thoughts anyone?

On my ``Do This Soon'' list is the idea of putting together a suite of tests
that do testing of binary compatibility in g++.  It'd include things like
check object layout, different pieces of symbol mangling, exception handling
layout, RTTI, virtual function calling & tables, etc etc.  This seemed like a
great time to drop the question out for comment.

Does anyone have any ideas on how such a thing might be put together?  The
goal would be to make it easier to catch binary incompatibilities when they're
introduced, rather than waiting (unconsciously) until a user bumps into 'em.

This is particularly the case as -fnew-abi continues to grow & expand.

Thoughts?  Ideas?

B

-- 
Brendan Kehoe                                               brendan@cygnus.com
Cygnus Solutions, Sunnyvale, CA                                +1 408 542 9600

Web page: http://www.zen.org/~brendan/