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Re: gcc 3.5 integration branch proposal
Marc Espie wrote:
On Mon, Jan 19, 2004 at 11:07:59AM -0500, Scott Robert Ladd wrote:
Define a "lean-and-mean" build, perhaps focused on C, that reduces
system requirements and focuses on compilation speed. One of GCC's key
advantages is its support for "older" hardware.
^^
Nope, `used to be'.
Yes, that's past sense.
But older hardware is no longer really supported by GCC, between the
large memory footprint and the huge compilation slowdown.
I'm all in favor of aggressive optimization on modern hardware. I'm also
concerned that the Microsoft attitude of "buy a faster computer" is
infiltrating GCC's development. Nor is GCC alone; too many "free"
software projects suffer a similar problem.
> I believe that's a choice that has been made by several people.
> There are compromises to be made, as always. And current GCC is going
> toward aggressive optimizations on modern hardware.
I've had it beaten into my head (on this forum) that
"free-as-in-liberty" software is driven by scratching itches and funding
issues. "If it's important, someone will pay for it" is the mantra --
and older and smaller hardware does not attract development funds.
Don't say it has `good support' for older hardware. The increased
compilation times and memory footprint make that a complete lie.
I think you're being too harsh; I did not say "good support", I simply
said "support."
--
Scott Robert Ladd
Coyote Gulch Productions (http://www.coyotegulch.com)
Software Invention for High-Performance Computing