gcc-4.2 compiled binaries running on a redhat-WS4 system

[Kai Ruottu]

3.2.2012 13:15, robert somerville kirjoitti:

> it seems like we can run gcc-4.2 binaries on a redhat-ws4 system (main
> compiler gcc 3.6.4) . I was a bit surprised . Forward comparability ,
> or gcc-4.2 libraries installed ?  Anybody care to comment on this or
> the reliability of same ?

The GCC version generally has nothing to do with this. I have GCCs up to
gcc-4.5 for Red Hat Linux 7.3 which originally had gcc-2.96. Apps
compiled with the newer GCCs and linked against the RHL 7.3 glibc-2.2.5
surely will run on RHL 7.3. But if I would compile and link an app on
or for some uptodate distro using just the same GCC version for that
as for RHL 7.3, then that of course wouldn't run because being linked
against some much newer glibc like 'glibc-2.11.x' or something...

So the issue is related to the C library version, not the GCC version!