egcs and Linux kernels

[Joe Buck]

> Right.  Basically when gcc-2.7.2 has generated incorrect code they've tweaked
> the asms to work around the problem.  Over time they end up with a set of
> asms that generally works with gcc-2.7.2.
> 
> However, that does not mean they will consistently work over time -- as the
> source around the asm changes, the register allocation and reloading needs
> will also change, which may again trigger problems.

No, because Alan Cox won't release a new 2.0.x kernel until it runs correctly
with gcc-2.7.2.  Problems may be triggered during development, of course.

Kernel and application developers frequently must work with buggy tools,
with incomplete knowledge of how those tools work.  They must work around
the bugs in the compiler, and they won't notice their own bugs if they
don't affect the generated executable.