Of Bounties and Mercenaries

[Tom Lord]

    > From: Bernd Jendrissek <berndj@prism.co.za>

    > That's why it's a good idea to bootstrap GCC regularly with a non-GCC
    > compiler.  (I guess an ancient GCC would be a sufficiently close
    > approximation to a non-GCC compiler as most people will bother to get.
    > I happen to have gcc-2.7.2.3 around, and in my copious free time I
    > occasionally (in between bouts of FreeCiv) try to get gcc-2.5.8 going.)

    > Truly profound, this bootstrapping stuff.  Read that paper, co-newbies.
    > (And no, I'm not smoking anything.)


Well, it's a classic paper for a good reason.

I say: give it to students.  Every generation or 2 of students should
rebuild the bootstrapping path starting from raw iron.  The students
will come out smarter and we all have a more secure foundation.

And remember, don't trust any software you get from Ken Thompson.
-t