Adding a new gcc dir

[Paulo J. Matos]

On 3/7/07, Dave Korn <dave.korn@artimi.com> wrote:
>
>   As explained: because it makes it impossible for users running old systems
> with pre-C99 compilers to build gcc and thereby excludes them from the world
> of free software, which is the opposite of what we're trying to achieve.
>

Well, I surely understand that and I find it nice. Still, I was
questioning Paul why he said: "I consider rejecting mixed
code/declarations to be a feature" because it seems that if he could
use mixed code/declarations, he wouldn't. I just asked why? Now, as I
said, I understand gcc restriction and in my gcc code I surely adhere
to it.

>
>   The benefit of saving three keypresses is outweighed (for the FSF's goals)
> by the disadvantage of excluding a whole category of potential
> users/contributors.
>

I surely don't know FSF's goals but again I understand gcc code not
containing //, but my question was more directed to Paul view. :)

> > in a one line comments, using /* */ is just horrid! :)
>
>   That's a purely religious opinion!
>

Yes, it is. I'm religiously simplistic, best-language agnostic and god atheist!

>   You might find it interesting to browse the gnu coding standards
> (http://www.gnu.org/prep/standards/) and the additional standards specific to
> gcc (http://gcc.gnu.org/codingconventions.html), since much of what we have
> discussed is explained there along with the rationale that justifies the
> decisions.
>

I'll look into it .

>   Things won't stay like this forever, and at some point we'll undoubtedly
> decide that it's no longer necessary to stay backwardly compatible all that
> far back, and start using C99 features (and beyond that, we may at sometime
> start using C++ in the compiler core).  It's a purely practical matter of
> ensuring gcc is accessible to the greatest possible number of people.
>
>     cheers,
>       DaveK
> --
> Can't think of a witty .sigline today....
>
>
>
>


-- 
Paulo Jorge Matos - pocm at soton.ac.uk
http://www.personal.soton.ac.uk/pocm
PhD Student @ ECS
University of Southampton, UK