plugin hooks

[Basile STARYNKEVITCH]

Richard Guenther wrote:
> On Wed, Oct 28, 2009 at 8:34 PM, Basile STARYNKEVITCH
> <basile@starynkevitch.net> wrote:
>>
>>
>> I really think we should add more plugin hooks *now* for gcc-4.5. They
>> really cannot wait the future 4.6 release (in 2011, 2012?), especially since
> 
> I don't agree at all.  Also I have the feeling that plugins will in
> the end result
> in less developers on the core GCC infrastructure and thus plugins are bad
> for GCC.


I respectfully disagree with Richard, and have the following opinion.

Because of plugins ability, some *more* people will learn a bit the 
internals of GCC (enough to code their plugin) and amongst them, a few 
people will eventually -later- join the core GCC developers (e.g. 
because they need a hook). So the effect of plugins on the size of the 
GCC community should be a gradual increase, not a regression!

The point is that plugins will enable unexpected usage of GCC, and this 
is positive (and will bring gradually more people inside the community).

Regards.


-- 
Basile STARYNKEVITCH         http://starynkevitch.net/Basile/
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