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From: thad@cup.portal.com (Thad P Floryan)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga
Subject: Re: g++ -> Amiga
Message-ID: <17662@cup.portal.com>
Date: 27 Apr 89 08:17:56 GMT
References: <1516@hub.ucsb.edu>
Distribution: na
Organization: The Portal System (TM)
Lines: 29

Re: porting GNU G++ to the Amiga ...

I've been contemplating it.  Just ported gcc (1.34) and g++ (1.34) to one of
my UNIXPCs (aka 3B1 (a 68010 SysV machine)), and the Amiga port is tempting.

Besides changing the tm* (target machine defines), one would (or should) "do"
MCC hunk object output instead of COFF.  One would also have to bring over
the GNU SDB equivalents.  And assure proper interface to the ROM routines.
And one would also need, perhaps, "gas" (the GNU assembler).

The code quality of the GNU compiler is superb.

But, don't EVER expect to operate this beast on a small Amiga.  The unstripped
executable of cc1 alone is 1.8MB (about 600KB stripped (i.e. no symbolic
debugging info in the executable)(these sizes inferred from the 3B1 sizes)).

The source code for everything is about 4-5MB, and the initial bootstrap
procedure to a new platform is a royal pain.  I sincerely doubt one could
build the first stage on the Amiga using any existing C compiler (of those
presently available for the Amiga); cross-compilation (initially) seems the
only sane approach (based on my recent experiences on several other platforms).

In case you weren't aware, the gcc and g++ sources are in C.

My schedule permits only a few hours/week for "fun" things like bringing up
new compilers, but I'm willing to share port tips with anyone who has the
time and willingness to "do" the port.

Thad Floryan [ thad@cup.portal.com (OR) ..!sun!portal!cup.portal.com!thad ]