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From: baxter@ics.uci.edu (Ira Baxter)
Newsgroups: comp.unix.i386
Subject: Re: GNU & akcl under I386
Message-ID: <25F2AD9B.20245@paris.ics.uci.edu>
Date: 5 Mar 90 18:19:07 GMT
References: <351@venice.SEDD.TRW.COM>
Lines: 52

verket@venice.SEDD.TRW.COM (Paul Verket) writes:

>How well/easily does GNU software compile under ISC 386? Has anyone had the
>oppertunity/interest in compiling kcl or akcl ([Austin] Kyoto Common Lisp)
>under ISC 386?

I have been using various versions of AKCL on various versions of ISC unix
with great success, with earlier versions compiled using the native ICS
compiler, and later versions compiled using GCC.

I have had version 1.220 of AKCL on ISC 2.0.2 without any
hitches since Sept 1989 (the current version of AKCL is 1.4xx
something, but the recent changes do not appear to earth-shaking, and,
well, I have work to do).  I compiled it with GCC 1.36; I also
configured AKCL to use GCC as the back end of the (lisp) compilation
process.  GCC produces smaller and faster object code (about 20%
according to simple tests) than the supplied ISC compiler.  I do not
write any code directly in C, so I can't say anything about the
usability of GCC for such purposes, but for AKCL's back end, it is
quite good.  I am *very* happy with the combination.  (I should say
that I have compiled GNU emacs with GCC under 386ix also, and use
EMACS exclusively; I can't "vi" my way out of a paper bag).

>I've only tried (on 386 machines) to compile GNU gcc on Xenix 386... what a
>disaster! akcl required gcc so I was completely out of luck.

?? AKCL does not *require* gcc.  I was able to compile earlier versions of AKCL
with the native ISC compilers without significant trouble.

You will have some minor problems; optimization seems not to be
terribly robust with the native ISC compilers, and when compiling a large
subsystem like EMACS or AKCL, discovering just *which* module can't be compiled
with optimization enabled is a royal pain in the a**. GCC 1.36 is the first
GCC compiler which would do both EMACS and AKCL with optimization enabled
and not have this problem (earlier versions of GCC had just as much trouble
as the native ISC compiler).  Based on my experience,
configuring AKCL will give you some minor headaches that are resolvable.
Configuring EMACS is similar; I have not succeeded in making EMACS 18.53 talk
to my Graphic Software Systems version of X windows, but I haven't tried
very hard.

>Last question (really!), how feasable would it be to get just a runtime ISC
>assuming one could get a precompiled gcc? Would I have all the required
>header files?

I don't know.

>				Thanks in advance for your time...
>				Paul Verket
>				verket@venice.sedd.trw.com
--
Ira Baxter