Re: [LI] c compiler

["Gurunandan R. Bhat" <grbhat@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

On Mon, 15 Nov 1999, Shanker R Swaminathan wrote:

> > If you recompile pristine sources, all it tests is your ability to
> > type  "CFLAGS=XXXXXX ./configure; make install".
> 
> 1. recompiling from the CVS is still no joke. 

I agree. The original post discussed compiling from a tar ball

> And many cards now-as- days
> come with drivers in source form , notably network drivers.There have been
> occasions, when a tweak in the source of the default drivers have been
> nescessary to get a card to work , there are still ISA cards around.

There will be instances where it might be neccessary and advisable to
build your own binaries. I say : Dont make a religion out of it. The
original poster mentioned that he *always* rebuilds from sources. I say :
If you do that then you might miss out on one or more of several
binaries-only packages.

> 2. if you have managed to compile without errors ever you must be lucky
> indeed. Try compiling apache 1.3.9 with mysql and php3 support as well as
> mod_perl without getting an  error. 

We seem to be reading different docs. I have built Apache with perl,
mysql, postgresql and php3 as modules. The build was without incident. I
followed instructions in the Unix Online Docs. 

> to run commercial servers, you need these extensions,
> which are never available by default. ( You have to download them)

Sure. Rebuild when *neccessary*. I mentioned several situations where it
might be the correct thing to do. 

> 4. if you are not willing to experiment, you will be better off Linux- After
> all, the open source philosophy encourages you to Strike out .

Too extreme, in my view. Seek the middle ground. For example, rebuilding
the Kernel by tweaking the optimisations and other compiler options
(-fno-strength-reduce perhaps ? Linus still carries it around) and then
using that kernel in a production environment is not experimenting. It is
recklessness. Will you expel me from your Linux club if I refuse to do
that?


> > I am afraid you would have to miss out
> > on several goodies that Linux Distributions bring with them. Here are a
> > few:

[List of binaries-only packages snipped]

> 6. Just how many of these packages do you use together? 

Irrelevant. For somebody who decides to *always* rebuild from sources, it
is enough that not a single one is available.

> I never claimed i lay off commercial software, I only stated, that for
> packages where the source is available, it is silly not to take
> advantage of the options at your disposal. 

Ah! Finally we agree. 




--------------------------------------------------------------------
The Linux India Mailing List Archives are now available.  Please search
the archive at http://lists.linux-india.org/ before posting your question
to avoid repetition and save bandwidth.