On Tue, Feb 04, 2003 at 10:23:29PM -0600, Bob McElrath wrote: > I'm trying to recompile several packages with Compaq's C Compiler (ccc), > and would like input from the rest of you as to making this as smooth as > possible. (For those that don't know, ccc generates vastly superior > code on the alpha, and should be the compiler of choice unless it is > known that it can't compile a given package) > Would there be any legal or technical trouble with putting ccc-compiled > packes in the debian repository? Legal trouble: I don't think the "hobbyist" license for ccc from Compaq allows you to use it in compiling binaries for distribution; at least, that was my impression when last I looked. Technical trouble: I don't think there's much chance any Debian autobuilder will be using ccc any time soon, which means you can only upload such packages (without ruffling feathers) by a) making sure your build is accepted before the autobuilder even *thinks* about trying the package, or b) getting approval to do a source NMU for every package you want recompiled in this manner. Philosophical trouble: it's important that nothing in Debian's main archive be dependent on non-free software, even when this results in software that's suboptimal in one way or another. As an alpha user, I would love to see optimized binaries that could squeeze more cycles out of the hardware; but for Debian, dependence on a proprietary compiler is too high a price to pay. -- Steve Langasek postmodern programmer
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