Re: What architecture are we?
> > I agree with your reasoning, but I don't put that much faith in the
> > compiler. I figure that if I say to gcc, "optimize for the Pentium"
> > then gcc is free to use all instructions available on a Pentium. We
> > assume that later generation chips will not remove instructions (or at
> > least seamlessly emulate removed instructions), but some instructions
> > may not exist on older generation chips.
> >
> > Thus, barring a guarantee from the compiler guys, if Debian supports
> > the i386 then everything should be optimized for "i386".
>
> Gcc does not currently use any non-i386 instructions when compiling
> for i[345]86 targets. It does, however, apply different optimizations
> depending on which specific cpu is being targeted.
The word "currently" worries me a bit. They could suddenly start supporting
those instructions and newly built/rebuilt packages could start dying on
older architectures, possible only in rare cases. This could be immensely
frustrating and difficult to track down.
Brian
( bcwhite@verisim.com )
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In theory, theory and practice are the same. In practice, they're not.
--
TO UNSUBSCRIBE FROM THIS MAILING LIST: e-mail the word "unsubscribe" to
debian-devel-REQUEST@lists.debian.org . Trouble? e-mail to Bruce@Pixar.com
Reply to: