build-essential in cross-environments

[Wookey <wookey@wookware.org>]

I've just realised (making some new cross-chroots) that installing
build-essential requires you to have a native toolchain installed
(gcc, g++). 

e.g. in etch:
Depends: libc6-dev | libc-dev, gcc (>= 4:4.1.1), g++ (>= 4:4.1.1), make,
dpkg-dev (>= 1.13.5)

Now for cross-building that's not really what you want. I'm wondering
if the right thing to do is create a crossbuild-essential package
which depends on gcc-cross and g++-cross, then have our
cross-packges provide gcc-cross and g++-cross?

Or what happens if our cross packages provide gcc and g++ directly?
It's true and it satisfies build-essential as-is, but I have a feeling
that might produce some unexpected effects. Can anyone think of a
reason why this wouldn't work?

Opinions?

Wookey
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