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Re: Build of powerpcspe port



>>>>> "Wachholz," == Wachholz, Ruediger <Ruediger.Wachholz@siemens-enterprise.com> writes:

> We're evaluating to build an embedded system on powerpc e500v2
> (=powerpcspe) architecture. We made some tests using binary powerpcspe
> sid from debian-ports (http://wiki.debian.org/PowerPCSPEPort) and
> would like to proceed. Actually our major concern is that the actual
> powerpcspe port is based on sid/unstable which is no good base for a
> commercial product.
 
> For this reason we want to try to build the a powerpcspe port from
> source based on a stable debian release (e.g. squeeze) and i'm looking
> for some hints to get started. Can someone please give me some hints
> on how to (cross)build the debian packages? I'm pretty sure that there
> exists a simple debian command which will work for most of the
> packages.
 
> We could assume that a properly configured cross-compiler is
> available, e.g. we use "make ARCH=powerpc
> CROSS_COMPILE=/opt/codesourcery/bin/powerpc-linux-gnu-" to build the
> kernel. Otherwise any hints on dealing with cross compiling are also
> welcome.

I don't think that a full debian base-system can be easily build using
cross-compilation.  As far as I understand, the usual way to port debian
is to setup a build system and then proceed natively building all
packages. 

I don't think that you will be successful building squeeze from scratch
for powerpcspe.  Some packages need patches to properly build on
powerpcspe (i think that even includes libc6).  Those packages are not
even in 'unstable' but in 'unreleased'.

By the way I'm going to use debian-powerpcspe for an embedded system,
too.  Already set up a pretty usable build systems on a p2020rdb, based
on debian-ports sid+unreleased.

Luckily we have quite some time until this has to be stable, so having
to use unstable is no show-stopper for now.  Also debian-unstable might
as well be more complete and stable than other options.

Hopefully, now that squeeze is released, powerpcspe related patches can
migrate into sid, and hopefully we'll finally see debian 'testing' build
for powerpcspe (that would already qualify as 'stable' for me).  The
main people currently working for debian-powerpc are (afaik):

   Sebastian Andrzej Siewior <bigeasy@linutronix.de>,
   "Moffett, Kyle D" <Kyle.D.Moffett@boeing.com>

I usually CC them when posting about powerpcspe-specific issues.  Maybe
they can shed some light on how things are stabilizing, and where help
is needed (i'd be able to spend a few days per month on ppcspe).

You know, the best way to make it more stable is to use it, report
problems, and contribute patches :)

cheers,

David
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