Re: freeze exception for gcc-4.5 (i386, amd64 only)

[Matthias Klose <doko@debian.org>]

On 11.08.2010 23:16, Neil McGovern wrote:
> Hi Matthias,
>
> Sorry for not getting back to you sooner.
>
> On Sat, Aug 07, 2010 at 11:42:42PM +0200, Matthias Klose wrote:
> > gcc-4.5 should be released with squeeze, at least on amd64 and i386.
> > gcc-4.5.1 was released a week ago, the first bug and regression fix
> > release after the initial gcc-4.5.0 release.
>
> Do you have any information as to why this is needed for squeeze, as
> opposed to squeeze+1? Would this be a nice-to-have, or does it solve a
> specific problem?

it's more than "nice-to-have". See the reasons in my original posting (which you 
didn't include here in the reply).

> >   - gcc-4.5 will be an optional compiler, not replacing the current
> >     defaults.
>
> Ok, but if it can be used, it probably will be by at least some things.

correct. but it should not introduce rc issues; if it does, then fall back to 
4.4, or don't use 4.5 in the first place.

> > If port maintainers do want to enable gcc-4.5 on a port, they should
> > make sure that no regressions are introduced by building the runtime
> > libraries from
> > 4.5 and ensure that possible regressions are fixed.
>
> This is the bit that worries me. Although it is optional, it can (and
> IMO will probably) be used by at least some things. This could lead to
> odd bugs. If there's a problem in GCC 4.5 that isn't in 4.4, and it
> comes to a security upload, there could be a mismatch between the
> requirements.

sorry, I don't understand this reasoning and the implications for security 
uploads. If a package is explicitely built with 4.5, it will be built with 4.5 
for security uploads too.

> Do you have details as to the (previously mentioned) unit/regression
> tests?

not besides the test results included in the packages prepared for upload.  Is 
there anything more you would expect?

  Matthias