can't build librl or binutils!

[Bill Hogan <bhogan@rahul.net>]

    Here is the situation I am worried about:


                           ./debian.rules build ?
   -----------------+-----------------------------------------
       package      | old Slackware setup  | new Debian setup
   -----------------+----------------------+------------------
   librl-2.0.3-2    |         yes          |     NO
   -----------------+----------------------+------------------
   binutils-2.5.2-3 |         yes          |     NO
   -----------------+----------------------+-------------------


    For reference, here is the tail-end of the respective console
outputs from the two jobs that failed.

first, librl-2.0.3-2.tar.gz
---------------------------- quote ------------------------------
[...]
/usr/bin/mkimage: error running 'nm --no-cplus librl.so.2.0.3 | grep
"D __NEEDS_SHRLIB_" > jump/jump.undefs; exit 0'

mkimage v2.17
Reading configuration files from jump
Recording new library parameters.
executing:ld -x -Ttext 603ff000 -o librl.so.2.0.3 jump/__jump.o
jump/libreadline.a /usr/lib/libtermcap.a -lc
/usr/lib/gcc-lib/i486-debian-linux/2.6.3/libgcc.a -lc
make[1]: *** [jump/libreadline.a] Error 1
make[1]: Leaving directory
`/G/DEBIAN/debian-0.93R6/devel/librl-build/librl-2.0.3/readline'
make: *** [build] Error 2
------------------------- unquote --------------------------------


second, binutils-2.5.2-3.tar.gz
------------------------- quote ---------------------------------
[...]
rm -f 64
touch stmp-bfd.h
gcc -c -O2 -DTRAD_CORE  -I. -I. -I./../include
-DDEFAULT_VECTOR=i386linux_vec -DSELECT_VECS=elvecs
-DSELECT_ARCHITECTURES=elarchs archures.c
archures.c:444: `elarchs' undeclared here (not in a function)
archures.c:444: initializer element for `archures_init_table[0]' is
not constantmake[2]: *** [archures.o] Error 1
make[2]: Leaving directory `/E/DEBIAN/binutils-2.5.2/bfd'
make[1]: *** [all-bfd] Error 2
make[1]: Leaving directory `/E/DEBIAN/binutils-2.5.2'
make: *** [build] Error 2
------------------------- unquote ---------------------


    In case it matters, here are the names of the Debian packages that
I have on my old Slackware setup:

Desired=Unknown/Install/Remove/Purge
| Status=Not/Installed/Config-files/Unpacked/Failed-config/Half-installed
|/ Err?=(none)/Hold/Reinst-required/X=both-problems (Status,Err: uppercase=bad)
||/ Name         Version   Rev  Description
+++-============-=========-====-======================================
ii  ae                 493 4    Anthony's Editor -- a tiny full-screen editor
ii  cdtool             1.0 3    A set of programs to play CD's, supports a data
ii  dpkg             1.0.5 0    Package maintenance system for Debian GNU/Linux
ii  groff             1.09 4    GNU RunOFF text-formatting system. 
ii  ispell          3.1.18 1    An interactive spelling corrector
ii  kermit             190 5    kermit - C-Kermit communications software for u
ii  librl            2.0.3 2    GNU Readline shared and static libraries.
ii  man             2.3.10 2    Display the on-line manual.
ii  tput               1.0 4    A utility to provide portable terminal control 
ii  workbone           2.3 3    Simple text-based CD Player
----------------------- end-of-list ----------------------------

   
    I worry a lot when I run into a Debian package that I can't build,
so I would appreciate hearing from anyone who has built either of
these two packages recently.
  
    Even the tiniest clues will be greatly appreciated!

    Thank you.

    Bill