Install or not install newest GCC version on Solaris 10.

Zepiroth · 04-27-2006, 07:03 AM

Dear Solaris experts,

As Solaris 10 came with GCC 3.x, is it recommended to get the newest version of GCC ( now is version 4.1.0 ) and install it ?
Is there any specific reason to install the newest GCC compiler ?

Previously, I always have a linking problem when I use the GCC version 4.1.0. The linker I use is GNU linker ( installed in /usr/local/bin/ld ) instead of the original ld ( in /usr/ccs/bin/ld ).

note : I use Solaris 10 January 2006 version.

Thank you in advance.

...

jlliagre · 04-27-2006, 09:36 AM

I have no particular recommendation about which compiler to use. I had no issue with the bundled gcc.

If you want more choice, you may also want to try the now free Sun Studio 11 compiler.

Zepiroth · 04-27-2006, 09:54 PM

Thank you for the info.
I will try the recommended Sun Studio 11.

mackdav · 05-03-2006, 10:47 AM

My policy has always been to keep compiler versions constant unless there is some kind of need for the upgrade.

Zepiroth · 05-12-2006, 04:39 AM

dear mackdav,

The reason behind the upgrade is : I am learning to install secure mail server ( Postfix, VM-Pop3d, Courier IMAP, MailScanner & Amavis ) plus other Open Source applications ( MySQL, PostgreSQL, Samba, Apache HTTP, PHP & Tomcat ). Since I am new for Solaris, I install the application by compiling directly from the source.

On my way to install, some of the applications wont compile. I cant remember which application have what problem. Solaris 10 ( January 2006 Update ) came with GCC 3.x, non GNU ld linker and non GNU as assembler. I tried to build the latest GCC compiler ( 4.1.0 ) and Binutils using the default tools. But then some of the application also having compile & linking problem, even using the new GCC 4.1.0. That's why I came to this forum to ask : should I use the new compiler or stick with the default GCC & tools ?

As I compile the same GPL applications on RedHat Fedora 3 & 5. All of them compiled and installed successfully.

technopark02 · 05-12-2006, 08:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zepiroth

should I use the new compiler or stick with the default GCC & tools ?

Unless the documentation of the application you are trying to build says it needs GNU tools to build it, it is Okay to use any compiler/linker/assembler/.. as long as they do their job properly.

Since you are trying to build on Sun's Solaris, it is better to use Sun's compilers (which are freely downloadable anyway - you are not losing anything by installing Sun Studio 11 and giving it a shot).

Quote:

As I compile the same GPL applications on RedHat Fedora 3 & 5. All of them compiled and installed successfully.

Linux is the primary target platform for majority of GPL'd applications -- that's why they compile smoothly on Linux.

If you refuse to use pre-built binaries (from sources like blastwave.org, sunfreeware.com) on Solaris, you'd better be ready to play with make files and the source code to make it work on Solaris. Please do not expect everything to work as they are.

It will be helpful to post the issues and the corresponding fixes, somewhere on web so others do not have to go through the redundant exercise of fixing known issues.

Zepiroth · 05-26-2006, 02:42 AM

Dear TechnoPark02,

The applications that makes me install GCC are Courier AuthLib & Couier IMAP. Courier Authlib require GCC, GNU ld & LibTool. By using the Solaris bundled GCC (3.4.3) and bundled ld ( non GNU ), Courier Authlib compile always returns error.

Thats why I have an idea to build GNU BinUtils ( GNU Linker inside ) and the newest GCC for compiling Courier Authlib.