Hmm. I did a clean install of FC4. Didn't like it that much because it couldn't compile icculus.org Duke3D linux port. I remember it compiled fine with FC3. So I decided to clean install FC3 again. But something strange happens. After a successful install, and a reboot, all it does is stay at GRUB2 loading... (or something like that). A bug? A bug when trying to override FC4 grub? How to fix? Do I use a rescue CD like Knoppix and try to fix grub from there? How do I get write access via Knoppix?


UPDATE EDITED:

I just installed FC3 with full Development Applications (gcc, etc.). Then I used apt/synaptic to update all my installed programs. That includes updating gcc, etc. to gcc-3.4.4-2.fc3 (which I think is the last version for fc3).

I compiled icculus Duke3D and it compiled superbly with hardly any warnings and no errors.

So basically FC4 contains gcc-4.x.x. Why is version 4 so different to version 3. And shouldn't version 4 be backwards compatible with version 3 gcc?

If it is a clean install, then you erased the data on the previous partitions. Chances are your install CDs for FC3 have a small flaw. If you really think it is something to do with overwriting FC4 things - then reformat the entire drive first.

Have you seen: http://www.icculus.org/duke3d/
This runs natively in linux now.

Note: some things will not compile in FC4 even though it was fine in FC3. This happens because the sourc code was written for an early version of gcc, which has multiply depreciated ... well... lots! To overcome this, FC4 shipps with a legacy gcc version (gcc32) which you should use instead. (There will usually be an option in the configure or the top make file which lets you select which compiler to use.)

FYI:
www.fedorafaq.org
www.mjmwired.org

Yes, that icculus Duke3D port is the one I tried compiling under FC4 but didn't work.

Please tell me more about gcc32. Do I just go through the Makefile replacing gcc with gcc32?

gcc3.4.x ships with FC3.But FC4 has the newer gcc 4.x.x....

So while compiling programs whose source was written to compile with gcc 3.x.x try telling the program to use gcc 3.x.x.

./configure --help should very clearly tell the option you need to pass.
For this you need to install gcc3 somewhere you like [eg. /opt] and give the path while configuring the software before compiling.

icculus doesn't come with configure scripts . All it comes with it is custom hand-made Makefiles. Is there not switches or options for gcc 4.x.x to compile to take into account of legacy stuff in gcc 3.x.x?

Also, re-read the original top post thread (as it's been updated edited).

The top level makefile in icculus DN-3D has a declaration section where the compiler version is set. (Not all nixes use the same compiler.) You have to edit this line to point to gcc32 in FC4.

If fact - configure scripts exist so the user dosn't have to edit the makefile - which used to be SOP for source installs.

gcc32 comes with the installation disks.

As to why gcc4 is not backwards compatable - this is because there is only so much backwards compatablising you can do without risking breaking the compiler. The 3 series was all backwards compatable to 3.0 ... like for years and years. Programming is different now.

Backwards compatability is provided by supplying an earlier version of gcc. Much more efficient... and it helps if you need to compile simple or legacy code.

When you tried to compile with gcc4, you received a lot of messages to the effect that a particular class or instruction has been superceded by another one. One could write a worm ot go through all the source code to make all (well most) of the needed changes. Developers will probably be doing this, and soon enough you won't be able to compile with earlier versions of gcc.