update GCC is so dangerous?

Xavius · 01-04-2005, 08:14 AM

I wish to update GCC because some components (for example some Gnome 2.8 applets and other applications) need a new version

Readind the documentation in GCC they say something like: in Linux install GCC (over the previous one, I think) can make the system unusable or destroy it......

How can I update and avoid this catastrophic scenario?

slackie1000 · 01-04-2005, 11:57 AM

hi there,

if your interest is only to compile some applications you can install the new version with messing with the older one. this is not an easy task but it is possible.
you need to change the environment variables and libraries path to make sure that the applications scripts - .configure and make - will look to the correct version.
gcc is the soul of your system if you like to compile everything : source files and kernel.
i would say, keep the old one. wait a bit more.

regards

slackie1000

Xavius · 01-04-2005, 01:37 PM

thanks. I think like you about this, so I went here to listen some other opinion, but it's a bit too risky.

Some apps don't have the value of the system, after hour of work, tuning, tweaking on it.

Thanks a lot.

P.S. thanks for all others your reply to my million of questions!

thanks

__J · 01-04-2005, 03:48 PM

What version do you have now?

you could build it completely static (with no shared libraries) and install it in /opt/gcc-<new-version> and when you want to use it set up the environment to find it first (this wouldn't affect you current system) but
it will take up more space.