in reply to Re^4: Perl 5 interpreter
in thread Perl 5 interpreter

I do, on a daily basis.

First reason is that on those (proprietary) OS's there is no (more) update available for the ANSI C89 compiler.

Second reason is that GNU folk do not consider OS's other than Linux worthwhile caring for. E.g. on HP-UX PA-RISC (10.20, 11.00, 11.11 and 11.23) it is impossible to create a GNU gcc-4.x.x that compiles reliable in 64bit mode, so I'm stuck to version 3.4.6.

GNU gcc is a nightmare to compile on e.g. HP-UX 11.23 or 11.31 if all of your system is set up to be 64bitall only. GNU gcc folk claim the compiler just needs a 32bit environment to build a compiler that can generate 32bit and 64bit objects, but in order to get that compiler compiled, you need a 32bit environment and - at current - THREE extra packages installed (gmp, mpfr and mpc) that all need a gcc compiler to get compiled properly -> endless loop of FAIL. On these I stopped porting with gcc-4.2.4.

Third reason is that (maybe because of reason 2), code generated with HP C-ANSI-C compiler runs up to 15% faster than when compiled with GNU gcc, so the option to use a gcc compiler just because it can do C99 is not a very obvious one. I bet inlining functions won't get a 15% speed gain ove macros, but I didn't check that.


Enjoy, Have FUN! H.Merijn

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Re^6: Perl 5 interpreter
by BrowserUk (Patriarch) on Jan 12, 2011 at 18:59 UTC

    You couldn't use gcc 4.5.2 for HP-UX for instance?

    Examine what is said, not who speaks -- Silence betokens consent -- Love the truth but pardon error.
    "Science is about questioning the status quo. Questioning authority".
    In the absence of evidence, opinion is indistinguishable from prejudice.
[reply]

      That one is only available on the more modern OS versions for which HP's C-compiler already is C99 compliant. I'm also running/testing/porting on 10.20, 11.00 and 11.11 (all PA-RISC), for which neiher HP nor HP's porting center has gcc-4.5.2 avilable.

      Besides that, objects compiled by gcc are still running slower than when compiled with HP C-ANSI-C.


      Enjoy, Have FUN! H.Merijn
[reply]
        I'm also running/testing/porting on 10.20, 11.00 and 11.11 (all PA-RISC), for which neiher HP nor HP's porting center has gcc-4.5.2 avilable.

        And you can't use the one that is available to cross-compile to those for which it isn't?

        Also, didn't HP drop support for 10.20 years ago?

        Besides that, objects compiled by gcc are still running slower than when compiled with HP C-ANSI-C.

        But that is a choice. Should p5p's compiler policy be defined in terms of your choices?

        Examine what is said, not who speaks -- Silence betokens consent -- Love the truth but pardon error.
        "Science is about questioning the status quo. Questioning authority".
        In the absence of evidence, opinion is indistinguishable from prejudice.
[reply]

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