On Tue, May 19, 2009 at 02:17:20PM +0200, Laurent GUERBY wrote: > On Mon, 2009-05-18 at 23:47 +0100, Maciej W. Rozycki wrote: > > Yes, invaluable for native builds and there is a considerable number of > > software packages which is not capable of being cross-compiled, or > > requires extreme contortions to be built this way, or if buildable with a > > reasonable effort, the functionality is limited. Besides a three-stage > > GCC bootstrap is a good way of verifying the quality of the tool, never > > mind standard DejaGNU-based regression testing which although possible > > using cross-tools and a remote target, is awfully painful to be set up > > this way. > > For MIPS in the GCC Compile Farm http://gcc.gnu.org/wiki/CompileFarm > (which is open to all free software, not limited to GCC) we > have two loongson-2f based netbooks on which a GCC bootstrap > and check is manageable. > > Right now this farm is more oriented towards upstream userland > developpers debug/test cycles - they get access to 12 architectures when > they sign in. It's not really oriented towards porting > kernel/distributions or building distribution packages which is already > well covered by existing distribution farms and individual developpers > and those developpers should get priority on new hardware :). > > This farm project is part of the Free Software Fundation France (a > french not-for-profit organization) effort to help free software > development and we accept hardware and hosting donations, and also > discounts to purchase commercial hardware when donations are not > possible and there is significant interest in one platform. That I think is a great solution for people who need short term access but doesn't really solve the fundamental problem that hardware with sufficient punch for efficient native development isn't easily available. Ralf
