Re: [patch 00/2] improve .text size on gcc 4.0 and newer compilers

Arjan van de Ven
2005-12-30T08:24:39Z

On Fri, 2005-12-30 at 09:15 +0100, Willy Tarreau wrote:
>
>
> I trust your experience on this, but wasn't the lack of testing
> primarily due to the use of a "special" version of the compiler ?
> For instance, if we put a short howto in Documentation/ explaining
> how to build a kgcc toolchain describing what versions to use, there
> are chances that most LKML users will use the exact same version.
> Distro maintainers may want to follow the same version too. Also,
> the fact that the kernel would be designed to work with *that*
> compiler will limit the maintenance trouble you certainly have
> encountered trying to keep the compiler up-to-date with more recent
> kernel patches and updates.

it's not that easy. Simply put: the gcc people release an update every 6
months; distros "jump ahead" the bugfixes on that usually. (think of it
like -stable, where distros would ship patches accepted for -stable but
before -stable got released). Taking an older compiler from gcc.gnu.org
doesn't mean it's bug free. It just means you're not getting bugfixes.