Linked by Thom Holwerda on Tue 26th Oct 2010 20:36 UTC, submitted by tyrione
Clang can build a kernel now. "The kernel can successfully boot to runlevel 5 (aka X + networking) on the Macbook, both on bare metal and in Qemu. The kernel can successfully boot to runlevel 3 on a secondary test machine, a microATX desktop box (Intel Atom). I haven't tried to start X on this box yet. The kernel can self-host; I am currently running a 'fourth generation' self-hosted Linux kernel built by a 'fourth generation' Clang."
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Member since:2005-11-13
The post notes that neither VDSO or the boot code build correctly with clang. The poster modified the build system to compile these two vital components with GCC. So no, clang can't quite build a working Linux kernel on its own yet.
You haven't read the full thread, have you? On a reply [1], the same author says those things, and other that were failing, can be compiled now.
[1] http://lists.cs.uiuc.edu/pipermail/cfe-dev/2010-October/011744.html
Edited 2010-10-26 21:35 UTC
Member since:2005-07-10
http://lists.cs.uiuc.edu/pipermail/cfe-dev/2010-October/011744.html
"VDSO compiles with Clang."
"The boot subsystem can be built with Clang."
Member since:2006-07-14
Member since:2007-04-06
Fair enough. But 'the late 80's and early 90's' was 20 years ago, now (I know, it's shocking to me too). That is a lot of time to grow beyond meager beginnings.
Furthermore, the Linux kernel prides itself on portability almost as much as NetBSD (which is eclipsed in actual portability by Linux). Given that there are other free C compilers out there (icc, pcc, etc), you would think that Linux would have parted would GCC dependency a long time ago. Compiler dependent code strikes me as just as poor form as architecture dependent code.
Member since:2010-03-08
The post notes that neither VDSO or the boot code build correctly with clang. The poster modified the build system to compile these two vital components with GCC. So no, clang can't quite build a working Linux kernel on its own yet.
Aside from this, I find it a bit surprising how dependent on GCC the Linux kernel is. I do not think it behooves an open-source operating system to be so compiler-specific. Open source is supposed to be about choice, right? (Among other things)
Aside from this, I find it a bit surprising how dependent on GCC the Linux kernel is. I do not think it behooves an open-source operating system to be so compiler-specific. Open source is supposed to be about choice, right? (Among other things)
Try to code a kernel and you'll find out why it's hard not to become compiler-specific in some way.
ASM, packed attributes... No standard exists for these currently.
Member since:2009-07-08
Aside from this, I find it a bit surprising how dependent on GCC the Linux kernel is. I do not think it behooves an open-source operating system to be so compiler-specific. Open source is supposed to be about choice, right? (Among other things)
Until recently there was no choice. Before, GCC was the only open source compile worth using (for this purpose). There used to be a ton of good commercial compilers, but most of them have been supplanted by GCC, and it wouldn't be reasonable to expect them to be supported.
Features
Linked by Thom Holwerda on 06/13/13 14:35 UTC
The third and final WWDC product I want to talk about is - of course - OS X 10.9 Mavericks. While iOS 7 was clearly the focus of this year's WWDC, its venerable desktop counterpart certainly wasn't left behind. Apple announced OS X 10.9 Mavericks, the first OS X release not to carry the name of a big cat.
Linked by Thom Holwerda on 06/11/13 17:07 UTC
We already talked about iOS 7 yesterday (after a night of sleep, it's only looking worse and worse - look at this, for Fiona's sake!), so now it's time to talk about the downright stunning and belly flutters-inducing new Mac Pro. As former owner and huge, huge, huge fan of the PowerMac G4 Cube - I haven't been this excited about an Apple product since, well, I would say the iMac G4. This is the Apple I used to love.
Linked by Thom Holwerda on 06/10/13 23:13 UTC
Apple held its big keynote event thing at WWDC earlier this evening, but since I was away with friends I've had to read up on it later in the evening. The company announced iOS 7, OS X 10.9 Mavericks, and they gave a preview of the new Mac Pro. Especially the Mac Pro impressed me, and while iOS 7's new Holo/Metro-inspired theme looks messy and garish to me, I do commend Apple for finally breaking the mold. This news item will focus on iOS 7 - I'll dive into the Mac Pro and OS X 10.9 tomorrow (it's late here now).
Linked by Thom Holwerda on 06/08/13 14:57 UTC
And yes, the PRISM scandal is far, far from over. More and more information keeps leaking out, and the more gets out, the worse it gets. The companies involved have sent out official statements - often by mouth of their CEOs - and what's interesting is that not only are these official statements eerily similar to each other, using the same terms clearly designed by lawyers, they also directly contradict new reports from The New York Times. So, who is lying?
Linked by Thom Holwerda on 06/07/13 11:40 UTC
This story is getting bigger and bigger. Even though most Americans probably already knew, it is now official: the United States government, through its National Security Agency, is collecting the communications and data of all American citizens, and of non-Americans using American services, through a wide collaboration with the large companies in technology, like Apple, Google, Microsoft, Facebook, and so on. Interestingly enough, the NSA itself, as well as the US government, have repeatedly and firmly denied this massive spying on Americans and non-Americans took place at all.
Linked by Thom Holwerda on 06/04/13 12:45 UTC
Ah, patents - the never-ending scourge of the technology industry. Whether wielded by companies who don't actually make any products, or large corporations who abuse them because they can't compete in the market place or because they're simply jerks, they do the industry a huge disservice and are simply plain dangerous. According to The Wall Street Journal (circumvention link), president Obama is about to take several executive actions to address patent trolls - which may seem like a good idea, but I am very worried that all this will do is strengthen the positions of notorious patent system abusers such as Apple and Microsoft.
Linked by nfeske on 05/31/13 10:12 UTC
With version 13.05, the developers of the Genode OS Framework take measures to ensure that Genode continues to scale well with a growing number of users and the steadily broadening platform coverage. Further highlights are the improved SoC support for Exynos 5, OMAP4, Raspberry Pi, i.MX, and new components for realizing headless systems.
Linked by Thom Holwerda on 05/29/13 16:59 UTC
At the D11 conference, Apple CEO Tim Cook once again took the stage to be interviewed by Walt Mossberg and Kara Swisher. While most of the interview can be replicated by picking and reading 10 random Apple fanblog stories - there were still a number of very interesting things that warrant some closer scrutiny.
Linked by Thom Holwerda on 05/24/13 17:26 UTC
So, the Xbox One disaster continues. Microsoft's policy for dealing with the used games market has reportedly leaked - and it's a clear and direct attack to destroy the used games market. Prices for used games will be set at the retail value of a new game, and retailers have to hook into Microsoft's computer systems and comply with Microsoft's terms and conditions.
Linked by Thom Holwerda on 05/21/13 21:38 UTC
At an event earlier today, Microsoft unveiled the next Xbox - the third model, but confusingly named Xbox One. The big focus was TV, integrated Kinect, and all the other stuff we all expected to be forced down our throats. I think it took them 25 minutes to actually come to what should be the core of the story: gaming. Nothing groundbreaking in the gaming department, except for how Microsoft intends to handle the used games market and borrowing games from friends: pay up, buddy!More Features »
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2007-04-06
The post notes that neither VDSO or the boot code build correctly with clang. The poster modified the build system to compile these two vital components with GCC. So no, clang can't quite build a working Linux kernel on its own yet.
Aside from this, I find it a bit surprising how dependent on GCC the Linux kernel is. I do not think it behooves an open-source operating system to be so compiler-specific. Open source is supposed to be about choice, right? (Among other things)