Linux Weekly News (1998) | Hacker News Reader

Linux Weekly News (1998)

lwn.net

43 pointskick8 comments

> Numerous people are trying to track down the problems with gcc 2.8.0 and the kernel. The problem seems to be an obscure, optimization-related thing. For now, compile kernels with a 2.7.2 release of gcc, or use egcs.

That brings back memories. I think the kernel didn't compile correctly with gcc again until at least 2.95.2 or 2.95.3?

At which point egcs was gcc.

You are absolutely right.

https://slashdot.org/story/99/04/20/1453234/egcs-to-become-g...

The funny thing was, gcc 2.95.3 (being mostly egcs as you point out) was more stable than both previous versions of egcs and gcc. I distinctly remember gcc 2.8 having problems with the kernel, and egcs having problems with various userland stuff (mostly GNOME). Having to deal with two compiler forks each with their showstopper bugs seemed to go away rather markedly with 2.95.3.

EDIT: found a discussion which covers the idea that it was code in both the kernel/userspace which relied on UB or bugs of gcc 2.7.x

https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/comp.os.linux.develo...

Still the essential publication if you want to follow Linux kernel and other open source upstream development.

Absolutely, and it really doesn't cost much to ensure they keep doing it.

I've been subscribed ever since they offered them. A few years ago while starting up a business I realised that I hardly ever found or made the time to read them, and reluctantly let it slip. Jonathan emailed me personally to say thanks for being there from day one, and if I had any feedback. I explained, he said thanks anyway and then renewed my subscription! I've automatically renewed every year since then.

LWN and HN are the peanut butter and chocolate of technical content on the 'net.

I’d say LWN is more like Nutella whereas HN is a Kinder Surprise.

Debian 2.0, that reminds me of the tragedy surrounding Debian's founder, Ian Murdock.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com