[Bug bootstrap/63714] New: AIX (5.3.7, xlC v11) fails to bootstrap for gcc 4.9.2, 4.8.3 and 4.7.4

[Bug bootstrap/63714] New: AIX (5.3.7, xlC v11) fails to bootstrap for gcc 4.9.2, 4.8.3 and 4.7.4

[aixtools at gmail dot com]

https://gcc.gnu.org/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=63714

            Bug ID: 63714
           Summary: AIX (5.3.7, xlC v11) fails to bootstrap for gcc 4.9.2,
                    4.8.3 and 4.7.4
           Product: gcc
           Version: unknown
            Status: UNCONFIRMED
          Severity: normal
          Priority: P3
         Component: bootstrap
          Assignee: unassigned at gcc dot gnu.org
          Reporter: aixtools at gmail dot com

The announcement of gcc 4.9.2 got me started - time to get gcc packaged. As
much as possible I want to be packaging with tools I have assembled/packaged
myself. And, although I failed miserably years ago - now is the time to move
forward.

In the details below (and I apologize if my emphasis is wrong - I have a lot to
learn about how gcc is organized) you can see that the failure for GCC 4.9.2
and GCC 4.8.3 are at the same spot. GCC 4.7.4 looks as if it wants to complete,
but is getting lost - after coming a long way "configure" complains:

checking for powerpc-ibm-aix5.3.0.0-gcc...
/data/prj/gnu/gcc/objdir/gcc-4.7.4/./gcc/xgcc
-B/data/prj/gnu/gcc/objdir/gcc-4.7.4/./gcc/ -B/opt/powerpc-ibm-aix5.3.0.0/bin/
-B/opt/powerpc-ibm-aix5.3.0.0/lib/ -isystem /opt/powerpc-ibm-aix5.3.0.0/include
-isystem /opt/powerpc-ibm-aix5.3.0.0/sys-include   
checking for suffix of object files... configure: error: in
`/data/prj/gnu/gcc/objdir/gcc-4.7.4/powerpc-ibm-aix5.3.0.0/libgcc':
configure: error: cannot compute suffix of object files: cannot compile
See `config.log' for more details.
make[2]: *** [configure-stage1-target-libgcc] Error 1

So, as it is getting much closer this is what I want to work on and should be
considered the "bug" of this report.

Additional Info (and request)

GCC 4.9.2 and GCC 4.8.3 exit at a different point in time compared to GCC
4.7.4. (This can be a new bug later):
config.status: creating backtrace-supported.h
config.status: creating config.h
config.status: executing libtool commands
config.status: executing gstdint.h commands
config.status: executing default commands
make[3]: Entering directory
`/data/prj/gnu/gcc/gcc-4.9.2/host-powerpc-ibm-aix5.3.0.0/libba
cktrace'
make  all-am
make[4]: Entering directory
`/data/prj/gnu/gcc/gcc-4.9.2/host-powerpc-ibm-aix5.3.0.0/libba
cktrace'
/bin/sh ./libtool --tag=CC   --mode=compile cc -DHAVE_CONFIG_H -I.
-I../.././libbacktrace
 -I ../.././libbacktrace/../include -I ../.././libbacktrace/../libgcc -I
../libgcc  -funwi
nd-tables -frandom-seed=atomic.lo   -g -c -o atomic.lo
../.././libbacktrace/atomic.c
libtool: compile:  cc -DHAVE_CONFIG_H -I. -I../.././libbacktrace -I
../.././libbacktrace/.
./include -I ../.././libbacktrace/../libgcc -I ../libgcc -funwind-tables
-frandom-seed=ato
mic.lo -g -c ../.././libbacktrace/atomic.c -o atomic.o
/bin/sh ./libtool --tag=CC   --mode=compile cc -DHAVE_CONFIG_H -I.
-I../.././libbacktrace
 -I ../.././libbacktrace/../include -I ../.././libbacktrace/../libgcc -I
../libgcc  -funwi
nd-tables -frandom-seed=dwarf.lo   -g -c -o dwarf.lo
../.././libbacktrace/dwarf.c
libtool: compile:  cc -DHAVE_CONFIG_H -I. -I../.././libbacktrace -I
../.././libbacktrace/.
./include -I ../.././libbacktrace/../libgcc -I ../libgcc -funwind-tables
-frandom-seed=dwa
rf.lo -g -c ../.././libbacktrace/dwarf.c -o dwarf.o
"../.././libbacktrace/dwarf.c", line 1048.7: 1506-046 (S) Syntax error.
"../.././libbacktrace/dwarf.c", line 1048.10: 1506-045 (S) Undeclared
identifier Skip.
"../.././libbacktrace/dwarf.c", line 1055.7: 1506-046 (S) Syntax error.
"../.././libbacktrace/dwarf.c", line 2690.11: 1506-068 (W) Operation between
types "struct
 line*" and "int" is not allowed.
"../.././libbacktrace/dwarf.c", line 2873.17: 1506-068 (W) Operation between
types "struct
 dwarf_data*" and "int" is not allowed.
"../.././libbacktrace/dwarf.c", line 3006.17: 1506-068 (W) Operation between
types "struct
 dwarf_data*" and "int" is not allowed.
make[4]: *** [dwarf.lo] Error 1
make[4]: Leaving directory
`/data/prj/gnu/gcc/gcc-4.9.2/host-powerpc-ibm-aix5.3.0.0/libbac
ktrace'
make[3]: *** [all] Error 2
make[3]: Leaving directory
`/data/prj/gnu/gcc/gcc-4.9.2/host-powerpc-ibm-aix5.3.0.0/libbac
ktrace'
make[2]: *** [all-stage1-libbacktrace] Error 2
make[2]: Leaving directory `/data/prj/gnu/gcc/gcc-4.9.2'
make[1]: *** [stage1-bubble] Error 2
make[1]: Leaving directory `/data/prj/gnu/gcc/gcc-4.9.2'
make: *** [bootstrap] Error 2

Configure command:

CPPFLAGS="-I/opt/include" CFLAGS="-I/opt/aixtools/include -qlanglvl=extc89"
./configure \
        --prefix=/opt \
        --sysconfdir=/var/gcc/etc \
        --sharedstatedir=/var/gcc/com \
        --localstatedir=/var/gcc \
        --mandir=/usr/share/man \
        --infodir=/opt/share/info/gcc --with-gmp=/opt --with-mpfr=/opt
--with-mpc=/opt --enable-languages=c,c++

Small bits:
when I do not include -qlanglvl=extc89 as part of CFLAGS I get the following
result:
root@x064:[/data/prj/gnu/gcc/objdir/gcc-4.7.4]make
[ -f stage_final ] || echo stage3 > stage_final
/bin/sh[3]: 0403-057 Syntax error at line 1 : `-qlanglvl=extc89' is not
expected.

Besides AIX 5.3 TL7 CSP install, plus xlC/vacv11 FP19 The following is
installed:
root@x064:[/data/prj/gnu/gcc/objdir/gcc-4.7.4]lslpp -L | grep aixtools
  aixtools.binutils.man     2.24.0.0    C     F    man pages 2014.Nov.02 11.20
  aixtools.binutils.rte     2.24.0.0    C     F    binutils 2014.Nov.02 11.20
CUT
  aixtools.binutils.share   2.24.0.0    C     F    share and documentation
  aixtools.buildaix.man      1.0.9.0    C     F    man pages 2014.Jun.13 13.04
  aixtools.buildaix.rte      1.0.9.0    C     F    buildaix 2014.Jun.13 13.04
CUT
  aixtools.gettext.man      0.18.1.1    C     F    gettext man pages
2013.Aug.24
  aixtools.gettext.rte      0.18.1.1    C     F    gettext 0.18.1.1 2013.Aug.24
  aixtools.gettext.share    0.18.1.1    C     F    gettext share and
  aixtools.gmp.rte           5.0.5.0    C     F    gmp version 5.0.5 for
powerpc
  aixtools.gmp.share         5.0.5.0    C     F    gmp share and documentation
  aixtools.make.man         3.82.0.0    C     F    make man pages 2013.Aug.24
  aixtools.make.rte         3.82.0.0    C     F    make 3.82.0.0 2013.Aug.24
  aixtools.make.share       3.82.0.0    C     F    make share and documentation
  aixtools.mpc.rte           1.0.2.0    C     F    mpc 2014.Oct.31 15.44 CUT
  aixtools.mpc.share         1.0.2.0    C     F    share and documentation
  aixtools.mpfr.rte          2.4.2.0    C     F    mpfr 2014.Oct.31 15.19 CUT
  aixtools.mpfr.share        2.4.2.0    C     F    share and documentation
  aixtools.texinfo.man       5.2.0.0    C     F    texinfo man pages
2013.Oct.02
  aixtools.texinfo.rte       5.2.0.0    C     F    texinfo 5.2.0.0 2013.Oct.02
  aixtools.texinfo.share     5.2.0.0    C     F    texinfo share and

Note that ./configure reports mpc 0.80+ (while 1.0.1 is the lowest level
currently available for download); mpfr 2.4.0+ (while 2.4.2 is needed). As O
already had gmp 5.0.5 packaged I did not test lowest levels there.
The web-based documentation does say mpfr 2.4.2 is needed (required by mpc
1.0.2).

Looking forward to a productive collaboration.

Michael

p.s. If you want to read my notes collected while I was working (waiting for an
gcc account) you may read http://www.aixtools.net/index.php/gcc

p.p.s. If I have omitted something "basic" to make a good bug-report - please
be kind and patient. I will give this as much time as possible, and warn you
when that time is severely limited.

[Bug bootstrap/63714] AIX (5.3.7, xlC v11) fails to bootstrap for gcc 4.9.2, 4.8.3 and 4.7.4

[dje at gcc dot gnu.org]

https://gcc.gnu.org/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=63714

David Edelsohn <dje at gcc dot gnu.org> changed:

           What    |Removed                     |Added
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
             Status|UNCONFIRMED                 |RESOLVED
         Resolution|---                         |WONTFIX

--- Comment #1 from David Edelsohn <dje at gcc dot gnu.org> ---
Don't bootstrap GCC with IBM XLC.

[Bug bootstrap/63714] AIX (5.3.7, xlC v11) fails to bootstrap for gcc 4.9.2, 4.8.3 and 4.7.4

[aixtools at gmail dot com]

https://gcc.gnu.org/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=63714

--- Comment #2 from Michael Felt <aixtools at gmail dot com> ---
How do you suggest I bootstrap then?

There are some ancient RPM versions I know of, but they "break" AIX in that
they introduce non-standard libraries I am trying to avoid.

While 4.9.2 and 4.8.3 may be a bridge too far, some assistence in at least
understanding why 4.7.4 is failing towards the end (why can it not determine
that .o is the suffix?).

Regards,

Michael Felt

[Bug bootstrap/63714] AIX (5.3.7, xlC v11) fails to bootstrap for gcc 4.9.2, 4.8.3 and 4.7.4

[aixtools at gmail dot com]

https://gcc.gnu.org/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=63714

--- Comment #3 from Michael Felt <aixtools at gmail dot com> ---
Created attachment 33879
  --> https://gcc.gnu.org/bugzilla/attachment.cgi?id=33879&action=edit
script-capture of 4.7.4 bootstrap attempt on AIX

two script files capturing all screen output of attempted bootstrap

[Bug bootstrap/63714] AIX (5.3.7, xlC v11) fails to bootstrap for gcc 4.9.2, 4.8.3 and 4.7.4

[aixtools at gmail dot com]

https://gcc.gnu.org/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=63714

--- Comment #4 from Michael Felt <aixtools at gmail dot com> ---
Created attachment 33880
  --> https://gcc.gnu.org/bugzilla/attachment.cgi?id=33880&action=edit
script-capture of 4.6.4 bootstrap attempt on AIX

[Bug bootstrap/63714] AIX (5.3.7, xlC v11) fails to bootstrap for gcc 4.9.2, 4.8.3 and 4.7.4

[aixtools at gmail dot com]

https://gcc.gnu.org/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=63714

--- Comment #6 from Michael Felt <aixtools at gmail dot com> ---
thanks. it is night. shall look at this again tomorrow.
had not spotted CONFIG_SHELL among the how to build ada text. I had been
trying to follow what seemed relevant. must write my own document headers I
guess :smile:
On Nov 3, 2014 10:25 PM, "glisse at gcc dot gnu.org" <
gcc-bugzilla@gcc.gnu.org> wrote:

> https://gcc.gnu.org/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=63714
>
> --- Comment #5 from Marc Glisse <glisse at gcc dot gnu.org> ---
>
> https://gcc.gnu.org/wiki/FAQ#Configuration_fails_with_.27.27configure:_error:_cannot_compute_suffix_of_object_files:_cannot_compile.27.27._What_is_the_problem.3F
>
> (and for selecting the shell:
> https://gcc.gnu.org/install/prerequisites.html )
>
> Please read the docs...
>

[Bug bootstrap/63714] AIX (5.3.7, xlC v11) fails to bootstrap for gcc 4.9.2, 4.8.3 and 4.7.4

[aixtools at gmail dot com]

https://gcc.gnu.org/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=63714

--- Comment #7 from Michael Felt <aixtools at gmail dot com> ---
update:
CONFIG_SHELL=/usr/bin/ksh still fails at the start
CONFIG_SHELL=/opt/bin/bash (v4-30) complains, but moves on.
[ -f stage_final ] || echo stage3 > stage_final
/opt/bin/bash: command substitution: line 2: syntax error near unexpected
token `-qlanglvl=extc89'
/opt/bin/bash: command substitution: line 2: `case cc -qlanglvl=extc89 in
*gcc*) echo -Wl,-bbigtoc ;; esac;'
...
What needs correcting so that a switch/case statement (I presume) is
constructed correctly?

On Mon, Nov 3, 2014 at 10:46 PM, aixtools at gmail dot com <
gcc-bugzilla@gcc.gnu.org> wrote:

> https://gcc.gnu.org/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=63714
>
> --- Comment #6 from Michael Felt <aixtools at gmail dot com> ---
> thanks. it is night. shall look at this again tomorrow.
> had not spotted CONFIG_SHELL among the how to build ada text. I had been
> trying to follow what seemed relevant. must write my own document headers I
> guess :smile:
> On Nov 3, 2014 10:25 PM, "glisse at gcc dot gnu.org" <
> gcc-bugzilla@gcc.gnu.org> wrote:
>
> > https://gcc.gnu.org/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=63714
> >
> > --- Comment #5 from Marc Glisse <glisse at gcc dot gnu.org> ---
> >
> >
> https://gcc.gnu.org/wiki/FAQ#Configuration_fails_with_.27.27configure:_error:_cannot_compute_suffix_of_object_files:_cannot_compile.27.27._What_is_the_problem.3F
> >
> > (and for selecting the shell:
> > https://gcc.gnu.org/install/prerequisites.html )
> >
> > Please read the docs...
> >
>

[Bug bootstrap/63714] AIX (5.3.7, xlC v11) fails to bootstrap for gcc 4.9.2, 4.8.3 and 4.7.4

[aixtools at gmail dot com]

https://gcc.gnu.org/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=63714

--- Comment #8 from Michael Felt <aixtools at gmail dot com> ---
This ran MUCH better - thanks, but curious about what to do with
following messages (there where more than I could reverse scroll).

I forgot where I read about some systems having .o files that are
always different, maybe I need to verify a tool.

Next suggestion is welcome.

powerpc-ibm-aix5.3.0.0/libstdc++-v3/src/.libs/compatibility-list.o differs
powerpc-ibm-aix5.3.0.0/libstdc++-v3/src/.libs/compatibility-parallel_list-2.o
differs
powerpc-ibm-aix5.3.0.0/libstdc++-v3/src/.libs/compatibility-parallel_list.o
differs
powerpc-ibm-aix5.3.0.0/libstdc++-v3/src/.libs/compatibility-debug_list.o
differs
powerpc-ibm-aix5.3.0.0/libstdc++-v3/src/.libs/compatibility-list-2.o differs
powerpc-ibm-aix5.3.0.0/libstdc++-v3/src/.libs/compatibility-thread-c++0x.o
differs
powerpc-ibm-aix5.3.0.0/libstdc++-v3/src/.libs/compatibility.o differs
powerpc-ibm-aix5.3.0.0/libstdc++-v3/src/.libs/compatibility-debug_list-2.o
differs
powerpc-ibm-aix5.3.0.0/libstdc++-v3/src/.libs/compatibility-atomic-c++0x.o
differs
zlib/libz_a-compress.o differs
zlib/libz_a-inftrees.o differs
zlib/libz_a-deflate.o differs
zlib/libz_a-gzio.o differs
zlib/libz_a-inffast.o differs
zlib/libz_a-zutil.o differs
zlib/libz_a-uncompr.o differs
zlib/libz_a-inflate.o differs
zlib/libz_a-crc32.o differs
zlib/libz_a-trees.o differs
zlib/libz_a-adler32.o differs
zlib/libz_a-infback.o differs
make[2]: *** [compare] Error 1
make[2]: Leaving directory `/data/prj/gnu/gcc/objdir/gcc-4.7.4'
make[1]: *** [stage3-bubble] Error 2
make[1]: Leaving directory `/data/prj/gnu/gcc/objdir/gcc-4.7.4'
make: *** [all] Error 2

On Tue, Nov 4, 2014 at 10:09 AM, aixtools at gmail dot com
<gcc-bugzilla@gcc.gnu.org> wrote:
> https://gcc.gnu.org/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=63714
>
> --- Comment #7 from Michael Felt <aixtools at gmail dot com> ---
> update:
> CONFIG_SHELL=/usr/bin/ksh still fails at the start
> CONFIG_SHELL=/opt/bin/bash (v4-30) complains, but moves on.
> [ -f stage_final ] || echo stage3 > stage_final
> /opt/bin/bash: command substitution: line 2: syntax error near unexpected
> token `-qlanglvl=extc89'
> /opt/bin/bash: command substitution: line 2: `case cc -qlanglvl=extc89 in
> *gcc*) echo -Wl,-bbigtoc ;; esac;'
> ...
> What needs correcting so that a switch/case statement (I presume) is
> constructed correctly?
>
> On Mon, Nov 3, 2014 at 10:46 PM, aixtools at gmail dot com <
> gcc-bugzilla@gcc.gnu.org> wrote:
>
>> https://gcc.gnu.org/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=63714
>>
>> --- Comment #6 from Michael Felt <aixtools at gmail dot com> ---
>> thanks. it is night. shall look at this again tomorrow.
>> had not spotted CONFIG_SHELL among the how to build ada text. I had been
>> trying to follow what seemed relevant. must write my own document headers I
>> guess :smile:
>> On Nov 3, 2014 10:25 PM, "glisse at gcc dot gnu.org" <
>> gcc-bugzilla@gcc.gnu.org> wrote:
>>
>> > https://gcc.gnu.org/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=63714
>> >
>> > --- Comment #5 from Marc Glisse <glisse at gcc dot gnu.org> ---
>> >
>> >
>> https://gcc.gnu.org/wiki/FAQ#Configuration_fails_with_.27.27configure:_error:_cannot_compute_suffix_of_object_files:_cannot_compile.27.27._What_is_the_problem.3F
>> >
>> > (and for selecting the shell:
>> > https://gcc.gnu.org/install/prerequisites.html )
>> >
>> > Please read the docs...
>> >
>>

[Bug bootstrap/63714] AIX (5.3.7, xlC v11) fails to bootstrap for gcc 4.9.2, 4.8.3 and 4.7.4

[dje at gcc dot gnu.org]

https://gcc.gnu.org/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=63714

--- Comment #10 from David Edelsohn <dje at gcc dot gnu.org> ---
I had not realized that Bash-isms had crept into Autoconf, but I am not
surprised.  Using KSH to bootstrap is extremely slow and causes other problems.

Both Bull Freeware for AIX and Perzl websites have RPMs for recent releases of
GCC, so I do not understand the "ancient" comment.

The GCC build process really wants any non-GCC bootstrap compiler to be called
"cc".  If you want to add more options, you likely need to create a script in
your $HOME/bin directory in your path and insert the option there.

[Bug bootstrap/63714] AIX (5.3.7, xlC v11) fails to bootstrap for gcc 4.9.2, 4.8.3 and 4.7.4

[dje at gcc dot gnu.org]

https://gcc.gnu.org/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=63714

--- Comment #11 from David Edelsohn <dje at gcc dot gnu.org> ---
Do not use GNU Binutils on AIX 5.3 (or later). GNU assembler and GNU linker do
not work properly with recent releases of AIX.  Installing GCC does not require
installing all parts of the toolchain.

Again, I strongly recommend that you simply use GCC from Bull Freeware or
Perzl.

[Bug bootstrap/63714] AIX (5.3.7, xlC v11) fails to bootstrap for gcc 4.9.2, 4.8.3 and 4.7.4

[aixtools at gmail dot com]

https://gcc.gnu.org/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=63714

--- Comment #12 from Michael Felt <aixtools at gmail dot com> ---
I can try them again, but all the additional rpms that installing gcc
requires tends to break things.

I try to make as few assumptions about an environment as possible
(such as bash installed on AIX).
It may perform better, but I have never relied on it and it's
differences are difficult for me.
Additionally, as AIX is my focus, I cannot make the assumption that
bash will be installed.

I do not know about the BULL software, but as M Perlz is still making
software for AIX 5.1 (as one example) I am unsure of the platform he
is building on.

I have tried this in the past, years ago, and understood gnu
requirements even less than now. I do not expect it to be easy but do
hope it can be accomplished by an 'expert-layman' compared to/with
"developer"

:smile:


On Tue, Nov 4, 2014 at 2:59 PM, dje at gcc dot gnu.org
<gcc-bugzilla@gcc.gnu.org> wrote:
> https://gcc.gnu.org/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=63714
>
> --- Comment #10 from David Edelsohn <dje at gcc dot gnu.org> ---
> I had not realized that Bash-isms had crept into Autoconf, but I am not
> surprised.  Using KSH to bootstrap is extremely slow and causes other problems.
>
> Both Bull Freeware for AIX and Perzl websites have RPMs for recent releases of
> GCC, so I do not understand the "ancient" comment.
>
> The GCC build process really wants any non-GCC bootstrap compiler to be called
> "cc".  If you want to add more options, you likely need to create a script in
> your $HOME/bin directory in your path and insert the option there.
>
> --
> You are receiving this mail because:
> You reported the bug.

[Bug bootstrap/63714] AIX (5.3.7, xlC v11) fails to bootstrap for gcc 4.9.2, 4.8.3 and 4.7.4

[aixtools at gmail dot com]

https://gcc.gnu.org/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=63714

--- Comment #13 from Michael Felt <aixtools at gmail dot com> ---
As far as I know, GNU as and GNU ld have never been favored on AIX.
And, they are LAST in the PATH variable. In the initial attempts I had
read about the compare pass, that some hosts never succeed, and than a
tool in binutils was "missed" in the make process.

FYI: I only installed binutils after the first compare passes had failed.

And, ultimately, I may (be forced to) follow your recommendation.
Which I would consider a sad thing.

On Tue, Nov 4, 2014 at 3:01 PM, dje at gcc dot gnu.org
<gcc-bugzilla@gcc.gnu.org> wrote:
> https://gcc.gnu.org/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=63714
>
> --- Comment #11 from David Edelsohn <dje at gcc dot gnu.org> ---
> Do not use GNU Binutils on AIX 5.3 (or later). GNU assembler and GNU linker do
> not work properly with recent releases of AIX.  Installing GCC does not require
> installing all parts of the toolchain.
>
> Again, I strongly recommend that you simply use GCC from Bull Freeware or
> Perzl.
>
> --
> You are receiving this mail because:
> You reported the bug.

[Bug bootstrap/63714] AIX (5.3.7, xlC v11) fails to bootstrap for gcc 4.9.2, 4.8.3 and 4.7.4

[aixtools at gmail dot com]

https://gcc.gnu.org/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=63714

--- Comment #14 from Michael Felt <aixtools at gmail dot com> ---

Please accept my apologies for replying here, the gcc-help is not a high
traffic list today :) and I removed myself from the gcc-bugs list.

I checked out the BULL and Perlz sites (I am slowly building one of my own, no
advertisement here) and there are two concerns:

For AIX 5.3 (TL7) - which is the base level I am trying to build from (not
concerned with AIX 5.3 TL6 and earlier - need to draw a line somewhere) I am
packaging tools in /opt/{bin,sbin,lib,include} and /opt/aixtools/{...}.

The reasoning is simple: in /opt/freeware IBM, BULL and perlz put their
software. And, if I understand perlz correctly I continue having dependencies
in files
placed there - packaged as RPM. I am not packaging as RPM and do not want to
have
to worry if something I build overwrites an IBM file and vice versa.

So, I am back at my original reason for not wanting to even use these compilers
as a baseline: they set dependencies to where things go. If Michael Perlz could
not change that, I have no illusion that I will succeed there suddenly.

Generally speaking the perlz distribution is fairly recent, BULL is oldish.

BULL
    gcc-4.6.1-1.aix5.3.ppc.rpm
    libgcc-4.6.1-1.aix5.3.ppc.rpm
    gmp-5.0.2-1.aix5.3.ppc.rpm
    libiconv-1.13.1-2.aix5.3.ppc.rpm
    gettext-0.17-6.aix5.3.ppc.rpm
    libmpc-0.9-1.aix5.3.ppc.rpm
    mpfr-3.0.1-1.aix5.3.ppc.rpm
    zlib-1.2.5-2.aix5.3.ppc.rpm
    info-4.13-3.aix5.3.ppc.rpm
    bash-4.2-5.aix5.3.ppc.rpm

Perlz has 4.8.2 compiled for AIX 5.3, comparably current dependencies

[Bug bootstrap/63714] AIX (5.3.7, xlC v11) fails to bootstrap for gcc 4.9.2, 4.8.3 and 4.7.4

[dje at gcc dot gnu.org]

https://gcc.gnu.org/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=63714

--- Comment #15 from David Edelsohn <dje at gcc dot gnu.org> ---
GNU as and GNU ld do not consistently generate correct object files and
executables on AIX.  AIX 5.2, 5.3, 6.1, and 7.1 continued to extend and adjust
the XCOFF object file format, and the GNU tools were too lax with what they
generated for "undefined" fields. Shared libraries don't work quite right.  It
is regrettable that the GNU tools don't work.

KSH on AIX is very old. It does not support some new constructs.  And GNU
Autoconf makes very aggressive use of saving and restoring state, such as IFS. 
KSH on AIX uses temporary files while Bash uses memory. The file operations
cause the entire configure process to be unbearably and unnecessarily slow.

I do not understand what you are trying to accomplish by installing GCC but not
installing other packages on which GCC depends.  One can bootstrap GCC on AIX,
but you appear to be imposing conflicting requirements about the software
dependencies. To provide full ISO C, ISO C++, etc. conformance, and to simplify
the build process, building GCC depends on a lot of other libraries and tools.

[Bug bootstrap/63714] AIX (5.3.7, xlC v11) fails to bootstrap for gcc 4.9.2, 4.8.3 and 4.7.4

[dje at gcc dot gnu.org]

https://gcc.gnu.org/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=63714

--- Comment #16 from David Edelsohn <dje at gcc dot gnu.org> ---
Bull Freeware provides GCC 4.8.1 for AIX 6.1.  I do not know why they only
provide GCC 4.6.1 for AIX 7.1.  AIX 5.3 no longer is supported by IBM and newer
features in GCC require object file and OS feature not provided by AIX 5.3.

If a customer continues to run AIX 5.3 because they want the system to remain
stable for some legacy software, I do not understand why installing the latest
release of GCC would be a priority.

[Bug bootstrap/63714] AIX (5.3.7, xlC v11) fails to bootstrap for gcc 4.9.2, 4.8.3 and 4.7.4

[aixtools at gmail dot com]

https://gcc.gnu.org/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=63714

--- Comment #17 from Michael Felt <aixtools at gmail dot com> ---
The problem is not installing other tools. Of course I will do that. It is an
issue on AIX because will buildable they are not there by default. In a linux
stack they are nearly native. I do not want to be dependent on something I
cannot recreate - especially if it sets boundaries.

What also is not forgotten by me: Years ago I was trying to package, even limit
it to just "make install" in place, and ran into considerable issues - and grew
tired of the comment of not having the latest tools (just the latest I could
download).

Currently there are some (gnu) projects that no longer attempt to be 
what I would call 'portable'. That is, some developers equate being able to
compile on gcc (which is portable) as portable programming. That was not the
definition I learned.

I am not asking, or even expecting for it to be easy to start "late in the
game". I know there is a lot I do not know - and I will need pointers.
And, hopefully, someone will be slightly interested in the assumptions that
get laid bare.

In short, why AIX 5.3 - for compatibility, not because someone is limited to
that level of AIX. Almost anything compiled on AIX 5.3 will run unchanged on
AIX 5.3, AIX 6.1 and AIX 7.1.

If compiled on AIX 7.1 it will not run on AIX 6.1 or AIX 5.3.

That simple (from my perspective).

[Bug bootstrap/63714] AIX (5.3.7, xlC v11) fails to bootstrap for gcc 4.9.2, 4.8.3 and 4.7.4

[aixtools at gmail dot com]

https://gcc.gnu.org/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=63714

--- Comment #18 from Michael Felt <aixtools at gmail dot com> ---
Not sure if I replied to this elsewhere, but the reason for PACKAGING
on AIX 5.3 is because it can be used on AIX 5.3 TL7 and higher
(including AIX 6.1 and AIX 7.1).

In short, the level an application in packaged on implies the lowest
level that application can be expected to run on properly. Sometimes
you can be "lucky" if you want to call it that, and run on a previous
TL. Personally, I consider that the exception - not the rule.

On Tue, Nov 4, 2014 at 5:05 PM, dje at gcc dot gnu.org
<gcc-bugzilla@gcc.gnu.org> wrote:
> https://gcc.gnu.org/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=63714
>
> --- Comment #16 from David Edelsohn <dje at gcc dot gnu.org> ---
> Bull Freeware provides GCC 4.8.1 for AIX 6.1.  I do not know why they only
> provide GCC 4.6.1 for AIX 7.1.  AIX 5.3 no longer is supported by IBM and newer
> features in GCC require object file and OS feature not provided by AIX 5.3.
>
> If a customer continues to run AIX 5.3 because they want the system to remain
> stable for some legacy software, I do not understand why installing the latest
> release of GCC would be a priority.
>
> --
> You are receiving this mail because:
> You reported the bug.