installation

installation

[Jade]

Hi,

I would like to use GCC for compiling my C++ programs, but basically, you
guys really aren't making it easy to install the thing. I've come to the
conclusion that there are only 2 difficult things in C++ (which I already
know, after using it at school for a year); these things are:

1.) installing the compiler and figuring out how it works
2.) finding documentation that a human being can read

Why couldn't people simply do what Sun has done with Java: just a single,
no-extra-crap-distribution and simple instructions on how to get started,
plus easy-to-read API documentation on the most important classes. Java
would never have gained as much popularity as it has if only somebody had
figured this out, and done something about it. It's by far the most vital
problem to solve for the C++ community. New users turn to Java simply
because it doesn't take a year to figure out how to get started with it.

So, please answer just one question:

"Where can I find a normal command-line version of GCC which can be hooked
up with the Win API / MFC easily?"

That is, no UNIX emulator crap, just standard MS-DOS. As far as I know,
DJGPP can't be used with the Win API very easily, and its documentation
sucks bad, not to mention that the error messages are mostly useless and it
seems kinda unstable anyway. Sorry about the tone, but this thing has been
bothering me for a long time. Why isn't something being done? It's been 3
decades.

- Janne Kuusela

Re: installation

[DJ Delorie]

> Why couldn't people simply do what Sun has done with Java:

This is a volunteer effort.  If *you* want something done, the best
way to get it done is to do it yourself.  Otherwise, we address
problems that *we* think are important, and since most people don't
have problems installing gcc, it's low in the priority list.

> "Where can I find a normal command-line version of GCC which can be hooked
> up with the Win API / MFC easily?"
> 
> That is, no UNIX emulator crap, just standard MS-DOS.

You are asking the impossible.  MS-DOS does not have a Windows API.
If you don't even understand the platform you're working on, don't
expect to understand something as complex as development tools either.

> As far as I know, DJGPP can't be used with the Win API very easily,

Well, it is a *dos* compiler, not a *windows* compiler.  If you want
to use the Windows API, you should start with a Windows compiler, such
as Cygwin (unix emulator, www.cygwin.com) or MinGW (no emulator,
www.mingw.org).

> and its documentation sucks bad,

I'm insulted, especially since I've got a whole mailbox full of
compliments from people who found DJGPP to be far easier to use than
other (well, non-gcc) compilers, especially the comprehensive
documentation and well laid out web site and FAQ.  If you have
*specific* complaints, let us know.  Generalities like you give don't
help anyone.

> not to mention that the error messages are mostly useless

Don't expect me to jump to fix them if you don't even say which error
messages you're talking about.

> and it seems kinda unstable anyway.

Huh?  Again, I've got a mailbox full of contrary opinions from DJGPP
users.  I mean, DJGPP is *so* stable that it takes us years to
accumulate enough bug fixes to warrant a new release.  How much more
stability do you need?

> Sorry about the tone, but this thing has been bothering me for a
> long time. Why isn't something being done? It's been 3 decades.

It has not been 3 decades.  DJGPP alone is only 12 years old. Please
get your information straight before you start blaming us for your
problems.

installation

[Vu Khuong]

I try to install gcc cross compiler (gcc-2.95.2) onto my windows 2000 prof,
with cygwin.  I seem to be successfully run configure as follow:
$ cd ~
$ cd ../../gcc-2.95.2
$ rm -f -r objdir
$ mkdir objdir
$ cd objdir
$ ../configure  --prefix=/usr --enable-threads=win32 --with-system-zlib
--enable-languages=c,c++ --enable-sjlj-exceptions

then when I try to run make I got the following errors:
$ make bootstrap-lean
make.exe: command not found: /bin/sh
make.exe: *** [all-libiberty] Error 0x7f

$ make install
/bin/sh ../mkinstalldirs /usr /usr
make.exe: command not found: /bin/sh
make.exe: *** [installdirs] Error 0x7f


I would appreciate any help
Thanks

Vu Huy Khuong
Omnispectrum Communication, inc.
408-941-8000 X 224
VKhuong@omnispectrum.com