On Sat, 24 Jun 2000 [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
> Is the build/host/target stuff fully explained anywhere?
>
> standards.texi talks about using host/target, autoconf.texi talks just a
> bit about these items. I remember the flurry of email that recently
> happened on this matter, but I sure didn't get a clear understanding of
> any resolution.
The following appears in info/autoconf.info, If things are still murky
after reading this, feel free to make suggestions on how it could
be improved. This cross build stuff has suffered from poor documentation
and confused semantics for some time, so it would be nice to get it
all ironed out before the next release.
`--build=BUILD-TYPE'
the type of system on which the package is being configured and
compiled (rarely needed).
`--host=HOST-TYPE'
the type of system on which the package will run.
`--target=TARGET-TYPE'
the type of system for which any compiler tools in the package will
produce code (rarely needed).
By default, the build system type is guessed (by `config.guess'),
the host system is the build system, and the target is the host system.
Using `--host=HOST-TYPE' enables cross-compilation. line, e.g.,
./configure --host=m68k-coff
> For example, years ago I added the ability to compile the NTP software
> for vxworks (with a bunch of help from a vxworks person). At that time,
> for whatever reason, I tested the various AC_CANONICAL_* macros and
> decided I needed to use AC_CANONICAL_SYSTEM and compare $host with
> $target in configure.in .
>
> Should I change to AC_CACNONICAL_HOST and compare $build with $host, and
> tell the vxworks folks to incant:
>
> configure --host=arch-wrs-vxworks
>
> instead of
>
> configure --target=arch-wrs-vxworks
>
> Also, I bet it matters exactly what version of autoconf I'm using, huh?
Yeah, get the most recent CVS version. You should not need to compare
any options to figure out if cross compilation is requested, there
is a variable called cross_compiling that will be set to "yes" if
the user passed --host=... and "no" otherwise.
Please post a note to the list if there is anything that is still
confusing about this. It should be easy to understand as long as
we explain it properly.
Mo DeJong
Red Hat Inc
