We have been working on the wip-bootstrap branch with the aim to remove
bootstrap binary seeds. At the moment this is for i686-linux only.
The first step was to build binutils-mesboot-2.20.1a,
glibc-mesboot-2.2.5 and gcc-mesboot-4.7.4 without the use of any binary
binutils, glibc or gcc.
The second step was to remove binutils, glibc and gcc from the
%bootstrap-binaries for i686-linux and replace them with the *-mesboot
binaries. That only got us to build make-boot0, other bootstrap tools
seem (!) to need a newer glibc.
Currently, the i686-linux bootstrap binaries are ~230MB in size
(unpacked). Removing binutils, glibc and gcc reduces this to ~130MB.
The end goal is what we call a `full source bootstrap'; to only have a
~500 byte binary seed: the hex0 monitor. Getting there will take some
time. Meanwhile we settle for a `reduced binary seed' bootstrap.
Sadly, bootstrapping a glibc newer than 2.2.5 proved to be non-trivial.
As a temporary workaround, we chose to increase the bootstrap debt again
and inject the old %bootstrap-glibc after building all *-mesboot
binaries.
Now we have a prototype bootstrap that needs
("i686-linux" `(("linux-libre-headers" ,%bootstrap-linux-libre-headers)
("mescc-tools-seed" ,%mescc-tools-seed)
("mes-seed" ,%mes-seed)
("srfi-43" ,%srfi-43 )
("tinycc-seed" ,%tinycc-seed)))
("coreutils&co" ,%bootstrap-coreutils&co)
("bash" ,%bootstrap-coreutils&co)))
plus, to build the rest of Guix
("libc" ,%bootstrap-glibc)
To try it, do something like
git clone git://git.savannah.nongnu.org/guix
cd guix
git checkout -b wip-bootstrap
guix environment guix
./bootstrap
./configure
make
and then, if you're feeling courageous and lucky
./pre-inst-env guix build --system=i686-linux hello
or otherwise, you can do as I did
./pre-inst-env guix build --system=i686-linux gcc-mesboot
./pre-inst-env guix build --system=i686-linux -e '(@@ (gnu packages
commencement) make-boot0)'
./pre-inst-env guix build --system=i686-linux -e '(@@ (gnu packages
commencement) bintutils-cross-boot0)'
./pre-inst-env guix build --system=i686-linux -e '(@@ (gnu packages
commencement) gcc-cross-boot0)'
./pre-inst-env guix build --system=i686-linux -e '(@@ (gnu packages
commencement) gcc-final)'
./pre-inst-env guix build --system=i686-linux -e '(@@ (gnu packages
commencement) guile-final)'
...
We need to determine the next steps and we could use some help. A rough
list of things to be done
* cleanup the wip-bootstrap branch, merge it
* replace %bootstrap-glibc with a bootstrapped glibc again+)
* release mes 0.18
* replace coreutils&co by bootstrapped packages
* other architectures: x86_64, arm*, ...
* replace mes-seed by a full source bootstrapped mes.M2
* replace Bash with Gash and/or Geesh*)
Wea; think that with "just a little bit" of extra effort we can have Guix
x86 be the first GNU/Linux that was bootstrapped without the use of
binary C compiler seed.
Greetings,
janneke
+) After bootstrapping a static glibc-2.2.5, I tried building a shared
2.2.5, 2.3, 2.3.4, 2.3.6, 2.4, 2.5 and 2.6. When all failed, I
invested a couple of days to patch 2.3.6...but that started to look
like a gargantuan undertaking. Iow, I'm stuck here.
*) Gash and Geesh are exciting new projects that have the mostly
overlapping goal to create a posix/bash compatible shell in Guile.
Although it may not be the highest priority from a full source
bootstrap point of view, having a shell in Guile is very exciting and
would help Guix a lot. We need to evaluate gash and geesh and
formulate a strategy.
--
Jan Nieuwenhuizen <jann...@gnu.org> | GNU LilyPond http://lilypond.org
Freelance IT http://JoyofSource.com | Avatar® http://AvatarAcademy.com
