Re: Multi-arch

[Ludovic Brenta <ludovic@ludovic-brenta.org>]

Dr. Adrian Wrigley writes:
> The build process relies on a full i386 install of FC5 in a separate
> set of partitions from the x86_64.  I installed a complete suite of
> i386 GNAT tools while running in 32-bit mode.  The machine is
> dual-bootable, for convenience, but the build scripts use linux32
> and chroot to compile 32-bit when booted as x86_64.
>
> I have the same source code checked out from cvs in two separate
> directories.  The build script checks the architecture, and if it is
> x86_64, it builds all the partitions except those which need the
> 32-bit library.  Otherwise, it builds all the partitions.

I guess you could have just one checkout, but two different object and
executable directories.  This is quite easy to set up in GNAT project
files or, failing that, Makefiles.

I don't know if the proposal from Canonical will be accepted or
implemented, much less in what time frame.  What do you think I should
do in Debian?  Continue supporting single-arch only (which still
allows you to use a chrooted system for the other arch, like you are
doing now) and wait for dpkg 2.0, or try provide multi-arch GNAT and
libraries now?

-- 
Ludovic Brenta.