Re: Multi-arch

["Dr. Adrian Wrigley" <amtw@linuxchip.demon.co.uk.uk.uk>]

On Sun, 21 May 2006 15:41:49 +0200, Ludovic Brenta wrote:
...
> 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?

I found that I could build code with -m32 in FC5 with Martin's rpms,
provided I messed around with linker commands and copied the 32-bit
libraries from elsewhere.  This would be OK, provided there was a
"how to" document somewhere explaining it.  It's what you call
"local hacks" in another post.

But the lack of a functioning gnatdist -m32 option, and lack of 'gate'
meant I had to use the chroot method.  Using chroot took a lot of time
to set up, with a whole new install and 'bind' for directories in
fstab, and implementing a dchroot script, needing sudo etc.
If gate and gnatdist were fixed, and the -m32 linking were documented,
it wouldn't be worth the effort providing multi-arch GNAT libraries
at this stage.  It's only people with special requirements like
mine who would really benefit.

Perhaps a year from now, once there are more amd64 users, and once
higher priorities are addressed, looking at the problem again would
be a good idea.

I don't know enough about the amount and value of work needed
on multi-arch GNAT to be able to be sure whether it makes sense.
But I'm sure people value a streamlined robust, current and complete
set of packages for each separate architecture.
--
Adrian