Re: Possible GCC contamination of Linux

Jeff Garzik (jgarzik@pobox.com)
Mon, 20 Sep 1999 13:16:35 -0400


Sergey Kubushin wrote:
> I can say even more - some programs built on i686 machine won't work on
> i586...

It would be nice to be able to select a minimum CPU target (implies
gcc's -march=xxx), and then a set of CPU targets >= the minimum. Sample
'make config' dialog:

Processor family (386, 486/Cx486, 586/K5/5x86/6x86, ...]: 586
PPro features? [Y/n]
P-II features? [Y/n]
3Dnow features? [Y/n]

And then a runtime switch (like the Alpha's machine vector) would select
the features to use upon bootup. That should make CPU-specific feature
addition easier and more modular.

Jeff

-- 
Custom driver development	|    Never worry about theory as long
Open source programming		|    as the machinery does what it's
				|    supposed to do.  -- R. A. Heinlein

- To unsubscribe from this list: send the line "unsubscribe linux-kernel" in the body of a message to majordomo@vger.rutgers.edu Please read the FAQ at http://www.tux.org/lkml/