Actually, this same question buzzed around for a while a month or so ago,
about whether we should require perl to do mkdep. As I recall, the answer
was a resounding "maybe", ie, go ahead and write a Perl script to do it,
but it's not going to replace scripts that only require "universal"
utilities (ie bash, gcc 2.7.2.1 (is that universal yet??? ;-), etc).
Of course, this point may bear making: if a bleeding-edge kernel hacker
may be required to momentarily suck up 40MB (40 * 2^20 bytes) or so of
disk space to compile+install the latest binutils, then perhaps installing
perl isn't such a hurculean thing to demand either...? But then, there's
the flip-side argument: we constantly use binutils. Installing perl for
one or two utilities (mkdep and configure) that represent such a small
percentage of compile/build time/power could be a frivolous waste of disk
space.
Anyway, we killed that debate too recently...plz don't fire it up again...
Adam
-- He feeds on ashes; a deluded mind has led him Adam Bradley, UNCA Senior astray, and he cannot deliver himself or say, Computer Science "Is there not a lie in my right hand?" Isaiah 44:20 bradley@cs.unca.edu http://www.cs.unca.edu/~bradley <><