Re: Trying to install binutils-gdb

On Fri, 29 Sep 2023, Nick Clifton via Binutils wrote:

> > >    If you only want to build the binutils and not GDB as well then
> > >    you can add a configure option to disable GDB.  This may help
> > >    reduce the need for extra libraries to be installed.  ie:
> > > 
> > > 	./configure --disable-gdb
> > 
> > ...so this step would then be confusing.
> > 
> > IMHO it needs to say something like "if you build from a
> > checkout of the binutils-gdb git, you may also want to build
> > only binutils and exclude gdb, like so:" [...]
> 
> That makes sense.  I have checked in the following updated patch instead.

 I have only come across this message now.

 Note that nowadays we have other GDB components at the top level, most 
notably `gdbserver', as well as the GNU simulator, all of which are a part 
of the GDB project.  So to build parts that comprise binutils only from a 
git checkout you really need to disable more, such as with:

$ ./configure --disable-gdb --disable-gdbserver --disable-libbacktrace \
  --disable-libdecnumber --disable-readline --disable-sim

This is what I have been doing with my builds.

 I'll be happy to offer a patch if this turns out how we want to update 
binutils/README further, however it seems to me that we probably want to 
have a pair of umbrella options, say `--disable-gdb-components' and 
`--disable-binutils-components', to let people choose more easily what 
project they want to build from a checkout without the need to dive into 
individual components and also possibly without having to keep track of 
what new components get added as they upgrade.  There'd be a slight 
maintenance burden for such options though.

 Cc-ing the GDB mailing list for any input from the other camp.

  Maciej