Re: gcc for building Perl on WinXP

> In preparing the next Strawberry release you've no doubt noticed that 
> mingw-w64 32bit version cannot build a working Perl after gcc version 
> 4.4.3 on Windows XP.

Yes, in fact it was during the last week when we have found out (with 
help of BinGOs and Ranguard via IRC) that gcc-4.4.7 and 4.6.1 (not only 
with mingw-w64 runtime but also with mingw.org's runtime) produce perl 
binaries that crash on Windows XP.

For strawberry perl 5.14.2.0 we have decided to use:
- on 32 bit version gcc-4.4.3 (with slightly old mingw-w64 runtime)
     
http://strawberryperl.com/package/kmx/32_gcctoolchain/mingw64-w32-20100123-kmx-v3.zip
- on 64 bit version gcc-4.4.7(prereleae) (with mingw-w64 runtime 1.0.1)
     
http://strawberryperl.com/package/kmx/64_gcctoolchain/mingw64-w64-gcc4.4.7(pre)_20111014.zip


> Commit 180422 to the 4.6 branch of gcc fixes the problem - I've cross 
> compiled my own 32bit 4.6.2 release (the tagged 4.6.2 release includes 
> this fix) which compiles a working Perl 5.14.2 on Windows XP.

Many thanks , this is a valuable piece of information for me as I was in 
doubts where to start reporting/discussing the issue, now it is clear.


> For my own use, I need to move to 4.6.2 as 4.4.7 cannot compile 
> wxWidgets 2.9.x branch.
>
> As a side benefit I also get an up to date v2 mingw-w64 crt.
>
> I'll be publishing source, patches and build instructions at
>
> http://perlmingw.sourceforge.net/
>
> (plus, of course, the compiled releases).
> The patches are just the minimum necessary from sezero build and TDM 
> GCC builds to get a working dist.
>
> Just a thought, but it might be nice if we had a sort of 'standard' 
> gcc for Perl on Windows.

Why not. As for my opinion concerning gcc toolchain included in 
strawberry perl:
- we would strongly prefer to use mingw-w64 (not mingw.org) runtime for 
both 32/64bit
- we have no special preference as for the gcc version (but versions 
like gcc-X.Y.0 are perhaps too "in development" for us)
- we need gcc toolchain supporting <gccroot>/include and <gccroot>/lib 
directories in search paths (without explicit -I or -L options)
- we would appreciate gcc toolchain with frotran (maybe a kind of addon 
or extra package) as it comes handy to PDL guys using strawberry


>
> Anyhow, I think you could just backport the fix to the current 4.4.7 
> branch. But, for what it is worth, Strawberry users will be unable to 
> compile wxWidgets 2.9.x branches (without some patching at least)

OK, I take it as your "gcc upgrade" request - we will probably aim at 
gcc-4.6.2 + mingw-w64 runtime (v2 or latest v2RC)

However, currently the release candidates for strawberry 5.14.2.0 are 
IMHO too good to let them fall on the floor. I think that the updated 
gcc-toolchain cannot be expected sonner than in 5.14.2.1 (don't ask me 
when as our release schedule is slightly demolished - as you have 
probably noticed)

BTW for all that might be interested - latest RC's are available at:
http://strawberryperl.com/package/kmx/p5.14.2.0-RC/


--
kmx