Re: kernel compilers - good news

["A. Wik" <root%dynamite.narpes.com@localhost>]

On Sun, 3 May 2009, A. Wik wrote:

> 
> Does anyone know which compilers are capable - or incapable -
> or building different versions of the NetBSD/vax kernel.
> I'm particularly interested in 1.5.2, because that's the
> one I've been working on.
> 
> A while back I reverted to gcc-2.7.2.3 because of the
> horrible resource consumption[1] AND the internal errors[2]
> of egcs (1.1.1 according to --version, but 2.91.60
> according to the opinion of -dumpspecs).
> 
> My newly rebuilt kernel crashes after reporting that the
> filesystem is of type FFS.  See note [3] below for details.
> 
> [...etc, see prev. msg for details:
> http://mail-index.netbsd.org/port-vax/2009/05/03/msg000671.html
> ..]

I decided to try reverting to kernel 1.5.1 (from 1.5.2), and
also to back out most of my hacks.  Not long ago (an hour or
two), I succeeded in booting a NetBSD-1.5.1 kernel built with
GCC 2.7.2.3.  Thus, it appears that I won't have to go back to
the malfunctional resource hog default compiler.

However, I'm still interested in the topic of compiler options
and requirements for building NetBSD kernels in general and
NetBSD/vax kernels in particular.  So comments, inclduing
references to any documentation on the subject, not to mention
your own anecdotes and experiences.

I've also considered the possibility that the particular
version of gcc that came with NetBSD-1.5.x (that is, 2.91.60
or egcs-1.1.1) might be a particularly unsuitable choice, and
I'm interested in input on that matter as well.  

Also, is gcc-2.7.2.3 the best choice, or might one find going
even farther back rewarding (in terms of efficiency, etc.)?

-aw