LLVM 2.2 Released

performance geek writes "LLVM 2.2 was released yesterday! This is the thirteenth public release of the open-source compiler that started as a GCC fork. LLVM supports several aggressive optimizations, in compile-, link- and run-time, and often produces faster (1.5-3x) code than GCC. It is also much faster than GCC at compiling (despite the slow link-time optimizations). Gentoo users are already trying to build the whole system with the LLVM toolchain to get the extra performance bit."

Good reporting there, submitter

[Goaway]

"The open-source compiler that started as a GCC fork"? LLVM is not a compiler. It is a code generator, optimizer and virtual machine, usable as a compiler back-end. It later added a gcc-based front end.

Also, Apple is currently driving development of an alternate BSD-licensed front end named clang [llvm.org].

Gentoo Users

[Enderandrew]

Some Gentoo users just want fine-grained control over their systems. They get exactly the packages they want, configured the way they want, and nothing else. The biggest power of Gentoo isn't compile optimizations, but rather use flags. I want my box to operate exactly how I want it. Gentoo allows me that freedom.

It does take a good deal more time and effort, but frankly some people enjoy that sort of thing as a hobby, the way others constantly tinker with their car.

For what it is worth, portage (and the two portage replacements, pauldis and pkgcore) are quite frankly hands down the best package managers out there, and they handle pre-compiled binary packages just as well. I really honestly believe the rest of the Linux world would be greatly benefited by using one package manager, regardless of how they compile or pack their binaries.

Set a use flag for openSUSE_10.3 and portage knows what packages to grab. It could work.

Re:one pakage manager to rule them all

[Enderandrew]

There are tons of advantages to portage, but the biggest is use flags. It also handles dependencies far better than apt-get, yast, or anything else I've tried. I've run into broken, dependency hell of other systems. That alone is huge.

You say the packages in Gentoo are horrible. They are source based packages, the same as you'd get with Debian, or Ubuntu, etc. Each distro does often include distro-specific patches with various packages, but not all. However, I'm not sure which packages are so horrible in Gentoo, as we're just talking about source code.

If you're not familiar with use flags, I can compile in support for qt widgets, gtk widgets, java, etc, or remove any of these features from openoffice as I see fit. Or I can download a precompiled binary of openoffice. With something like apt-get, you can download sources and the recompile the sources, but apt-get has no way to keep track of whether or not you compiled openoffice with ldap support or not. However, Gentoo keeps track of the use flags for dependency purposes, and to make sure all packages of my systems are compiled with the same options. Or I can set a use flag for one package as opposed to globally if I wish.

Check this out sometime.

http://paludis.pioto.org/ [pioto.org]

Re:LWN alternative gcc article

[7-Vodka]

2) A truly free source code license - no viral GPL BS to deal with

You were doing so well until you spouted this aggregious bullshit line. You're obviously very biased against the GPL since it's a very tough stretch by the M$ marketing department to call it viral.

That's just as bad as calling copyright infringement "PIRATING". ARRGH ARRGH MATEY! AHOY THERE ON THE OPEN SEAS.
You idiot.

Re:LWN alternative gcc article

[nuzak]

Maybe they just want it to interface at link level with tools that, I dunno, might not be GPL?

Naw, they must be The Enemies Of Freedom. That's it.