2008/9/15 Alon Bar-Lev <alon.barlev@...>:
> On 9/14/08, Andrew John Hughes <gnu_andrew@...> wrote:
>> On 15:38 Sun 14 Sep     , Alon Bar-Lev wrote:
>>  > Hello,
>>  >
>>  > I just curious... How do you see the boostrap process for normal users?
>>  >
>>  > You need jdk to setup icedtea... So we have somekind of loop...
>>
>>
>> Yes, such a bootstrap issue is hardly limited to IcedTea.
>>  The same occurs with gcc for example, and other Free Java VMs.
>
> This is OK to have these issues, I just want user to be able to setup
> their configuration correctly and easily.
>
>>  > Users who do not want non open source package to run on their computers should:
>>  >
>>  > 1. Install gcj
>>  > 2. Install icedtea
>>  > 3. Reinstall icedtea so it compiles with icedtea and drop gcj dependency???
>>  > 4. Uninstall gcj
>>  >
>>
>>
>> You don't need stage 3 (there is no 'gcj dependency'), and stage 4 is completely optional.
>>  Other Free VMs can be used, but they also have bootstrap issues.
>
> Great!
>
>>  In the long run, we probably need a binary option for lower spec. machines,
>>  as I've already said.
>
> I don't like binaries... we really need to find a way to build from source.
>

There is a way to build from source... but it's always going to be one
that's a little
complicated and have high requirements (~6gb disk space, a long build time).  It
may not be possible to build it on some machines.

>>  > Portage do not support these sequences...
>>  >
>>
>>
>> Well this is probably a flaw in portage then, but the solution is only
>>  a two-step emerge process:
>>
>>  emerge gcj-jdk
>>  emerge icedtea6
>>
>>  I don't think that's inherently difficult.
>
> You forgot:
> java-config -S icedtea6
> emerge --unmerge gcj-jdk
>

I didn't forgot the second of these because it's not something I'd do or
recommend.  It's a waste of time rebuilding gcc again.  IcedTea doesn't
provide the AOT compilation that gcj does, which is used by other ebuilds.

> It is not difficult for me or you. It is difficult for regular user
> who want open source jdk and doing emerge openoffice for example. The
> first jdk will be pulled... If the first jdk is gcj then this will be
> installed and used by openoffice. If you want to use icedtea then you
> need to complete some more stages. Most users will need some help.
>

well, the obvious solution is to depend on gcj-jdk directly, but even
more people
whined about this when we used to do it.

>>  > So we have several options:
>>  > 1. Have users do this manually.
>>  > 2. Create a script similar to crossdev that perform the sequence.
>>  > 3. Add a private gcj build into the compile stage of icedtea, and drop
>>  > the jdk dependency.
>>  >
>>
>>
>> I don't see any problem with 1.  Why is gcj not enabled in the bootstrap
>>  gcc on the install CDs?
>
> Because it takes space and not needed for many configurations.
>
> I think a simple script in the spirit of crossdev will enable users to
> correctly and quickly set up their jdk.
>

Well, feel free to contribute and maintain one then.

> Alon.
>



-- 
Andrew :-)

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