[nycbug-talk] hand wringing

[Pete Wright]

Sunny Dubey wrote:

>On Sunday 02 May 2004 09:16 pm, Pete Wright wrote:
>
>  
>
>>that's really interesting.  i've been very interested in Xcode, but have
>>not had a chance to check it out.  what other alternative compilers
>>could apple use to get away from gcc?  does ibm produce a compiler that
>>apple could adopt on the ppc64 chip?
>>    
>>
>
>Yes and no
>
>my interest in the POWER architecture has led me to this knowldege ....
>
>Yes because IBM understands PPC like its no-one's business, and because XLC 
>(the actual compiler suite) has been customized for OS-X by IBM (and some 
>other company, whos name escapes me).  The compiler is somewhat expensive, 
>propiertary, and obviously lacks all the advantages of a FLOSS app.  Yet it 
>is compatible with the GNU, and supports PPC64 much better than gcc does.
>
>OTOH Apple has a great number of reasons not to switch.  The primary being 
>that all the FLOSS code Apple takes is written and tested under the GNU 
>tools.  Therefore using another compiler would only add to the variables of 
>possible bug sources.
>  
>
this seems pretty similar to the Intel compiler suite situation.  altho 
i assume the intel suite is alot cheaper.   would that be a valid 
comparison?

-pete