Subject: Do we include gcc in maxima windows distribution?
From: Stephen Leake
Date: 09 Sep 2002 09:10:09 -0400
"Mike Thomas" <miketh@brisbane.paradigmgeo.com> writes:
> Hy CY
>
> > Is it needed if Lisp code is to be
> > compiled in Maxima? Does it serve other purposes?
>
> I imagine that Maxima must have some kind of compile functionality but the
> need for gcc in obtaining that functionality is probably entirely GCL
> specific.
If that is the case, then we should expect the user to be aware of
compiler compatibility issues. Requiring them to install an external C
compiler is not unreasonable.
At the same time, the issue of "how to manage incompatible versions"
has been solved. Linux has a package manager for exactly this reason;
so does Cygwin.
I think the best long term solution is to use Cygwin to compile Maxima,
and to manage the "external gcc" version issue.
I agree that a completely independent installable Maxima is a good
idea, but that does not need to include the ability to compile C code.
--
-- Stephe