[m-rev.] for review: Add a `pregen' grade component.

[Peter Wang]

On Wed, 20 Mar 2013 11:32:57 +1100, Julien Fischer <jfischer at opturion.com> wrote:
> On Wed, Mar 20, 2013 at 11:31 AM, Paul Bone <paul at bone.id.au> wrote:
> > On Wed, Mar 20, 2013 at 11:19:42AM +1100, Julien Fischer wrote:
> >> On Tue, Mar 19, 2013 at 3:16 PM, Peter Wang <novalazy at gmail.com> wrote:
> >>
> >> >> > During installation, if required, the pre-generated C source files are
> >> >> > used to build and install a Mercury compiler _in a .pregen grade_.
> >> >> > Then it is used to install the libraries _in non-.pregen grades_,
> >> >> > so that configured settings have their usual effect.
> >> >>
> >> >> That of course presupposes that the pregen version of the compiler is
> >> >> statically linked against the Mercury libraries (i.e.
> >> >> --mercury-linkage=static).  It's probably not worth supporting a pregen version
> >> >> of the Mercury compiler that is linked against the shared version of the Mercury
> >> >> libraries.
> >> >
> >> > This change doesn't yet block installation of the .pregen grade,
> >> > so that should actually work for now.
> >>
> >> Could we install just the pregen version of the library with
> >> --enable-minimal-install?
> >> It's not as though you actually use a --enable-minimal-install version
> >> of the compiler
> >> for anything other than bootstrapping a new Mercury anyway.
> >
> > Not true.  Our users are interested in 'just trying Mercury'.  If they can
> > get installed quickly via --enable-minimal-install then they'll do this just
> > so they can try Mercury.

I've been using it just because it's shorter to type than
--enable-libgrades=asm_fast.gc and gets tab completed.

> Installing just the pregen grade is not going to prevent anyone from just
> trying Mercury either.  Mind you, my intention when I added it was that
> it was intended for bootstrapping.  And that's exactly what the documentation
> for it says:
> 
> #          The option --enable-minimal-install will install only the minimal
> #          system that is required in order to bootstrap the Mercury compiler.
> 

I would prefer to prevent use of the pregen grade, even accidentally.

> 
> > As an asside, the best way to reduce TTH would be to provide binaries and
> > include Mercury in OS distributions.  (Yes. I'll do this some-day).
> 
> Indeed.
> 

For Linux, the openSUSE Build Service looks interesting. (not tried it)

Peter