Thread: Compiling GCC terminology question

I am trying to build an old version of GCC with Ada language support.
I have MinGW64 GCC 4.9.4 64 bit that builds okay.
But, GCC 4.8.5 has build errors.
I have decided that the code has problems with 64 bit (x86_64);
so, I decided I need to build MinGW64 GCC 4.9.4 32 bit (i686).

Is this just called cross compiling when you are just changing this?
Or is their a special name?

Tim S.

I would generally reserve "cross compiler" for when the target machine (maybe it doesn't have the OS or file system to support a compiler) is incapable of hosting a native compiler.

The water is somewhat muddied if the OS is able to run either a 32-bit or a 64-bit program.
You can run either version, and still pass the appropriate -march options to target the other width.

Sure, if your host OS is 32-bit only, and you wanted to produce x86_64 images, then I think you're back in the realm of calling it a cross-compiler.

gcc - cross-compilation terminologies --- build, host and target - Stack Overflow
There is a term called 'Canadian cross compilation' when there are three distinct architectures in the chain.

But if you're just playing around with 32/64 on the same basic underlying architecture, maybe "Canada-lite"?

Thanks Salem.
Sounds like it is not clear cut what to call my compiler build decided that cross environment compiler will be what I will use if I do documentation of it.
The MSys2 MinGW has multiple environments; and, I am building in MINGW64 environment for MINGW32 environment.
It may or may not even be an real cross compiler based on what I know and your information.
But, since I have yet to get it to work I do not know which method I will use.
I do plan to try the real cross compiling way next.
Using these in the configure statement; I have just been doing an isolated build attempts in the past host=build=target; but, that is not working well.
The below is definitely not an Canadian Cross Compiler.

Code:

    --build=x86_64-w64-mingw32 \
    --host=i686-w64-mingw32 \
    --target=i686-w64-mingw32 \

I have decided that reading about Canadian Cross Compiler is over my head at this time. Edit: I have not tried reading about; because normal cross compiler is already hard enough; till I master that I see no reason to try CCC.

I am going to do the normal cross compiler where build=host and target /= host and see if I can get it to work.
I have gotten the cross binutils; but, having issues on the cross MinGW64 CRT; I am getting internal compiler errors.
But, since I am trying to build using GCC 4.x versions and CRT 3 to 6; maybe that is the reason; trying CRT2 and GCC 4.7.4 see if that works.

Tim S.

Code:

regular native          build==host==target
regular cross           build==host!=target
cross native            build!=host==target
canadian cross          build!=host!=target

The above names are from GCC 4.7.4 ada/gcc-interface/Make-lang.in

Tim S.

I am making slow progress; I hope to end up with an "cross native" MSYS2 MinGW64 package; but, will settle for an "regular cross" package for GCC 4.9.4.

Plan is to try MiNGW64 CRT version 2.x (current latest version is 10.x) and Binutils version 2.23.2 (current latest version is 2.39).

My milestone 1 goal of the work is MinGW64 GCC 4.6.4 with Ada for 32 bit builds. Doing it just because I want to see if I can get Ada code to compile targeting the Radio Shack Color Computer TRS-80 Color Computer - Wikipedia

Tim S.

In-tree GMP version 4.3.2 does not work with cross native compiler triplet.