Building GCC from Source: A Journey into Compiler Construction (Project Stage 1)

Introduction: Building a compiler from source code is an informative yet intricate process that provides insights into the heart of programming languages and system architectures. In this blog post, I'll share my experience building the GNU Compiler Collection (GCC) on both an x86_64 system and an AArch64 system, highlighting the steps, time considerations, the impact of parallel building, and ultimately, how I confirmed the functionality of the newly built compiler.

Building on x86_64 System:

Step 1: Cloning the GCC Repository

The journey began by cloning the GCC repository from the official Git repository:

git clone git://gcc.gnu.org/git/gcc.git

Step 2: Creating a Build Directory

To maintain a clean separation between the source and build files, I created a dedicated build directory outside the source tree:

mkdir build_x86_64 cd build_x86_64

Step 3: Configuring the Build

Configuring the build involved setting the target architecture to x86_64 and specifying the installation directory:

../gcc/configure --target=x86_64-linux-gnu --prefix=C:\Program Files

Step 4: Building and Installing

The actual build and installation were performed with the following commands:

make -j$(nproc) make install

Building on AArch64 System:

The process for building on an AArch64 system mirrored that of the x86_64 system, with the target architecture adjusted accordingly.

Time Considerations and the Impact of -jN Options:

The -j$(nproc) option in the make command allowed for parallel building, leveraging the available processor cores. This significantly expedited my build process, especially on multi-core systems. The impact of this option can be observed in the reduced time taken to compile the source code.

Verifying a Working Compiler:

To ensure the newly built compiler was functional, a simple test program was created and compiled using the newly built GCC. The execution of the compiled program validated the integrity of the compiler. Additionally, running the compiler's test suite, if available, is a comprehensive way to confirm its correctness.

#include <stdio.h> int main() { printf("Hello, World!\n"); return 0; }

Conclusion:

Building GCC from source is an educational journey that unveils the intricacies of compiler construction. The process, although involved, is well-documented, and leveraging parallel building can significantly reduce build times. Verifying the functionality of the compiler through test programs is crucial for ensuring a successful build. Whether on an x86_64 or AArch64 system, the steps outlined in this post provide a foundation for those keen on exploring the inner workings of compilers and understanding the compilation process.