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Updated for the new release.

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README
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# $Source$
# $State$
# $Revision$
Installing the ACK on a modern platform
=======================================
THE AMSTERDAM COMPILER KIT V6.0pre1
===================================
This document provides some very quick and dirty instructions for installing
the ACK on a modern platform. It is not intended as a substitute for the
real instructions, which can be found in doc/install.pr.
© 1987-2005 Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam
Let me repeat myself:
THE FULL INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS ARE IN doc/install.pr.
INTRODUCTION
============
The ACK is a very large and complex package and has received minimal
maintenance for the best part of a decade. During that time, the Unix
world has moved on, and many APIs have changed. It compiles cleanly on
my, dtrg's, test machine, which is a Debian Ubuntu Linux system. Your
mileage may vary.
The Amsterdam Compiler Kit is a complete compiler toolchain consisting of
front end compilers for a number of different languages, code generators,
support libraries, and all the tools necessary to go from source code to
executable on any of the platforms it supports.
All disclaimers now done, now on to the good stuff:
This is an early prerelease of the upcoming version 6.0 release. Not a
lot is supported, the build mechanism needs work, and a lot of things are
probably broken. However, what's there should be sufficient to get things
done and to evaluate how the full 6.0 release should work.
Building the ACK
----------------
I'm assuming you're using Linux here, because that's what I use. If you
don't use Linux, please let me know if you have any trouble and I'll update
the instructions.
SUPPORT
=======
1. Prerequisites
The ACK wants to be built with a C compiler called cc. From what I've seen
so far of the build system, this can be changed, but not easily.
Most platforms have their compiler set up so that 'cc' invokes it, whatever
it is; however, some don't. So far the only one I've met that doesn't do
this is Solaris with gcc installed, but without the Sun native compiler.
If this is the case, the simplest thing to do is to place a symlink to gcc
(or your favourite C compiler) in your path somewhere. For example:
ln -s /usr/bin/gcc ~/bin/cc
2. Configure the build.
Languages:
To do this, run the first/first script. You will be asked several
questions.
* What is the root of the ACK source tree?
This is the directory that you have unpacked the distribution into.
For example, /home/dg/src/Ack-5.6.
* What is the root of the configuration tree?
This is the directory that the build process will use for temporary
files. You'll only need this during the compilation process; it can
be removed afterwards.
For example, /tmp/ack-conf
* What is the root of the ACK binaries?
This is the ACK's installation path; where the binaries will live.
This needs to be writable during the build process --- if you want
to install in /usr/local, you either have to make /usr/local
writable or compile as root. Sorry!
* What is your system type?
Linux isn't on the list. Choose ANY.
* Is this the system you are running on?
Yes.
* Are you satisfied?
Yes.
* What default machine do you wish to compile for?
The ACK wants to know what architecture to target if you don't manually
specify an architecture. Unfortunately, it can't generate runnable
binaries for Linux or any other modern system (except possible Solaris
on Sparc). I'd recommend you choose em44. This will produce portable
binaries using the ACK's intermediate format, which you can run using
the int interpreter.
* What kind of Unix are you running?
Linux is a mixture, but I pick SYS_5 and it works.
* Do you wish to limit the installation?
No. If you pick Yes, the script will ask detailed questions about
exactly what you want to build. Modern systems are fast enough that
we may as well build everything.
* Which system call library do you wish to use on the VAX?
I don't have a VAX; the only person I know who has one uses it to vacuum
his carpets. I pick libsysV_2 with no ill effects.
If the configuration script is happy, it will generate a script called
INSTALL.
3. Do the compilation.
ANSI C, K&R C, Pascal, Modula 2, Occam 1, and a Basic variant.
The configuration script will recommend a command line. Execute this. On
modern systems, the compilation doesn't take long.
Check the output of the configuration script for "Failed" lines. On my
system there are two:
$ grep Failed INSTALL.out
Failed for Intel 8080 download programs, see dl/Out
Failed for Intel 8080 support
You can ignore these. They aren't important.
4. Use the ACK.
Platforms:
Ensure that the ACK's binary directory is on your path; this is /bin in
the directory you specified during the configuration process. In my
example, this is /usr/local/bin. The /man subdirectory should go on your
manpath.
pc86 produces bootable floppy disk images for 8086 PCs
To test your path, do: ack
This should return silently.
To test your manpath, do: man ack
This will produce the documentation for the main compiler driver.
If this works, you can remove the conf tree (/tmp/ack-conf in my example).
Gotchas
-------
INSTALLATION
============
The version 6.0 build mechanism has been completely rewritten and is based
around the Prime Mover build tool (see http://primemover.sf.net for more
information). Installation ought to be fairly straightforward.
Requirements:
- an ANSI C compiler. Currently, I'm afraid, it's hard-coded to use gcc.
To change, try changing the variable definitions in first/c.pm. This also
needs to be available as 'cc' from the shell.
- about 20MB free in /tmp (or some other temporary directory).
- about 6MB in the target directory.
Instructions:
- edit config.pm. There's a small section at the top containing some editable
variables. Probably the only one you may want to edit is PREFIX, which
changes where the ACK installs to.
- Run:
./pm configure
...from the command line. This will write out a configuration file.
- Run:
./pm
...from the command line. This will actually do the build. This takes
about two minutes on my 1.6GHz Athlon.
- Run:
./pm install
...from the command line. This will install the built ACK into whatever
directory you nominated in PREFIX.
The ACK should now be ready to use.
USAGE
=====
Currently I haven't sorted out all the documentation --- it's supplied in the
distribution, but not all of it gets installed yet --- so here is a quickstart
guide.
The main command to use is 'ack'. This invokes the compiler and the linker.
Some useful options include:
-m<platform> build for the specified platform
-o <file> specifies the output file
-c produce a .o file
-c.s produce a .s assembly file
-O enable optimisation
-ansi compile ANSI C (when using the C compiler)
<file> build file
ack figures out which language to use from the file extension:
.c C (ANSI or K&R)
.b Basic
.mod Modula-2
.ocm Occam 1
.p Pascal
.o object files
.s assembly files
For further information, see the man page (which actually does get
installed, but is rather out of date).
There are some (known working) example programs in the 'examples' directory.
GOTCHAS
=======
There are some things you should be aware of.
* The ACK's archiver tool is called 'arch'. This conflicts on Linux platforms
with a utility that displays the current architecture. If your compilation
occasionally fails obscurely and displays something like 'i686', you are
running afoul of this. As a workaround, rearrange your path so the ACK's
bin directory comes first --- but do be aware that some Linux system
tools may stop working.
- The only platform supported so far is pc86, which generates 8086 tiny mode
executables that will work as floppy disk boot images. So, to run, simply dd
the output file (pc86.img by default) onto a floppy disk and boot from it.
Be aware that very little functionality is supported and that the entire
program, heap and stack and code and all, must fit within 64kB. See
plat/pc86/README for more information.
* By default, the ack tool will compile K&R C. Practically all C source these
- By default, the ack tool will compile K&R C. Practically all C source these
days is ANSI C --- use the -ansi switch to enable ANSI mode. No, the ACK is
not C99 compatible.
* Not all combinations of optimisation and architectures work. This is
perfectly normal, but the combinations are not well documented. Everything
supports -O.
- When compiling languages other than C, the ACK will usually look at the
first character of the file. If it's a #, then the file will be run through
the C preprocessor anyway.
Disclaimer
----------
DISCLAIMER
==========
The ACK is mature, well-tested software, but the environment in which it was
developed for and tested under is rather different from that available on
@ -179,12 +159,4 @@ Please enjoy.
David Given (dtrg on Sourceforge)
dg@cowlark.com
2005-06-24, 23:53
# Revision history
# $Log$
# Revision 2.3 2006-07-18 17:21:34 dtrg
# Added comment about the use of 'cc' rather than 'gcc'.
#
# Revision 2.2 2005/06/24 23:20:41 dtrg
# Added some new readmes at the top level.
2007-02-25