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Gcc for the IA-64.
Anonymous Coward writes "Cygnus will port the gcc compiler (egcs, soon to be renamed gcc3) to the IA-64 architecture, notably for the Linux OS and applications. Check the press release here.
" Essentially, Cygns is working with Intel to port GNUPro Software to IA-64 is the gist of deal. GOod to see people planning ahead, I s'pose.
How complex is "extremely complex?" Nowhere near the level of IA-64, I would guess. I found it odd that Taschek would bash HP for their compiler support. I think they have the best chance of producing a decent VLIW-style compiler, given all the research that has come out of HP labs.
What's interesting is that Digital/Compaq hasn't jumped on the Merced bandwagon, nor have they announced a VLIW architecture of their own. Hmm...
Having GCC working well on IA-64 will go a long way to further the impact of Linux, especially if GCC works much better than any compiler out of Redmond. Even if Windows 2000 runs on IA-64, if the applications crawl, not too many people are going to choose that OS over another.
I disagree with this and the meat of Taschek's article. If businesses choose Windows, they will choose Windows. I don't think a compiler will make or break an operating system. Established use and ingrained practices are much larger factors. If a good compiler targeting Windows on IA-64 is not available, Merced will be relegated to a niche market. If the free software community is counting on Merced being the end of proprietary operating systems, we've lost.
It's also interesting that people assume Microsoft will be providing the IA-64 compiler for Windows. Intel is producing their own compiler. They're having problems, but chances are there will be more than one IA-64 compiler for Windows.