Re: Cross-compiling & distributing Tools

[Markus Hitter]

Am 05.06.2006 um 10:06 schrieb Michael Hopkins:

> 2) Distributing tools without headaches - packaging everything as
> statically-linked applications without the need for GNUstep directory
> structure/shared libs/GNUstep.sh
>
> The second big issue - and one that many people have asked about  
> over the
> years.

My current understanding is, the dynamic nature of the Obj-C language  
prohibits static linking of methods. This doesn't imply you wouldn't  
be able to create a single-file or at least a single-directory  
application.

> We simply want to send Tools out as completely self-contained
> applications that people can run from the command line on linux and  
> win32 as
> if they were statically-linked C or C++ applications without any  
> need for
> install scripts, extra directories, dynamic libraries/DLLs,  
> sourcing shell
> scripts or changes to their startup sequence.  It doesn't matter if  
> the
> Tools are bigger than ideal.

This is well understandable. However, neither Mac OS X nor GNUstep  
currently have a point-and-click solution in this area. I fear you  
have to start with "Hello World"-type apps and without makefiles to  
find out wether this is possible at all.


> 3) The need for GNUstep runtime e.g. gdomap, gdnc, Obj-C runtime?
>
> I am not sure what is required here and whether it is started  
> automatically.

Obviously, you need the Obj-C runtime. As this is a library, there's  
a chance to get it into your binary.

For the deamons, there were some efforts recently to handle their non- 
existence more gracefully. Since most GNUsteppers work inside a full- 
fledged GNUstep installation, they wouldn't even notice casual  
dependencies. At the same time, they are likely (can't speak for all  
GNUsteppers) to accept getting rid of strong dependencies or to use  
them if available, only.


Markus

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Dipl. Ing. Markus Hitter
http://www.jump-ing.de/