[Axiom-developer] GCL version

[root]

Well I originally tried to run with GCL 2.5 and was not 
successful. I sent a note to Camm (the GCL lead) and he
mentioned that Common Lisp had changed since Axiom was last
released (on AKCL). The key problem has to do with the package
issue. In detail the problem is that the code generally does
an
 
(in-package 'foo)

at the top of each file. In prior versions of common lisp this
would create the package foo if it did not exist. Now you must do:

(make-package 'foo)
(in-package 'foo)

in order to have the same effect. I backed off from fixing this 
issue because it involves more than just fixing the lisp code.
Axiom generates common lisp (well, some really strange version
of common lisp because it is an akcl port of a vmlisp port of
a maclisp version). Thus we need to find and fix the compiler(s)
that exist in the system.

As to the "non visibility of BOOTTRAN package in the compilation
enviroment" it should be possible to create a lisp image that
includes BOOTTRAN by doing this in a lisp image:

(make-package "BOOTTRAN")
(system-savesystem "lisp")

I'll experiment with it tonight and get back to you on it.

As to the algebra bug... it continues. I've got it cornered
but haven't been able to look at it this week. However, the
weekend commences and I'm off to my favorite free-time activity.

Tim



> Tim,
> 
> The situation with Windows is similar to what David describes
> below. The version of GCL in your CVS does not compile (at
> least not easily) under MinGW/Msys in Windows. But GCL 2.5
> does.
> 
> The GCL developers have recently officially released 2.5.1
> so I think it would a good idea to choose this as the
> target GCL version for Axiom instead of the older one.
> 
> What do you think?
> 
> BTW, how goes your effort to find the bug preventing the
> compilation of the remaining algebra modules?
> 
> Regards,
> Bill.
> 
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: 
> > address@hidden 
> > [mailto:address@hidden
> > .org] On Behalf Of David MENTRE
> > Sent: Friday, March 07, 2003 2:20 PM
> > To: address@hidden
> > Cc: address@hidden
> > Subject: Re: [Axiom-developer] Re: Axiom next release
> > 
> > 
> > root <address@hidden> writes:
> > 
> > > You can't yet use the latest version of GCL. You have to use the 
> > > version that is in the CVS archive.
> > 
> > Yes, I would have prefered use the version provided in your 
> > CVS. However this version does not support the Linux/PowerPc 
> > platform. Thus my use of the 2.5.1.
> > 
> > > The Common Lisp definition has changed since Axiom was written. In 
> > > particular, use-package used to create the package if it 
> > did not exist 
> > > and now it does not.
> > 
> > But my error seems to be on a (in-package ...) S-expr. More 
> > specifically, the first error occurs while compiling 
> > boothdr.lisp which contains :
> > -- boothdr.lisp --
> > (make-package 'BOOTTRAN)
> > (PROVIDE 'BOOTTRAN)
> > (in-package 'BOOTTRAN :use '(LISP USER SYSTEM))
> > -- --
> > 
> > If I do:
> > -- --
> > gcl> (compile-file "/path-to/boothdr.lisp" :output-file 
> > gcl> "/tmp/boothdr.o")
> > -- --
> > it fails on (in-package ...) S-expr.
> > 
> > However, if I do:
> > -- --
> > gcl> (make-package 'BOOTTRAN)
> > gcl> (PROVIDE 'BOOTTRAN)
> > gcl> (compile-file "/path-to/boothdr.lisp" :output-file 
> > gcl> "/tmp/boothdr.o")
> > -- --
> > it works!
> > 
> > I do not understand why. (sorry if it seems a dumb question, 
> > but I'm new to (common) lisp)
> > 
> > 
> > Using a trick like above in the Makefile (an echo '(progn 
> > (make-package
> > "boottran") ('provide "boottran") (compile-file ...) ... | 
> > ${LISPSYS}...')), I've succeeded in compiling boothdr.lisp 
> > but it then fails on the next .lisp file, even with the same kludge.
> > 
> > It seems to me that the issue is related to a non visibility 
> > of BOOTTRAN package in the compilation environment.
> > 
> > > You could add another file that did nothing but a make-package for 
> > > each of the packages you find are missing. If you pre-load 
> > that file 
> > > you can proceed.
> > 
> > Could you show me an example pattern of the lisp commands to use?
> > 
> > I admit my questions are newbie ones. But once again, I'm new 
> > to common lisp.
> > 
> > Best regards,
> > d.
> > -- 
> >  address@hidden
> 
>