Re: Configure error (objcopy)

[Thierry Laronde]

On Wed, Sep 04, 2002 at 09:07:36PM -0400, Doug Jolley wrote:
> 
> Which brings me to my point.  If you don't want to test for
> the presence of 'cmp', howabout at least broadening your
> error message so that the user is at least informed that the
> problem could be something other than an outdated binutils?
> 

IMHO, we should stick to the following principles:
- Assume that the building host is a superset of POSIX [i.e. we have at
  least the POSIX _required_ utilities with the POSIX _required_ features]
- Test every command that:
  - is not part of the required POSIX
  - or that is used with an option that is not a required option
- Add a _general_ error message saying to consult the log, the error
  message being suitable only if all POSIX required utilities are
  present.

As Okuji said, the bug is in Slackware, and may as well be in other
Linux distro. Some problems linked to the portability are precisely
adressed by POSIX. Since the POSIX name was found by RMS, I can't see
why GNU should try not to assume POSIX at least, and not to enforce
POSIX conformity to all the GNU projects. All GNU/Linux distro MUST have
as the core distribution the required POSIX utilities and a POSIX
compliant shell.
-- 
Thierry Laronde (Alceste) <address@hidden>
Key fingerprint = 0FF7 E906 FBAF FE95 FD89  250D 52B1 AE95 6006 F40C