[gNewSense-users] Re: Is bootstripping with gcj and classpath really nesserary?

[Matthew Flaschen]

Mark Wielaard wrote:
> On Sat, 2007-06-16 at 08:09 -0400, Matthew Flaschen wrote:
>> Yuhong Bao wrote:
>>> Can't you just use a binary of OpenJDK to bootstrip it?
>> It's bootstrapping, and building on OpenJDK would make IcedTea unfree
>> (because OpenJDK has binary plugs), which defeats the point.
> 
> To be a little pedantic there are two things here. The build environment
> and the plugs. IcedTea provides both.

What do you mean, exactly?  My understanding is that the IcedTea build
environment is a combination of ecj, gcj, and classpath, and that the
binary plugs are replaced with Classpath classes or just removed entirely.

> One could use a proprietary build environment, but using the free
> plugs from IcedTea and build with that to create a fully free OpenJDK
> (the result can bootstrap itself).

Yes, I think that's right.  The main reason for a fully free build
environment is so everything can be replicated without using proprietary
software.

> Of course bootstrapping while starting with completely free tools and
> plugs at the same time makes sure that no proprietary bits can ever
> (accidentally) leak into the resulting openjdk based toolchain which is
> a nice benefit for the paranoia (and a nice existence proof that no such
> "leaking" happens).

That too.

Matt Flaschen