[tbox-l] gcc 4.2 and OBJECT_MODE

[Jørn A. <Jor...@nt...>]

The latest toolbox gcc 4.2.0 is configured at build time to use the
native assembler and loader.

AIX /usr/bin/as and /usr/bin/ld has a well defined interplay between
compilation mode switches and the environment, as you would expect on
a Unix system; switches overrides environment if set and the
application looks into the environment if switches are not set.

So is not the case with gcc on aix. Now,

    OBJECT_MODE=32 gcc -maix64 files...
    OBJECT_MODE=64 gcc -maix64 files...

works as expected. However,

    OBJECT_MODE=64 gcc -maix32 files...

compiles in 32-bit mode due to -maix32 but assembles and links in
64-bit mode due to OBJECT_MODE. This is because appropriate -a32 and
-b32 gcc specs are missing, only maix64 specs are provided in the gcc
spefile (dump with gcc -dumpspecs).

Also, the relation with OBJECT_MODE should be documented in
environment subsection of the info manual and gcc --target-help should
not invoke the assembler.

Best Regards --Jørn Amundsen