up vote 6 down vote favorite
share [g+] share [fb]

Is it possible to build gcc without a c compiler already on the machine? If so, how?

link|improve this question
100% accept rate
1  
You can always get a binary... If you're getting into such considerations, you usually are pretty screwed. – Antoine Benkemoun Jan 6 '10 at 17:56
feedback

3 Answers

up vote 14 down vote accepted

What you're talking about is known as bootstrapping a compiler.

Typically this is done by cross-compiling the compiler on another machine for the target architecture. You can find some background here and here. It's not a trivial process, though. If your target isn't architecture that GCC already supports then you've got a lot of work ahead of you.

link|improve this answer
1  
I remember reading some old gcc installation instructions that were about building a minimal compiler with as and using it to build the real gcc. – grawity Jan 7 '10 at 13:30
I've always thought that bootstrapping a compiler on a new architecture would be fun. Of course, designing a processor ISA and implementing it in discrete logic or FPGAs sounds like a lot of fun, too... smile Oh, if I only had free time... – Evan Anderson Jan 7 '10 at 17:29
feedback
up vote 1 down vote

Wow - I'm only 99.9% sure but no, no I really don't believe you can.

That said it might be worth asking on SO.

link|improve this answer
feedback
up vote -5 down vote

No, of course not.

link|improve this answer
Bootstrapping and cross compiling while not strictly "compiling without a compiler" are a real approach – Martin Beckett Jan 6 '10 at 17:58
feedback

Your Answer

 
or
required, but never shown
discard

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.