(gmp.info.gz) Build Options
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(gmp.info.gz) Installing GMP
(gmp.info.gz) Installing GMP
(gmp.info.gz) ABI and ISA
Build Options
=============
All the usual autoconf configure options are available, run `./configure
--help' for a summary. The file `INSTALL.autoconf' has some generic
installation information too.
Tools
`configure' requires various Unix-like tools. See Notes for
Particular Systems, for some options on non-Unix systems.
It might be possible to build without the help of `configure',
certainly all the code is there, but unfortunately you'll be on
your own.
Build Directory
To compile in a separate build directory, `cd' to that directory,
and prefix the configure command with the path to the GMP source
directory. For example
cd /my/build/dir
/my/sources/gmp-4.2.1/configure
Not all `make' programs have the necessary features (`VPATH') to
support this. In particular, SunOS and Slowaris `make' have bugs
that make them unable to build in a separate directory. Use GNU
`make' instead.
`--prefix' and `--exec-prefix'
The `--prefix' option can be used in the normal way to direct GMP
to install under a particular tree. The default is `/usr/local'.
`--exec-prefix' can be used to direct architecture-dependent files
like `libgmp.a' to a different location. This can be used to share
architecture-independent parts like the documentation, but
separate the dependent parts. Note however that `gmp.h' and
`mp.h' are architecture-dependent since they encode certain
aspects of `libgmp', so it will be necessary to ensure both
`$prefix/include' and `$exec_prefix/include' are available to the
compiler.
`--disable-shared', `--disable-static'
By default both shared and static libraries are built (where
possible), but one or other can be disabled. Shared libraries
result in smaller executables and permit code sharing between
separate running processes, but on some CPUs are slightly slower,
having a small cost on each function call.
Native Compilation, `--build=CPU-VENDOR-OS'
For normal native compilation, the system can be specified with
`--build'. By default `./configure' uses the output from running
`./config.guess'. On some systems `./config.guess' can determine
the exact CPU type, on others it will be necessary to give it
explicitly. For example,
./configure --build=ultrasparc-sun-solaris2.7
In all cases the `OS' part is important, since it controls how
libtool generates shared libraries. Running `./config.guess' is
the simplest way to see what it should be, if you don't know
already.
Cross Compilation, `--host=CPU-VENDOR-OS'
When cross-compiling, the system used for compiling is given by
`--build' and the system where the library will run is given by
`--host'. For example when using a FreeBSD Athlon system to build
GNU/Linux m68k binaries,
./configure --build=athlon-pc-freebsd3.5 --host=m68k-mac-linux-gnu
Compiler tools are sought first with the host system type as a
prefix. For example `m68k-mac-linux-gnu-ranlib' is tried, then
plain `ranlib'. This makes it possible for a set of
cross-compiling tools to co-exist with native tools. The prefix
is the argument to `--host', and this can be an alias, such as
`m68k-linux'. But note that tools don't have to be setup this
way, it's enough to just have a `PATH' with a suitable
cross-compiling `cc' etc.
Compiling for a different CPU in the same family as the build
system is a form of cross-compilation, though very possibly this
would merely be special options on a native compiler. In any case
`./configure' avoids depending on being able to run code on the
build system, which is important when creating binaries for a
newer CPU since they very possibly won't run on the build system.
In all cases the compiler must be able to produce an executable
(of whatever format) from a standard C `main'. Although only
object files will go to make up `libgmp', `./configure' uses
linking tests for various purposes, such as determining what
functions are available on the host system.
Currently a warning is given unless an explicit `--build' is used
when cross-compiling, because it may not be possible to correctly
guess the build system type if the `PATH' has only a
cross-compiling `cc'.
Note that the `--target' option is not appropriate for GMP. It's
for use when building compiler tools, with `--host' being where
they will run, and `--target' what they'll produce code for.
Ordinary programs or libraries like GMP are only interested in the
`--host' part, being where they'll run. (Some past versions of
GMP used `--target' incorrectly.)
CPU types
In general, if you want a library that runs as fast as possible,
you should configure GMP for the exact CPU type your system uses.
However, this may mean the binaries won't run on older members of
the family, and might run slower on other members, older or newer.
The best idea is always to build GMP for the exact machine type
you intend to run it on.
The following CPUs have specific support. See `configure.in' for
details of what code and compiler options they select.
* Alpha: alpha, alphaev5, alphaev56, alphapca56, alphapca57,
alphaev6, alphaev67, alphaev68 alphaev7
* Cray: c90, j90, t90, sv1
* HPPA: hppa1.0, hppa1.1, hppa2.0, hppa2.0n, hppa2.0w, hppa64
* IA-64: ia64, itanium, itanium2
* MIPS: mips, mips3, mips64
* Motorola: m68k, m68000, m68010, m68020, m68030, m68040,
m68060, m68302, m68360, m88k, m88110
* POWER: power, power1, power2, power2sc
* PowerPC: powerpc, powerpc64, powerpc401, powerpc403,
powerpc405, powerpc505, powerpc601, powerpc602, powerpc603,
powerpc603e, powerpc604, powerpc604e, powerpc620, powerpc630,
powerpc740, powerpc7400, powerpc7450, powerpc750, powerpc801,
powerpc821, powerpc823, powerpc860, powerpc970
* SPARC: sparc, sparcv8, microsparc, supersparc, sparcv9,
ultrasparc, ultrasparc2, ultrasparc2i, ultrasparc3, sparc64
* x86 family: i386, i486, i586, pentium, pentiummmx, pentiumpro,
pentium2, pentium3, pentium4, k6, k62, k63, athlon, amd64,
viac3, viac32
* Other: a29k, arm, clipper, i960, ns32k, pyramid, sh, sh2, vax,
z8k
CPUs not listed will use generic C code.
Generic C Build
If some of the assembly code causes problems, or if otherwise
desired, the generic C code can be selected with CPU `none'. For
example,
./configure --host=none-unknown-freebsd3.5
Note that this will run quite slowly, but it should be portable
and should at least make it possible to get something running if
all else fails.
Fat binary, `--enable-fat'
Using `--enable-fat' selects a "fat binary" build on x86, where
optimized low level subroutines are chosen at runtime according to
the CPU detected. This means more code, but gives good
performance on all x86 chips. (This option might become available
for more architectures in the future.)
`ABI'
On some systems GMP supports multiple ABIs (application binary
interfaces), meaning data type sizes and calling conventions. By
default GMP chooses the best ABI available, but a particular ABI
can be selected. For example
./configure --host=mips64-sgi-irix6 ABI=n32
See ABI and ISA, for the available choices on relevant
CPUs, and what applications need to do.
`CC', `CFLAGS'
By default the C compiler used is chosen from among some likely
candidates, with `gcc' normally preferred if it's present. The
usual `CC=whatever' can be passed to `./configure' to choose
something different.
For various systems, default compiler flags are set based on the
CPU and compiler. The usual `CFLAGS="-whatever"' can be passed to
`./configure' to use something different or to set good flags for
systems GMP doesn't otherwise know.
The `CC' and `CFLAGS' used are printed during `./configure', and
can be found in each generated `Makefile'. This is the easiest way
to check the defaults when considering changing or adding
something.
Note that when `CC' and `CFLAGS' are specified on a system
supporting multiple ABIs it's important to give an explicit
`ABI=whatever', since GMP can't determine the ABI just from the
flags and won't be able to select the correct assembler code.
If just `CC' is selected then normal default `CFLAGS' for that
compiler will be used (if GMP recognises it). For example
`CC=gcc' can be used to force the use of GCC, with default flags
(and default ABI).
`CPPFLAGS'
Any flags like `-D' defines or `-I' includes required by the
preprocessor should be set in `CPPFLAGS' rather than `CFLAGS'.
Compiling is done with both `CPPFLAGS' and `CFLAGS', but
preprocessing uses just `CPPFLAGS'. This distinction is because
most preprocessors won't accept all the flags the compiler does.
Preprocessing is done separately in some configure tests, and in
the `ansi2knr' support for K&R compilers.
`CC_FOR_BUILD'
Some build-time programs are compiled and run to generate
host-specific data tables. `CC_FOR_BUILD' is the compiler used
for this. It doesn't need to be in any particular ABI or mode, it
merely needs to generate executables that can run. The default is
to try the selected `CC' and some likely candidates such as `cc'
and `gcc', looking for something that works.
No flags are used with `CC_FOR_BUILD' because a simple invocation
like `cc foo.c' should be enough. If some particular options are
required they can be included as for instance `CC_FOR_BUILD="cc
-whatever"'.
C++ Support, `--enable-cxx'
C++ support in GMP can be enabled with `--enable-cxx', in which
case a C++ compiler will be required. As a convenience
`--enable-cxx=detect' can be used to enable C++ support only if a
compiler can be found. The C++ support consists of a library
`libgmpxx.la' and header file `gmpxx.h' ( Headers and
Libraries).
A separate `libgmpxx.la' has been adopted rather than having C++
objects within `libgmp.la' in order to ensure dynamic linked C
programs aren't bloated by a dependency on the C++ standard
library, and to avoid any chance that the C++ compiler could be
required when linking plain C programs.
`libgmpxx.la' will use certain internals from `libgmp.la' and can
only be expected to work with `libgmp.la' from the same GMP
version. Future changes to the relevant internals will be
accompanied by renaming, so a mismatch will cause unresolved
symbols rather than perhaps mysterious misbehaviour.
In general `libgmpxx.la' will be usable only with the C++ compiler
that built it, since name mangling and runtime support are usually
incompatible between different compilers.
`CXX', `CXXFLAGS'
When C++ support is enabled, the C++ compiler and its flags can be
set with variables `CXX' and `CXXFLAGS' in the usual way. The
default for `CXX' is the first compiler that works from a list of
likely candidates, with `g++' normally preferred when available.
The default for `CXXFLAGS' is to try `CFLAGS', `CFLAGS' without
`-g', then for `g++' either `-g -O2' or `-O2', or for other
compilers `-g' or nothing. Trying `CFLAGS' this way is convenient
when using `gcc' and `g++' together, since the flags for `gcc' will
usually suit `g++'.
It's important that the C and C++ compilers match, meaning their
startup and runtime support routines are compatible and that they
generate code in the same ABI (if there's a choice of ABIs on the
system). `./configure' isn't currently able to check these things
very well itself, so for that reason `--disable-cxx' is the
default, to avoid a build failure due to a compiler mismatch.
Perhaps this will change in the future.
Incidentally, it's normally not good enough to set `CXX' to the
same as `CC'. Although `gcc' for instance recognises `foo.cc' as
C++ code, only `g++' will invoke the linker the right way when
building an executable or shared library from C++ object files.
Temporary Memory, `--enable-alloca=<choice>'
GMP allocates temporary workspace using one of the following three
methods, which can be selected with for instance
`--enable-alloca=malloc-reentrant'.
* `alloca' - C library or compiler builtin.
* `malloc-reentrant' - the heap, in a re-entrant fashion.
* `malloc-notreentrant' - the heap, with global variables.
For convenience, the following choices are also available.
`--disable-alloca' is the same as `no'.
* `yes' - a synonym for `alloca'.
* `no' - a synonym for `malloc-reentrant'.
* `reentrant' - `alloca' if available, otherwise
`malloc-reentrant'. This is the default.
* `notreentrant' - `alloca' if available, otherwise
`malloc-notreentrant'.
`alloca' is reentrant and fast, and is recommended. It actually
allocates just small blocks on the stack; larger ones use
malloc-reentrant.
`malloc-reentrant' is, as the name suggests, reentrant and thread
safe, but `malloc-notreentrant' is faster and should be used if
reentrancy is not required.
The two malloc methods in fact use the memory allocation functions
selected by `mp_set_memory_functions', these being `malloc' and
friends by default. Custom Allocation.
An additional choice `--enable-alloca=debug' is available, to help
when debugging memory related problems ( Debugging).
FFT Multiplication, `--disable-fft'
By default multiplications are done using Karatsuba, 3-way Toom,
and Fermat FFT. The FFT is only used on large to very large
operands and can be disabled to save code size if desired.
Berkeley MP, `--enable-mpbsd'
The Berkeley MP compatibility library (`libmp') and header file
(`mp.h') are built and installed only if `--enable-mpbsd' is used.
BSD Compatible Functions.
Assertion Checking, `--enable-assert'
This option enables some consistency checking within the library.
This can be of use while debugging, Debugging.
Execution Profiling, `--enable-profiling=prof/gprof/instrument'
Enable profiling support, in one of various styles,
Profiling.
`MPN_PATH'
Various assembler versions of each mpn subroutines are provided.
For a given CPU, a search is made though a path to choose a
version of each. For example `sparcv8' has
MPN_PATH="sparc32/v8 sparc32 generic"
which means look first for v8 code, then plain sparc32 (which is
v7), and finally fall back on generic C. Knowledgeable users with
special requirements can specify a different path. Normally this
is completely unnecessary.
Documentation
The source for the document you're now reading is `doc/gmp.texi',
in Texinfo format, see Texinfo (texinfo)Top.
Info format `doc/gmp.info' is included in the distribution. The
usual automake targets are available to make PostScript, DVI, PDF
and HTML (these will require various TeX and Texinfo tools).
DocBook and XML can be generated by the Texinfo `makeinfo' program
too, see Options for `makeinfo' (texinfo)makeinfo options.
Some supplementary notes can also be found in the `doc'
subdirectory.
Info Catalog
(gmp.info.gz) Installing GMP
(gmp.info.gz) Installing GMP
(gmp.info.gz) ABI and ISA
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