GNU bug report logs - #78433
[PATCH] Search for gcc-ar

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Message #5 received at submit <at> debbugs.gnu.org (full text, mbox):

From: Sam James <sam <at> gentoo.org>
To: automake-patches <at> gnu.org
Cc: Sam James <sam <at> gentoo.org>
Subject: [PATCH] Search for gcc-ar
Date: Thu, 15 May 2025 03:46:55 +0100

GCC requires `ar` to have plugin support when using LTO. While the situation
has improved as many distributions install the GCC plugin to a location
that GNU Binutils can automatically find, this isn't required and isn't done
by default.

By searching for `gcc-ar` first, we can make this case work without
intervention from the user.

Problem reported by R. Diez in: https://savannah.gnu.org/support/?110475

	* m4/ar-lib.m4 (AM_PROG_AR): Search for gcc-ar.
---
I'm still testing this and going to play with it some more in the wild,
but how does this look in principle?

 NEWS         | 3 +++
 m4/ar-lib.m4 | 2 +-
 2 files changed, 4 insertions(+), 1 deletion(-)

diff --git a/NEWS b/NEWS
index 30c0cd2c7..d448dba26 100644
--- a/NEWS
+++ b/NEWS
@@ -17,6 +17,9 @@ New in 1.17.92:
 
   - Support for Algol 68 added, based on the GNU Algol 68 compiler. (bug#75807)
 
+  - AM_PROG_AR now searches for 'gcc-ar' first.
+    (https://savannah.gnu.org/support/?110475)
+
 * Bugs fixed
 
   - Do not make Perl warnings fatal, per Perl's recommendation.
diff --git a/m4/ar-lib.m4 b/m4/ar-lib.m4
index 568ea0798..c00c1a51e 100644
--- a/m4/ar-lib.m4
+++ b/m4/ar-lib.m4
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ AC_BEFORE([$0], [AC_PROG_LIBTOOL])dnl
 AC_BEFORE([$0], [AC_PROG_AR])dnl
 AC_REQUIRE([AM_AUX_DIR_EXPAND])dnl
 AC_REQUIRE_AUX_FILE([ar-lib])dnl
-AC_CHECK_TOOLS([AR], [ar lib "link -lib"], [false])
+AC_CHECK_TOOLS([AR], [gcc-ar ar lib "link -lib"], [false])
 : ${AR=ar}
 : ${ARFLAGS=cr}
 
-- 
2.49.0

Message #8 received at 78433 <at> debbugs.gnu.org (full text, mbox):

From: Sam James <sam <at> gentoo.org>
To: 78433 <at> debbugs.gnu.org
Subject: Re: [bug#78433] [PATCH] Search for gcc-ar
Date: Thu, 15 May 2025 04:16:45 +0100

Sam James <sam <at> gentoo.org> writes:

> GCC requires `ar` to have plugin support when using LTO. While the situation
> has improved as many distributions install the GCC plugin to a location
> that GNU Binutils can automatically find, this isn't required and isn't done
> by default.
>
> By searching for `gcc-ar` first, we can make this case work without
> intervention from the user.
>
> Problem reported by R. Diez in: https://savannah.gnu.org/support/?110475
>
> 	* m4/ar-lib.m4 (AM_PROG_AR): Search for gcc-ar.
> ---
> I'm still testing this and going to play with it some more in the wild,
> but how does this look in principle?

I've sent a patch to autoconf as well at
https://lists.gnu.org/archive/html/autoconf-patches/2025-05/msg00007.html.

>
>  NEWS         | 3 +++
>  m4/ar-lib.m4 | 2 +-
>  2 files changed, 4 insertions(+), 1 deletion(-)
>
> diff --git a/NEWS b/NEWS
> index 30c0cd2c7..d448dba26 100644
> --- a/NEWS
> +++ b/NEWS
> @@ -17,6 +17,9 @@ New in 1.17.92:
>  
>    - Support for Algol 68 added, based on the GNU Algol 68 compiler. (bug#75807)
>  
> +  - AM_PROG_AR now searches for 'gcc-ar' first.
> +    (https://savannah.gnu.org/support/?110475)
> +
>  * Bugs fixed
>  
>    - Do not make Perl warnings fatal, per Perl's recommendation.
> diff --git a/m4/ar-lib.m4 b/m4/ar-lib.m4
> index 568ea0798..c00c1a51e 100644
> --- a/m4/ar-lib.m4
> +++ b/m4/ar-lib.m4
> @@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ AC_BEFORE([$0], [AC_PROG_LIBTOOL])dnl
>  AC_BEFORE([$0], [AC_PROG_AR])dnl
>  AC_REQUIRE([AM_AUX_DIR_EXPAND])dnl
>  AC_REQUIRE_AUX_FILE([ar-lib])dnl
> -AC_CHECK_TOOLS([AR], [ar lib "link -lib"], [false])
> +AC_CHECK_TOOLS([AR], [gcc-ar ar lib "link -lib"], [false])
>  : ${AR=ar}
>  : ${ARFLAGS=cr}

Message #11 received at 78433 <at> debbugs.gnu.org (full text, mbox):

From: Karl Berry <karl <at> freefriends.org>
To: sam <at> gentoo.org
Cc: 78433 <at> debbugs.gnu.org
Subject: Re: [bug#78433] [PATCH] Search for gcc-ar
Date: Thu, 15 May 2025 16:24:01 -0600

Hi Sam,

    but how does this look in principle?

    -AC_CHECK_TOOLS([AR], [ar lib "link -lib"], [false])
    +AC_CHECK_TOOLS([AR], [gcc-ar ar lib "link -lib"], [false])

Seems about as simple a change as it could be. Assuming that gcc-ar
behaves like normal ar in normal situations (no plugins or LTO
involved), I don't see a problem with it. It even seems safe enough to
me to make the next release without another pretest. Wdyt?

My only comment on the patch is that I think this searching for gcc-ar
should be mentioned in the documentation for AM_PROG_AR. (I can do that.)

    I'm still testing this and going to play with it some more in the wild,

Do you want me to install the patch? A few people run automake from the
dev sources so it would get some minor additional testing that way.

Thanks,
Karl

Message #14 received at 78433 <at> debbugs.gnu.org (full text, mbox):

From: Sam James <sam <at> gentoo.org>
To: Karl Berry <karl <at> freefriends.org>
Cc: 78433 <at> debbugs.gnu.org
Subject: Re: [bug#78433] [PATCH] Search for gcc-ar
Date: Fri, 16 May 2025 05:34:00 +0100

Karl Berry <karl <at> freefriends.org> writes:

> Hi Sam,

Hi Karl,

>
>     but how does this look in principle?
>
>     -AC_CHECK_TOOLS([AR], [ar lib "link -lib"], [false])
>     +AC_CHECK_TOOLS([AR], [gcc-ar ar lib "link -lib"], [false])
>
> Seems about as simple a change as it could be. Assuming that gcc-ar
> behaves like normal ar in normal situations (no plugins or LTO
> involved), I don't see a problem with it. It even seems safe enough to
> me to make the next release without another pretest. Wdyt?
>
> My only comment on the patch is that I think this searching for gcc-ar
> should be mentioned in the documentation for AM_PROG_AR. (I can do that.)
>
>     I'm still testing this and going to play with it some more in the wild,
>
> Do you want me to install the patch? A few people run automake from the
> dev sources so it would get some minor additional testing that way.

Thanks for the prompt and helpful as ever reply. I've been thinking
about it more today and also discussing it more on the autoconf side:
https://lists.gnu.org/archive/html/autoconf-patches/2025-05/msg00012.html.

The gist is that there's a (very unlikely) case we could hurt, and while
it's possible to detect that, it seems like it's more worthwhile to
pursue fixing it on the GCC side: https://gcc.gnu.org/PR84995.

I'll withdraw the patch, at least for now.

cheers,
sam

Message #17 received at 78433 <at> debbugs.gnu.org (full text, mbox):

From: Karl Berry <karl <at> freefriends.org>
To: sam <at> gentoo.org
Cc: 78433 <at> debbugs.gnu.org
Subject: Re: [bug#78433] [PATCH] Search for gcc-ar
Date: Fri, 16 May 2025 16:47:21 -0600

    pursue fixing it on the GCC side: https://gcc.gnu.org/PR84995.

Egad. I'm glad I'm not on the hook for that stuff :).

    I'll withdraw the patch, at least for now.

Duly closing. Thanks Sam. --best, karl.

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