C++ ABI change, toolchain state

[Matthias Klose]

Hi,

The C++ ABI changes for main are pretty complete now. All applications
are rebuilt using either g++-4.0 or g++-3.4. After the last rebuild of
C++ packages, the number of the binary packages in universe/multiverse
depending on libstdc++5 dropped from about 880 to 500. What's missing: 

- transition of some libraries, related to 64bit portability and
  changes in g++-4.0

- build failures of packages depending on C++ libaries, which can be
  categorized as

  - g++-4.0 changes, 64bit portability changes (the majority of
    packages, for many of these, patches exist in the Debian BTS)

  - packages packaged as native versions, but using a Debian version
    number. Needs manual fixing.

  - packages needing dependency changes due to changed xorg-headers
    and libs

  - dpkg-architecture fallout

If the MOTU team wants to work on these, look at 'apt-cache rdepends
libstdc++5' (but please don't try to convert gcc-3.3 ;).

Today, Debian unstable switched the C++ ABI as well, so there is a new
task to observe merge bug reports in our bug tracking system and
synchronize packages again, hopefully dropping many -ubuntuN versions.

Other outstanding work (besides usual bug fetching and tracking) on the
toolchain consists of

- multiarch support, at least to support the current biarch
  architectures.

- support of natively compiled Java libraries (jar files)
  to speed up applications like OOo2 (starting to work on
  this after Debconf).

Thanks to the whole MOTU team to accompany the C++ related changes.

    Matthias