linux kernel compliation : Is it possible to compile it by other compiler?

[Steven Susbauer]

On Sep 21, 2009, at 4:39 AM, Loïc Grenié wrote:

> 2009/9/21 freeburn <hossain at finder-lbs.com>:
> > have you ever compiled linux kernel by compilers other than gcc?
> >
> > i had a argument with one my friend about "linux" vs "gnu/linux",  
> then
> > this stuff suddenly came to our mind. i've always compiled linux  
> kernel
> > by gcc. i know in theory any c complier with necessary "lib"s should
> > compile linux kernel. but is it practically possible? or have u ever
> > done it?
>

GNU/Linux is in reference to the GNU Operating System and the fact  
that Linux distributions are essentially GNU with a kernel other than  
the one they were building for the GNU OS (Hurd). It is not about the  
compiler used to build it, although gcc is the standard compiler of  
GNU, it makes sense that the snap-in kernel would be built with it.

There are some who have at least attempted to compile the kernel with  
llvm, but with the llvm-gcc frontend to start out with. I do not know  
how successful they have been.