2009/9/21 freeburn <<a href="mailto:hossain@finder-lbs.com">hossain@finder-lbs.com</a>>: > 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? It's not really possible. From "Documentation/HOWTO": <div style="margin-left: 40px;">The kernel is written using GNU C and the GNU toolchain. While it adheres to the ISO C89 standard, it uses a number of extensions that are not featured in the standard. The kernel is a freestanding C environment, with no reliance on the standard C library, so some portions of the C standard are not supported. Arbitrary long long divisions and floating point are not allowed. It can sometimes be difficult to understand the assumptions the kernel has on the toolchain and the extensions that it uses, and unfortunately there is no definitive reference for them. Please check the gcc info pages (`info gcc`) for some information on them. </div> The kernel can only be compiled with a (reasonably recent) gcc. There are some subtle points in the source where gcc (as a compiler: C->object) is needed and gnu ld is definitely needed to link the kernel. Loïc