I was looking at the GCC source distribution. There are several parts to the Dist like Core, and Ada, etc. I haven't tried yet, but does anyone know if the Core will compile alone, and then each of the other packages requires the core to compile... its sort of weird attempting to boot strap GCC. L-

I don't know about those files you're talking about -- they sound like something from a distro and not from the FSF GCC.

When I build GCC, I grab the source from CVS (or maybe SVN, when I finally learn to walk the dark side), including all of the binutils, ld, gdb, and the rest of the toolchain, and create a single source directory with all of the source trees coming off the top-level gcc source directory (ie. the top-level gcc directory contains the main configure file, and subdirectories for gcc, ld, binutils, gdb, etc). I then just configure then "make bootstrap". Everything, including the toolchain and libraries, and including the Ada support, just gets built. It takes a while.

With a few minor teaks (like setting up the right system inclueds and support libraries), I also build cross-compiler toolchains for non-native targets.

I imagine you can end up doing the same sort of thing with your source packages. Just unpack everything and build it in one go.

Quote: I don't know about those files you're talking about -- they sound like something from a distro and not from the FSF GCC.

That's actually the way they're named on GNU's FTP server.

Anyway, to the OP: Yes, gcc-core compiles alone, and produces a C compiler. Other packages add support for other languages (like gcc-g++ for C++).