Rebuild dependencies in makefile

[petdance]

For example, we using the handy makedepend tool to build dependencies in the source tree.

 http://linux.die.net/man/1/makedepend

Alternatively, work on updating tools/dev/checkdepend.pl to output dependencies instead of just verifying them.

[petdance]

Wikipedia says makedepend is last-resort tool here.

 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Makedepend

"Most modern compilers provide a flag (often -M) that uses the compiler's own source parser to generate a list of dependencies. This may be preferred to makedepend because it reduces the likelihood of the dependencies generated being at odds with the compiler's own behaviour."

[petdance]

Running with "gcc -MM" is no problem. It's figuring out what our source files are that's not much fun.

[doughera]

There is some earlier discussion of this in TT #662.

[petdance]

Currently working on  https://svn.parrot.org/parrot/branches/depends

[petdance]

I didn't look at the existing dependencies. They're insanely Parrot-specific. None of these existing tools will do the job. I've started work on my own makedeps.pl.

[coke]

In the meantime, use tools/dev/checkdepend.pl to verify at least some of the dependencies after the fact.

[jkeenan]

petdance, coke:

Can we get an update on the status of the tools mentioned (makedeps.pl; tools/dev/checkdepend.pl)?

Thank you very much.

kid51

[coke]

makedeps.pl doesn't exist. checkdepend is currently for checking the dependencies after the fact. I still hope it can be used to pregenerate the dependencies as part of a "make depend" step.

[cotto]

Recent work by coke++ and checkdepends.pl (now t/src/checkdepends.t) has resulted in a much more reliable parallel build. If someone is interested in turning that test into a Configure.pl step, now's a good time.

[jkeenan]

Replying to cotto:

If someone is interested in turning that test into a Configure.pl step, now's a good time.

What is it that needs to be determined during configuration? Concretely, what needs to be added to %PConfig? How do the makefiles have to change? Which category would this fit into: init, inter, auto or gen?

Also, if we are to do the above, could we close this ticket and start a new one with that specific focus?

Thank you very much.

kid51

[jkeenan]

Replying to jkeenan:

Replying to cotto:

If someone is interested in turning that test into a Configure.pl step, now's a good time.

No one has expressed any interest in that. We're surviving quite well without it, particularly given coke's work.

I'm putting this ticket out of its misery now.

Thank you very much.

kid51