In preparing the next Strawberry release you've no doubt noticed that mingw-w64 32bit version cannot build a working Perl after gcc version 4.4.3 on Windows XP.
Yes, in fact it was during the last week when we have found out (with help of BinGOs and Ranguard via IRC) that gcc-4.4.7 and 4.6.1 (not only with mingw-w64 runtime but also with mingw.org's runtime) produce perl binaries that crash on Windows XP. For strawberry perl 5.14.2.0 we have decided to use: - on 32 bit version gcc-4.4.3 (with slightly old mingw-w64 runtime) http://strawberryperl.com/package/kmx/32_gcctoolchain/mingw64-w32-20100123-kmx-v3.zip - on 64 bit version gcc-4.4.7(prereleae) (with mingw-w64 runtime 1.0.1) http://strawberryperl.com/package/kmx/64_gcctoolchain/mingw64-w64-gcc4.4.7(pre)_20111014.zip
Commit 180422 to the 4.6 branch of gcc fixes the problem - I've cross compiled my own 32bit 4.6.2 release (the tagged 4.6.2 release includes this fix) which compiles a working Perl 5.14.2 on Windows XP.
Many thanks , this is a valuable piece of information for me as I was in doubts where to start reporting/discussing the issue, now it is clear.
For my own use, I need to move to 4.6.2 as 4.4.7 cannot compile wxWidgets 2.9.x branch. As a side benefit I also get an up to date v2 mingw-w64 crt. I'll be publishing source, patches and build instructions at http://perlmingw.sourceforge.net/ (plus, of course, the compiled releases). The patches are just the minimum necessary from sezero build and TDM GCC builds to get a working dist. Just a thought, but it might be nice if we had a sort of 'standard' gcc for Perl on Windows.
Why not. As for my opinion concerning gcc toolchain included in strawberry perl: - we would strongly prefer to use mingw-w64 (not mingw.org) runtime for both 32/64bit - we have no special preference as for the gcc version (but versions like gcc-X.Y.0 are perhaps too "in development" for us) - we need gcc toolchain supporting<gccroot>/include and<gccroot>/lib directories in search paths (without explicit -I or -L options) - we would appreciate gcc toolchain with frotran (maybe a kind of addon or extra package) as it comes handy to PDL guys using strawberry
Anyhow, I think you could just backport the fix to the current 4.4.7 branch. But, for what it is worth, Strawberry users will be unable to compile wxWidgets 2.9.x branches (without some patching at least)
OK, I take it as your "gcc upgrade" request - we will probably aim at gcc-4.6.2 + mingw-w64 runtime (v2 or latest v2RC) However, currently the release candidates for strawberry 5.14.2.0 are IMHO too good to let them fall on the floor. I think that the updated gcc-toolchain cannot be expected sonner than in 5.14.2.1 (don't ask me when as our release schedule is slightly demolished - as you have probably noticed) BTW for all that might be interested - latest RC's are available at: http://strawberryperl.com/package/kmx/p5.14.2.0-RC/ -- kmx
