When I joined this list, I looked at the archives, but probably not back far enough, and so it wasn't until the recent answer from Peter that I got motivated. His message from June 5th was very helpful.
I hope these questions help others as I expect them to help me: 1. When we build on our own OS, does the process create executables for other Operating Systems? This is important if building on one OS is harder than building on another, as Peter suggested (and I believe) because some of us will build on the easy OS with the hope that we can make a change that we can use on our favored OS which might be different. 2. Is this "Recruitment list" the best place for questions like these? 3. Is it possible for the mailing list software to include a link to the archives in a little helpful message in each email to suggest that further info might be available there? My guesses about the answers: 1. I'd guess that if you want the executable for your OS using your code changes, you have to build it on your OS, and that cross-platform builds are complicated and fraught with difficulties. 2. The page at https://openoffice.apache.org/mailing-lists.html does not list a better alternative, but some questions do belong on other lists. If yours does and you send it here, you can count on someone helpful to point you to a better list... eventually. 3. It's possible, but it invites lazier people, so we choose not to provide it. Dave.
