[PATCH] Let the default compiler be configurable

[Ryan Schmidt]

On Jun 9, 2011, at 21:31, Joshua Root wrote:

> On 2011-6-10 12:25 , Ryan Schmidt wrote:
>> 
>>> We do already have some variables in macports.conf that can easily cause
>>> breakage and we don't support changing, namely binpath and extra_env.
>>> Maybe if we grouped all the setting in that category (optflags is the
>>> other one that comes to mind) in a section at the end of the file, with
>>> a strongly worded comment to the effect of "Changing these is not
>>> supported. If you do change them it is at your own risk. Do not report
>>> bugs or ask for support if something breaks after you change them."?
>> 
>> Perhaps. But what is the purpose of an option to change the compiler? If a port doesn't work with its default compiler, then that is a bug to be reported and fixed in that port. And if the port does work with its compiler, then why are we changing it?
> 
> Jeremy presumably had a reason to want to. That guy who reported
> libgcc_s conflicts on -users presumably has a reason he wants to build
> with FSF GCC.

We also had a user who wanted to use llvm-gcc for everything. But all that pointed out was that many ports didn't work with that.

> Besides, exactly the same arguments apply to binpath and extra_env.

I don't know why we have extra_env. But I know two reasons to have binpath: 1) it lets us check that ports are using the right compiler [1]; 2) it lets users use MacTeX instead of MacPorts' TeX Live.

[1] https://trac.macports.org/wiki/UsingTheRightCompiler