[Bug-gnulib] Re: [PATCH] ping on GNU/KFreeBSD patch sent a while ago

[Robert Millan]

On Tue, Oct 28, 2003 at 12:44:12PM -0800, Paul Eggert wrote:
> 
> OK, but then wy did the above-referenced patch get rid of the
> freebsd*-gnu* rule?  That is, why is FreeBSD different from NetBSD in
> this area?

netbsd*-gnu: This triplet is being used by the system based on NetBSD's kernel
and libc with GNU userland.

freebsd*-gnu: This is an obsolete triplet. It used to be for system with
FreeBSD's kernel, Glibc and GNU userland, untill Richard asked me te rename
it to kfreebsd*-gnu.

kfreebsd*-gnu: This is the current triplet for Glibc-based GNU/KFreeBSD.

knetbsd*-gnu: Ditto for Glibc-based GNU/KNetBSD

> config.guess doesn't do anything special for NetBSD.  That is,
> config.guess's FreeBSD rule prepends "k" when it appends "-gnu", but
> its NetBSD rule doesn't do that.  Why are the two operating systems
> treated differently here?  And if config.guess's NetBSD rule doesn't
> prepend "k", why does the patch add a rule for knetbsd*-gnu?

Because kfreebsd*-gnu and knetbsd*-gnu match the GNU/* rule below:

    *:NetBSD:*:*)
[ check for netbsd*-gnu ]

    *:FreeBSD:*:*)
[ kfreebsd*-gnu. this check is only for compatibility ]

    *:GNU/*:*:*)
[ match both kfreebsd*-gnu and knetbsd*-gnu ]

> Sorry, I'm lost.  This is all getting pretty complicated.  Can you
> explain what's going on here, from first principles?  I'd like an
> explanation that I could put into a comment in host-os.m4.

If I had to explain all the history of events, it'd take me a lot of time to
sort it out (which i don't have). Please tell me what you want to know exactly.
If you want something to put in comment for host-os.m4, I suggest:

#1 netbsd*-gnu: NetBSD's kernel and libc with GNU userland.
#2 knetbsd*-gnu: NetBSD's kernel with GNU libc and userland.
#3 kfreebsd*-gnu: FreeBSD's kernel with GNU libc and userland.

As for the system names of #2 and #3, they're GNU/KNetBSD and GNU/KFreeBSD
respectively.

I won't pronounce myself on the system name of #1. All I have to say is Richard
probably wants it "GNU/KNetBSD" either [1], and that if you want to discuss it
with the netbsd*-gnu people you can reach them at address@hidden

[1] See the last paragraph in http://www.gnu.org/gnu/gnu-linux-faq.html#bsd

-- 
Robert Millan

"[..] but the delight and pride of Aule is in the deed of making, and in the
thing made, and neither in possession nor in his own mastery; wherefore he
gives and hoards not, and is free from care, passing ever on to some new work."

 -- J.R.R.T, Ainulindale (Silmarillion)