Toolchain

• GCC - GNU Compiler Collection
• binutils
• GlibC
• GDB - The GNU Debugger
• 64-bit Userspace TODO
• PA-RISC Linux Runtime Conventions
• Cross compiler toolchain

In order to build applications you need:

• A compiler: gcc has built parisc-linux targets since version 3.x

• A linker: GNU binutils supplies the linker, assembler and various binary utilities

• A library: GNU glibc supplies this

• And maybe a debugger: gdb in case you want to figure out why “it’s not working?!”

These elements are called the “tool chain.” The palinux tool chain is somewhat temperamental. However, palinux builds are now self hosting (the installed system can compile and build itself)

Currently, only 32-bit userspace is well-supported. There has been some discussions to implement a 64-bit userspace (userspace64), but a lot of work still needs to be done.

While there are some documents that describe the PA-RISC runtime, there is also a lot of undocumented pieces. Some information is collected below:

• The PA-RISC Linux 32-bit ELF runtime is based heavily on the HPUX 32-bit SOM runtime.

• Summary of the Runtime Conventions

• The 32-bit and 64-bit ELF relocations are described in the Processor-specific supplement for PA-RISC. Not all the relocations described in that document are implemented currently.

• Stack Unwinding explains how stack frames are setup on palinux, and how to unwind through them

Currently, we are working on supporting Thread Local Storage and NPTL for glibc.

There is also a Mono Porting effort underway.