[ILUG-BOM] Core2 Duo on Linux.

[Chetan S]

On 1/27/07, Rony <ronbillypop at yahoo.co.uk> wrote:

> Is there any software utility that will detect hardware automatically
> and give compile instructions which will automatically compile the
> system to its optimum level? I remember using a hardware detect utility
> for DOS that would detect all hardware and list it out. New hardware is
> updated by downloading updated text files.
I remember using an util under gentoo that would throw up the best
possible flags for a given processor. You should look into gentoo docs
for some pointers on this.

>
> So whats needed is an auto compiler and a dbase file fresh from the net.
> Are the parameters passed to the kernel something that hw manufacturers
> want to hide away from Open Source or are they regular open parameters?
> If regular then the hw makers could release the dbase list along with
> the release of new hw.
>

Now that you brought up this topic here's my experience and
1. Most distros don't really check compile for max speed / low memory usage .
2. Max speed and low memory are two contradictory requirements where
the final trade off is based on how fast / low resource consumptive
the application is supposed to be.
3. Under ubuntu you should have a look at pbuilder. Its basically a
fakeroot build environment which allows you to recompile packages,
without disturbing your basic distro packages. So you don't have to
install all the dev packages in your main distro. All goes into your
fakeroot automagically managed by pbuilder
4. With some mucking around with scripts and pbuilder it should be
possible to write a "builder script" which will automatically pull and
rebuild your distro with your specific flags.

Advantage :
1. you get to work with your default ubuntu without worries of package breakage
2. The package gets recompiled with debian patches and your compile
options for your processor
3. If the build breaks it doesn't affect your main install.
4. The fake root is quite light in size requirements.

regards
Chetan S