gcc toolchain build of the WinCE port

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knakos
ScummVM Porter
Posts: 423
Joined: Wed Nov 02, 2005 2:35 pm
Location: Athens, Greece

gcc toolchain build of the WinCE port

Post by knakos »

Dear users,

Since our last release, it was evident that there were problems not related with the code directly but rather due to compiler inefficiencies. More specifically, since 0.9.0 the wince port will not build using either evc3 or evc4 as both compilers had problems coping with the complex C++ codebase of scummvm. Further, as it is, only Visual Studio 2005 can build the port but the compiler emmits bad code when optimizing. More importantly VS2005 is not free.

This forced us to consider alternative build systems. After some months of experimentation and some patching, we give you the gcc build of wince-scummvm available here. (using the vlc gcc port)

This is a work in progress build in terms of wince code maturity and also carries along all the good/bad things of being a trunk build (e.g. cutting edge of development). There are some known issues:
  • Gobliiins: Wrong palette, game playable
    BASS: Crash on intro
    Simon: Crash, game unplayable
    Debugger (e.g. scummcrash files): N/A but it's being worked on
    Themes: Not working at the moment, although it did this afternoon, honest :-)
We will be working on those bugs to eradicate them completely. Also the wiki will be updated in the coming days with extensive build instructions for all the required libs and scummvm, as well as providing our patches for these libs.

You should consider this an unstable build. On the other hand we'd love you to take this baby for a ride. Please report any bugs using our bugtracker. This post will be updated each time a new build is ready.

Lastly I note a hefty speed increase of the resulting binary built with gcc as well as a larger size executable which might be due to the includion of gcc's own libc and the type of optimizations carried out by the compiler.

Kostas

[UPDATE 15 Oct 06: This build seems to cause crashes with some newer scumm games as well. Also, be aware that it may also cause the diassapearing clock issue, found in earlier versions of pocketscumm]
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