Tech Note: C/C++ Compiler Support with MKS Toolkit Migration Products
Since the days of NuTCRACKER 1.x, MKS has required the use of the Microsoft C compiler (or a variant thereof). With each release, the NuTCRACKER Platform has become less and less reliant upon the specific compiler, such that MKS Toolkit 8.7 now permits teh use of many different compilers:
- GCC and G++
- Intel C/C++ Version 8.0
- Microsoft VC++ 5.0, 6.0, 7.x, and the various 64 bit variants.
In order to set up the build environment, ncenv.cmd (see man ncenv) needs to know about the compiler. This knowledge is set up by the MKS Toolkit installer as it auto-finds the various compilers in the registry and sets up certain environment variables to point to their installed locations. If you have more than one of the supported compilers installed you are asked during installation to choose a default. If only one is found, that compiler is used as the default.
GCC
MKS Toolkit 8.7 (and above) requires that you use the version of gcc that ships with the MKS Toolkit Resource Kit as a number of issues were fixed with the baseline and may not have been rolled back in to the GCC baseline. The installer for the MKS compiled version of GCC will also know where to properly find the binaries. Please refer to the MKS Toolkit: GCC Add-on For NuTCRACKER document for further details.
Intel C/C++
The Intel C/C++ v8.0 compiler is about as close to a drop in replacement for Microsoft VC++'s "cl.exe" as could exist. MKS Toolkit 8.7 (and above) can identify that the Intel compiler is installed (32-bit and 64-bit versions for MKS Toolkit for Enterprise Developers 64-bit Edition) and set up ncenv.cmd appropriately. Though the Intel compiler can not be used as the default compiler and will not show up as an option on the Default Compiler Options page of the MKS Toolkit installation, it will be discovered and ncenv.cmd will be set up such that user can trivially create a build environment to use it.
To do so, simply open any cmd window and type ncenv icl8. The MKS Shell environment (i.e. bash -L providing you with "Bash for NuTCRACKER Development") is now configured to use the Intel C/C++ v8.0 compiler.
Post Installation Configurations
If new compilers are installed after MKS Toolkit is installed and ncenv.cmd needs to be updated to account for their use, simply open the Add/Remove Programs applet in the Windows Control Panel and select the MKS Toolkit entry to launch the repair operation.
For more detials on this issue, please refer to the ncenv man page by typing man ncenv on the command line.
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