platforms.texi

A C++ class library for scientific computing

@node platforms
@section Platform/compiler notes

For up-to-date information on supported platforms, please consult
the platforms area on the Blitz++ home page:

@uref{http://oonumerics.org/blitz/platforms/}

The information in this document may be out of date.

@subsection KAI C++ for Linux/Unix
@cindex KCC compiler

Blitz++ was developed and tested using KAI C++ under AIX.  It should (in
theory) port to other KAI C++ platforms (Cray, SGI, HP, Sun, Linux, Compaq)
without difficulty.  Since KAI C++ uses an EDG front end, other EDG
front-ended compilers (e.g. Comeau) should be able to compile Blitz++.

Recommended compile flags are:

@example
+K3 -O2 --restrict --abstract_pointer --abstract_float -tused
@end example

Note that you cannot compile with @code{-tall} (this will generate lots of
errors).

Under Linux, you may need the flag @code{-D__signed__=}.  You should omit
@code{-tused} since this template instantiation model is not supported by
@code{gcc}, which is used as the back-end compiler.

Please note that since the purchase of KAI by Intel several years ago, the 
use of this compiler has been gradually phased out, with most of the KAI
compiler technology being transferred into the Intel C/C++ compiler.  Thus,
Blitz++ is no longer being routinely tested under @code{KCC}.

@subsection Intel C++ for x86
@cindex Intel C++ compiler

Blitz++ compiles under fairly recent versions of the Intel C++ compiler
(version 7.1, 8.x or 9.0) for Linux platforms, as well as the comparable 
plug-in compiler for Windows that can be used within the Microsoft 
Visual Studio IDE.  We recommend use of the @code{-ansi} flag for compiler
adherence to the ANSI C++ standard.  The @code{-strict_ansi} flag is not
used, as this can lead to many compiler error messages originating from
code in the GNU C++ standard library header files.

More information:

@uref{http://www.intel.com/software/products/compilers/clin}

@uref{http://www.intel.com/software/products/compilers/cwin}

@subsection Microsoft VS.NET 2003 for Windows
@cindex Microsoft VS.NET 2003 C++ compiler

Blitz++ has been ported to the C++ compiler within the Microsoft VS.NET 2003
compiler and IDE package.  We provide a zip archive containing an appropriate 
configuration header file and project files for building the Blitz library
and all of the testsuite codes.  Previous versions of the Microsoft C++
compiler within Visual Studio do not have the required C++ features needed
by Blitz++ and are not supported.  Blitz can be compiled under Visual Studio
by using the Intel plug-in C++ compiler for Windows.

@subsection gcc for Linux/Unix/Darwin
@cindex g++ compiler

GCC (@code{g++}) is a free @acronym{GNU} C++ compiler.  It compiles Blitz++
reliably on almost any platform running Linux or another Unix variant 
(including the Darwin OS).  In fact, most Blitz++ development work is done 
with @code{g++}.

Work has been done in the latest Blitz++ release to ensure compatibility
with the gcc-4.x release, which contains some key changes in enforcement 
of the C++ ANSI standard related to the use of anonymous enums.

gcc may be downloaded from @uref{http://www.gnu.org/software/gcc/gcc.html}.

If you are using gcc under Solaris, SunOS, or OSF/1, please see the
@file{README.binutils} file included in the distribution.

@subsection PathScale for x86_64
@cindex PathScale pathCC compiler

We have just added support for the PathScale pathCC compiler in blitz-0.9.
This compiler is being provided on many of the newer Opteron x86_64 systems.
We welcome feedback on support for this compiler.

@subsection PGI for Linux x86
@cindex PGI pgCC compiler

The Portland Group PGI compiler is supported on Linux x86 platforms, and 
more recent versions of pgCC such as 5.x are capable of compiling blitz.
However, performance is not particularly good and PGI support is not 
being actively tested or maintained.

@subsection Absoft for Mac OS X
@cindex Absoft xlc++ compiler

Absoft markets a variant of the IBM xlC compiler called @code{xlc++} that 
has been ported to the Darwin operating system (Mac OS X).  We are providing
support for compiling blitz using this compiler.  Although we have noted 
and reported some bugs with this compiler, it is capable of producing fairly
high quality optimized code for the Darwin platform.

@subsection Metrowerks for Mac
@cindex Metrowerks compiler

Metrowerks is sort-of supported; see the platforms web page and the mailing
lists for more information.  Support for Metrowerks is no longer being 
actively maintained.

@subsection Compaq Alpha 
@cindex Compaq cxx compiler

The Compaq C++ compiler version 6.x is supported, and we recommend use of
the @code{-model ansi} flag in order to obtain standard C++ compiler behavior
and proper name mangling.  We have inserted a workaround for the lack of
standard ostream support for the @code{long double} type.  At this point,
performance of blitz code under the cxx compiler is somewhat disappointing.

@subsection IBM RS6000/IBM PowerPC
@cindex IBM xlC compiler

The IBM Visual Age C++ compiler is supported as of version 6.x.  However,
you may run into a variety of annoying compiler bugs that prevent certain 
portions of the Blitz++ library code from compiling.  Therefore, it is 
strongly recommended that you obtain xlC version 7.0.0.3 or later, in order
to get all the necessary patches that IBM has produced in response to our 
bug reports.  Also note that compile times can be fairly long with full
optimization enabled.

@subsection SGI MIPSpro
@cindex SGI CC compiler

The SGI MIPSpro-7.x version CC compiler is supported, although active testing
is no longer being done.

@subsection Sun SPARC
@cindex Sun Studio CC compiler

As of version Sun Studio 10.x, the Sun CC compiler should be capable of
compiling blitz.  However, no active support is being provided.

@subsection Cray T3E/Cray T90/Cray C90/Cray J90
@cindex Cray CC compiler

As of Version 0.2-alpha-02 of Blitz++, Version 3.0.0.0 of the Cray C++
compiler is supported (well, tolerated anyway).  It seems to be based on an
older version of the EDG front end, so some kludges are required.  It
doesn't support partial ordering of member templates, so slicing arrays
requires the workaround described in Section @ref{Slicing combo}.  Portions
of the standard library are missing, such as @code{<limits>},
@code{<complex>}, and @code{<set>}.  This means you won't be able to use
complex numbers (well, not the ISO/ANSI C++ versions anyway), numeric
inquiry functions, or fast traversal orders.

These compilation flags are recommended:

@example
-h instantiate=used
@end example

For optimization, you'll want:

@example
-O3 -h aggress
@end example

The ability of the Cray C++ compiler to optimize away temporary objects is
disappointing.  It's not able to optimize away expression templates overhead
or comma-delimited array initializers.  Please note that support for compiling
Blitz++ under the Cray C++ compiler is no longer being actively maintained.

@subsection Fujitsu
@cindex Fujitsu

This platform and compiler are no longer being actively supported.