24 May
2012
24 May
'12
9:11 a.m.
The best test suite there is for a compiler:
ITSELF.
The normal workflow when compiling gcc is to have it
build itself.
At least one version of gcc has documentation calling that test suite
"surprisingly weak". I would concur; for example, gcc is designed to
be buildable with other compilers, so it doesn't use any of its own
extensions, meaning compiling itself doesn't test those extensions.
In general, any program not designed as a test suite is unlikely to be
a good test suite. (It is more likely to be _part of_ a good test
suite.)
/~\ The ASCII Mouse
\ / Ribbon Campaign
X Against HTML mouse at rodents-montreal.org
/ \ Email! 7D C8 61 52 5D E7 2D 39 4E F1 31 3E E8 B3 27 4B