New directory structure and build system

The problem:
The mozilla project has produced a set of stable top-level libraries that are used by many outside projects, and its is time for its directory structure and build system to evolve to match this reality. In particular, the Gecko Runtime Engine (GRE) is being embedded in multiple projects but it is still inexplicably necessary to build SeaMonkey (its main embedder) to get the GRE.

The solution:
We propose to create a set of top-level directories that represent first-order libraries (like gre). /mozilla becomes a sort of hosting directory, and the top-level libraries each have their own make systems (most of which would use our current autoconf build system) instead of having a top-level make that makes multiple libraries at once.

Read the entire proposal. Also read the blog entry.

I 100% agree with this. Fx this will cut down on the space needed to build fx Mozilla Firebird. Currently it's around 3.7GB!

Unfortunately the drivers said "it's not worth the effort."... Damn!


July 25, 2003 03:35 PM | Posted in Mozilla

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5 Comments

I agree that those changes are needed.

Site icon Comment by alanjstr at July 25, 2003 10:46 PM | Permalink

Those changes are definitely needed. I'm not a developer but even I can figure out the benefits of this.

Site icon Comment by Chris Gonyea at July 26, 2003 07:12 AM | Permalink

Do I understand correctly that this is the way for multiple applications to take advantage of the GRE without having to install a duplicate? Isn't this the point of having the GRE?!

Comment by Mark at July 26, 2003 07:38 AM | Permalink

I found an interesting read about why not to use recursive make! Many projects like Mozilla, OpenOffice,... would definitely benefit from faster and cleaner building.

http://aegis.sourceforge.net/auug97.pdf

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