fli4l documentation - Appendix

A. libc

Here we will generally use the "old" libc ver 5, because the new glibc ver 6 needs double space which will not fit on a floppy disk.

Why does it need double space ?
Who can explain that to me ?
I donīt understand that.
Does glibc ver 6 offer twice the functionality ?
Is it twice as fast ?
Is everything included twice ?
Are programmers as twice as ... cautious ?
Do compilers nowadays produce that much code ?
Are bytes grown bigger (to 16 bit) ?
Is glibc ver 6 only trendy (wasting as much space as other software) ?
I simply donīt get it :-(
I would appreciate an obvious description !

Summary: If you want to insert/replace programs in ext2 image, you will have to link it with "old" libc ver 5. Sorry for that.

There are ways out. Here are some of them:

1. SuSE 5.3 installed on older computers: possible, but not optimal

2. SuSE 5.3 under VMWARE installed on a newer Linux: better

3. SuSE 5.3 file system copied via network from an old computer to a newer Linux computer; ex.: to `/usr/suse53`. Donīt copy folder `/proc` (and possibly others). After this you may work on the new computer with command "`chroot`" in the ver 5.3 environment.

4. Use development kit:

http://ecg.mit.edu/george/gcc5.html
You will also find a description about compiling libc programs under RedHat Linux (should be similar under SuSe Linux).

I personally do everything as described in step 3.