Comments on: Simple instructions for building Firefox from source http://blog.mozilla.com/dolske/2009/06/04/simple-instructions-for-building-firefox-from-source/ The odd parity bit Sat, 17 Oct 2009 05:26:38 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Mike Beltzner http://blog.mozilla.com/dolske/2009/06/04/simple-instructions-for-building-firefox-from-source/comment-page-1/#comment-45818 Mike Beltzner Tue, 04 Aug 2009 19:23:20 +0000 http://blog.mozilla.com/dolske/?p=178#comment-45818 My comment was potentially unclear: There's two types of optimizations you can make when compiling: the type where you ask the compiler to make an "optimized" build based on heuristics, and the type where you ask the compiler to build a profile of a compilation pass and then use that profile to optimize the final product. The first type, optimized builds, are indeed possible with the free tools. BartZ is right; the second type, profile optimized builds, aren't supported with the free tools. If someone were to build a free profile optimized compiler, we'd definitely love it and point to it. Or if MSFT were to make their free tools support profile guided optimization, we'd love that, too. Presently, though, they don't. While this means that it's impossible to build PGO builds at home without paying for Visual Studio, I don't think that's a huge problem since you can build an optimized build, the tools to get a PGO build are available (for money) and you can always download a PGO'd hourly or generate your own PGO build using tryserver if you have commit access. My comment was potentially unclear:

There’s two types of optimizations you can make when compiling: the type where you ask the compiler to make an “optimized” build based on heuristics, and the type where you ask the compiler to build a profile of a compilation pass and then use that profile to optimize the final product.

The first type, optimized builds, are indeed possible with the free tools.

BartZ is right; the second type, profile optimized builds, aren’t supported with the free tools. If someone were to build a free profile optimized compiler, we’d definitely love it and point to it. Or if MSFT were to make their free tools support profile guided optimization, we’d love that, too. Presently, though, they don’t.

While this means that it’s impossible to build PGO builds at home without paying for Visual Studio, I don’t think that’s a huge problem since you can build an optimized build, the tools to get a PGO build are available (for money) and you can always download a PGO’d hourly or generate your own PGO build using tryserver if you have commit access.

]]> By: Justin Dolske http://blog.mozilla.com/dolske/2009/06/04/simple-instructions-for-building-firefox-from-source/comment-page-1/#comment-45742 Justin Dolske Fri, 05 Jun 2009 06:08:45 +0000 http://blog.mozilla.com/dolske/?p=178#comment-45742 BartZ: Once again, you've completely missed the point and have veered off into one of your usual off-topic rants. It's so predictable as to be amusing. BartZ: Once again, you’ve completely missed the point and have veered off into one of your usual off-topic rants. It’s so predictable as to be amusing.

]]> By: Mike Beltzner http://blog.mozilla.com/dolske/2009/06/04/simple-instructions-for-building-firefox-from-source/comment-page-1/#comment-45740 Mike Beltzner Fri, 05 Jun 2009 02:09:04 +0000 http://blog.mozilla.com/dolske/?p=178#comment-45740 It's entirely possible to build optimized builds, just not automated optimized builds. All the compiler options are still available. Sadly, there is no good open source profile guided optimizing compiler. We look forward to your contributions towards this project. It’s entirely possible to build optimized builds, just not automated optimized builds. All the compiler options are still available.

Sadly, there is no good open source profile guided optimizing compiler. We look forward to your contributions towards this project.

]]> By: BartZilla http://blog.mozilla.com/dolske/2009/06/04/simple-instructions-for-building-firefox-from-source/comment-page-1/#comment-45739 BartZilla Fri, 05 Jun 2009 01:51:07 +0000 http://blog.mozilla.com/dolske/?p=178#comment-45739 It is good to know that, according to <a href="https://developer.mozilla.org/en/Building_with_Profile-Guided_Optimization" rel="nofollow">this page</a>, it is impossible to build Firefox with PGO (profile-guided optimizations) on Windows without Microsoft Visual C++ 2005 <b>Professional Edition</b>. Or, in other words, it is impossible to create highly optimized builds (as Mozilla distributes) without buying a (rather expensive) compiler from Microsoft. It is good to know that, according to this page, it is impossible to build Firefox with PGO (profile-guided optimizations) on Windows without Microsoft Visual C++ 2005 Professional Edition. Or, in other words, it is impossible to create highly optimized builds (as Mozilla distributes) without buying a (rather expensive) compiler from Microsoft.

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