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Can I build a linux distro with libc instead of glibc

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6

3

I recently had a conversation with a friend who is a highly skill software engineer, and he showed me some articles outlining the fact libc was much better than glibc.

I wonder if its possible to use libc instead, and what kind of problems would I come up against if I went this route?

linux compiling glibc

share|improve this question

edited Apr 11 '12 at 20:14

Mat

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asked Apr 11 '12 at 20:10

yakamokyakamok

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• 
  
  
  

  
  5
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  That's kinda meaningless; "libc" is not a single thing, it's a family (of which glibc is a member). Whose libc? FreeBSD's?
  
  – geekosaur
  Apr 11 '12 at 20:12
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  yeah i think he was being specific about freebsd when he was making the reference, my knowledge in this area is limited!
  
  – yakamok
  Apr 11 '12 at 20:21
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Quite meaningless is an understatement. He said it was "much better" in what way? Such statements are useless without elaboration.
  
  – underscore_d
  May 20 '17 at 16:35
  
  
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

6

3

I recently had a conversation with a friend who is a highly skill software engineer, and he showed me some articles outlining the fact libc was much better than glibc.

I wonder if its possible to use libc instead, and what kind of problems would I come up against if I went this route?

linux compiling glibc

share|improve this question

edited Apr 11 '12 at 20:14

Mat

40.9k88 gold badges127127 silver badges131131 bronze badges

asked Apr 11 '12 at 20:10

yakamokyakamok

34511 gold badge44 silver badges1111 bronze badges

• 
  
  
  

  
  5
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  That's kinda meaningless; "libc" is not a single thing, it's a family (of which glibc is a member). Whose libc? FreeBSD's?
  
  – geekosaur
  Apr 11 '12 at 20:12
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  yeah i think he was being specific about freebsd when he was making the reference, my knowledge in this area is limited!
  
  – yakamok
  Apr 11 '12 at 20:21
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Quite meaningless is an understatement. He said it was "much better" in what way? Such statements are useless without elaboration.
  
  – underscore_d
  May 20 '17 at 16:35
  
  
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

I recently had a conversation with a friend who is a highly skill software engineer, and he showed me some articles outlining the fact libc was much better than glibc.

I wonder if its possible to use libc instead, and what kind of problems would I come up against if I went this route?

linux compiling glibc

share|improve this question

edited Apr 11 '12 at 20:14

Mat

40.9k88 gold badges127127 silver badges131131 bronze badges

asked Apr 11 '12 at 20:10

yakamokyakamok

34511 gold badge44 silver badges1111 bronze badges

share|improve this question

edited Apr 11 '12 at 20:14

Mat

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asked Apr 11 '12 at 20:10

yakamokyakamok

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share|improve this question

edited Apr 11 '12 at 20:14

Mat

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asked Apr 11 '12 at 20:10

yakamokyakamok

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edited Apr 11 '12 at 20:14

Mat

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edited Apr 11 '12 at 20:14

Mat

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asked Apr 11 '12 at 20:10

yakamokyakamok

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asked Apr 11 '12 at 20:10

yakamokyakamok

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3 Answers
3

active

oldest

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7

Context: assuming from above comments that a BSDish libc is meant.

I think it's been looked into, but libc tends to be tightly tied to a given kernel (glibc has an abstraction layer, which allows it some portability but causes the usual problems that an abstraction layer causes) and making BSD libc work with a Linux kernel would require a near complete rewrite. key system services are very different between the two systems (one example: BSD libc assumes that there are no pipes/FIFOs, because BSD uses socketpairs instead; conversely, Linux doesn't support pipe-compatible socketpairs).

Going the other direction (Debian has an experimental Linux userspace on a FreeBSD kernel, I think) is possible due to glibc's portability layer.

share|improve this answer

answered Apr 11 '12 at 20:38

geekosaurgeekosaur

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add a comment | 

4

There are many libc implementations. It is possible and quite commmon to build a system using uClibc or EGLIBC. It's not even particularly difficult: try Buildroot.

share|improve this answer

answered Apr 11 '12 at 20:30

Shawn J. GoffShawn J. Goff

31.2k1919 gold badges114114 silver badges134134 bronze badges

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  fantastic recommendation, i am looking into this now
  
  – yakamok
  Apr 11 '12 at 20:41
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  eglibc is virtually equivalent to glibc, for the purposes of this question.
  
  – jmtd
  Apr 12 '12 at 13:09
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

0

Many software depends on glibc itself or glibc macroses or just glibc style so build fails. You can fix any software easy if you know glibc from inside. For example we can see here linux headers for musl. Headers are not finished but you can checkout commits and see how this work looks like.

Every developer tests its software using glibc based system. It is not possible to fix all live software development and make it compatible with other libc using right solution like pull request. So general purpose systems like gentoo can't be build using alternative libc without infinite pain.

Embedded developers (from openwrt for example) are fixing software versions and making a heavy work around it. So embedded system (like openwrt) only can provide a source that can be build with alternative libc like musl or uclibc.

The only painless and right way to replace glibc with other libc is to implement special wrapper that simulates all glibc behaviours using other libc. There is no such project today.

share|improve this answer

answered 15 hours ago

puchupuchu

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7

Context: assuming from above comments that a BSDish libc is meant.

I think it's been looked into, but libc tends to be tightly tied to a given kernel (glibc has an abstraction layer, which allows it some portability but causes the usual problems that an abstraction layer causes) and making BSD libc work with a Linux kernel would require a near complete rewrite. key system services are very different between the two systems (one example: BSD libc assumes that there are no pipes/FIFOs, because BSD uses socketpairs instead; conversely, Linux doesn't support pipe-compatible socketpairs).

Going the other direction (Debian has an experimental Linux userspace on a FreeBSD kernel, I think) is possible due to glibc's portability layer.

share|improve this answer

answered Apr 11 '12 at 20:38

geekosaurgeekosaur

23.9k33 gold badges6262 silver badges5454 bronze badges

add a comment | 

7

Context: assuming from above comments that a BSDish libc is meant.

I think it's been looked into, but libc tends to be tightly tied to a given kernel (glibc has an abstraction layer, which allows it some portability but causes the usual problems that an abstraction layer causes) and making BSD libc work with a Linux kernel would require a near complete rewrite. key system services are very different between the two systems (one example: BSD libc assumes that there are no pipes/FIFOs, because BSD uses socketpairs instead; conversely, Linux doesn't support pipe-compatible socketpairs).

Going the other direction (Debian has an experimental Linux userspace on a FreeBSD kernel, I think) is possible due to glibc's portability layer.

share|improve this answer

answered Apr 11 '12 at 20:38

geekosaurgeekosaur

23.9k33 gold badges6262 silver badges5454 bronze badges

add a comment | 

Context: assuming from above comments that a BSDish libc is meant.

I think it's been looked into, but libc tends to be tightly tied to a given kernel (glibc has an abstraction layer, which allows it some portability but causes the usual problems that an abstraction layer causes) and making BSD libc work with a Linux kernel would require a near complete rewrite. key system services are very different between the two systems (one example: BSD libc assumes that there are no pipes/FIFOs, because BSD uses socketpairs instead; conversely, Linux doesn't support pipe-compatible socketpairs).

Going the other direction (Debian has an experimental Linux userspace on a FreeBSD kernel, I think) is possible due to glibc's portability layer.

share|improve this answer

answered Apr 11 '12 at 20:38

geekosaurgeekosaur

23.9k33 gold badges6262 silver badges5454 bronze badges

share|improve this answer

answered Apr 11 '12 at 20:38

geekosaurgeekosaur

23.9k33 gold badges6262 silver badges5454 bronze badges

answered Apr 11 '12 at 20:38

geekosaurgeekosaur

23.9k33 gold badges6262 silver badges5454 bronze badges

answered Apr 11 '12 at 20:38

geekosaurgeekosaur

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4

There are many libc implementations. It is possible and quite commmon to build a system using uClibc or EGLIBC. It's not even particularly difficult: try Buildroot.

share|improve this answer

answered Apr 11 '12 at 20:30

Shawn J. GoffShawn J. Goff

31.2k1919 gold badges114114 silver badges134134 bronze badges

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  fantastic recommendation, i am looking into this now
  
  – yakamok
  Apr 11 '12 at 20:41
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  eglibc is virtually equivalent to glibc, for the purposes of this question.
  
  – jmtd
  Apr 12 '12 at 13:09
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

4

There are many libc implementations. It is possible and quite commmon to build a system using uClibc or EGLIBC. It's not even particularly difficult: try Buildroot.

share|improve this answer

answered Apr 11 '12 at 20:30

Shawn J. GoffShawn J. Goff

31.2k1919 gold badges114114 silver badges134134 bronze badges

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  fantastic recommendation, i am looking into this now
  
  – yakamok
  Apr 11 '12 at 20:41
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  eglibc is virtually equivalent to glibc, for the purposes of this question.
  
  – jmtd
  Apr 12 '12 at 13:09
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

There are many libc implementations. It is possible and quite commmon to build a system using uClibc or EGLIBC. It's not even particularly difficult: try Buildroot.

share|improve this answer

answered Apr 11 '12 at 20:30

Shawn J. GoffShawn J. Goff

31.2k1919 gold badges114114 silver badges134134 bronze badges

share|improve this answer

answered Apr 11 '12 at 20:30

Shawn J. GoffShawn J. Goff

31.2k1919 gold badges114114 silver badges134134 bronze badges

answered Apr 11 '12 at 20:30

Shawn J. GoffShawn J. Goff

31.2k1919 gold badges114114 silver badges134134 bronze badges

answered Apr 11 '12 at 20:30

Shawn J. GoffShawn J. Goff

31.2k1919 gold badges114114 silver badges134134 bronze badges

0

Many software depends on glibc itself or glibc macroses or just glibc style so build fails. You can fix any software easy if you know glibc from inside. For example we can see here linux headers for musl. Headers are not finished but you can checkout commits and see how this work looks like.

Every developer tests its software using glibc based system. It is not possible to fix all live software development and make it compatible with other libc using right solution like pull request. So general purpose systems like gentoo can't be build using alternative libc without infinite pain.

Embedded developers (from openwrt for example) are fixing software versions and making a heavy work around it. So embedded system (like openwrt) only can provide a source that can be build with alternative libc like musl or uclibc.

The only painless and right way to replace glibc with other libc is to implement special wrapper that simulates all glibc behaviours using other libc. There is no such project today.

share|improve this answer

answered 15 hours ago

puchupuchu

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New contributor

puchu is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

add a comment | 

0

Many software depends on glibc itself or glibc macroses or just glibc style so build fails. You can fix any software easy if you know glibc from inside. For example we can see here linux headers for musl. Headers are not finished but you can checkout commits and see how this work looks like.

Every developer tests its software using glibc based system. It is not possible to fix all live software development and make it compatible with other libc using right solution like pull request. So general purpose systems like gentoo can't be build using alternative libc without infinite pain.

Embedded developers (from openwrt for example) are fixing software versions and making a heavy work around it. So embedded system (like openwrt) only can provide a source that can be build with alternative libc like musl or uclibc.

The only painless and right way to replace glibc with other libc is to implement special wrapper that simulates all glibc behaviours using other libc. There is no such project today.

share|improve this answer

answered 15 hours ago

puchupuchu

10111 bronze badge

New contributor

puchu is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

add a comment | 

Many software depends on glibc itself or glibc macroses or just glibc style so build fails. You can fix any software easy if you know glibc from inside. For example we can see here linux headers for musl. Headers are not finished but you can checkout commits and see how this work looks like.

Every developer tests its software using glibc based system. It is not possible to fix all live software development and make it compatible with other libc using right solution like pull request. So general purpose systems like gentoo can't be build using alternative libc without infinite pain.

Embedded developers (from openwrt for example) are fixing software versions and making a heavy work around it. So embedded system (like openwrt) only can provide a source that can be build with alternative libc like musl or uclibc.

The only painless and right way to replace glibc with other libc is to implement special wrapper that simulates all glibc behaviours using other libc. There is no such project today.

share|improve this answer

answered 15 hours ago

puchupuchu

10111 bronze badge

New contributor

puchu is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

share|improve this answer

answered 15 hours ago

puchupuchu

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New contributor

puchu is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

answered 15 hours ago

puchupuchu

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New contributor

puchu is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

answered 15 hours ago

puchupuchu

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