Building C++ applications for Solaris 7
I need to continue to support Solaris 7 through Solaris 10 for some of our C-based programs. Up until recently, I have been using Sun Workshup 6 Update 2 for which I only have the license for the C compiler (not the C++ compiler).
I have started using Sun Studio 11 and the new C/C++ compiler that comes with it. And that works wonderfully on Solaris 8 and 9 (and 10, presumably).
Here is my dillemma. I'd like to start using C++ in new versions of some of teh programs that I have to deploy on systems that have Solaris 7. I understand that it is no longer possible to buy Sun Workshup 6 Update 2. So what options are available to me for compiling C++ code to run on Solaris 7? I'm aware of gcc as an option, but my preference is to use the Sun tools as much as possible for consistency, and to not mix compilers.
Any reccommendations?
[863 byte] By [
Zparkle] at [2007-11-26 10:52:17]
# 1
Well, to be precise Forte Developer 6 update 2 is still available as noted at the bottom of http://developers.sun.com/sunstudio/support/support_matrix.jsp, you can use it for Solaris 7 development if you have no other choice. However, upgrading to (at least) Solaris 8 will enable you to use SS11 available for free (not to mention that there are a lot of improvements there since 6u2 days).
# 2
Personally I think that you need a very good reason to justify using Solaris 7. I don't think that it runs on any of the current hardware - if you do need to get more machines, then either you're going to have to try things like second hand auctions, or else go for something with at least Solaris 8. And if you want to ensure existing Solaris 7 machines keep running, then I imagine that you're going to pay far more in support fees than the machines are actually worth.
The last compiler to support Solaris 7 was Studio 8, which according to http://developers.sun.com/sunstudio/support/support_matrix.jsp stopped shipping just over a year ago. It's still supported, though. Perhaps there's some way of getting a copy?
Paul
