List of changes for 32-bit compiler  ppc386 <2.0   to ppc386 3.2.2
lazarus / 1-Linux

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dryzone · 2025-03-08 06:13

I am busy upgrading old but extremely important 32-bit programs to the
newest compiler.
These were 32-bit programs and keep it like that so I installed ppc386
ver 3.2.2 which is seemingly the latest.

Problem:
1) Currently the code compiles and the binary executes flawlessly when
compiled with ppc < 2.0 compiler.
2) As soon as I compile the code with any compiler >2.0 , the binary
throw3s run-time errors.

Is there any available list of changes made from version ppc386 <2.0
to Version 2. or even up to Version 3.2.2
I guess the changes from <2.0 to 2.0  would be sufficient as the
problem starts happening right there with the 2.0 compiler.

I cannot seem to find any changelogs generally available.

Thanks

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bytebites · 2025-03-08 07:08

Changes by version:
https://wiki.freepascal.org/User_Changes_2.2.0

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dsiders · 2025-03-08 07:13

Quote from: dryzone on March 08, 2025, 07:13:18 amI am busy upgrading
old but extremely important 32-bit programs to the newest compiler.
These were 32-bit programs and keep it like that so I installed ppc386
ver 3.2.2 which is seemingly the latest.

Problem:
1) Currently the code compiles and the binary executes flawlessly when
compiled with ppc < 2.0 compiler.
2) As soon as I compile the code with any compiler >2.0 , the binary
throw3s run-time errors.

Is there any available list of changes made from version ppc386 <2.0
to Version 2. or even up to Version 3.2.2
I guess the changes from <2.0 to 2.0  would be sufficient as the
problem starts happening right there with the 2.0 compiler.

I cannot seem to find any changelogs generally available.

Thanks

Release Notes
https://wiki.freepascal.org/Category:Release_Notes

User Changes
https://wiki.freepascal.org/Category:FPC_User_Changes_by_release

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WooBean · 2025-03-08 07:41

Just looked into a possible cause of problems.

My guess is floating point constants - https://wiki.freepascal.org/Use
r_Changes_2.2.0#Floating_point_constants.

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MarkMLl · 2025-03-08 08:11

(a) what OS? (b) what sort of problems? (c) the one that really bit me
was the gross change to FileExists().

MarkMLl

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marcov · 2025-03-08 10:25

Quote from: dryzone on March 08, 2025, 07:13:18 am1) Currently the
code compiles and the binary executes flawlessly when compiled with
ppc < 2.0 compiler.

With what compiler exactly does it work? With 1.0.x or with 1.9.x ? 
1.9.x are betas for 2.0, but were in wide use and packaged with
Lazarus.

If it is 1.0.x, you are out of luck. Most of the compiler was
rewritten from 1.0.x to 2.0.x over longer than 5 years and probably
thousands of commits, and the history is to complex to glean something
from it. I assume even a compiler developer would frown at that task.

You can't even do a binary search, since specially during the
1999-2002 period the development branch that would become 2.0 was
often too unstable.

Quote2) As soon as I compile the code with any compiler >2.0 , the
binary throw3s run-time errors.

I suggest you start debugging your application. That will be easier
than starting to delve into ancient compiler internals.

QuoteIs there any available list of changes made from version ppc386
<2.0 to Version 2. or even up to Version 3.2.2

As said that is a near complete rewrite. The complete history
(CVS,SVN,GIT eras) was imported into GIT, including various FIXES_*
branches.

I guess the changes from <2.0 to 2.0  would be sufficient as the
problem starts happening right there with the 2.0 compiler.