Parallel ./configure
12 hours ago
- #build-systems
- #parallelization
- #performance
- The text describes a frustration with the inefficiency of the `./configure` script in utilizing multiple CPU cores, leading to significantly longer configuration times compared to the actual build time.
- It outlines a proposed solution to parallelize the configuration process by leveraging `make` to run independent compiler checks in parallel, thereby reducing the overall configuration time.
- The solution involves generating small makefile fragments for each compiler flag or feature check, which can be executed in parallel, and then merging these fragments into the final `Makefile` and `config.h`.
- A proof-of-concept implementation is mentioned, demonstrating substantial performance improvements with parallel configuration, achieving high CPU utilization and faster configuration times.
- The approach is contrasted with traditional sequential configuration scripts, highlighting the embarrassingly parallel nature of compiler checks and the untapped potential for optimization.