There is a gcc-2.8.1 available in the -current sources. This is a huge,
ongoing effort. The EGCS (experimental gcc compiler system?) was the
default compiler on i386 for a short while, but was then withdrawn again.
You can still build it with the -current sources as an option; it's just
not guaranteed to always work correctly.

Your best source of information on this is the current-users mailing list.
You should be able to find the mailing list archives on the web site. If
you decide to take the plunge and sup -current, you'll also need to read
/usr/doc/README.sup. It's available on ftp.netbsd.org, if you don't have
it already.

On Wed, 7 Oct 1998, Xiaoqiao Li wrote:

> Is there anyone who sucessfully install gcc-2.8.1 and libstdc++-2.8.1.1 on 
> netbsd1.32-i386?