Mike Long <mike.long@analog.com> writes:

[my complaining about having to edit /usr/src/lib/libm/Makefile to
take advantage of my FPU deleted]

> AFAIK, the problem isn't that i386s will run code using the full range
> of FPU instructions slowly, but that they won't run it at all.  The
> reason is that the FPU emulator is lacking.

In spite of this, I would argue that technology marches on and the
default at this point should be to assume an FPU. I just hate having
to remember to uncomment that Makefile section every time I build the
world. And it always makes me wonder what performance I'm losing
elsewhere by not making undocumented edits to randomly placed source
files elsewhere. If these kind of decisions come up elsewhere in
userland, perhaps there should be a centralized config-style process
for configuring your userland build as well as your kernel. Ideas?

-- 
..nathaniel daw..........................................daw@panix.com..
 .ok soda may be the preferred drink of other people, such as yourself.