Dr. H. Nikolaus Schaller Information Technology Research Initiative (DSITRI) has launched its Zaurus-X-gcc cross-compiler package for Mac OS X, a binary distribution that targets ARM-Linux as used on the Sharp Zaurus 5500. The package uses Apple's free “December 2002 developer tools” including Project Builder, includes gcc-2.95.3 and glibc 2.2.2, and supports Objective C as well as C and C++.

DSITRI claims that developing Zaurus software on a Macintosh is interesting because:

• Both systems have a UNIX/POSIX base.
• Apple developer tools are rather stable and gcc based.
• Using mySTEP/GNUstep (which is still under development) will allow development of Objective-C applications that run on PowerPC MacOS X as well as on the Zaurus.

DSITRI lists the following features for the Zaurus-X-gcc package:

• binutils [2.13.1] binutils [2.13.1]
• glibc [2.2.2] including libobjc
• Zaurus (Linux) kernel headers [2.4.6]
• libtiff [3.5.7] and headers
• libavcall [1.6] and headers
• X11R6 libraries, headers linked to Apple X11R6
• most recent mySTEP libraries and headers [1.0] (this is a Foundation&AppKit library like Cocoa on MacOS X and is a clone of GNUstep)
• nib2gmodel [0.8.6]
• makefile to be included into Project Builder for compiling Fat Binary application bundles (MacOS and Linux-ARM)
• Complete binary distribution, i.e. a simple .pgk installer file
• User mode installation (i.e. no root password required) to /Developers/Zaurus-X-gcc
• Public open source licence (GNU/GPL)
• Requires
  • MacOS X 10.2 (or later)
  • December 2002 Developer Tools (Project Builder 2.1 etc.)
  • Apple X11R6 SDK

The latest version can be downloaded (42 MB) from the Dsitri Web site. Requirements are:

• MacOS X 10.2
• December 2002 Developer Tools
• Apple X11R6 SDK

 
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