1652068 - Configure script should say why it uses a certain compiler

Status: RESOLVED FIXED

(Firefox Build System :: General, enhancement, P5)

Description

[Kai Engert [:KaiE:]]

Yesterday, we spent hours investigating why a specific compiler was used on my macOS system (a compiler that didn't work).

It turned out that the configure script has internal logic to decide which compiler is used, based on environmental factors such as the release branch:

Suggestion:

The configure script should print a message, near the output that is printed for testing compilers, that explains the detection strategy.

It could be as simple as "preferring the use of globally installed compilers, because building a release" or "preferring the use of the mozbuild compiler".

Thanks to :froydnj who eventually solved the mystery.
Thanks also to :dmajor and :padenot who also helped.

Comment 1

[Mitchell Hentges [:mhentges] 🦀]

Attachment: Bug 1652068: Log mozbuild prioritization on configure path

The order in which toolchain binaries are resolved change based on environmental factors,
such as whether Firefox is being built in release mode or not.

An informative log was added in either case.

Comment 2

[Pulsebot]

Pushed by [e-mail]:
https://hg.mozilla.org/integration/autoland/rev/9fffa3ba4729
Log mozbuild prioritization on configure path r=firefox-build-system-reviewers,rstewart

Comment 3

[Sebastian Hengst [:aryx] (needinfo me if it's about an intermittent or backout)]

https://hg.mozilla.org/mozilla-central/rev/9fffa3ba4729