Bug 133674 – FEATURES=splitdebug should compress the debugging info files

• Product: Portage Development
• Status: RESOLVED WONTFIX

[Description Joe Wells 2006-05-18 04:10:14 UTC]

The splitdebug feature is great!  However, it would be even better if
it compressed the debugging info files.  Most of the files seem to be
up to 50% compressible with gzip and maybe bzip2 and more recent
compressors can do better.  Perhaps GDB can already handle compressed
debugging info files or can be enhanced to handle this.  Even if GDB
can't handle it, the necessary files can be uncompressed when needed
for debugging.  This way they will only take their full space when
actively needed.

[Comment 1 solar (RETIRED) 2006-05-18 04:20:54 UTC]

Sorry GDB does not have an option to read from a compressed elf file and I don't picture that changing anytime soon. Compressing them in the existing state would defeat the idea we are after (which is automatic loading by gdb)

If however you wish to come up with a patch for gdb that uses gzip/bzip2 then by all means file a bug with toolchain@ and wait till it gets accepted or rejected then reopen this bug.

[Comment 2 Joe Wells 2006-05-18 04:43:40 UTC]

GDB would not need to change.  It would be enough to have a script
that would uncompress just the needed files.  This could use ldd to
figure out which files are needed.

[Comment 3 solar (RETIRED) 2006-05-19 06:26:52 UTC]

(In reply to comment #2)
> GDB would not need to change. 

Yes it would.

> It would be enough to have a script
> that would uncompress just the needed files.  This could use ldd to
> figure out which files are needed.

That's a stupid idea. 
I don't think you understand how the splitdebug feature works.