Re: GMP builds 64-bit binaries when asked for a 32-bit build

[Bruno Haible]

> The fundamental problem with this is that while the GNU Coding Standards [1]
> are fuzzy about this issue, there are now two opposite ways to specify
> the ABI.

How about combining the benefits of both ways, like this:

  - If an ABI=32 or ABI=64 specification is passed on the configure
    command line or through the environment, then configure modifies
    $CC, $CXX, $F77, $FC with -m32 or -m64, as appropriate.

  - If an ABI=32 or ABI=64 specification is not present, then configure
    leaves $CC, $CXX, $F77, $FC unmodified.

The first case will be an improvement for all packages except GMP:
People who install a package can think about the ABI in an abstract way
and delegate the choice of -m32/-m64 to configure.

The second case will be an improvement for GMP: It will make the default
ABI depend on the compiler, like all other GNU programs currently do.

Bruno