Uhd-4.8.0.0 Compilation Fails With Gcc-15
Introduction
The Universal Hardware Driver (UHD) is a widely used software framework for developing and testing software-defined radios (SDRs). The latest version of UHD, 4.8.0.0, has been released with several new features and improvements. However, users who are trying to compile this version using the latest version of GCC (GNU Compiler Collection), GCC-15, may encounter compilation errors. In this article, we will discuss the reasons behind these compilation errors and provide possible solutions.
GCC-15 and C23 Standard
GCC-15 is the latest version of the GNU Compiler Collection, and it has several new features and improvements. One of the notable changes in GCC-15 is that it defaults to the C23 standard. The C23 standard is a new version of the C programming language that introduces several new features and changes. One of the changes in C23 is the introduction of a new keyword called "bool". This keyword is used to represent a boolean value, which can be either true or false.
Compilation Error
When trying to compile UHD-4.8.0.0 using GCC-15, users may encounter a compilation error. The error message is as follows:
In file included from uhd_dump.c:25:
uhd_dump.h:53:23: error: ‘bool’ cannot be defined via ‘typedef’
53 | typedef unsigned char bool;
| ^~~~
uhd_dump.h:53:23: note: ‘bool’ is a keyword with ‘-std=c23’ onwards
uhd_dump.h:53:1: warning: useless type name in empty declaration
53 | typedef unsigned char bool;
| ^~~~~~~
This error message indicates that the compiler is unable to define the "bool" keyword using a typedef statement. This is because the "bool" keyword is a reserved keyword in C23, and it cannot be defined using a typedef statement.
Possible Solutions
There are several possible solutions to this compilation error. One possible solution is to rename the "bool" keyword to a different name. This can be done by replacing the line typedef unsigned char bool; with a different name, such as typedef unsigned char my_bool;.
Another possible solution is to use the csdtdbool keyword instead of the "bool" keyword. This can be done by replacing the line typedef unsigned char bool; with the line typedef unsigned char csdtdbool;.
A third possible solution is to explicitly compile the UHD code using the -std=gnu17 flag. This flag tells the compiler to use the C17 standard, which does not have the "bool" keyword. This can be done by adding the flag -std=gnu17 to the compilation command.
Fedora and GCC-15
In Fedora, the default compiler is GCC-15, and it defaults to the C23 standard. This means that users who are trying to compile UHD-4.8.0.0 in Fedora may encounter the compilation error discussed above. To resolve this issue, Fedora has temporarily added the -std=gnu17 flag to the compilation command. This flag tells the compiler to use the C17 standard, which does not have the "bool" keyword.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the compilation error encountered when trying to compile UHD-4.8.0.0 using GCC-15 is due to the introduction of the "bool" keyword in the C23 standard. This keyword is a reserved keyword in C23, and it cannot be defined using a typedef statement. There are several possible solutions to this compilation error, including renaming the "bool" keyword, using the csdtdbool keyword, and explicitly compiling the UHD code using the -std=gnu17 flag. Fedora has temporarily added the -std=gnu17 flag to the compilation command to resolve this issue.
Future Work
There are several future work items related to this issue. One possible future work item is to update the UHD code to use the C23 standard and the "bool" keyword. This would require updating the UHD code to use the new keyword and to remove the typedef statement that defines the "bool" keyword. Another possible future work item is to add support for the C23 standard in the UHD code. This would require updating the UHD code to use the new features and changes introduced in the C23 standard.
References
Appendix
UHD-4.8.0.0 Compilation Command
The following is an example compilation command for UHD-4.8.0.0:
gcc -std=gnu17 -c uhd_dump.c
This command tells the compiler to use the C17 standard and to compile the uhd_dump.c file.
Fedora Compilation Command
The following is an example compilation command for UHD-4.8.0.0 in Fedora:
gcc -std=gnu17 -c uhd_dump.c
Introduction
In our previous article, we discussed the compilation error encountered when trying to compile UHD-4.8.0.0 using GCC-15. The error is due to the introduction of the "bool" keyword in the C23 standard, which is the default standard used by GCC-15. In this article, we will provide a Q&A section to answer some of the frequently asked questions related to this issue.
Q: What is the C23 standard?
A: The C23 standard is a new version of the C programming language that introduces several new features and changes. One of the changes in C23 is the introduction of a new keyword called "bool". This keyword is used to represent a boolean value, which can be either true or false.
Q: Why is the "bool" keyword causing a compilation error?
A: The "bool" keyword is a reserved keyword in C23, and it cannot be defined using a typedef statement. This is why the compiler is unable to define the "bool" keyword using a typedef statement, resulting in a compilation error.
Q: What are the possible solutions to this compilation error?
A: There are several possible solutions to this compilation error. One possible solution is to rename the "bool" keyword to a different name. Another possible solution is to use the csdtdbool keyword instead of the "bool" keyword. A third possible solution is to explicitly compile the UHD code using the -std=gnu17 flag.
Q: Why is Fedora using the -std=gnu17 flag?
A: Fedora is using the -std=gnu17 flag to resolve the compilation error encountered when trying to compile UHD-4.8.0.0 using GCC-15. The -std=gnu17 flag tells the compiler to use the C17 standard, which does not have the "bool" keyword.
Q: Can I update the UHD code to use the C23 standard and the "bool" keyword?
A: Yes, you can update the UHD code to use the C23 standard and the "bool" keyword. However, this would require updating the UHD code to use the new keyword and to remove the typedef statement that defines the "bool" keyword.
Q: What are the benefits of using the C23 standard and the "bool" keyword?
A: The C23 standard and the "bool" keyword provide several benefits, including improved code readability and maintainability. The "bool" keyword is a more explicit and intuitive way to represent boolean values, making the code easier to understand and maintain.
Q: Can I use the C23 standard and the "bool" keyword with other compilers?
A: Yes, you can use the C23 standard and the "bool" keyword with other compilers, such as GCC-14 and earlier versions. However, you would need to explicitly specify the C23 standard using the -std=c23 flag.
Q: What are the future work items related to this issue?
A: There are several future work items related to this issue, including updating the UHD code to use the C23 standard and the "bool" keyword, and adding support for the C23 standard in the UHD code.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the compilation error encountered when trying to compile UHD-4.8.0.0 using GCC-15 is due to the introduction of the "bool" keyword in the C23 standard. There are several possible solutions to this compilation error, including renaming the "bool" keyword, using the csdtdbool keyword, and explicitly compiling the UHD code using the -std=gnu17 flag. Fedora is using the -std=gnu17 flag to resolve this issue. We hope that this Q&A article has provided you with the information you need to resolve this issue.
References
Appendix
UHD-4.8.0.0 Compilation Command
The following is an example compilation command for UHD-4.8.0.0:
gcc -std=gnu17 -c uhd_dump.c
This command tells the compiler to use the C17 standard and to compile the uhd_dump.c file.
Fedora Compilation Command
The following is an example compilation command for UHD-4.8.0.0 in Fedora:
gcc -std=gnu17 -c uhd_dump.c
This command tells the compiler to use the C17 standard and to compile the uhd_dump.c file. The -std=gnu17 flag is added to the compilation command to resolve the compilation error discussed above.