Re: 2.4 / 2.5 compatibility?

[Mike Frysinger <vapier at gentoo dot org>]

On Thursday 25 June 2009 16:11:34 David Morris wrote:
> I'm working on a project to get a large suite of software compile on
> SuSE 10 (glibc 2.4) running on RedHat 5.3 (glibc 2.5).  Recompiling
> the software must be avoided if at all possible.
>
> The software seems to run with no problems, though we have only tested
> a tiny fraction of the functionality.  However, I (and others I have
> talked to) have the impression that running with a different version
> of glibc than software was compiled against is a "Bad Thing (tm)".
>
> Anyone know if there are any problems we can expect?  Or am I mistaken
> that there is a glibc version compatibility problem?

your understanding isnt 100% complete, but it's fairly close.  building code 
against one version of glibc and then attempting to use it under an *older* 
glibc is not going to work (well, it might accidentally work, but it is 
absolutely not supported).  going the opposite way however -- building code 
against one version and using it under a *newer* version -- is absolutely 
supported and should always work.  if it doesnt work, then it's a bug and you 
should report it.  it might be that said bug has already been fixed in even 
newer versions of glibc, in which case do not expect anything older to be 
fixed.  HTH.
-mike

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