[cfarm-users] cfarm110 and cfarm111 decommissioning on February 27

[Jeffrey Walton]

On Sun, Feb 15, 2026 at 2:57 AM Bruno Haible via cfarm-users <
cfarm-users at lists.tetaneutral.net> wrote:

> Paul Eggert wrote:
> > I tested for the compilation problem by compiling on cfarm111.cfarm.net
> with
> > /opt/IBM/xlc/16.1.0/bin/xlc. If you're using an older version of xlc,
> > that would explain why you see a compilation problem but I don't.
>
> Indeed, I was using the /usr/bin/xlc (which identifies itself as being from
> 2012).
>
> > I suppose if IBM doesn't care enough to make that compiler
> > easily available then free-software maintainers shouldn't care enough to
> > port to it.
>
> Yes. And likewise for AIX: If IBM doesn't care enough to make an AIX box
> available to the Free Software community with reasonable usage terms,
> and if IBM doesn't care enough any more to employ the leading GCC developer
> for AIX, then why should GNU package maintainers continue to worry about
> portability to AIX?


I think this is an echo chamber using flawed arguments.  Effectively what
is being argued is, if <X> does not support free software, then free
software should not support <X>.  I think that is a flawed argument.

Instead, I think the question to ask is, should free software support <X>,
where X is a compiler like XLC or a platform like AIX.  I think the answer
to that question is Yes, because it
maximizes user freedom, maximizes interoperability, ensures broad access to
GNU technology, and encourages collaboration
.

I also don't buy into the argument that the vendor no longer supports <X>,
so we should not support <X>.  I think that's another flawed argument.  IBM
and other companies like Microsoft and Google do not rule by fiat.  The
market determines what needs to be supported.  And I am not aware of free
software ever following external corporate policies.  What other company
policies does free software follow?

Jeff
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