How to get new GCC compiler (IDFGH-5101)

[0xFEEDC0DE64]

I noticed when sourcing the export.sh of esp-idf 4.4-dev I get a gcc compiler version 8.4.0:

$ xtensa-esp32-elf-g++ --version
xtensa-esp32-elf-g++ (crosstool-NG esp-2020r3) 8.4.0
Copyright (C) 2018 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
This is free software; see the source for copying conditions.  There is NO
warranty; not even for MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.

But then I noticed Arch Linux already has version 10. How can I get version 10 with esp-idf and without using distro provided compilers?

https://aur.archlinux.org/packages/xtensa-esp32-elf-gcc/

[negativekelvin]

Those are unofficial builds and do not include all espressif patches. Latest releases are here https://github.com/espressif/crosstool-NG/releases

[0xFEEDC0DE64]

Ok got that, how can I stop the esp-idf export.sh from changing the PATH so that the outdated 8.4.0 compiler binaries are used and instead the distro provided ones from /usr/bin/xtensa-esp32-elf-gcc are used?

[0xFEEDC0DE64]

Is there any esp-idf provided way to override the compiler?

[igrr]

Hi @0xFEEDC0DE64, adding the toolchain bin directory as the first entry of PATH should be sufficient.

For example, you can run . export.sh and then do export PATH=/path/to/my/toolchain/bin:$PATH.

Or, don't run . export.sh at all, and add the necessary directories (Python virtual environment, cross-compiler toolchain, CMake, Ninja) to PATH yourself.

After doing this, remember to run idf.py fullclean or remove the build directory, as CMake normally caches the compiler path.

[0xFEEDC0DE64]

the cmake step already fails because the arch rebased gcc isn't able to compile simple small test programs. I understand that the development on gcc from espressif may have been stopped, but is there anything going on in regards to newer toolsets? Is llvm in consideration?

[igrr]

Yes we will definitely switch to a newer compiler version in one of the next IDF releases. I am sorry I can't give you more specific timeline. If you'd like to build GCC 10 yourself in the meantime, you can try the branches linked in espressif/crosstool-NG#11 (comment). Binary builds are also provided.

[0xFEEDC0DE64]

Any update on this? When is a c++20 capable compiler finally supported by the idf?

[b1ackviking]

According to this comment in #6214, it is planned to upgrade the toolchain to GCC 11.