bk99.de entertain the web since 1997

bk99.de
HN · ToolchainCurated

Swift Static Linux SDK

Summary

The Swift team explains cross-platform, fully statically linked Linux programs with the official Static Linux SDK. The SDK supports static Linux builds with musl. SwiftPM can list installed SDKs and select them specifically.

Ideas

  • The SDK bundles the Swift compiler, libraries and a musl-based target environment.
  • SwiftPM selects the target SDK via an explicit build parameter.
  • Static binaries reduce run-time dependencies on target systems.
  • Containers can encapsulate SDK installation and builds reproducibly.
  • Cross-compilation separates the build host and the Linux target architecture.

Insights

  • Simple distribution shifts complexity into the controlled build process.
  • Static artefacts improve portability but increase responsibility for security updates.
  • Official SDKs make cross-compilation more reliable than home-made toolchains.

Facts

  • The guide describes builds inside and outside containers.

Recommendations

  • Automate the SDK version, target architecture and checksums in CI.
  • Test DNS, time zones and certificate stores on minimal target systems.

References

Read the original article

Search the Web Archive

HN · 2025

Wild: a fast linker for Linux

David Lattimore develops Wild as a fast Rust linker for Linux with the long-term goal of incremental linking. Wild supports Linux on x86-64, ARM64 and RISC-V. LoongArch64 and PPC64LE have initial support.

HN · 2026

Asahi Linux 7.2: progress on Apple Silicon

James Calligeros describes how Asahi Linux brings together power-saving features, new Apple generations and direct video output. M3 devices now support the webcam, microphones, USB 3.0 and Thunderbolt. M4 and M5 systems reach working NVMe and initial PCIe device detection.

HN · 2026

htop explained

Pēteris Ņikiforovs explains every htop display and links it with Linux processes, the scheduler, memory management and procfs. /proc/loadavg provides load values, process counts and the most recently assigned PID. PID 1 traditionally belongs to the init process started at boot.