macos - Using Homebrew with alternate GCC

Question

I've installed gcc-4.6 using the homebrew-alternatives gcc formula, but I can't seem to get it to use that GCC to install other formulas. Specifically Open-MPI and boost.

Does anyone know how to make Homebrew use this new compiler?

Thanks!

Answer 1

Homebrew can't adapt to other versions of gcc using command line options. You can easily override the older compiler, though, if you edit the open-mpi and boost formula. For example, you can add a few commands after the "def install" in open-mpi.rb:

  def install
    # Force compilation with gcc-4.6
    ENV['CC'] = '/usr/local/bin/gcc-4.6'
    ENV['LD'] = '/usr/local/bin/gcc-4.6'
    ENV['CXX'] = '/usr/local/bin/g++-4.6'

    # Compiler complains about link compatibility with FORTRAN otherwise
    ENV.delete('CFLAGS')
    ENV.delete('CXXFLAGS')

That worked for me on Lion. Good luck.