@phnt @dcc @Inginsub @p Yes, apple happened to use gcc as the default compiler and made improvements, but that does not mean apple was the sole reason GCC existed.

I doubt it had much to do with them changing to GPLv3-or-later, as that gives *more* permissions that GPLv2, and the GPLv3 actually *permits* tivotization for commercial-only hardware, unlike the GPLv2, which totally forbids tivotization (copes incoming from those who have not read the GPLv2).

Apple saw that there was work done by some people on a GCC backend and it was possible to get that backend under a weak license and then they encouraged/funded a frontend under a weak license, resulting in a functionally acceptable compiler that could be rendered proprietary and used as a yoke of unjust power to take the users freedom when deemed suitable.


Just because something is inconvenient because it is slow doesn't make it unusable.