[FIXED] How to Install compiler g++-4.8.5 in ubuntu 20.04

Issue

As the title said I can't install that specific version of g++ in my current ubuntu (20.04).

I have been trying the usual things as: sudo apt install g++- (and displaying all posibilities but there where only versions from 8 to 10). Same happend looking for gcc possibilities.

Also tried this: gist.github.com/application2000/73fd6f4bf1be6600a2cf9f56315a2d91 (same problem)

And after looking for a while I gave up in my research and ended up here. Hope someone with more wisdom than me can give my a hand with this.

Solution

These steps should work:

sudo dpkg --add-architecture i386
sudo apt update
sudo apt upgrade
sudo apt-get install gcc-multilib libstdc++6:i386
wget https://ftp.gnu.org/gnu/gcc/gcc-4.8.5/gcc-4.8.5.tar.bz2 --no-check-certificate
tar xf gcc-4.8.5.tar.bz2
# cd gcc-4.8.5
# ./contrib/download_prerequisites
# cd ..
sed -i -e 's/__attribute__/\/\/__attribute__/g' gcc-4.8.5/gcc/cp/cfns.h
sed -i 's/struct ucontext/ucontext_t/g' gcc-4.8.5/libgcc/config/i386/linux-unwind.h
mkdir xgcc-4.8.5
pushd xgcc-4.8.5
$PWD/../gcc-4.8.5/configure --enable-languages=c,c++ --prefix=/usr --enable-shared --enable-plugin --program-suffix=-4.8.5
make MAKEINFO="makeinfo --force" -j
sudo make install -j

Note that you have to uncomment the .../download_prerequisites on some platform. For me it worked without on Centos 7 or Ubuntu 20 with the mandatory packages installed:

Ubuntu/Debian:

sudo apt install make wget git gcc g++ lhasa libgmp-dev libmpfr-dev libmpc-dev flex bison gettext texinfo ncurses-dev autoconf rsync

Centos:

sudo yum install wget gcc gcc-c++ python git perl-Pod-Simple gperf patch autoconf automake make makedepend bison flex ncurses-devel gmp-devel mpfr-devel libmpc-devel gettext-devel texinfo

Few seconds later (/giggles) gcc-4.8.5 is installed and available. Notes:

1. if you don't have the resources to run make -j omit -j or use -j4 (or a different number which is adequate for your system)
2. your milage may vary and you may need to install further i386 packages

Answered By - bebbo

Answer Checked By - David Goodson (PHPFixing Volunteer)