How much time will gentoo take to compile webkit-gtk-2.46.5 on Intel(R) Celeron(R) N2806 (2) @ 2.00 GHz with a integrated GPU and 4gb of RAM
Estimating a compile time for a heavy package like webkit-gtk-2.46.5 on a system with an Intel® Celeron® N2806 (2 cores @ 2.00 GHz), integrated GPU, and 4 GB RAM is challenging because several factors come into play. However, here’s a detailed breakdown of the considerations and a rough estimation based on anecdotal reports and community experiences:
Key Factors Affecting Compile Time
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CPU Performance & Cores
- Clock Speed & Architecture: The N2806, while operating at 2.00 GHz, is a low-power processor compared to more modern or higher-performance CPUs. Its architecture is less efficient when handling heavily threaded compilation tasks.
- Number of Cores: With only 2 cores available, you cannot expect the benefit of extensive parallel builds. Many builds rely on parallel compilation (using flags like
-j2 or higher), so having fewer cores means tasks will queue up.
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Memory and Swap
- Available RAM: 4 GB of RAM can become a bottleneck for large codebases like WebKitGTK. Insufficient RAM might force the system to rely on swap, which can substantially slow down the process.
- Disk I/O: If your swap or disk is on a slower HDD instead of an SSD, this will further affect performance.
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Build Configuration & Optimizations
- USE Flags and Gentoo Overlays: Specific USE flags can add or remove components from the build, impacting compile time.
- Incremental vs. Clean Build: A clean, first-time full compile will take considerably longer than subsequent incremental builds.
- Tooling: Utilizing tools like ccache or a distributed compiler (e.g., distcc) can improve compile times, but on a low-end system, the benefits may be limited by the hardware itself.
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Package Complexity
- WebKitGTK Complexity: As one of the more resource-intensive packages, webkit-gtk involves compiling many modules and has a complex dependency tree, which naturally leads to longer compile times.
Rough Estimation
Based on various reports from users with similar low-power hardware and the inherent complexity of compiling the WebKit engine, you can expect:
- A first-time, full compile: Likely in the range of 6 to 12 hours.
- Lower Range (6–8 hours): This assumes optimal conditions—using aggressive compiler optimizations, ensuring minimal background tasks, and possibly leveraging any caching strategies.
- Higher Range (10–12+ hours): On systems where memory pressure forces reliance on swap or where the build environment isn’t as optimized, compile times can stretch longer.
Keep in mind that these figures are estimates. Actual time may vary due to:
- Variations in disk speed (SSD vs. HDD)
- Any background processes or system overhead
- The specific patches or USE flags applied in your Gentoo configuration
Final Thoughts
While these numbers are derived from community anecdotes and the generally known behavior of building large packages on entry-level hardware, your mileage may vary. If you find the compile time to be a hindrance, you might consider:
- Precompiled binary packages where possible.
- Using ccache to speed up subsequent builds.
- Exploring alternative configurations or lighter packages if a full WebKit build is non-essential.
For the most accurate estimate, consider running a test build of a similar (if not identical) package on your system and extrapolating the build time for webkit-gtk from there.
This detailed estimation should give you a realistic idea of what to expect on your specific Gentoo setup.