g++-multilib conflicts with g++-4.8-multilib-powerpc-linux-gnu

[Brad Keifenheim]

Hello,

I'm setting up C++ compilers in Ubuntu 14.04 amd64.

I ran:
"sudo apt-get install build-essential"

That worked for the normal stuff, but I found it wasn't enough for a 32-bit compile:
"g++ -m32 hello_world.cpp -o hello_world"

To fix that, based on internet research, I installed the multilib:
"sudo apt-get install g++-multilib"

Then I wanted to compile for the powerpc architecture. Refer to <http://packages.ubuntu.com/source/trusty/gcc-4.8-powerpc-cross>:
"sudo apt-get install g++-4.8-powerpc-linux-gnu"

In the suggests section, apt recommends package g++-4.8-multilib-powerpc-linux-gnu.
"sudo apt-get install g++-4.8-multilib-powerpc-linux-gnu"

Apt then tells me that g++-multilib will be removed! If I do so, I can no longer compile hello_world on the amd64 machine.

Why do these two packages conflict with each other? My hello world tests show that without g++-multilib I cannot build 32 bit applications on the amd64. Without g++-4.8-multilib-powerpc-linux-gnu I'm unable to cross compile for 64 bit powerpc.

Is it possible for these two packages to coexist on the system?

Thank you much for your help.

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

Status changed to 'Confirmed' because the bug affects multiple users.

[Andrea Mazzoleni (amadvance)]

I'm also affected by this bug.

Does anyone has a workaround for it ?

Thanks!

[Matthias Klose (doko)]

> Why do these two packages conflict with each other?

the gcc-multilib package installs a /usr/include/asm symlink to some header files which are installed for the non-default multilib. This can be wrongly picked up by the cross compiler, therefore the conflict.

[Andrea Mazzoleni (amadvance)]

The workaround I'm using is to install gcc-4.8-multilib instead of gcc-multilib.

This one doesn't conflict.