How to increase the gcc executable stack size?

Question

I have large Boost/Spirit metaprogram that is blowing gcc's stack when I try to compile it.

How can I increase gcc's stack size, so I can compile this program?

Note: There's no infinite recursion going on, but there is enough incidental recursion to exhaust gcc's stack.

Cryptocrystalline

I'm curious - what are you working on? Having your metaprograms blow the stack on the compiler is quite a feat. – Elnaelnar

I'm working on a DSL for real-time event analysis in a distributed rules engine. – Cryptocrystalline

Answer 1

On Linux, you can expand the stack size in /etc/security/limits.conf.

You can check your current stack size by using

$ ulimit -s
8192

Then expand the stack to be double than that:

youruser    soft    stack    16384

And then relog.

This will increase stack size for all executable you're running, not just GCC's.

Dividend

If it's a soft-limit, it can be increased without re-logging in by entering ulimit -s <limit>. This only applies for the current shell of course. – Sprain

I just used some very big value: sourav soft stack 2000000. Then I was unable to launch apps like chromium and falkon and edge browsers on Linux! They were all writing 10 GB to my SSD when I launched them... – Maricruzmaridel

Answer 2

I use that in my compiler script:

CFLAGS += -Wl,--stack,10485760

Thermae

Answer 3

The stack size can be configured during linking. You should look at details regarding the linker scripts. That will only change the stack size for your single programme.

Zonazonal