Using the IBM SDK Migration Advisor

Body

We get a number of questions these days on porting from x86 systems to Linux on Power, in particular around Little Endian.    IT turns out there are a number of things to consider, let's make a list of things to be aware of

• ppc64le is 64bit only; code and/or makefile potentially will need changes
• x86 specific intrinsics/built-ins are often hidden in the code
• x86 specific APIs, easy for the tools to find
• x86 asm code, not common, but surprisingly used here and there 
• natural build flags differences (ex. mcpu=)
• potential packaging change (RPM > deb), package scripting
• tuning/optimization differences - but that's generally the follow-on phase

Out on Youtube, there are a number of videos for using the IBM SDK.   Browse and review as your interest drives you.

• https://www.google.com/search?btnG=1&pws=0&q=youtube.com%3A+ibm+sdk+for+powerlinux

On IBM's DeveloperWorks, there's a quick video available of a demo of the Migration Advisor.   

• http://www.ibm.com/developerworks/offers/lp/demos/summary/l-maquickfixpowerlinux.html

On IBM's InfoCenter, there's a good guide which describes using the IBM SDK, with a specific chapter on the Migration Advisor

• IBM SDK: http://pic.dhe.ibm.com/infocenter/lnxinfo/v3r0m0/index.jsp?topic=%2Fliaal%2Fiplsdkmain.htm
• Migration Advisor: http://pic.dhe.ibm.com/infocenter/lnxinfo/v3r0m0/index.jsp?topic=%2Fliaal%2Fiplsdkmigrateproj.htm

For a feel of what's available in the Code Analysis section..  and a sample assessment of a common x86 application.. see the following images.

We highly recommend downloading the IBM SDK and start playing!    http://www-304.ibm.com/webapp/set2/sas/f/lopdiags/sdklop.html