ExtUtils::CBuilder(3p) Perl Programmers Reference Guide #
ExtUtils::CBuilder(3p) Perl Programmers Reference Guide
NNAAMMEE #
ExtUtils::CBuilder - Compile and link C code for Perl modules
SSYYNNOOPPSSIISS #
use ExtUtils::CBuilder;
my $b = ExtUtils::CBuilder->new(%options);
$obj_file = $b->compile(source => 'MyModule.c');
$lib_file = $b->link(objects => $obj_file);
DDEESSCCRRIIPPTTIIOONN #
This module can build the C portions of Perl modules by invoking the
appropriate compilers and linkers in a cross-platform manner. It was
motivated by the "Module::Build" project, but may be useful for other
purposes as well. However, it is _n_o_t intended as a general cross-
platform interface to all your C building needs. That would have been a
much more ambitious goal!
MMEETTHHOODDSS #
new Returns a new "ExtUtils::CBuilder" object. A "config" parameter lets
you override "Config.pm" settings for all operations performed by the
object, as in the following example:
# Use a different compiler than Config.pm says
my $b = ExtUtils::CBuilder->new( config =>
{ ld => 'gcc' } );
A "quiet" parameter tells "CBuilder" to not print its "system()"
commands before executing them:
# Be quieter than normal
my $b = ExtUtils::CBuilder->new( quiet => 1 );
have_compiler
Returns true if the current system has a working C compiler and
linker, false otherwise. To determine this, we actually compile and
link a sample C library. The sample will be compiled in the system
tempdir or, if that fails for some reason, in the current directory.
have_cplusplus
Just like have_compiler but for C++ instead of C.
compile
Compiles a C source file and produces an object file. The name of
the object file is returned. The source file is specified in a
"source" parameter, which is required; the other parameters listed
below are optional.
"object_file"
Specifies the name of the output file to create. Otherwise the
"object_file()" method will be consulted, passing it the name of
the "source" file.
"include_dirs"
Specifies any additional directories in which to search for
header files. May be given as a string indicating a single
directory, or as a list reference indicating multiple
directories.
"extra_compiler_flags"
Specifies any additional arguments to pass to the compiler.
Should be given as a list reference containing the arguments
individually, or if this is not possible, as a string containing
all the arguments together.
“C++” #
Specifies that the source file is a C++ source file and sets
appropriate compiler flags
The operation of this method is also affected by the "archlibexp",
"cccdlflags", "ccflags", "optimize", and "cc" entries in "Config.pm".
link
Invokes the linker to produce a library file from object files. In
scalar context, the name of the library file is returned. In list
context, the library file and any temporary files created are
returned. A required "objects" parameter contains the name of the
object files to process, either in a string (for one object file) or
list reference (for one or more files). The following parameters are
optional:
lib_file
Specifies the name of the output library file to create.
Otherwise the "lib_file()" method will be consulted, passing it
the name of the first entry in "objects".
module_name
Specifies the name of the Perl module that will be created by
linking. On platforms that need to do prelinking (Win32, OS/2,
etc.) this is a required parameter.
extra_linker_flags
Any additional flags you wish to pass to the linker.
On platforms where "need_prelink()" returns true, "prelink()" will be
called automatically.
The operation of this method is also affected by the "lddlflags",
"shrpenv", and "ld" entries in "Config.pm".
link_executable
Invokes the linker to produce an executable file from object files.
In scalar context, the name of the executable file is returned. In
list context, the executable file and any temporary files created are
returned. A required "objects" parameter contains the name of the
object files to process, either in a string (for one object file) or
list reference (for one or more files). The optional parameters are
the same as "link" with exception for
exe_file
Specifies the name of the output executable file to create.
Otherwise the "exe_file()" method will be consulted, passing it
the name of the first entry in "objects".
object_file
my $object_file = $b->object_file($source_file);
Converts the name of a C source file to the most natural name of an
output object file to create from it. For instance, on Unix the
source file _f_o_o_._c would result in the object file _f_o_o_._o.
lib_file
my $lib_file = $b->lib_file($object_file);
Converts the name of an object file to the most natural name of a
output library file to create from it. For instance, on Mac OS X the
object file _f_o_o_._o would result in the library file _f_o_o_._b_u_n_d_l_e.
exe_file
my $exe_file = $b->exe_file($object_file);
Converts the name of an object file to the most natural name of an
executable file to create from it. For instance, on Mac OS X the
object file _f_o_o_._o would result in the executable file _f_o_o, and on
Windows it would result in _f_o_o_._e_x_e.
prelink
On certain platforms like Win32, OS/2, VMS, and AIX, it is necessary
to perform some actions before invoking the linker. The
"ExtUtils::Mksymlists" module does this, writing files used by the
linker during the creation of shared libraries for dynamic
extensions. The names of any files written will be returned as a
list.
Several parameters correspond to "ExtUtils::Mksymlists::Mksymlists()"
options, as follows:
Mksymlists() prelink() type
-------------|-------------------|-------------------
NAME | dl_name | string (required)
DLBASE | dl_base | string
FILE | dl_file | string
DL_VARS | dl_vars | array reference
DL_FUNCS | dl_funcs | hash reference
FUNCLIST | dl_func_list | array reference
IMPORTS | dl_imports | hash reference
VERSION | dl_version | string
Please see the documentation for "ExtUtils::Mksymlists" for the
details of what these parameters do.
need_prelink
Returns true on platforms where "prelink()" should be called during
linking, and false otherwise.
extra_link_args_after_prelink
Returns list of extra arguments to give to the link command; the
arguments are the same as for pprreelliinnkk(()), with addition of array
reference to the results of pprreelliinnkk(()); this reference is indexed by
key "prelink_res".
TTOO DDOO #
Currently this has only been tested on Unix and doesn't contain any of
the Windows-specific code from the "Module::Build" project. I'll do that
next.
HHIISSTTOORRYY #
This module is an outgrowth of the "Module::Build" project, to which
there have been many contributors. Notably, Randy W. Sims submitted lots
of code to support 3 compilers on Windows and helped with various other
platform-specific issues. Ilya Zakharevich has contributed fixes for
OS/2; John E. Malmberg and Peter Prymmer have done likewise for VMS.
SSUUPPPPOORRTT #
ExtUtils::CBuilder is maintained as part of the Perl 5 core. Please
submit any bug reports via the _p_e_r_l_b_u_g tool included with Perl 5. Bug
reports will be included in the Perl 5 ticket system at
<https://rt.perl.org>.
The Perl 5 source code is available at
<https://perl5.git.perl.org/perl.git> and ExtUtils-CBuilder may be found
in the _d_i_s_t_/_E_x_t_U_t_i_l_s_-_C_B_u_i_l_d_e_r directory of the repository.
AAUUTTHHOORR #
Ken Williams, kwilliams@cpan.org
Additional contributions by The Perl 5 Porters.
CCOOPPYYRRIIGGHHTT #
Copyright (c) 2003-2005 Ken Williams. All rights reserved.
This library is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it
under the same terms as Perl itself.
SSEEEE AALLSSOO #
ppeerrll(1), MMoodduullee::::BBuuiilldd(3)
perl v5.36.3 2023-02-15 ExtUtils::CBuilder(3p)