lbuild 1.21.8

Generic, modular code generator using the Jinja2 template engine.

lbuild: generic, modular code generation in Python 3

The Library Builder (pronounced lbuild) is a BSD licensed Python 3 tool for describing repositories containing modules which can copy or generate a set of files based on the user provided data and options.

lbuild allows splitting up complex code generation projects into smaller modules with configurable options, and provides for their transparent discovery, documentation and dependency management. Each module is written in Python 3 and declares its options and how to generate its content via the Jinja2 templating engine or a file/folder copy.

You can install lbuild via PyPi: pip install lbuild

Projects using lbuild:

• modm generates a HAL for thousands of embedded devices using lbuild and a data-driven code generation pipeline.
• Taproot: a friendly control library and framework for RoboMaster robots uses lbuild.
• OUTPOST - Open modUlar sofTware PlatfOrm for SpacecrafT uses lbuild to assemble an execution platform targeted at embedded systems running mission critical software.

The dedicated maintainer of lbuild is @salkinium.

Overview

Consider this repository:

 $ lbuild discover
Parser(lbuild)
╰── Repository(repo @ ../repo)
    ├── Option(option) = value in [value, special]
    ├── Module(repo:module)
    │   ├── Option(option) = yes in [yes, no]
    │   ├── Module(repo:module:submodule)
    │   │   ╰── Option(option) = REQUIRED in [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
    │   ╰── Module(repo:module:submodule2)
    ╰── Module(modm:module2)

lbuild is called by the user with a configuration file which contains the repositories to scan, the modules to include and the options to configure them with:

<library>
  <repositories>
    <repository><path>../repo/repo.lb</path></repository>
  </repositories>
  <options>
    <option name="repo:option">special</option>
    <option name="repo:module:option">3</option>
  </options>
  <modules>
    <module>repo:module</module>
  </modules>
</library>

The repo.lb file is compiled by lbuild and the two functions init, prepare are called:

def init(repo):
    repo.name = "repo"
    repo.add_option(EnumerationOption(name="option",
                                      enumeration=["value", "special"],
                                      default="value"))

def prepare(repo, options):
    repo.find_modules_recursive("src")

This gives the repository a name and declares a string option. The prepare step adds all module files in the src/ folder.

Each module.lb file is then compiled by lbuild, and the three functions init, prepare and build are called:

def init(module):
    module.name = ":module"

def prepare(module, options):
    if options["repo:option"] == "special":
        module.add_option(EnumerationOption(name="option", enumeration=[1, 2, 3, 4, 5]))
        return True
    return False

def build(env):
    env.outbasepath = "repo/module"
    env.copy("static.hpp")
    for number in range(env["repo:module:option"]):
        env.template("template.cpp.in", "template_{}.cpp".format(number + 1))

The init step sets the module's name and its parent name. The prepare step then adds a EnumerationOption and makes the module available, if the repository option is set to "special". Finally in the build step, a number of files are generated based on the option's content.

The files are generated at the call-site of lbuild build which would then look something like this:

 $ ls
main.cpp        project.xml
 $ lbuild build
 $ tree
.
├── main.cpp
├── repo
│   ├── module
│   │   ├── static.hpp
│   │   ├── template_1.cpp
│   │   ├── template_2.cpp
│   │   └── template_3.cpp

Documentation

The above example shows a minimal feature set, but lbuild has a few more tricks up its sleeves. Let's have a look at the API in more detail with examples from the modm repository.

Command Line Interface

Before you can build a project you need to provide a configuration. lbuild aims to make discovery easy from the command line:

 $ lbuild --repository ../modm/repo.lb discover
Parser(lbuild)
╰── Repository(modm @ ../modm)   modm: a barebone embedded library generator
    ╰── Option(target) = REQUIRED in [at90can128, at90can32, at90can64, ...

This gives you an overview of the repositories and their options. In this case the modm:target repository option is required, so let's check that out:

 $ lbuild -r ../modm/repo.lb discover-options
modm:target = REQUIRED in [at90can128, at90can32, at90can64, at90pwm1, at90pwm161, at90pwm2,
                           ... a really long list ...
                           stm32l4s9vit, stm32l4s9zij, stm32l4s9zit, stm32l4s9ziy]

  Meta-HAL target device

You can then choose this repository option and discover the available modules for this specific repository option:

 $ lbuild -r ../modm/repo.lb --option modm:target=stm32f407vgt discover
Parser(lbuild)
╰── Repository(modm @ ../modm)   modm: a barebone embedded library generator
    ├── Option(target) = stm32f407vgt in [at90can128, at90can32, at90can64, ...]
    ├── Configuration(modm:disco-f407vg)
    ├── Module(modm:board)   Board Support Packages
    │   ╰── Module(modm:board:disco-f469ni)   STM32F469IDISCOVERY
    ├── Module(modm:build)   Build System Generators
    │   ├── PathOption(build.path) = build/parent-folder in [String]
    │   ├── Option(project.name) = parent-folder in [String]
    │   ╰── Module(modm:build:scons)  SCons Build Script Generator
    │       ├── Option(info.build) = no in [yes, no]
    │       ╰── Option(info.git) = Disabled in [Disabled, Info, Info+Status]
    ├── Module(modm:platform)   Platform HAL
    │   ├── Module(modm:platform:can)   Controller Area Network (CAN)
    │   │   ╰── Module(modm:platform:can:1)   Instance 1
    │   │       ├── Option(buffer.rx) = 32 in [1 .. 32 .. 65534]
    │   │       ╰── Option(buffer.tx) = 32 in [1 .. 32 .. 65534]
    │   ├── Module(modm:platform:core)   ARM Cortex-M Core
    │   │   ├── Option(allocator) = newlib in [block, newlib, tlsf]
    │   │   ├── Option(main_stack_size) = 3072 in [256 .. 3072 .. 65536]
    │   │   ╰── Option(vector_table_location) = rom in [ram, rom]

You can now discover all module options in more detail:

 $ lbuild -r ../modm/repo.lb -D modm:target=stm32f407vgt discover-options
modm:target = stm32f407vgt in [at90can128, at90can32, at90can64, ...]

  Meta-HAL target device

modm:build:build.path = build/parent-folder in [String]

  Path to the build folder

modm:build:project.name = parent-folder in [String]

  Project name for executable

Or check out specific module and option descriptions:

 $ lbuild -r ../modm/repo.lb -D modm:target=stm32f407vgt discover -n :build
>> modm:build

# Build System Generators

This parent module defines a common set of functionality that is independent of
the specific build system generator implementation.

>>>> modm:build:project.name  [StringOption]

# Project Name

The project name defaults to the folder name you're calling lbuild from.

Value: parent-folder
Inputs: [String]

>>>> modm:build:build.path  [StringOption]

# Build Path

The build path is defaulted to `build/{modm:build:project.name}`.

Value: build/parent-folder
Inputs: [String]

The complete lbuild command line interface is available with lbuild -h.

Configuration

Even though lbuild can be configured sorely via the command line, it is strongly recommended to create a configuration file (default is project.xml) which lbuild will search for in the current working directory.

<library>
  <repositories>
    <!-- Declare all your repository locations relative to this file here -->
    <repository><path>path/to/repo.lb</path></repository>
    <!-- You can also use environment variables in all nodes -->
    <repository><path>${PROJECTHOME}/repo2.lb</path></repository>
    <!-- You can also search for repository files -->
    <glob>ext/**/repo.lb</glob>
  </repositories>
  <!-- You can also inherit from another configfile. The options you specify
       here will be overwritten. -->
  <extends>path/to/config.xml</extends>
  <!-- A repository may provide aliases for configurations, so that you can
       use a string as well, instead of a path. This saves you from knowing
       exactly where the configuration file is stored in the repo.
       See also `repo.add_configuration(...)`. -->
  <extends>repo:name_of_config</extends>
  <!-- A configuration alias may also be versioned -->
  <extends>repo:name_of_config:specific_version</extends>
  <!-- You can declare the *where* the output should be generated, default is cwd -->
  <outpath>generated/folder</outpath>
  <options>
    <!-- Options are treated as key-value pairs -->
    <option name="repo:repo_option_name">value</option>
    <!-- An option set is the only one allowing multiple values -->
    <option name="repo:module:module_option_name">set, options, may, contain, commas</option>
  </options>
  <modules>
    <!-- You only need to declare the modules you are actively using.
         The dependencies are automatically resolved by lbuild. -->
    <module>repo:module</module>
    <module>repo:other_module:submodule</module>
  </modules>
</library>

On startup, lbuild will search the current working directory upwards for one or more lbuild.xml files, which if found, are used as the base configuration, inherited by all other configurations. This is very useful when several projects all require the same repositories, and you don't want to specify each repository path for each project.

<library>
  <repositories>
    <repository><path>path/to/common/repo.lb</path></repository>
  </repositories>
  <modules>
    <module>repo:module-required-by-all</module>
  </modules>
</library>

In the simplest case your project just <extends> this base config.

<library>
  <extends>repo:config-name</extends>
</library>

Files

lbuild properly imports the declared repository and modules files, so you can use everything that Python has to offer. In addition to importing your required modules, lbuild provides these global functions and classes for use in all files:

• localpath(path): remaps paths relative to the currently executing file. All paths are already interpreted relative to this file, but you can use this to be explicit.
• repopath(path): remaps paths relative to the repository file. You should use this to reference paths that are not related to your module.
• listify(obj): turns obj into a list, maps None to empty list.
• listrify(obj): turns obj into a list of strings, maps None to empty list.
• uniquify(obj): turns obj into a unique list, maps None to empty list.
• FileReader(path): reads the contents of a file and turns it into a string.
• {*}Option(...): classes for describing options, see Options.
• {*}Query(...): classes for sharing code and data, see Queries.
• {*}Collector(...): classes for describing metadata sinks, see Collectors.
• Alias(...): links to other nodes, see Aliases.
• Configuration(...): links to a configuration inside the repository.

Repositories

lbuild calls these three functions for any repository file:

• init(repo): provides name, documentation and other global functionality.
• prepare(repo, options): adds all module files for this repository.
• build(env) (optional): only called if at least one module within the repository is built. It is meant for actions that must be performed for any module, like generating a global header file, or adding to the include path.

# You can use everything Python has to offer
import antigravity

def init(repo):
    # You must give your repository a name, and it must be unique within the
    # scope of your project as it is used for namespacing all modules
    repo.name = "name"
    # You can set a repository description here, either as an inline string
    repo.description = "Repository Description"
    # or as a multi-line string
    repo.description = """
Multiline description.

Use whatever markup you want, lbuild treats it all as text.
"""
    # or read it from a separate file altogether
    repo.description = FileReader("module.md")

    # lbuild displays the descriptions as-is, without any modification, however,
    # you can set a custom format handler to change this for your repo.
    # NOTE: Custom format handlers are applied to all modules and options.
    def format_description(node, description):
        # in modm there's unit test metadata in HTML comments, let's remove them
        description = re.sub(r"\n?<!--.*?-->\n?", "", description, flags=re.S)
        # forward this to the default formatter
        return node.format_description(node, description)
    repo.format_description = format_description

    # You can also format the short descriptions for the discover views
    def format_short_description(node, description):
        # Remove the leading # from the Markdown headers
        return node.format_short_description(node, description.replace("#", ""))
    repo.format_short_description = format_short_description

    # Add ignore patterns for all repository modules
    # ignore patterns follow fnmatch rules
    repo.add_ignore_patterns("*/*.lb", "*/board.xml")

    # Add Jinja2 filters for all repository modules
    # NOTE: the filter is namespaced with the repository! {{ "A" | repo.number }} -> 65
    repo.add_filter("repo.number", lambda char: ord(char))

    # Add an alias for a internal configuration
    # NOTE: the configuration is namespaced with the repository! <extends>repo:config</extends>
    repo.add_configuration(Configuration(name="config",
                                         description="Special Config",
                                         path="path/to/config.xml")
    # You can also add configuration versions
    repo.add_configuration(Configuration(name="config2",
                                         description="Versioned Config",
                                         path={"v1": "path/to/config_v1.xml",
                                               "v2": "path/to/config_v2.xml"})

    # See Options for more option types
    repo.add_option(StringOption(name="option", default="value"))


def prepare(repo, options):
    # Access repository options via the `options` resolver
    if options["repo:option"] == "value":
        # Adds module files directly, or via globbing, all paths relative to this file
        repo.add_modules("folder/module.lb", repo.glob("*/*/module.lb"))
    # Searches recursively starting at basepath, adding any file that
    # fnmatch(`modulefile`), while ignoring fnmatch(`ignore`) patterns
    repo.add_modules_recursive(basepath=".", modulefile="*.lb", ignore="*/ignore/patterns/*")


# The build step is optional
def build(env):
    # Add the generated src/ folder to the header search path collector
    env.collect("::include_path", "src/")
    # See module.build(env) for complete feature description.

Modules

lbuild calls these five functions for any module file:

• init(module): provides module name, parent and documentation.
• prepare(module, options): enables modules, adds options and submodules by taking the repository options into consideration.
• validate(env) (optional): validate your inputs before building anything.
• build(env): generate your library and add metadata to build log.
• post_build(env, buildlog) (optional): access the build log after the build step completed.

Module files are provided with these additional global classes:

• Module: Base class for generated modules.
• ValidateException: Exception to be raised when the validate(env) step fails.

Note that in contrast to a repository, modules must return a boolean from the prepare(module, options) function, which indicates that the module is available for the repository option configuration. This allows for modules to "share" a name, but have completely different implementations.

The validate(env) step is used to validate the input for the build step, allowing for computations that can fail to raise a ValidateException("reason"). lbuild will collect these exceptions for all modules and display them together before aborting the build. This step is performed before each build, and you cannot generate any files in this step, only read the repository's state. You can manually call this step via the lbuild validate command.

The build(env) step is where the actual file generation happens. Here you can copy and generate files and folders from Jinja2 templates with the substitutions of you choice and the configuration of the modules. Each file operation is appended to a global build log, which you can also explicitly add metadata to.

The post_build(env) step is meant for modules that need to generate files which receive information from all built modules. The typically use-case here is generating scripts for build systems, which need to know about what files were generated and all module's metadata.

def init(module):
    # give your module a hierarchical name, the repository name is implicit
    module.name = "repo:name"
    module.name = ":name"      # same as this
    # You can set a module description here
    module.description = "Description"
    module.description = """Multiline"""
    module.description = FileReader("module.md")
    # modules can have their own formatters, works the same as for repositories
    module.format_description = custom_format_description
    module.format_short_description = custom_format_short_description
    # Add Jinja2 filters for this modules and all submodules
    # NOTE: the filter is namespace with the repository! {{ 65 | repo.character }} -> "A"
    module.add_filter("repo.character", lambda number: chr(number))


def prepare(module, options):
    # Access repository options via the `options` resolver
    if options["repo:option"] == "value":
        # Returning False from this step disables this module
        return False

    # modules can depend on other modules
    module.depends("repo:module1", ":module2", ":module3:submodule", ...)

    # You can add more submodules in files
    module.add_submodule("folder/submodule.lb")

    # You can generate more modules here. This is useful if you have a lot of
    # very similar modules (like instances of hardware peripherals) that you
    # don't want to create a module file for each for.
    class Instance(Module):
        def __init__(self, instance):
            self.instance = instance
        def init(self, module):
            module.name = str(self.instance)
        def prepare(self, module, options):
            pass
        def validate(self, env): # optional
            pass
        def build(self, env):
            pass
        def post_build(self, env): # optional
            pass

    # You can statically create and add these submodules
    for index in range(0, 5):
        module.add_submodule(Instance(index))
    # or make the creation dependent on a repository option
    for index in options["repo:instances"]:
        module.add_submodule(Instance(index))

    # See Options for more option types
    module.add_option(StringOption(name="option", default="world"))

    def common_operation(args):
        """
        You can share any function with other modules.
        This is useful to not have to duplicate code across module.lb files.
        """
        return args
    # See Queries for more query types
    module.add_query(Query(name="shared_function", function=common_operation))

    # You can collect information from active modules, to use any post_build step
    # See Collectors for more collector types
    module.add_collector(
        PathCollector(name="include_path", description="Global header search paths"))

    # Make this module available
    return True


# store data computed in validate step for build step.
build_data = None
# The validation step is optional
def validate(env):
    # Perform your input validations here
    # Access all options
    repo_option = env["repo:option"]
    defaulted_option = env.get("repo:module:option", default="hello")
    # Use proper logging instead of print() please
    # env.log.warning(...) and env.log.error(...) also available
    env.log.debug("Repo option: '{}'".format(repo_option))

    # You can query for options
    if env.has_option("repo:module:option") or env.has_module("repo:module"):
        env.log.info("Module option: '{}'".format(env["repo:module:option"]))

    # Call shared functions from other modules with arguments
    shared_function = env.query("repo:module:shared_function")
    result = shared_function("argument")
    # Or just precomputed properties without arguments
    data = env.query("repo:module:shared_property")

    # You may also use incomplete queries, see Name Resolution
    env.has_module(":module") # instead of repo:module
    env.has_option("::option") # repo:module:option
    # And use fnmatch queries
    # matches any module starting with `mod` and option starting with `name`.
    env.has_option(":mod*:name*")
    env.has_query("::shared_*")
    env.has_collector("::collector")

    # Raise a ValidateException if something is wrong
    if defaulted_option + repo_option != "hello world":
        raise ValidateException("Options are invalid because ...")

    # If you do heavy computations here for validation, you can store the
    # data in a global variable and reuse this for the build step
    global build_data
    build_data = defaulted_option * 2


# The build step can do everything the validation step can
# But now you can finally generate files
def build(env):
    # Set the output base path, this is relative to the lbuild invocation path
    env.outbasepath = "repo/module"

    # Copy single files
    env.copy("file.hpp")
    # Copy single files while renaming them
    env.copy("file.hpp", "cool_filename.hpp")
    # Relative paths are preserved!!!
    env.copy("../file.hpp") # copies to repo/file.hpp
    env.copy("../file.hpp", dest="file.hpp") # copies to repo/module/file.hpp

    # You can also copy entire folders
    env.copy("folder/", dest="renamed/")
    # and ignore specific RELATIVE files/folders
    env.copy("folder/", ignore=env.ignore_files("*.txt", "this_specific_file.hpp"))
    # or ignore specific ABSOLUTE paths
    env.copy("folder/", ignore=env.ignore_paths("*/folder/*.txt"))

    # You can also copy files out of a .zip or .tar archive
    env.extract("archive.zip") # everything inside the archive
    env.extract("archive.zip", dest="renamed/") # extract into folder
    # You can extract only parts of the archive, like a single file
    env.extract("archive.zip", src="filename.hpp", dest="renamed.hpp")
    # or an a single folder somewhere in the archive
    env.extract("archive.zip", src="folder/subfolder", dest="renamed/folder")
    # of course, you can ignore files and folders inside the archive too
    env.extract("archive.zip", src="folder", dest="renamed", ignore=env.ignore_files("*.txt"))

    # Set the global Jinja2 substitutions dictionary
    env.substitutions = {
        "hello": "world",
        "instances": map(str, env["repo:instances"]),
        "build_data": build_data, # from validation step
    }
    # and generate a file from a template
    env.template("template.hpp.in")
    # any `.in` postfix is automatically removed, unless you rename it
    for instance in env["repo:instances"]:
        env.template("template.hpp.in", "template_{}.hpp".format(instance))
    # You can explicitly add Jinja2 substitutions and filters
    env.template("template.hpp.in",
                 substitutions={"more": "subs"},
                 filters={"stringify": lambda i: str(i)})
    # Note: these filters are NOT namespaced with the repository name!

    # submodules are build first, so you can access the generated files
    headers = env.get_generated_local_files(lambda file: file.endswith(".hpp"))
    # and use this information for a new template.
    env.template("module_header.hpp.in", substitutions={"headers": headers})

    # Add values to a collector, all these are type checked
    env.collect("::include_path", "repo/must_be_valid_path/", "repo/folder2/")


# The post build step can do everything the build step can,
# but you can't add to the metadata anymore:
# - env.collect() unavailable
# You have access to the entire buildlog up to this point
def post_build(env):
    # The absolute path to the lbuild output directory
    outpath = env.buildlog.outpath

    # All modules that were built
    modules = env.buildlog.modules
    # All file generation operations that were done
    operations = env.buildlog.operations
    # All operations per module
    operations = env.buildlog.operations_per_module("repo:module")

    # iterate over all operations directly
    for operation in buildlog:
        # Get the module name that generated this file
        env.log.info("Module({}) generated the '{}' file"
                     .format(operation.module, operation.filename))
        # You can also get the filename relative to a subfolder in outpath
        env.relative_output(operation.filename, "subfolder/")
        # or as an absolute path
        env.real_output(operation.filename, "subfolder/")

    # get all include paths from all active modules
    include_paths = env.collector_values("::include_path")

Options

lbuild options are mappings from strings to Python objects. Each option must have a unique name within their parent repository or module. If you do not provide a default value, the option is marked as REQUIRED and the project cannot be built without it.

def prepare(module, options):
    # Add option to module
    option = Option(...)
    module.add_option(option)

def build(env):
    # Check if options exist
    exists = env.has_option(":module:option")
    # Access option value or use default if option doesn't exist
    value = env.get(":module:option", default="value")
    # Access option values, this may raise an exception if option doesn't exist
    value = env[":module:option"]

If your option requires a unique set of input values, you can tell lbuild to wrap the option into a set using module.add_set_option():

def prepare(module, options):
    # Add an option, but allow a set of unique values as input and output
    module.add_set_option(option)

def build(env):
    # a unique set of option values is returned here
    for value in env[":module:option"]:
        print(value)

Option sets are declared as comma-separated strings, so that inheriting configurations or passing option values via CLI can overwrite these sets. A StringOption cannot be wrapped into a set for this reasons, however, it's easy to split your string value in Python exactly how you want.

<!-- All comma separated values are validated by the option -->
<option name=":module:set-option">value, 1, obj</option>

If you want to preserve duplicates to count the number of inputs, use a list option module.add_list_option():

def prepare(module, options):
    # Add an option, but allow a list of values as input and output
    module.add_list_option(option)

def build(env):
    # a list of option values is returned here
    value_count = env[":module:option"].count("value")

Options can have a dependency handler which is called when the project configuration is merged into the module options. It will give you the chosen input value and you can return a number of module dependencies.

def add_option_dependencies(value):
    if special_condition(value):
        # return single dependency
        return "repo:module"
    if other_special_condition(value):
        # return multiple dependencies
        return [":module1", ":module2"]
    # No additional dependencies
    return None

StringOption

This is the most generic option, allowing to input any string. You may, however, provide your own validator that may raise a ValueError if the input string does not match your expectations. You may also pass a transformation function to convert the option value. The string is passed unmodified from the configuration to the module and the dependency handler.

def validate_string(string):
    if "please" not in string:
        raise ValueError("Input does not contain the magic word!")

def transform_string(string):
    return string.lower()

option = StringOption(name="option-name",
                      description="inline", # or FileReader("file.md")
                      default="default string",
                      validate=validate_string,
                      transform=transform_string,
                      dependencies=add_option_dependencies)

PathOption

This option operates on strings, but additionally validates them to be syntactically valid paths, so the filesystem accepts these strings as valid arguments to path operations. This option does not check if the path exists, or if it can be created, just if the string is properly formatted.

Since an empty string is not a valid path, but it can be useful to allow an empty string as an input value to encode a special case (like a "disable" value), you may set empty_ok=True to tell the path validation to ignore empty strings.

By default, the path input is not modified and must be correctly interpreted in the context of the module that uses it (usually relocated to the output path). However, if you want to input an existing path you should set absolute=True, so that lbuild can relocate the relative path declared in the config files to an absolute path, which is indepented of the CWD. This is particularly useful if you declare paths in config files that are not located at the project root, like options inherited from multiple lbuild.xml.

option = PathOption(name="option-name",
                    description="path",
                    default="path/to/folder/or/file",
                    empty_ok=False, # is an empty path considered valid?
                    absolute=False, # is the path relative to the config file?
                    validate=validate_path,
                    dependencies=add_option_dependencies)

BooleanOption

This option maps strings from true, yes, 1, enable to bool(True) and false, no, 0, disable to bool(False). You can extend this list with a custom transform handler. The dependency handler is passed this bool value.

def transform_boolean(string):
    if string == 'y': return True;
    if string == 'n': return False;
    return string # hand over to built-in conversion

option = BooleanOption(name="option-name",
                       description="boolean",
                       default=True,
                       transform=transform_boolean,
                       dependencies=add_option_dependencies)

NumericOption

This option allows a number from [-Inf, +Inf]. You can limit this to the range [minimum, maximum]. The values can be specified directly as numeric value or as a string, which is interpreted using the eval() function, so that you can describe values as more intuitive formulas when necessary. You can also suffix numbers with the SI multipliers K, M, G, T, Ki, Mi, Gi, and Ti to simplify formulas even further. Note that you should use strings to specify precise floating point values such as "1/3". The validation and dependency handlers are passed a numeric value.

option = NumericOption(name="option-name",
                       description="numeric",
                       minimum=0,
                       maximum="5Mi*2",
                       default="1K",
                       validate=validate_number,
                       dependencies=add_option_dependencies)

EnumerationOption

This option maps a string to any generic Python object. You can provide a list, set, tuple or range, the only limitation is that the objects must be convertible to a string for unique identification. If this is not possible, you can provide a dictionary with a manual mapping from string to object. The dependency handler is passed the string value.

option = EnumerationOption(name="option-name",
                           description="enumeration",
                           # must be implicitly convertible to string!
                           enumeration=["value", 1, obj],
                           # or use a dictionary explicitly
                           enumeration={"value": "value", "1": 1, "obj": obj},
                           default="1",
                           dependencies=add_option_dependencies)

Queries

It is sometimes necessary to share code and data between lbuild modules, which can be difficult when they are split across files and repositories. Queries allow you to share functions and computed properties with other modules using the global name resolution system.

def prepare(module, options):
    # Add queries to module
    query = Query(...)
    module.add_query(query)

def build(env):
    exists = env.has_query(":module:query")
    # Access query value or use default if query doesn't exist
    data = env.query(":module:query", default="value")

Note that queries must be stateless (aka. a pure function), since module build order is not guaranteed. You must enforce this property yourself.

You can discover all the available queries in your repository using lbuild discover --developer.

Query

This wraps any callable object into a query. By default the name is taken from the object's name, however, you may overwrite this. Note that when using a lambda function, you must provide a name. The description is taken from the objects docstring.

def shared_function(args):
    """
    Describe what this query does.

    :param args: what does it need?
    :returns: what does it return?
    """
    return args

query = Query(function=shared_function)
query = Query(name="different_name",
              function=shared_function)

EnvironmentQuery

This query's result is computed only once on demand and then cached.

The data must be returned from a factory function that gets passed the environment of the first module to access this query. The return value is then cached for all further accesses. This allows you to lazily compute your shared properties only once and only if accessed by any module.

def factory(env):
    """
    Describe what this query is about, but don't document the `env` argument.

    :returns: an immutable object
    """
    # You can read the build environment, but cannot modify it here
    value = env["repo:module:option"]
    # This return data is cached, so this function is only called once.
    return {"key": value}

query = EnvironmentQuery(name="name",
                         factory=factory)

Collectors

The post-build step has access to the build log containing the list of modules that were built and what files they generated. However, these modules also need to pass additional data to the post-build steps, so that this information can be computed locally.

lbuild allows each module to declare what metadata it wants using a collector, which is given a name, description and optional limitations depending on type. In the build step, each module may add values to this collector, which the post-build steps then can access.

def prepare(module, options):
    # Add a collector to module
    collector = Collector(...)
    module.add_collector(collector)

def build(env):
    exists = env.has_collector(":module:collector")
    # Add values to this collector
    env.collect(":module:collector", "value1", "value2", "value3")

def post_build(env):
    # Get all unique values from all operations
    unique_values = env.collector_values(":module:collector")
    # get all values from all operations, even duplicates!
    all_values = env.collector_values(":module:collector", unique=False)

Note that the ordering of values is preserved only relative to the order they were added within a module and only if accessing them non-uniquely! The above example will preserve the order of value1, value2 and value3, only if the values are accessed not uniquely and only relative to each other.

When you add values to a collector, the current operation is recorded, consisting out of the current module, but you may also explicitly set this to a set of file operations:

def build(env):
    operation = env.copy("file.hpp")
    # Add values to this collector for the file operation
    env.collect(":module:collector", "values", operations=operation)

    # The return value from a file operation is actually a set of operations
    operations = env.copy("folder1/")
    # So you can extend this set for multiple file operations
    operations |= env.copy("folder2/")
    # And then filter this set of operations
    operations = filter(lambda op: op.filename.endswith(".txt"), operations)
    # Only add this metadata to .txt files
    env.collect(":module:collector", "txt-file-values", operations=operations)

    # A file operation object has these properties:
    operation.module # full module name, this is always available
    operation.repository # repository name, always available
    operation.has_filename # Some operations are specific to files
    operation.filename # The generated filename relative to outpath

def post_build(env):
    # You can use these operation properties to filter the collector values
    txt_filter = lambda op: op.repository == "repo" and op.filename.endswith(".txt")
    unique_txt_values = env.collector_values(":module:collector", filterfunc=txt_filter)
    # May contain duplicate values!
    all_txt_values = env.collector_values(":module:collector", filterfunc=txt_filter, unique=False)

If you have very special requirements for the ordering values (for example when collecting compile flags), consider iterating over the collectors items manually, and possibly de-duplicating and reordering the values yourself.

def post_build(env):
    # Get the collector, may return None if collector does not exist!
    collector = env.collector(":module:collector")
    if collector is not None:
        for operation, values in collector.items():
            # values is a list and may contain duplicates
            print(operation.module, values)
            if operation.has_filename: # not all operations have filenames!
                print(operation.filename)

Note that collector values that were added by a module without explicit operations do not have filename, only module names!

Collectors are implemented using the same type-safe mechanisms as Options, the only differences are the lack of dependency handlers and default values, since you can add default values in the modules build step.

You may add collector values via the project configuration. However, since these collector values cannot be overwritten by inheriting configurations use this with care.

<library>
  <collectors>
    <collect name="repo:collector_name">value</collect>
    <collect name="repo:collector_name">value2</collect>
  </collectors>
</library>

You can discover all the available collectors in your repository using lbuild discover --developer.

CallableCollector

This collector allows you to collect callable objects, that the post-build step can execute. This can be useful for providing specializations to the post-build module without it needing to know how they work.

collector = CallableCollector(name="collector-name",
                              description="callable")

StringCollector

See StringOption for documentation.

collector = StringCollector(name="collector-name",
                            description="string",
                            validate=validate_function)

PathCollector

See PathOption for documentation.

collector = PathCollector(name="collector-name",
                          description="path",
                          empty_ok=False,
                          absolute=False)

BooleanCollector

See BooleanOption for documentation.

collector = BooleanCollector(name="collector-name",
                             description="boolean")

NumericCollector

See NumericOption for documentation.

collector = NumericCollector(name="collector-name",
                             description="numeric",
                             minimum=0,
                             maximum=100)

EnumerationCollector

See EnumerationOption for documentation.

collector = EnumerationCollector(name="collector-name",
                                 description="enumeration",
                                 enumeration=enumeration)

Aliases

lbuild aliases are mappings from one lbuild node to another. They are useful for gracefully dealing with renaming or moving nodes in your lbuild module tree. Aliases will print a warning when accessed showing the alias description. Each alias must have a unique name within their parent repository or module.

Aliases can be used for any type of node that you want forwarded. You can also add aliases that do not have a destination and will raise an exception with the alias description. This allows you to remove lbuild nodes while providing details for a workaround.

def prepare(module, options):
    # Move option in this module
    module.add_module(Option(name="option"))
    # Forward the old option to the new option
    module.add_alias(Alias(name="option-alias",
                           destination="option",
                           description="Renamed for clarity."))
    # Instead of silently failing, you can provide a detailed description
    # about why the node was removed and what the workaround is.
    module.add_alias(Alias(name="removed-alias",
                           description="Removed. Workaround: ..."))
    # You alias any type to any other node.
    module.add_alias(Alias(name="submodule-alias",
                           destination=":other-module:submodule"
                           description="Removed. Workaround: ..."))

def build(env):
    # Will show a warning (once) that the alias has been moved
    exists = env.has_option(":module:option-alias")
    # Accesses :module:option instead
    value = env[":module:option-alias"]
    # This will raise an exception with the alias description
    value = env[":module:removed-alias"]
    # will check for :other-module:submodule instead
    value = env.has_module[":module:submodule-alias"]

Jinja2 Configuration

lbuild uses the Jinja2 template engine with the following global configuration:

• Line statements start with %% statement.
• Line comments start with %# comment.
• Undefined variables throw an exception instead of being ignored.
• Global extensions: jinja2.ext.do.
• Global substitutions are:
  • time: strftime("%d %b %Y, %H:%M:%S")
  • options: an option resolver in the context of the current module.

Name Resolution

lbuild manages repositories, modules and options in a tree structure and serializes identification into unique string using : as hierarchy delimiters. Any identifier provided via the command line, configuration, repository or module files use the same resolver, which allows using partially-qualified identifiers. In addition, globbing for multiple identifiers using fnmatch semantics is supported.

The following rules for resolving identifiers apply:

1. A fully-qualified identifier specifies all parts: repo:module:option.
2. A partially-qualified identifier adds fnmatch wildcarts: *:m.dule:opt*.
3. * wildcarts for entire hierarchies can be ommitted: ::option
4. A special wildcart is :**, which globs for everything below the current hierarchy level: repo:** selects all in repo, repo:module:** all in repo:module, etc.
5. Wildcarts are resolved in reverse hierarchical order. Therefore, ::option may be unique within the context of :module, but not within the entire project.
6. For accessing direct children, you may specify their name without any delimiters: option within the context of :module will resolve to :module:option.

Partial identifiers were introduced to reduce verbosity and aid refactoring, it is therefore recommended to:

1. Omit the repository name for accessing modules and options within the same repository.
2. Accessing a module's options with their name directly.

Execution order

lbuild executes in this order:

1. repository:init()
2. Create repository options
3. repository:prepare(repo-options)
4. Find all modules in repositories
5. module:init()
6. module:prepare(repo-options)
7. Create module options
8. Resolve module dependencies
9. module:validate(env) submodules-first, optional
10. module:build(env) submodules-first
11. repo:build(env): optional
12. module:post_build(env): submodules-first, optional