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# Bazel zig cc toolchain
This is a C/C++ toolchain that can (cross-)compile C/C++ programs. It contains
clang-13, musl, glibc 2-2.35, all in a ~40MB package. Read
[here](https://andrewkelley.me/post/zig-cc-powerful-drop-in-replacement-gcc-clang.html)
about zig-cc; the rest of the README will present how to use this toolchain
from Bazel.
Configuring toolchains in Bazel is complex, under-documented, and fraught with
peril. I, the co-author of bazel-zig-cc, am still confused on how this all
works, and often wonder why it works at all. That aside, we made the our best
effort to make bazel-zig-cc usable for your C/C++/CGo projects, with as many
guardrails as we could install.
While copy-pasting the code in your project, attempt to read and understand the
text surrounding the code snippets. This will save you hours of head
scratching, I promise.
# Usage
Add this to your `WORKSPACE`:
```
BAZEL_ZIG_CC_VERSION = "v0.7.1"
http_archive(
name = "bazel-zig-cc",
sha256 = "7e3955a3a2b5bf4e8d5a35e9d4e68a4155ca815de71c9515b533a6223e093fbe",
strip_prefix = "bazel-zig-cc-{}".format(BAZEL_ZIG_CC_VERSION),
urls = ["https://git.sr.ht/~motiejus/bazel-zig-cc/archive/{}.tar.gz".format(BAZEL_ZIG_CC_VERSION)],
)
load("@bazel-zig-cc//toolchain:defs.bzl", zig_toolchains = "toolchains")
# version, url_formats and host_platform_sha256 are optional, but highly
# recommended. Zig SDK is by default downloaded from dl.jakstys.lt, which is a
# tiny server in the closet of Yours Truly.
zig_toolchains(
version = "<...>",
url_formats = [
"https://example.org/zig/zig-{host_platform}-{version}.tar.xz",
],
host_platform_sha256 = { ... },
)
```
And this to `.bazelrc`:
```
build --incompatible_enable_cc_toolchain_resolution
```
The snippets above will download the zig toolchain and make the bazel
toolchains available for registration and usage. If you do nothing else, this
may work. The `.bazelrc` snippet instructs Bazel to use the registered "new
kinds of toolchains". All above are required regardless of how wants to use it.
The next steps depend on how one wants to use bazel-zig-cc. The descriptions
below is a gentle introduction to C++ toolchains from "user's perspective" too.
## Use case: manually build a single target with a specific zig cc toolchain
This option is least disruptive to the workflow compared to no hermetic C++
toolchain, and works best when trying out or getting started with bazel-zig-cc
for a subset of targets.
To request Bazel to use a specific toolchain (compatible with the specified
platform) for build/tests/whatever on linux-amd64-musl, do:
```
bazel build \
--platforms @zig_sdk//platform:linux_arm64 \
--extra_toolchains @zig_sdk//toolchain:linux_arm64_musl \
//test/go:go
```
There are a few things going on here, let's try to dissect them.
### Option `--platforms @zig_sdk//platform:linux_arm64`
Specifies that the our target platform is `linux_arm64`, which resolves into:
```
$ bazel query --output=build @zig_sdk//platform:linux_arm64
platform(
name = "linux_arm64",
generator_name = "linux_arm64",
generator_function = "declare_platforms",
generator_location = "platform/BUILD:7:18",
constraint_values = ["@platforms//os:linux", "@platforms//cpu:aarch64"],
)
```
`constraint_values` instructs Bazel to be looking for a **toolchain** that is
compatible with (in Bazelspeak, `target_compatible_with`) **all of the**
`["@platforms//os:linux", "@platforms//cpu:aarch64"]`.
### Option `--toolchains=@zig_sdk//toolchain:linux_arm64_musl`
Inspect first (`@platforms//cpu:aarch64` is an alias to
`@platforms//cpu:arm64`):
```
$ bazel query --output=build @zig_sdk//toolchain:linux_arm64_musl
toolchain(
name = "linux_arm64_musl",
generator_name = "linux_arm64_musl",
generator_function = "declare_toolchains",
generator_location = "toolchain/BUILD:7:19",
toolchain_type = "@bazel_tools//tools/cpp:toolchain_type",
target_compatible_with = ["@platforms//os:linux", "@platforms//cpu:aarch64", "@zig_sdk//libc:unconstrained"],
toolchain = "@zig_sdk//private:aarch64-linux-musl_cc",
)
```
For a platform to pick up the right toolchain, the platform's
`constraint_values` must be a subset[^1] of the toolchain's
`target_compatible_with`. Since the platform is a subset (therefore,
toolchain's `@zig_sdk//libc:unconstrained` does not matter), this toolchain is
selected for this platform. As a result, `--platforms
@zig_sdk//platform:linux_amd64` causes Bazel to select a toolchain
`@zig_sdk//platform:linux_arm64_musl` (because it satisfies all constraints),
which will compile and link the C/C++ code with musl.
`@zig_sdk//libc:unconstrained` will become important later.
### Same as above, less typing (with `--config`)
Specifying the platform and toolchain for every target may become burdensome,
so they can be put used via `--config`. For example, append this to `.bazelrc`:
```
build:linux_arm64 --platforms @zig_sdk//platform:linux_arm64
build:linux_arm64 --extra_toolchains @zig_sdk//toolchain:linux_arm64_musl
```
And then building to linux-arm64-musl boils down to:
```
bazel build --config=linux_arm64_musl //test/go:go
```
## Use case: always compile with zig cc
Instead of adding the toolchains to `.bazelrc`, they can be added
unconditionally. Append this to `WORKSPACE` after `zig_toolchains(...)`:
```
register_toolchains(
"@zig_sdk//toolchain:linux_amd64_gnu.2.19",
"@zig_sdk//toolchain:linux_arm64_gnu.2.28",
"@zig_sdk//toolchain:darwin_amd64",
"@zig_sdk//toolchain:darwin_arm64",
)
```
Append this to `.bazelrc`:
```
build --action_env BAZEL_DO_NOT_DETECT_CPP_TOOLCHAIN=1
```
From Bazel's perspective, this is almost equivalent to always specifying
`--extra_toolchains` on every `bazel <...>` command-line invocation. It also
means there is no way to disable the toolchain with the command line. This is
useful if you find bazel-zig-cc useful enough to compile for all of your
targets and tools.
With `BAZEL_DO_NOT_DETECT_CPP_TOOLCHAIN=1` Bazel stops detecting the default
host toolchain. Configuring toolchains is complicated enough, and the
auto-detection (read: fallback to non-hermetic toolchain) is a footgun best
avoided. This option is not documented in bazel, so may break. If you intend to
use the hermetic toolchain exclusively, it won't hurt.
## Use case: zig-cc for targets for multiple libc variants
When some targets need to be build with different libcs (either different
versions of glibc or musl), use a linux toolchain from
`@zig_sdk//libc_aware/toolchains:<...>`. The toolchain will only be selected
when building for a specific libc. For example, in `WORKSPACE`:
```
register_toolchains(
"@zig_sdk//libc_aware/toolchain:linux_amd64_gnu.2.19",
"@zig_sdk//libc_aware/toolchain:linux_amd64_gnu.2.28",
"@zig_sdk//libc_aware/toolchain:x86_64-linux-musl",
)
```
What does `@zig_sdk//libc_aware/toolchain:linux_amd64_gnu.2.19` mean?
```
$ bazel query --output=build @zig_sdk//libc_aware/toolchain:linux_amd64_gnu.2.19 |& grep target
target_compatible_with = ["@platforms//os:linux", "@platforms//cpu:x86_64", "@zig_sdk//libc:gnu.2.19"],
```
To see how this relates to the platform:
```
$ bazel query --output=build @zig_sdk//libc_aware/platform:linux_amd64_gnu.2.19 |& grep constraint
constraint_values = ["@platforms//os:linux", "@platforms//cpu:x86_64", "@zig_sdk//libc:gnu.2.19"],
```
In this case, the platform's `constraint_values` and toolchain's
`target_compatible_with` are identical, causing Bazel to select the right
toolchain for the requested platform. With these toolchains registered, one can
build a project for a specific libc-aware platform; it will select the
appropriate toolchain:
```
$ bazel run --platforms @zig_sdk//libc_aware/platform:linux_amd64_gnu.2.19 //test/c:which_libc
glibc_2.19
$ bazel run --platforms @zig_sdk//libc_aware/platform:linux_amd64_gnu.2.28 //test/c:which_libc
glibc_2.28
$ bazel run --platforms @zig_sdk//libc_aware/platform:linux_amd64_musl //test/c:which_libc
non_glibc
$ bazel run --run_under=file --platforms @zig_sdk//libc_aware/platform:linux_arm64_gnu.2.28 //test/c:which_libc
which_libc: ELF 64-bit LSB executable, ARM aarch64, version 1 (SYSV), dynamically linked, interpreter /lib/ld-linux-aarch64.so.1, for GNU/Linux 2.0.0, stripped
```
To the list of libc aware toolchains and platforms:
```
$ bazel query @zig_sdk//libc_aware/toolchain/...
$ bazel query @zig_sdk//libc_aware/platform/...
```
Libc-aware toolchains are especially useful when relying on
[transitions][transitions], as transitioning `extra_platforms` will cause the
host tools to be rebuilt with the specific libc version, which takes time; also
the build host may not be able to run them if, say, target glibc version is
newer than on the host. Some tests in this repository (under `test/`) are using
transitions; you may check out how it's done.
The `@zig_sdk//libc:variant` constraint is necessary to select a matching
toolchain. Remember: the toolchain's `target_compatible_with` must be
equivalent or a superset of the platform's `constraint_values`. This is why
both libc-aware platforms and libc-aware toolchains reside in their own
namespace; if we try to mix non-libc-aware to libc-aware, confusion ensues.
To use the libc constraints in the project's platform definitions, add a
`@zig_sdk//libc:variant` constraint to them. See the list of available values:
```
$ bazel query "attr(constraint_setting, @zig_sdk//libc:variant, @zig_sdk//...)"
```
`@zig_sdk//libc:unconstrained` is a special value that indicates that no value
for the constraint is specified. The non libc aware linux toolchains are only
compatible with this value to prevent accidental silent fallthrough to them.
This is a guardrail. Thanks, future me!
# Note: Naming
Both Go and Bazel naming schemes are accepted. For convenience with
Go, the following Go-style toolchain aliases are created:
|Bazel (zig) name | Go name |
|---------------- | -------- |
|`x86_64` | `amd64` |
|`aarch64` | `arm64` |
|`macos` | `darwin` |
For example, the toolchain `linux_amd64_gnu.2.28` is aliased to
`x86_64-linux-gnu.2.28`. To find out which toolchains can be registered or
used, run:
```
$ bazel query @zig_sdk//toolchain/...
```
# Incompatibilities with clang and gcc
`zig cc` is *almost* a drop-in replacement for clang/gcc. This section lists
some of the discovered differences and ways to live with them.
## UBSAN and "SIGILL: Illegal Instruction"
`zig cc` differs from "mainstream" compilers by [enabling UBSAN by
default][ubsan1]. Which means your program may compile successfully and crash
with:
```
SIGILL: illegal instruction
```
This flag encourages program authors to fix the undefined behavior. There are
[many ways][ubsan2] to find the undefined behavior.
## Use of `--gc-sections` by default
`zig cc` passes `--gc-sections` to the ld.lld linker by default, this causes
problems for CGo. See
[below](#go-linker-does-not-put-libc-onto-the-linker-line).
# Known Issues In bazel-zig-cc
These are the things you may stumble into when using bazel-zig-cc. I am
unlikely to implement them any time soon, but patches implementing those will
be accepted. See [Questions & Contributions](#questions-amp-contributions) on
how to contribute.
## Zig cache
Currently zig cache is in `$HOME`, so `bazel clean --expunge` does not clear
the zig cache. Zig's cache should be stored somewhere in the project's path.
## OSX: sysroot
For non-trivial programs (and for all darwin/arm64 cgo programs) MacOS SDK may
be necessary. Read [Jakub's comment][sysroot] about it. Support for OSX sysroot
is currently not implemented.
## OSX: different OS targets (Catalina -- Monterey)
[Zig 0.9.0](https://ziglang.org/download/0.9.0/release-notes.html#macOS) may
target macos.10 (Catalina), macos.11 (Big Sur) or macos.12 (Monterey). It
currently targets the lowest version, without ability to change it.
# Known Issues In Upstream
This section lists issues that I've stumbled into when using `zig cc`, and is
outside of bazel-zig-cc's control.
## Go linker does not put libc onto the linker line
**Severity: Low**
Task: [golang/go #52690 Go linker does not put libc onto the linker line, causing undefined symbol errors](https://github.com/golang/go/issues/52690)
Background: when linking CGo programs that do not have C code by itself,
the Golang linker does not link the C library, causing undefined symbols and
a message similar to this:
```
runtime/race(.text): relocation target getuid not defined
runtime/race(.text): relocation target pthread_self not defined
```
This is because `zig cc` emits `--gc-sections` for the linker, which is
incompatbile with what CGo thinks about linking.
A workaround until [#52690](https://github.com/golang/go/issues/52690) is
resolved: add `--no-gc-sections` to the link step. So the resulting command to
compile CGo code on Linux is:
```
CGO_ENABLED=1 CC="zig cc -Wl,--no-gc-sections" go build main.go
```
This is done automatically in bazel-zig-cc.
## using glibc 2.27 or older
**Severity: Low**
Task: [ziglang/zig #9485 glibc 2.27 or older: fcntl64 not found, but zig's glibc headers refer it](https://github.com/ziglang/zig/issues/9485)
Background: when glibc 2.27 or older is selected, it may miss `fcntl64`. A
workaround is applied for `x86_64`, but not for aarch64. The same workaround
may apply to aarch64, but the author didn't find a need to test it (yet).
# Closed Upstream Issues
- [ziglang/zig #10386 zig cc regression in 0.9.0](https://github.com/ziglang/zig/issues/10386)(CLOSED, thanks Xavier)
- [ziglang/zig #10312 macho: fail if requested -framework is not found](https://github.com/ziglang/zig/pull/10312) (CLOSED, thanks kubkon)
- [ziglang/zig #10299 [darwin aarch64 cgo] regression](https://github.com/ziglang/zig/issues/10299) (CLOSED, thanks kubkon)
- [ziglang/zig #10297 [darwin x86_64 cgo] regression](https://github.com/ziglang/zig/issues/10297) (CLOSED, thanks kubkon)
- [ziglang/zig #9431 FileNotFound when compiling macos](https://github.com/ziglang/zig/issues/9431) (CLOSED, thanks andrewrk)
- [ziglang/zig #9139 zig c++ hanging when compiling in parallel](https://github.com/ziglang/zig/issues/9139) (CLOSED, thanks andrewrk)
- [ziglang/zig #9050 golang linker segfault](https://github.com/ziglang/zig/issues/9050) (CLOSED, thanks kubkon)
- [ziglang/zig #7917 [meta] better c/c++ toolchain compatibility](https://github.com/ziglang/zig/issues/7917) (CLOSED, thanks andrewrk)
- [ziglang/zig #7915 ar-compatible command for zig cc](https://github.com/ziglang/zig/issues/7915) (CLOSED, thanks andrewrk)
- [ziglang/zig #7667 misplaced relocated glibc stubs (pthread_sigmask)](https://github.com/ziglang/zig/issues/7667) (CLOSED, thanks mjonaitis and andrewrk)
- [rules/go #2894 Per-arch_target linker flags](https://github.com/bazelbuild/rules_go/issues/2894) (CLOSED, thanks mjonaitis)
- [golang/go #46644 cmd/link: with CC=zig: SIGSERV when cross-compiling to darwin/amd64](https://github.com/golang/go/issues/46644) (CLOSED, thanks kubkon)
# Host Environments
This repository is used on the following (host) platforms:
- `linux_amd64`, a.k.a. `x86_64`.
- `linux_arm64`, a.k.a. `AArch64`.
- `darwin_amd64`, the post-PowerPC models.
- `darwin_arm64`, the M1.
The tests are running (CId) on linux-amd64, and are assuming the kernel is
configured to run arm64 binaries. There are two reasonably convenient ways to
configure arm64 emulation:
- `$ apt install qemu-user-static binfmt-support`; this should correctly setup
[`binfmt_misc`][binfmt_misc].
- `$ docker run --rm --privileged multiarch/qemu-user-static --reset -p yes`.
## Transient docker environment
A standalone Docker environment to play with bazel-zig-cc:
```
$ docker run -e CC=/usr/bin/false -ti --rm -v "$PWD:/x" -w /x debian:bullseye-slim
# dpkg --add-architecture arm64 && apt update
# apt install --no-install-recommends -y direnv git shellcheck ca-certificates libc6:arm64
# eval "$(direnv hook bash)" && direnv allow
# ./ci/test
# ./ci/lint
```
# Questions & Contributions
Project's mailing list is [~motiejus/bazel-zig-cc][mailing-list]. The mailing
list is used for:
- announcements (I am aiming to send an email with every release).
- user discussions.
- raising issues.
- contributions.
I will generally respond to emails about issues. I may even be able to fix
them. However, no promises: you are much more likely (and welcome!) to get it
fixed by submitting a patch.
To contribute, send your patches to the mailing list, as described in
[git-send-email.io][git-send-email] or via [Sourcehut web UI][video].
Copyright is retained by the contributors.
# Thanks
Many thanks to Adam Bouhenguel and his [bazel-zig-cc][ajbouh], the parent of
this repository. Also, the Zig team for making this all possible and handling
the issues promptly.
[^1]: a [mathematical subset][subset]: both can be equal.
[binfmt_misc]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Binfmt_misc
[mailing-list]: https://lists.sr.ht/~motiejus/bazel-zig-cc
[ajbouh]: https://github.com/ajbouh/bazel-zig-cc/
[git-send-email]: https://git-send-email.io/
[video]: https://spacepub.space/w/no6jnhHeUrt2E5ST168tRL
[sysroot]: https://github.com/ziglang/zig/issues/10299#issuecomment-989153750
[ubsan1]: https://github.com/ziglang/zig/issues/4830#issuecomment-605491606
[ubsan2]: https://github.com/ziglang/zig/issues/5163
[transitions]: https://docs.bazel.build/versions/main/skylark/config.html#user-defined-transitions
[subset]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subset
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