1 @c -*- coding: utf-8; mode: texinfo; -*-
4 @node Build system notes
5 @chapter Build system notes
7 @warning{This chapter is in high flux, and is being run in a
8 @qq{wiki-like} fashion. Do not trust anything you read in this
12 * Build system overview::
13 * Tips for working on the build system::
19 @node Build system overview
20 @section Build system overview
22 Build system is currently GNU make, with an extra "stepmake" layer
23 on top. Look at files in @file{make/} and @file{stepmake/} and
24 all @file{GNUmakefile}s.
26 There is wide-spread dissatisfaction with this system, and we are
27 considering changing. This would be a huge undertaking (estimated
28 200+ hours). This change will probably involve not using GNU make
29 any more -- but a discussion about the precise build system will
30 have to wait. Before we reach that point, we need to figure out
31 (at least approximately) what the current build system does.
33 Fundamentally, a build system does two things:
37 Constructs command-line commands, for example:
41 --tons --of --options \
44 --more --imperial --and --metric --tons --of --options \
49 If there was a previous build, it decides which parts of the
50 system need to be rebuilt.
54 When I try to do anything in the build system, it helps to remind
55 myself of this. The "end result" is just a series of command-line
56 commands. All the black magick is just an attempt to construct
59 @node Tips for working on the build system
60 @section Tips for working on the build system
72 to the build system files in various places. This will let you
73 track where the program is, in various points of the build.
76 First task: understand how @code{make website} works,
77 @emph{without} the translations. Looking at the english-only
78 website is the best introduction to the build system... it only
79 covers about 5% of the whole thing, but even that will likely take
90 * Building a bibliography::
93 @node Building a bibliography
94 @subsection Building a bibliography
99 @section Website build
101 Start here: @file{make/website.make}
103 Website build includes @ref{Building a bibliography}.