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= Bootstrapping the compiler
This file explains how to bootstrap the OCaml compiler, i.e. how to
update the binaries in the link:boot/[] directory.
A bootstrap is required for example when something changes in the
runtime system (the magic number of bytecode executables, the format of
bytecode instructions, the set of available primitives) or when the
format of OCaml compilation object files like .cmi files is modified. In
particular, given that the .cmi files contain information related to
types, modifying the way a type is represented will modify the format
of .cmi files and thus require a bootstrap.
Here is how to perform a change that requires a bootstrap:
1. Make sure you start with a clean source tree (e.g. check with
`git status`)
2. Configure your source tree by running:
./configure
3. Bring your system to a stable state. Concretely, this means that the
boot/ directory should contain a version of ocamlrun and all the
\*.cm* files of the standard library. This stable state can be reached
by running
make world
+
(Actually, running `make coldstart` should be enough but `make world` is
safer. Similarly, `make world.opt` will also bring you to such a stable
state but builds more things than actually required.)
4. Now, and only now, edit the sources. Changes here may include removing
or renaming a primitive in the runtime, changing the magic
number of bytecode executable files, changing the way types are
represented or anything else in the format of .cmi files, etc.
5. Run:
make coreall
+
This will rebuild runtime/ocamlrun, ocamlc, etc.
6. (optional) The new system can now be tested:
echo 'let _ = print_string "Hello world!\n"' > foo.ml
./boot/ocamlrun ./ocamlc -I ./stdlib foo.ml
./runtime/ocamlrun a.out
7. We now know the system works and can thus build the new boot/
binaries:
make bootstrap
= Problems
If you notice that this procedure fails for a given change you are
trying to implement, please report it so that the procedure can be
updated to also cope with your change.
= Upstreaming
If you want to upstream your changes, indicate in the message of the
commit that the changes need a bootstrap. Perform the bootstrap and
commit the result of the bootstrap separately, after that commit.
= Adding, removing and renaming primitives
Primitives can be added without having to bootstrap, however it is necessary
to repeat `make coldstart` in order to use your new primitive in the standard
library.
There are five steps to renaming a primitive:
1. Rename the primitive and its uses
2. Create a temporary stub with the old primitive's name. This stub simply
passes its arguments on to the new primitive:
CAMLprim value caml_old_primitive(value a1, value a2) {
return caml_new_primitive(a1, a2);
}
3. Deal with the addition of the new primitive:
make coldstart
4. Ensure the system still works:
make coreall
5. Now remove the old primitive stub and issue:
make bootstrap
It is desirable for bootstraps to be easily repeatable, so you should commit
changes after step 4.
= Bootstrap test script
A script is provided (and used on Inria's continuous
integration infrastructure) to make sure the bootstrap works. This
script implements the bootstrap procedure described above and performs
two changes to the compiler: it updates the magic numbers and removes
a primitive from the runtime. It then makes sure the bootstrap still
works after these changes. This script can be run locally as follows:
OCAML_ARCH=linux ./tools/ci/inria/bootstrap
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