Build Fundamentals

A presentation that aims to build mental model for using build system from first principles.

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It takes you from hand-compiling C code to using Makefile to using Chromium’s GN build system. Strictly speaking, you don’t need to be a programmer; we just use the tools, not write any. Being comfortable with the terminal/command-line helps.

Agenda

Prepared with increasing automation/complexity in the content:

1. Manual: Hand-made
   • Binaries
   • Build Configurations
2. Build system: Make
   • Targets
   • Recipes
   • Dependencies
3. Meta-build system: GN

References

1. GNU Compile Collection Documentation
2. Microsoft MSVC compiler Reference
3. GNU Makefile Documentation
4. MakefileTutorial.com friendly
5. GN Documentation
   • Quick Start, Reference, Style Guide, Language
6. Using GN Build (2015)
7. Chromium codebase
8. StackOverflow.com

Credits

• reveal.js, stunning HTML5 presentations
• Org-mode, your life in plain text
• Emacs, text editor extraordinaire
• org-re-reveal, org → reveal converter