1 @c Copyright (C) 2003-2024 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
2 @c This is part of the GCC manual.
3 @c For copying conditions, see the file gcc.texi.
6 @chapter Option specification files
7 @cindex option specification files
8 @cindex @samp{optc-gen.awk}
10 Most GCC command-line options are described by special option
11 definition files, the names of which conventionally end in
12 @code{.opt}. This chapter describes the format of these files.
15 * Option file format:: The general layout of the files
16 * Option properties:: Supported option properties
19 @node Option file format
20 @section Option file format
22 Option files are a simple list of records in which each field occupies
23 its own line and in which the records themselves are separated by
24 blank lines. Comments may appear on their own line anywhere within
25 the file and are preceded by semicolons. Whitespace is allowed before
28 The files can contain the following types of record:
32 A language definition record. These records have two fields: the
33 string @samp{Language} and the name of the language. Once a language
34 has been declared in this way, it can be used as an option property.
35 @xref{Option properties}.
38 A target specific save record to save additional information. These
39 records have two fields: the string @samp{TargetSave}, and a
40 declaration type to go in the @code{cl_target_option} structure.
43 A variable record to define a variable used to store option
44 information. These records have two fields: the string
45 @samp{Variable}, and a declaration of the type and name of the
46 variable, optionally with an initializer (but without any trailing
47 @samp{;}). These records may be used for variables used for many
48 options where declaring the initializer in a single option definition
49 record, or duplicating it in many records, would be inappropriate, or
50 for variables set in option handlers rather than referenced by
51 @code{Var} properties.
54 A variable record to define a variable used to store option
55 information. These records have two fields: the string
56 @samp{TargetVariable}, and a declaration of the type and name of the
57 variable, optionally with an initializer (but without any trailing
58 @samp{;}). @samp{TargetVariable} is a combination of @samp{Variable}
59 and @samp{TargetSave} records in that the variable is defined in the
60 @code{gcc_options} structure, but these variables are also stored in
61 the @code{cl_target_option} structure. The variables are saved in the
62 target save code and restored in the target restore code.
65 A variable record to record any additional files that the
66 @file{options.h} file should include. This is useful to provide
67 enumeration or structure definitions needed for target variables.
68 These records have two fields: the string @samp{HeaderInclude} and the
69 name of the include file.
72 A variable record to record any additional files that the
73 @file{options.cc} or @file{options-save.cc} file should include. This
75 inline functions needed for target variables and/or @code{#ifdef}
76 sequences to properly set up the initialization. These records have
77 two fields: the string @samp{SourceInclude} and the name of the
81 An enumeration record to define a set of strings that may be used as
82 arguments to an option or options. These records have three fields:
83 the string @samp{Enum}, a space-separated list of properties and help
84 text used to describe the set of strings in @option{--help} output.
85 Properties use the same format as option properties; the following are
88 @item Name(@var{name})
89 This property is required; @var{name} must be a name (suitable for use
90 in C identifiers) used to identify the set of strings in @code{Enum}
93 @item Type(@var{type})
94 This property is required; @var{type} is the C type for variables set
95 by options using this enumeration together with @code{Var}.
97 @item UnknownError(@var{message})
98 The message @var{message} will be used as an error message if the
99 argument is invalid; for enumerations without @code{UnknownError}, a
100 generic error message is used. @var{message} should contain a single
101 @samp{%qs} format, which will be used to format the invalid argument.
105 An enumeration value record to define one of the strings in a set
106 given in an @samp{Enum} record. These records have two fields: the
107 string @samp{EnumValue} and a space-separated list of properties.
108 Properties use the same format as option properties; the following are
111 @item Enum(@var{name})
112 This property is required; @var{name} says which @samp{Enum} record
113 this @samp{EnumValue} record corresponds to.
115 @item String(@var{string})
116 This property is required; @var{string} is the string option argument
117 being described by this record.
119 @item Value(@var{value})
120 This property is required; it says what value (representable as
121 @code{int}) should be used for the given string.
124 This property is optional. If present, it says the present string is
125 the canonical one among all those with the given value. Other strings
126 yielding that value will be mapped to this one so specs do not need to
130 This property is optional. If present, the present string will only
131 be accepted by the driver. This is used for cases such as
132 @option{-march=native} that are processed by the driver so that
133 @samp{gcc -v} shows how the options chosen depended on the system on
134 which the compiler was run.
136 @item Set(@var{number})
137 This property is optional, required for enumerations used in
138 @code{EnumSet} options. @var{number} should be decimal number between
139 1 and 64 inclusive and divides the enumeration into a set of
140 sets of mutually exclusive arguments. Arguments with the same
141 @var{number} can't be specified together in the same option, but
142 arguments with different @var{number} can. @var{value} needs to be
143 chosen such that a mask of all @var{value} values from the same set
144 @var{number} bitwise ored doesn't overlap with masks for other sets.
145 When @code{-foption=arg_from_set1,arg_from_set4} and
146 @code{-fno-option=arg_from_set3} are used, the effect is that previous
147 value of the @code{Var} will get bits from set 1 and 4 masks cleared,
148 ored @code{Value} of @code{arg_from_set1} and @code{arg_from_set4}
149 and then will get bits from set 3 mask cleared.
153 An option definition record. These records have the following fields:
156 the name of the option, with the leading ``-'' removed
158 a space-separated list of option properties (@pxref{Option properties})
160 the help text to use for @option{--help} (omitted if the second field
161 contains the @code{Undocumented} property).
164 By default, all options beginning with ``f'', ``g'', ``W'' or ``m'' are
165 implicitly assumed to take a ``no-'' form. This form should not be
166 listed separately. If an option beginning with one of these letters
167 does not have a ``no-'' form, you can use the @code{RejectNegative}
168 property to reject it.
170 The help text is automatically line-wrapped before being displayed.
171 Normally the name of the option is printed on the left-hand side of
172 the output and the help text is printed on the right. However, if the
173 help text contains a tab character, the text to the left of the tab is
174 used instead of the option's name and the text to the right of the
175 tab forms the help text. This allows you to elaborate on what type
176 of argument the option takes.
178 There is no support for different help texts for different languages.
179 If an option is supported for multiple languages, use a generic
180 description that is correct for all of them.
182 If an option has multiple option definition records (in different
183 front ends' @file{*.opt} files, and/or @file{gcc/common.opt}, for
184 example), convention is to not duplicate the help text for each of
185 them, but instead put a comment like @code{; documented in common.opt}
186 in place of the help text for all but one of the multiple option
190 A target mask record. These records have one field of the form
191 @samp{Mask(@var{x})}. The options-processing script will automatically
192 allocate a bit in @code{target_flags} (@pxref{Run-time Target}) for
193 each mask name @var{x} and set the macro @code{MASK_@var{x}} to the
194 appropriate bitmask. It will also declare a @code{TARGET_@var{x}}
195 macro that has the value 1 when bit @code{MASK_@var{x}} is set and
198 They are primarily intended to declare target masks that are not
199 associated with user options, either because these masks represent
200 internal switches or because the options are not available on all
201 configurations and yet the masks always need to be defined.
204 @node Option properties
205 @section Option properties
207 The second field of an option record can specify any of the following
208 properties. When an option takes an argument, it is enclosed in parentheses
209 following the option property name. The parser that handles option files
210 is quite simplistic, and will be tricked by any nested parentheses within
211 the argument text itself; in this case, the entire option argument can
212 be wrapped in curly braces within the parentheses to demarcate it, e.g.:
215 Condition(@{defined (USE_CYGWIN_LIBSTDCXX_WRAPPERS)@})
220 The option is available for all languages and targets.
223 The option is available for all languages but is target-specific.
226 The option is handled by the compiler driver using code not shared
227 with the compilers proper (@file{cc1} etc.).
230 The option is available when compiling for the given language.
232 It is possible to specify several different languages for the same
233 option. Each @var{language} must have been declared by an earlier
234 @code{Language} record. @xref{Option file format}.
237 The option is only handled by the compilers proper (@file{cc1} etc.)@:
238 and should not be accepted by the driver.
241 The option does not have a ``no-'' form. All options beginning with
242 ``f'', ``g'', ``W'' or ``m'' are assumed to have a ``no-'' form unless
243 this property is used.
245 @item Negative(@var{othername})
246 The option will turn off another option @var{othername}, which is
247 the option name with the leading ``-'' removed. This chain action will
248 propagate through the @code{Negative} property of the option to be
249 turned off. The driver will prune options, removing those that are
250 turned off by some later option. This pruning is not done for options
251 with @code{Joined} or @code{JoinedOrMissing} properties, unless the
252 options have both the @code{RejectNegative} property and the @code{Negative}
253 property mentions itself.
255 As a consequence, if you have a group of mutually-exclusive
256 options, their @code{Negative} properties should form a circular chain.
257 For example, if options @option{-@var{a}}, @option{-@var{b}} and
258 @option{-@var{c}} are mutually exclusive, their respective @code{Negative}
259 properties should be @samp{Negative(@var{b})}, @samp{Negative(@var{c})}
260 and @samp{Negative(@var{a})}.
264 The option takes a mandatory argument. @code{Joined} indicates
265 that the option and argument can be included in the same @code{argv}
266 entry (as with @code{-mflush-func=@var{name}}, for example).
267 @code{Separate} indicates that the option and argument can be
268 separate @code{argv} entries (as with @code{-o}). An option is
269 allowed to have both of these properties.
271 @item JoinedOrMissing
272 The option takes an optional argument. If the argument is given,
273 it will be part of the same @code{argv} entry as the option itself.
275 This property cannot be used alongside @code{Joined} or @code{Separate}.
277 @item MissingArgError(@var{message})
278 For an option marked @code{Joined} or @code{Separate}, the message
279 @var{message} will be used as an error message if the mandatory
280 argument is missing; for options without @code{MissingArgError}, a
281 generic error message is used. @var{message} should contain a single
282 @samp{%qs} format, which will be used to format the name of the option
286 For an option marked @code{Separate}, indicate that it takes @var{n}
287 arguments. The default is 1.
290 The option's argument is a non-negative integer consisting of either
291 decimal or hexadecimal digits interpreted as @code{int}. Hexadecimal
292 integers may optionally start with the @code{0x} or @code{0X} prefix.
293 The option parser validates and converts the argument before passing
294 it to the relevant option handler. @code{UInteger} should also be used
295 with options like @code{-falign-loops} where both @code{-falign-loops}
296 and @code{-falign-loops}=@var{n} are supported to make sure the saved
297 options are given a full integer. Positive values of the argument in
298 excess of @code{INT_MAX} wrap around zero.
301 The option's argument is a non-negative integer consisting of either
302 decimal or hexadecimal digits interpreted as the widest integer type
303 on the host. As with an @code{UInteger} argument, hexadecimal integers
304 may optionally start with the @code{0x} or @code{0X} prefix. The option
305 parser validates and converts the argument before passing it to
306 the relevant option handler. @code{Host_Wide_Int} should be used with
307 options that need to accept very large values. Positive values of
308 the argument in excess of @code{HOST_WIDE_INT_M1U} are assigned
309 @code{HOST_WIDE_INT_M1U}.
311 @item IntegerRange(@var{n}, @var{m})
312 The options's arguments are integers of type @code{int}. The option's
313 parser validates that the value of an option integer argument is within
314 the closed range [@var{n}, @var{m}].
317 A property applicable only to @code{UInteger} or @code{Host_Wide_Int}
318 arguments. The option's integer argument is interpreted as if in infinite
319 precision using saturation arithmetic in the corresponding type. The argument
320 may be followed by a @samp{byte-size} suffix designating a multiple of bytes
321 such as @code{kB} and @code{KiB} for kilobyte and kibibyte, respectively,
322 @code{MB} and @code{MiB} for megabyte and mebibyte, @code{GB} and @code{GiB}
323 for gigabyte and gigibyte, and so on. @code{ByteSize} should be used for
324 with options that take a very large argument representing a size in bytes,
325 such as @option{-Wlarger-than=}.
328 The option's argument should be converted to lowercase as part of
329 putting it in canonical form, and before comparing with the strings
330 indicated by any @code{Enum} property.
333 For an option marked @code{Separate}, the option only takes an
334 argument in the compiler proper, not in the driver. This is for
335 compatibility with existing options that are used both directly and
336 via @option{-Wp,}; new options should not have this property.
339 The state of this option should be stored in variable @var{var}
340 (actually a macro for @code{global_options.x_@var{var}}).
341 The way that the state is stored depends on the type of option:
345 If the option uses the @code{Mask} or @code{InverseMask} properties,
346 @var{var} is the integer variable that contains the mask.
349 If the option is a normal on/off switch, @var{var} is an integer
350 variable that is nonzero when the option is enabled. The options
351 parser will set the variable to 1 when the positive form of the
352 option is used and 0 when the ``no-'' form is used.
355 If the option takes an argument and has the @code{UInteger} property,
356 @var{var} is an integer variable that stores the value of the argument.
359 If the option takes an argument and has the @code{Enum} property,
360 @var{var} is a variable (type given in the @code{Type} property of the
361 @samp{Enum} record whose @code{Name} property has the same argument as
362 the @code{Enum} property of this option) that stores the value of the
366 If the option has the @code{Defer} property, @var{var} is a pointer to
367 a @code{VEC(cl_deferred_option,heap)} that stores the option for later
368 processing. (@var{var} is declared with type @code{void *} and needs
369 to be cast to @code{VEC(cl_deferred_option,heap)} before use.)
372 Otherwise, if the option takes an argument, @var{var} is a pointer to
373 the argument string. The pointer will be null if the argument is optional
377 The option-processing script will usually zero-initialize @var{var}.
378 You can modify this behavior using @code{Init}.
380 @item Var(@var{var}, @var{set})
381 The option controls an integer variable @var{var} and is active when
382 @var{var} equals @var{set}. The option parser will set @var{var} to
383 @var{set} when the positive form of the option is used and @code{!@var{set}}
384 when the ``no-'' form is used.
386 @var{var} is declared in the same way as for the single-argument form
389 @item Init(@var{value})
390 The variable specified by the @code{Var} property should be statically
391 initialized to @var{value}. If more than one option using the same
392 variable specifies @code{Init}, all must specify the same initializer.
395 The option is removed and every usage of such option will
396 result in a warning. We use it option backward compatibility.
398 @item Mask(@var{name})
399 The option is associated with a bit in the @code{target_flags}
400 variable (@pxref{Run-time Target}) and is active when that bit is set.
401 You may also specify @code{Var} to select a variable other than
404 The options-processing script will automatically allocate a unique bit
405 for the option. If the option is attached to @samp{target_flags} or @code{Var}
406 which is defined by @code{TargetVariable}, the script will set the macro
407 @code{MASK_@var{name}} to the appropriate bitmask. It will also declare a
408 @code{TARGET_@var{name}}, @code{TARGET_@var{name}_P} and
409 @code{TARGET_@var{name}_OPTS_P}: @code{TARGET_@var{name}} macros that has the
410 value 1 when the option is active and 0 otherwise, @code{TARGET_@var{name}_P} is
411 similar to @code{TARGET_@var{name}} but take an argument as @samp{target_flags}
412 or @code{TargetVariable}, and @code{TARGET_@var{name}_OPTS_P} also similar to
413 @code{TARGET_@var{name}} but take an argument as @code{gcc_options}.
414 If you use @code{Var} to attach the option to a different variable which is not
415 defined by @code{TargetVariable}, the bitmask macro with be called
416 @code{OPTION_MASK_@var{name}}.
418 @item InverseMask(@var{othername})
419 @itemx InverseMask(@var{othername}, @var{thisname})
420 The option is the inverse of another option that has the
421 @code{Mask(@var{othername})} property. If @var{thisname} is given,
422 the options-processing script will declare @code{TARGET_@var{thisname}},
423 @code{TARGET_@var{name}_P} and @code{TARGET_@var{name}_OPTS_P} macros:
424 @code{TARGET_@var{thisname}} is 1 when the option is active and 0 otherwise,
425 @code{TARGET_@var{name}_P} is similar to @code{TARGET_@var{name}} but take an
426 argument as @samp{target_flags}, and and @code{TARGET_@var{name}_OPTS_P} also
427 similar to @code{TARGET_@var{name}} but take an argument as @code{gcc_options}.
429 @item Enum(@var{name})
430 The option's argument is a string from the set of strings associated
431 with the corresponding @samp{Enum} record. The string is checked and
432 converted to the integer specified in the corresponding
433 @samp{EnumValue} record before being passed to option handlers.
436 Must be used together with the @code{Enum(@var{name})} property.
437 Corresponding @samp{Enum} record must use @code{Set} properties.
438 The option's argument is either a string from the set like for
439 @code{Enum(@var{name})}, but with a slightly different behavior that
440 the whole @code{Var} isn't overwritten, but only the bits in all the
441 enumeration values with the same set bitwise ored together.
442 Or option's argument can be a comma separated list of strings where
443 each string is from a different @code{Set(@var{number})}.
446 Must be used together with the @code{Enum(@var{name})} property.
447 Similar to @samp{EnumSet}, but corresponding @samp{Enum} record must
448 not use @code{Set} properties, each @code{EnumValue} should have
449 @code{Value} that is a power of 2, each value is treated as its own
450 set and its value as the set's mask, so there are no mutually
454 The option should be stored in a vector, specified with @code{Var},
455 for later processing.
457 @item Alias(@var{opt})
458 @itemx Alias(@var{opt}, @var{arg})
459 @itemx Alias(@var{opt}, @var{posarg}, @var{negarg})
460 The option is an alias for @option{-@var{opt}} (or the negative form
461 of that option, depending on @code{NegativeAlias}). In the first form,
462 any argument passed to the alias is considered to be passed to
463 @option{-@var{opt}}, and @option{-@var{opt}} is considered to be
464 negated if the alias is used in negated form. In the second form, the
465 alias may not be negated or have an argument, and @var{posarg} is
466 considered to be passed as an argument to @option{-@var{opt}}. In the
467 third form, the alias may not have an argument, if the alias is used
468 in the positive form then @var{posarg} is considered to be passed to
469 @option{-@var{opt}}, and if the alias is used in the negative form
470 then @var{negarg} is considered to be passed to @option{-@var{opt}}.
472 Aliases should not specify @code{Var} or @code{Mask} or
473 @code{UInteger}. Aliases should normally specify the same languages
474 as the target of the alias; the flags on the target will be used to
475 determine any diagnostic for use of an option for the wrong language,
476 while those on the alias will be used to identify what command-line
477 text is the option and what text is any argument to that option.
479 When an @code{Alias} definition is used for an option, driver specs do
480 not need to handle it and no @samp{OPT_} enumeration value is defined
481 for it; only the canonical form of the option will be seen in those
485 For an option marked with @code{Alias(@var{opt})}, the option is
486 considered to be an alias for the positive form of @option{-@var{opt}}
487 if negated and for the negative form of @option{-@var{opt}} if not
488 negated. @code{NegativeAlias} may not be used with the forms of
489 @code{Alias} taking more than one argument.
492 This option is ignored apart from printing any warning specified using
493 @code{Warn}. The option will not be seen by specs and no @samp{OPT_}
494 enumeration value is defined for it.
497 For an option marked with @code{Joined}, @code{Separate} and
498 @code{Alias}, the option only acts as an alias when passed a separate
499 argument; with a joined argument it acts as a normal option, with an
500 @samp{OPT_} enumeration value. This is for compatibility with the
501 Java @option{-d} option and should not be used for new options.
503 @item Warn(@var{message})
504 If this option is used, output the warning @var{message}.
505 @var{message} is a format string, either taking a single operand with
506 a @samp{%qs} format which is the option name, or not taking any
507 operands, which is passed to the @samp{warning} function. If an alias
508 is marked @code{Warn}, the target of the alias must not also be marked
512 This is a warning option and should be shown as such in
513 @option{--help} output. This flag does not currently affect anything
514 other than @option{--help}.
517 This is an optimization option. It should be shown as such in
518 @option{--help} output, and any associated variable named using
519 @code{Var} should be saved and restored when the optimization level is
520 changed with @code{optimize} attributes.
523 This is an option that can be overridden on a per-function basis.
524 @code{Optimization} implies @code{PerFunction}, but options that do not
525 affect executable code generation may use this flag instead, so that the
526 option is not taken into account in ways that might affect executable
530 This is an option that is a parameter.
533 The option is deliberately missing documentation and should not
534 be included in the @option{--help} output.
536 @item Condition(@var{cond})
537 The option should only be accepted if preprocessor condition
538 @var{cond} is true. Note that any C declarations associated with the
539 option will be present even if @var{cond} is false; @var{cond} simply
540 controls whether the option is accepted and whether it is printed in
541 the @option{--help} output.
544 Build the @code{cl_target_option} structure to hold a copy of the
545 option, add the functions @code{cl_target_option_save} and
546 @code{cl_target_option_restore} to save and restore the options.
549 The option may also be set by a combined option such as
550 @option{-ffast-math}. This causes the @code{gcc_options} struct to
551 have a field @code{frontend_set_@var{name}}, where @code{@var{name}}
552 is the name of the field holding the value of this option (without the
553 leading @code{x_}). This gives the front end a way to indicate that
554 the value has been set explicitly and should not be changed by the
555 combined option. For example, some front ends use this to prevent
556 @option{-ffast-math} and @option{-fno-fast-math} from changing the
557 value of @option{-fmath-errno} for languages that do not use
560 @item EnabledBy(@var{opt})
561 @itemx EnabledBy(@var{opt} || @var{opt2})
562 @itemx EnabledBy(@var{opt} && @var{opt2})
563 If not explicitly set, the option is set to the value of
564 @option{-@var{opt}}; multiple options can be given, separated by
565 @code{||}. The third form using @code{&&} specifies that the option is
566 only set if both @var{opt} and @var{opt2} are set. The options @var{opt}
567 and @var{opt2} must have the @code{Common} property; otherwise, use
568 @code{LangEnabledBy}.
570 @item LangEnabledBy(@var{language}, @var{opt})
571 @itemx LangEnabledBy(@var{language}, @var{opt}, @var{posarg}, @var{negarg})
572 When compiling for the given language, the option is set to the value
573 of @option{-@var{opt}}, if not explicitly set. @var{opt} can be also a list
574 of @code{||} separated options. In the second form, if
575 @var{opt} is used in the positive form then @var{posarg} is considered
576 to be passed to the option, and if @var{opt} is used in the negative
577 form then @var{negarg} is considered to be passed to the option. It
578 is possible to specify several different languages. Each
579 @var{language} must have been declared by an earlier @code{Language}
580 record. @xref{Option file format}.
583 The option is omitted from the producer string written by
584 @option{-grecord-gcc-switches}.
587 Even if this is a target option, this option will not be recorded / compared
588 to determine if a precompiled header file matches.
591 The state of this option should be kept in sync with the preprocessor
592 option @var{var}. If this property is set, then properties @code{Var}
593 and @code{Init} must be set as well.
595 @item CppReason(@var{CPP_W_Enum})
596 This warning option corresponds to @code{cpplib.h} warning reason code
597 @var{CPP_W_Enum}. This should only be used for warning options of the
600 @item UrlSuffix(@var{url_suffix})
601 Adjacent to each human-written @code{.opt} file in the source tree is
602 a corresponding file with a @code{.opt.urls} extension. These files
603 contain @code{UrlSuffix} directives giving the ending part of the URL
604 for the documentation of the option, such as:
608 UrlSuffix(gcc/C_002b_002b-Dialect-Options.html#index-Wabi-tag)
611 These URL suffixes are relative to @code{DOCUMENTATION_ROOT_URL}.
613 There files are generated from the @code{.opt} files and the generated
614 HTML documentation by @code{regenerate-opt-urls.py}, and should be
615 regenerated when adding new options, via manually invoking
616 @code{make regenerate-opt-urls}.
618 @item LangUrlSuffix_@var{lang}(@var{url_suffix})
619 In addition to @code{UrlSuffix} directives, @code{regenerate-opt-urls.py}
620 can generate language-specific URLs, such as:
623 LangUrlSuffix_D(gdc/Code-Generation.html#index-MMD)