Ocamlbuild - OCaml Build Automation Tool - tools Cheatsheets

Ocamlbuild is a powerful and flexible build automation tool designed specifically for OCaml projects. It simplifies the process of compiling, linking, and managing dependencies for both small and large OCaml codebases. By automating common build tasks, ocamlbuild allows developers to focus more on writing code and less on configuring build systems.

Ocamlbuild Command Usage

Below are common commands and examples for using ocamlbuild effectively in your OCaml development workflow.

Basic Compilation and Cleaning

# Build a specified target with default options (e.g., native executable)
ocamlbuild my_project.native

# Build a bytecode executable
ocamlbuild my_project.byte

# Clean up the build directory and remove generated files
ocamlbuild -clean

Managing Dependencies and Paths

# Build with custom include directories specified using -I
ocamlbuild -I src -I lib my_project.native

# Build using a specific OCamlfind package for dependency management
ocamlbuild -use-ocamlfind -pkg core my_project.native

Advanced Build Options

# Specify a tag for additional build options (e.g., debugging)
ocamlbuild -tag debug my_project.native

# Build with verbose output to see more detailed build steps
ocamlbuild -verbose my_project.native

# Use a custom directory for build artifacts instead of the default _build
ocamlbuild -build-dir custom_build_dir my_project.native

# Enable warnings as errors during the compilation process
ocamlbuild -cflags -warn-error +a my_project.native

# Utilize plugins for extended build functionality (e.g., code coverage)
ocamlbuild -plugin-tag "package(bisect_ppx)" my_project.native

Ocamlbuild Benefits

Ocamlbuild offers several advantages for OCaml developers:

Simplicity: Easy to get started with for basic projects.
Flexibility: Supports complex project structures and custom build rules.
Dependency Management: Integrates well with OCamlfind for handling external libraries.
Extensibility: Allows for custom plugins and tags to tailor the build process.

Further Resources

For more in-depth information and advanced usage, refer to the official OCaml documentation: