Provided by: icmake_10.03.00-1_amd64 
NAME
icmake - A program maintenance (make) utility using a C-like grammar
SYNOPSIS
icmake option(s) [source [dest]] [args]
DESCRIPTION
Icmake(1) is a generic tool handling program maintenance that can be used as an
alternative for make(1). It’s a generic tool in that icmake-scripts, written in a language
closely resembling the C programming language, can perform tasks that are traditionally
the domain of scripting languages.
Icmake allows programmers to use a programming language (closely resembling the well-known
C-programming language) to define the actions that are required for (complex) program
maintenance. For this, icmake offers various special operators as well as a set of support
functions that have shown their usefulness in program maintenance.
Although icmake scripts can be written from scratch, often the required activities are
highly comparable. This observation resulted in the construction of two icmake scripts,
which are part of the standard icmake distribution: icmstart(1), initializing a directory
for program development and icmbuild(1), handling the actual program maintenance. By
default both scripts are tailored to initializing and maintaining C++ programs (or, after
minimal adaptation, C programs), but can easily be adapted to other programming languages.
Both icmstart and icmbuild can be run without explicitly calling icmake.
This man-page covers icmake (the program), and its support programs. Refer to the
icmstart(1)) man-page for information about how a directory can be initialized (created)
in which (by default) a C++ or C program can be developed and refer to the icmbuild(1)
man-page for information about how icmbuild can be used to handle program maintenance.
Refer to the bv(icmscript)(7) man-page for a description of the syntax and facilities
offered by icmake’s scripting language.
Icmake does not offer an Integrated Development Environment (IDE). Icmake merely performs
tasks for which scripts can be written, and only a minimal set of pre-defined scripts
(icmstart and icmbuild) that have shown their usefulness when developing and maintaining
programs are included in icmake’s distribution.
In its standard activation modes, icmake uses the following support programs:
o icm-pp to pre-process the icmake file
o icm-comp to byte-code compile the icmake s
o icm-dep to handle class-dependencies (see the ICM-DEP section in this man-page for
more information about icm-dep).
o icm-exec to execute the byte-code file
In addition, primarily used for illustration, education, and debugging, the program icmun
is available to disassemble compiled icmake byte-code (.bim) files (`bim-files’). Icmun is
not installed in a standard PATH directory but in icmake’s lib directory, which commonly
is /usr/lib/icmake (see also section ICMUN in this man-page).
Traditional make-utilities recompile sources once header files are modified. When
developing C++ programs this is often not required, as adding new member functions to
classes does not require you to recompile all source files of those classes. To handle
class dependencies icmbuld(1) may optionally inspect class dependencies, (re)compiling
sources of dependent classes when necessary. By default, class-dependencies are not
interpreted, but they are when the PRECOMP and/or USE_ALL defines, found in the file
icmconf file, are activated. Refer to the icmconf(7) man-page for details.
This manpage describes icmake’s options in the next section, followed by two sections
covering the support programs
o ICM-DEP
- the icm-dep dependency analyzer;
o ICMUN
- icmake’s unassembler.
Refer to the icmscript(7) man-page for a description of icmake’s C-like scripting
language.
OPTIONS
Where available, single letter options are listed between parentheses beyond their
associated long-option variants. Icmake defines action options and non-action options. The
first action option that is encountered is used.
The following action options write some text to the standard output stream, whereafter
icmake ends:
o --about (-a)
Shows some information about icmake;
o --help (-h)
Provides usage info, returning 0 to the operating system. Usage information is also
provided if icmake is started without providing arguments. In that case 1 is
returned to the operating system;
o --version (-v)
Displays icmake’s version.
The remaining action options require additional options and/or arguments, and most of them
process icmake source- or bim-files. Several of these action options write output files.
By default these files are located in the same directories as the source files’
directories.
The remaining action options are:
o --compile (-c) [options] source [bim-file]
The source file is first pre-processed (by icm-pp) whereafter the pre-processed
file is compiled (by icm-comp), producing a bim-file. If the bim-file name is not
specified then source’s base-name, receiving extension .bim, is used.
If the bim-file exists and is younger than source then source is not compiled.
With this option pre-processor symbol-defining options can be used: symbols having
values 1 which can be used in source. E.g., when issuing the command
icmake -c -d one --define two source dest.bim
then icmake compiles source, defines the pre-processor symbols one and two (each
having value 1), and produces the bim-file dest.bim. Note that instead of using
long options --define short options -d can also be used.
If source is a previously pre-processed file then option -P must be specified to
compile it. E.g.,
icmake -c -P source dest.bim
o --dependencies (-d) [options] action
Icmake calls icm-dep to determine the dependencies among classes. All options and
arguments following this option are forwarded to icm-dep. Refer to the ICM-DEP
section of this man-page for information about icm-dep;
o --execute (-e) [option] bim-file [arguments]
Executes the bim-file, specified as icmake’s first file argument. Before the
bim-file option --no-version-check (or the equivalent short option -n) can be
specified to allow mismatches between icmake’s main version and the icmake version
that was used to compile the bim-file. See also the description of the
--no-version-check option at the description of the non-action options below.
Options and arguments specified beyond the bim-file are forwarded as arguments to
the bim-file’s main function (refer to the icmscript(7) man-page for details about
how to write icmake-scripts);
o --force (-f) [options] source [bim-file]
Acts like option --compile, but compilation is always performed, even if the
bim-file is up-to-date. As with --compile, if source is a previously pre-processed
file then option -P must be specified to compile it. E.g.,
icmake -f -P source dest.bim
o --preprocess (-p) [options] source [pim-file]
The file specified as first argument is pre-processed, producing a `.pim’ file. If
a second filename argument is provided then that file becomes the .pim file. If not
specified, then the first filename, using the extension .pim, is used.
With this option pre-processor symbol-defining options can be used: symbols having
values 1 which can be used in source. E.g., when issuing the command
icmake -p -d one --define two source dest.pim
then icmake pre-processes source, defines the pre-processor symbols one and two
(each having value 1), and produces the pim-file dest.pim. Note that instead of
using long options --define short options -d can also be used;
o --source (-s) [options] source [arguments]
Icmake uses --compile to compile the icmake source file specified as first argument
(constructing the default bim-file if necessary) and then uses --execute to execute
the bim-file, forwarding any subsequent arguments as-is to the bim-file’s main
function.
With this option pre-processor options as well as the --no-version-check execute
option can be used. When using the latter option it must follow the pre-processor
options (if specified) and it must be preceded by --execute (or -e). E.g., when
issuing the command
icmake -s -d one -en source
then icmake first compiles source, defining the pre-processor symbol one, and then
executes the bim-file, passing --no-version-check to icm-exec;
o -t tmpspec [options] source [arguments]
This option is intended for icmake-scripts although it can also be used in a
command-line icmake call. Its argument tmpspec is either a single dot (as in -t.)
in which case icmake determines the name of the bim-file in the directory icmake
uses for temporary files (see option --tmpdir below), or it uses tmpspec as the
filename to write the bim-file to (which file is also removed once the script’s
execution ends).
At the options pre-processor options as well as the --no-version-check execute
option can be specified. When using the latter option it must follow the
pre-processor options (if specified) and it must be preceded by --execute (or -e).
The argument source is the name of the icmake script to process, and source may
optionally be followed by arguments. Those arguments are forwarded as-is to the
script’s main function, where they appear as elements of its list argv parameter.
Rather than using the explicit command-line call icmake -t. ... the -t option is
normally used in the first line of an (executable) (so usually chmod +x source has
been specified before calling the script), where its pre-processor and execute
options can also be specified. For example after writing the executable script
hello:
#!/usr/bin/icmake -t.
int main(int argc, list argv)
{
printf << "hello: " << argv << ’\n’;
}
it can be called as hello one -two --three, producing output like:
hello: /tmp/10434.bim.MKqvAb one -two --three
(the name following hello: will be different, as it is the name of the compiled
temporary bim-file). If icmake pre-process and/or execute options are required they
can be specified in the first line, following the -t option. E.g.,
#!/usr/bin/icmake -t. -d one --define two
o --unassemble (-u)
The file specified as first argument is an icmake bim-file, which is unassembled.
Refer to the icmun section further down this man-page for more information about
icmun;
The program icmun unassembles bim-files. This program also supports the
--no-version-check (-n) option.
Finally, there are some (non-action) options that can be specified before specifying
action options:
o --no-process (-N)
Implies option --verbose. This option may precede options -d, -e, -s and -t (either
as two separate options or by `gluing’ both options together, like -Ne). When
specified, the actions are not activated, but the command(s) that would have been
used are shown to the standard output;
o --no-version-check (-n)
This option is available with the action options --execute, --source, --unassemble,
and -t. When specified the main versions of icm-bim files and icmake itself may
differ. This option should normally not be used, and was added for development
purposes only;
o --tmpdir=directory (-T)
The specified directory is used for storing temporary files. E.g., when compiling
an icmake script, the output of icmake’s preprocessor is written to a temporary
file which is removed when icmake ends. By default /tmp is used, unless /tmp is not
a writable directory, in which case the current user’s $HOME directory is used;
o --verbose (-V)
The child processes and their arguments are written to the standard output stream
before they are called. This option may precede options -d, -e, -s and -t (either
as two separate options or by `gluing’ both options together, like -Ve).
ICM-DEP
Icm-dep is a support program called by icmake to determine source- and precompiled-header
file dependencies. Icm-dep can be used for software projects that are developed as
described in the C++ Annotations, section Header file organization in chapter Classes. For
those projects classes are developed in their own directories, which are direct
sub-directory of the project’s main program directory. Their class interfaces are provided
in class-header files bearing the names of the class-directories, and all headers that are
required by the class’s sources are declared in a separate internal header filed, commonly
having extensions .ih.
Icmake automatically calls icm-depd when USE_ALL or PRECOMP is specified in icmconf files.
By default it is called with arguments -V go. The #define ICM_DEP define-specification in
the icmconf file can be used to specify a different set of options.
When icm-dep is activated (i.e., its argument go is specified) then icm-dep determines
directory dependencies, touching all files in directories that depend on directories
containing modified files, and/or removing precompiled headers if they include headers
from other directories that were modified. By providing another argument than go icm-dep
performs a `dry run’: it analyzes dependencies, but it won’t remove or touch files.
Options of icm-dep may be specified immediately following icmake’s --dependencies option.
Icm-dep supports the following options:
o --classes=filename (-c)
By default, icm-dep inspects dependencies of the directories mentioned in the file
CLASSES. Furthermore, if the icmconf(7) file specifies PARSER_DIR and SCANNER_DIR
then those directories are also considered. Use this option to specify the file
containing the names of directories to be inspected by icm-dep.
o --help (-h)
Icm-dep writes a summary of its usage to the standard output and terminates,
returning 0 to the operating system;
o --icmconf=filename (-i)
By default icm-dep inspects the content of icmconf files, This option is used if
instead of icmconf another file should be inspected;
o --mainih=mainheader (-m)
In the icmconf file the #define IH parameter is used to specify the suffix of class
header files that should be precompiled, assuming that their filenames are equal to
the names of the directories which are listed in the CLASSES file. But CLASSES does
not specify the name of the program’s top-level directory. This option is used to
specify the name of the top-level header file to precompile. By default main.ih is
used;
o --gch
If icmconf files contain #define PRECOMP specifications then icm-dep checks whether
precompiled headers must be refreshed. If an icmconf file does not contain a
#define PRECOMP specifications, but precompiled headers should nonetheless be
inspected, then option --gch can be specified;
o --no-gch
If icmconf files contain #define PRECOMP specifications but icm-dep should not
check whether precompiled headers must be refreshed then option --no-gch should be
specified;
o --no-use-all
If icmconf files contain #define USE_ALL "filename" specifications then all source
files in directories containing files named filename are recompiled. When
specifying this option inspections of `USE_ALL’ specifications is suppressed;
o --use-all=filename
If icmconf files contain #define USE_ALL "filename" specifications then all source
files in directories containing files named filename are recompiled. Specify this
option to inspect the presence of filename files if icmconf does not contain a
`USE_ALL’ specification;
o --verbose (-V)
This option can be specified multiple times. The number of times it is specified
determines icm-dep’s verbosity. If not used then icm-dep silently performs its
duties. If specified once, then icm-dep reports to the standard output what actions
it performs; if specified twice it also reports non-default options and
automatically included directories; if specified three times it also reports class
dependencies; if specified more often it reports what files it encountered and what
decision it would make when go would be specified;
o --version (-v)
Icm-dep reports its version number to the standard output and terminates, returning
0 to the operating system.
As an example, for icmake itself the class dependencies, obtained using the option -VVV
are shown as:
Direct class dependencies:
--------------------------
uses:
------------
class: 1 2 3 4
--------------------------
. 1 x x x x
options 2 x x
handler 3 x x
argoptions 4 x
--------------------------
1 2 3 4
--------------------------
Implied class dependencies:
--------------------------
uses:
------------
class: 1 2 3 4
--------------------------
. 1 - x x x
handler 2 - x x
options 3 - x
argoptions 4 -
--------------------------
1 2 3 4
--------------------------
The second table immediately shows that there are no circular dependencies: its lower
triangle remains empty.
icmun
The icmun support program expects one argument, a bim-file. It disassembles the binary
file an shows the assembler instructions and the structure of the bim-file. Note that in
standard installations icmun is not located in one of the directories of the PATH
environment variable, but it is available in the /usr/lib/icmake directory, and the
command icmake -u bim-file is normally used to unassemble the bim-file.
As an illustration, assume the following script is compiled by icmake (e.g., by calling
icmake -c demo.im):
void main()
{
printf("hello world");
}
the resulting demo.bim file can be processed by icmun (e.g., calling /usr/lib/icmake/icmun
demo.bim. Icmun then writes the following to the standard output fle:
icmun by Frank B. Brokken (f.b.brokken@rug.nl)
icmun V10.00.00
Copyright (c) GPL 1992-2021. NO WARRANTY.
Binary file statistics:
strings at offset 0x0025
variables at offset 0x0032
filename at offset 0x0032
code at offset 0x0014
first opcode at offset 0x0021
String constants dump:
[0025 (0000)] ""
[0026 (0001)] "hello world"
Disassembled code:
[0014] 06 01 00 push string "hello world"
[0017] 05 01 00 push int 0001
[001a] 1b 1d callrss 1d (printf)
[001c] 1c 02 add sp, 02
[001e] 04 push int 0
[001f] 24 pop reg
[0020] 23 ret
[0021] 21 14 00 call [0014]
[0024] 1d exit
Offsets are shown using the hexadecimal number system and are absolute byte offsets in the
bim-file. The string constants dump also shows, between parentheses, the offsets of the
individual strings relative to the beginning of the strings section. The disassembled code
shows the opcodes of the instructions of the compiled icmake source files. If opcodes use
arguments then these argument values are shown following their opcodes. Each opcode line
ends by showing the opcode’s mnemonic plus (if applicable) the nature of its argument.
FILES
The mentioned paths are the ones that are used in the source distribution and are used by
the Debian Linux distribution. However, they are sugestive only and may have been
configured differently:
o /usr/bin/icmake: the main icmake program;
o /usr/bin/icmbuild: the wrapper program around the icmbuild script handling standard
program maintenance;
o /usr/bin/icmstart: an icmake-script that is can be used to create the startup-files
of new projects;
o /usr/lib/icmake/icm-comp: the compiler called by icmake;
o /usr/lib/icmake/icm-exec: the byte-code interpreter called by icmake;
o /usr/lib/icmake/icm-dep: the support program handling class- and precompiled header
dependencies;
o /usr/lib/icmake/icm-pp: the preprocessor called by icmake;
o /usr/lib/icmake/icmun: the icmake unassembler.
EXAMPLES
The distribution (usually in /usr/share/doc/icmake) contains a directory examples
containing additional examples of icmake script. The icmstart script is an icmake script
as is /usr/lib/icmake/icmbuild, which is called by the /usr/bin/icmbuild program. See also
the EXAMPLE section in the icmscript(7) man-page.
SEE ALSO
chmod(1), icmbuild(1), icmconf(7), icmscript(7), icmstart(1), icmstart.rc(7), make(1)
BUGS
Be advised that starting icmake version 10.00.00
o the --summary (-F) option has been discontinued;
o the --source short option -i has been replaced by -s;
o long option --icm-dep has been replaced by --dependencies;
COPYRIGHT
This is free software, distributed under the terms of the GNU General Public License
(GPL).
AUTHOR
Frank B. Brokken (f.b.brokken@rug.nl).