C and C++ SoftBench User's Guide

Using SoftBench

Building Projects and Targets

Chapter 272

External build projects do not use the "Set Compile Modes" dialog box

to change the compiler ﬂags sent via the "Compile Modes" toggle

buttons. To override the compiler ﬂags for an external build:

1. Turn off the toggle buttons for the compile mode that you want to

override.

2. Choose "Builder: Use External Build Command…" to display the

"External Build Command" dialog box.

3. In the "Options" input box, specify the options you want make to send

to the compiler. Which macro you use depends on how your Makefile

is structured. The default rules for make accept CFLAGS for C and

CXXFLAGS for C++. For example, you might enter CFLAGS=-y into the

options ﬁeld to have make pass the whole string to your compiler.

Using the "External Build Command" Dialog Box

External build projects can use the Build button to repeat a build or

"Builder: Use External Build Command…" to customize a build. This

allows you to control the target to be built, the build command used, and

the options you want make to send to the compiler. Once you enter this

information, you can save it by selecting Save as Target. Then when you

select the target in the browser, its information automatically appears in

the dialog box. The dialog box also remembers a history of entries made

in each ﬁeld, accessible via the arrow button next to the ﬁeld.

Previewing the Build

When you preview a build, SoftBench simulates the build without

performing the actions. SoftBench displays the commands that the build

would run in the output browser. This information helps you determine

which source code ﬁles create the targets, if any of your ﬁles are

out-of-date or missing, or if there are problems in the build instructions.

To preview a build, choose "Target: More Build Actions → Preview

Build".

As an alternative to previewing the build, you can choose "Graph:

Update Status of Nodes". This command updates the target graph,

changing the status of the nodes when appropriate. SoftBench displays

out-of-date nodes in red and up-to-date nodes in blue.

The "Preview Build" command works only with project build. The

command is equivalent to the make -n command. To see the same result