Compiler CLI

jiangc compiles Jiang source files. The current compiler can emit LLVM IR, object files, or link an executable through the host C compiler.

Version and Help

jiangc --version
jiangc --help

--version prints the Jiang compiler version, host target, and LLVM version.

Check Only

jiangc --check tests/samples/minimal.jiang

This parses, resolves, and type checks the program without emitting LLVM IR, an object file, or an executable.

Emit LLVM IR

jiangc --emit-llvm tests/samples/minimal.jiang

By default, LLVM IR is written to standard output. Use -o to write it to a file:

jiangc --emit-llvm tests/samples/minimal.jiang -o minimal.ll

Emit an Object File

jiangc --emit-obj tests/samples/minimal.jiang -o minimal.o

This stops after object generation and does not link an executable.

Link an Executable

Without an explicit --emit-* mode, jiangc creates a temporary object file and asks the host cc to link an executable:

jiangc tests/samples/minimal.jiang -o minimal

Then run:

./minimal
echo $?

Debug and Release Modes

jiangc defaults to debug mode:

jiangc --mode debug main.jiang -o main

Release mode enables LLVM optimization and uses package-level object organization when compiling a package directory:

jiangc --mode release . -o app

For single-file input, release mode still compiles that source file directly.

Linker Options

Use --linker to select the program used for final linking:

jiangc --linker /usr/bin/cc main.jiang -o main

Pass extra linker arguments with repeated --link-arg options:

jiangc main.jiang -o main --link-arg -lm

Runtime Boundary

The current minimum runtime boundary still uses the host C runtime for low-level services, mainly:

• malloc
• free
• printf
• abort

This is expected during the current compiler development stage.