Nim: [TODO] could nimcache be generated out-of-source (in /tmp) like rdmd does in D?

[timotheecour]

could nimcache be generated out-of-source (in /tmp) like rdmd does in D?

nim c -r util.nim
creates
util, nimcache

dmd -run util.d doesn't create anything (only in /tmp) which is nice
can be seen with: writeln(thisExePath);
eg:
dmd -run:
/private/var/tmp/dmd_run1WOziZ
rdmd:
/private/var/folders/ll/dtasdfasf30dny4y61tf_80000gn/T/.rdmd-501/rdmd-main.d-B6C80F6AC29F80D70F072890F37AA29E/main
which hashes all compiler options so it'll run instantly on next use

post close TODO

other aspects, eg generate the binary in nimcache, caching the resulting binary

[data-man]

--nimcache:PATH

[timotheecour]

this is not as good as in D case because --nimcache:PATH would have to be specified manually for each invocation to avoid clashing, whereas with rdmd, the path is computed based on a hash of passed in compiler options, cf https://github.com/dlang/tools/blob/master/rdmd.d#L413

[bluenote10]

because --nimcache:PATH would have to be specified manually for each invocation to avoid clashing

Not necessarily. You can place e.g. a nim.cfg with content --nimcache:PATH in your source directory structure and the compiler will use it automatically.

[data-man]

You can place e.g. a nim.cfg with content --nimcache:PATH in your source directory structure

Or add nimcache="path" to NimDir/config/nim.cfg

I'm using so:

@if release:
  nimcache:"/tmp/nimcache/release"
@else
  nimcache:"/tmp/nimcache/debug"
@end

[cooldome]

I prefer nimcache folder in current location, because I often need to check what Nim compiler has generated. It will be a disaster to look for /tmp/autogen_can_be_anything_folder_you_will_never_find_me_as_I_look_as_200_other_folders

[zah]

I used to configure nimcache in my/home/$user/.config/nim.cfg config file like this:

@if unix:
  @if debug:
    nimcache = "/tmp/nimcache/d/$projectName"
  @else:
    nimcache = "/tmp/nimcache/r/$projectName"
  @end
@end

@if windows:
  @if debug:
    nimcache = r"C:\Temp\nimcache\d\$projectName"
  @else:
    nimcache = r"C:\Temp\nimcache\r\$projectName"
  @end
@end

This solves pretty much all of the raised concerns here.

[data-man]

@zah
Does @if debug: in a cfg file work for you?
Very strange, it does not work for me.

[zah]

@data-man, it works fine. The debug branch will be selected only when you compile with -d:debug.

[FedericoCeratto]

@zah methods allows easy cache cleanups and speeds up running alternating debug and release builds by having independent caches.
It should be added as a commented out block in the nim.cfg file shipped with the compiler releases.

[GULPF]

This has been implemented now