InstantFPC
Overview
This tool allows to run pascal program as scripts under Linux, BSD, OS X and Windows. For example:
<Delphi>
- !/usr/bin/env instantfpc
begin
writeln('Hello fpc user');
end. </Delphi>
Save the file as hello.pas, set the permission to execute and run it:
[]$ chmod a+x hello.pas []$ ./hello.pas Hello fpc user
Notes:
- The first line is called shebang and is stripped from the source before passing it to the compiler.
- The line 'program hello;' is optional in FPC. Because instantfpc passes the -o option to the compiler the line is ignored, so you can omit it.
Of course you can pass parameters to your script:
<Delphi>
- !/usr/bin/env instantfpc
var
i: Integer;
begin
for i:=0 to ParamCount do writeln(ParamStr(i));
end. </Delphi>
Save the file as params.pas, set the permission to execute and run it:
[]$ chmod a+x params.pas []$ ./params.pas A B /home/mattias/.cache/instantfpc/params.pas A B
Download
Instantfpc is part of the fpc 2.5.1 sources under utils/instantfpc and installed by default.
From svn
For fpc 2.5.1 and above: It is in the fpc sources:
svn co http://svn.freepascal.org/svn/fpc/trunk/utils/instantfpc instantfpc
For fpc 2.4.4 and 2.4.5:
svn co https://lazarus-ccr.svn.sourceforge.net/svnroot/lazarus-ccr/applications/instantfpc instantfpc
Installation
Note: It is already installed when using fpc 2.5.1 and above.
- Compile the instantfpc.lpi with Lazarus or lazbuild. Or compile directly with fpc instantfpc.pas.
- Put the executable into PATH, for example /usr/bin:
sudo cp instantfpc /usr/bin/
How it works
It uses a cache directory to compile. Default is $HOME/.cache/instantfpc. If HOME is not set it gives an error. You can override the directory by setting the environment variable INSTANTFPCCACHE. It compares the source with the stored file in cache and if it differs compiles the source, given the parameters in the shebang line (the first line of the script after #!). After successful compile it executes the program. If compilation fails it writes the fpc output to stdout.
Parameters of instantfpc
- -h: Print help and exit
- -v: Print current version and exit
- --get-cache: Print current cache directory and exit
- --set-cache=<directory>: Set cache directory
- -B: always compile even if cache is valid.
- --compiler=<path to compiler> use this compiler. By default fpc is searched in PATH.
- --skip-run: Do not execute the program. Useful to test if script compiles. Best combined with -B.
- Environment variable INSTANTFPCCACHE: Set cache directory. The --get-cache can override this.
- Environment variable INSTANTFPCOPTIONS: Options to pass to the compiler. Passed before the command line parameters.
Passing parameters to the compiler
Compiler parameters can be passed in the shebang line. Note: You can not use the 'env' command.
<Delphi>
- !/usr/bin/instantfpc -O1 -Ci
begin end. </Delphi>
And/Or you can put compiler options in the environment variable INSTANTFPCOPTIONS:
export INSTANTFPCOPTIONS="-Fu~/lazarus/components/codetools/units/x86_64-linux/"
<Delphi>
- !/usr/bin/instantfpc
uses FileProcs; // unit FileProcs is in codetools begin end. </Delphi>
Using with Lazarus
Since Lazarus 0.9.31 the IDE ignores the shebang line. You get all the normal code features.
Install the IDE package instantfpclaz, which comes with Lazarus. This will add a new project item to create instantfpc programs, for example under File / New / Project / InstantFPC program.
Compile in Lazarus
How to convert a Lazarus project to compile it with instantfpc:
Requires:
- Lazarus project main source file is the instantfpc program
Setup:
- Go to Project Options / Compiler Options / Compilation
- Disable all Call on checks for Compiler
- Set in Execute before the Command to:
instantfpc --skip-run -B -gl "-Fu$(ProjUnitPath)" $Name($(ProjFile))
- Enable checkboxes to scan make and fpc
Notes:
- The -gl will tell FPC to compile with debugging information
- The --skip-run -B compiles without executing
- See IDE Macros
Debug with Lazarus
How to convert a Lazarus project to debug an instantfpc program:
Requires:
- The above Compile in Lazarus
Setup:
- Go to Run / Run parameters
- Set Local / Host application to
$(InstantFPCCache)/$NameOnly($(ProjFile))
- Set Working Directory to
$(ProjPath)
Using in Apache
This is how to use instantfpc in Apache Webserver. Instantfpc needs the cache directory, which must be writable by the account of Apache. Let's say Apache is running under user www-data, group www-data.
mkdir /var/www/apacheinstantfpc chown www-data.www-data /var/www/apacheinstantfpc
Pass an environment variable to cgi scripts by adding the following line to the Apache configs:
SetEnv INSTANTFPCCACHE /var/www/apacheinstantfpc
Apache example showing env
Configure a directory to execute cgi scripts. For example:
ScriptAlias /cgi-bin/ /usr/lib/cgi-bin/ <Directory "/usr/lib/cgi-bin"> AllowOverride None Options +ExecCGI -MultiViews +SymLinksIfOwnerMatch Order allow,deny Allow from all </Directory>
Put the following script into /usr/lib/cgi-bin/showenv.pas:
<Delphi>
- !/usr/bin/instantfpc
{$mode objfpc}{$H+}
uses SysUtils;
var i: Integer;
begin
writeln('Content-type: text/html');
writeln;
writeln('<HTML><BODY>');
for i:=0 to Paramcount do
writeln('Param ',i,' ',ParamStr(i),'
');
for i:=1 to GetEnvironmentVariableCount do
writeln('Env ',GetEnvironmentString(i),'
');
writeln('</BODY></HTML>');
end.
</Delphi>
Bugs / ToDos
- Changes to the compiler or installed units are not checked. If you install a new compiler you should clean the cache (e.g. delete the directory ~/.cache/instantfpc).
Alternatives
The following trick works in the bash. Put the program into a file fpc_script.sh:
<Delphi> // 2>/dev/null; fpc fpc_script.pp &> build.log && exec ./fpc_script "$@" || cat build.log; exit begin
writeln();
end. </Delphi>