What is the correct way to compile a file using Embeddable Common Lisp?

Question

I attempting to use ECL to create a .o file with the intention of using its feature of compiling to C however I am receiving an error when trying to build a program as the documentation lists.

I am running:

(c:build-program "CompiledFile" "hello.lisp")

An receiving the error:

Debugger received error of type: SIMPLE-ERROR
Cannot find the external symbol BUILD-PROGRAM in #<"C" package>.
Error flushed.
>> "CompiledFile"
>> "hello.lisp"
>> ;;; Warning: Ignoring an unmatched right parenthesis.

The contents of hello.lisp are as follows:

(defun say-hello ()
  (print "Hello, world"))

(say-hello)
(terpri)
(quit)

I am following the documentation found here https://common-lisp.net/project/ecl/static/manual/ch34s03.html and it has the function definition as:

c:build-program {image-name &key lisp-files ld-flags prologue-code epilogue-code}

Ryter

The contents of hello.lisp are irrelevant, it's complaining that c:build-program doesn't exist. – Tier

Try c::build-program in case it's not exported for some reason. – Tier

@Tier Running c::build-program just gets me a similar error Condition of type: UNDEFINED-FUNCTION The function C::BUILD-PROGRAM is undefined. Available restarts: 1. (RESTART-TOPLEVEL) Go back to Top-Level REPL. Broken at SI:BYTECODES. [Evaluation of: (C::BUILD-PROGRAM "CompiledFile" "hello.lisp")] In: #<process TOP-LEVEL>. – Ryter

I'm not sure what's going on. All the ECL documentation says that this function should be there. Are you sure you're using ECL and not some other CL implementation? – Tier

@Tier yep, using installed prebuilt from common-lisp.net/project/ecl/static/files/prebuilt – Ryter

Answer 1

According to https://ecls-list.narkive.com/xACoJUbf/c-build-program-and-eval the compiler isn't loaded by default, you need to use

(require 'cmp)

first.

I'm not sure why this isn't mentioned in the manual.

Tier

That definitely seems to be the right direction but I encountered a strange issue when using it, > (require 'cmp) ;;; Loading #P"C:/Program Files (x86)/ECL/cmp.fas" Condition of type: SIMPLE-ERROR LOAD: Could not load file #P"C:/Program Files (x86)/ECL/cmp.fas" (Error: "The operation completed successfully. ") Available restarts: 1. (RESTART-TOPLEVEL) Go back to Top-Level REPL. Broken at SI:BYTECODES. [Evaluation of: (REQUIRE 'CMP)] In: #<process TOP-LEVEL>. and then I received the same errors when trying again. (cmp.fas is in the directory) – Ryter

Sorry, don't know what to tell you. I don't have Windows so I can't try it myself. – Tier

All good, at least I've made some progress towards fixing it. Thanks for the help! – Ryter

Answer 2

According to ECL manual, you need to initialize C/C++ compiler to generate the .o files:

(ext:install-c-compiler)
(compile-file "hello.lisp" :system-p t) ; Now this produces .o file

To generate an executable from .o:

(c:build-program "CompiledFile" :lisp-files '("hello.o"))

Afra