Chapter 1. Build and Install LLVM

The LLVM infrastructure is available for several Unix environments (GNU/Linux, FreeBSD, Mac OS X) and Windows. In this chapter, we describe the necessary steps to get LLVM working in all these systems, step by step. LLVM and Clang prebuilt packages are available in some systems but they can be compiled from the source otherwise.

A beginner LLVM user must consider the fact that the basic setup for a LLVM-based compiler includes both LLVM and Clang libraries and tools. Therefore, all the instructions in this chapter are aimed at building and installing both. Throughout this book, we will focus on LLVM Version 3.4. It is important to note, however, that LLVM is a young project and under active development; therefore, it is subject to change.

Tip

At the time of this writing, LLVM 3.5 had not been released. While this book focuses on LLVM Version 3.4, we plan to release an appendix updating the examples in this book to LLVM 3.5 by the third week of September 2014, allowing you to exercise the content of the book with the newest versions of LLVM. This appendix will be available at https://www.packtpub.com/sites/default/files/downloads/6924OS_Appendix.pdf.

This chapter will cover the following topics:

• Understanding LLVM versions
• Installing LLVM with prebuilt binaries
• Installing LLVM using package managers
• Building LLVM from source for Linux
• Building LLVM from source for Windows and Visual Studio
• Building LLVM from source for Mac OS X and Xcode