Chapter 8: Working with Compiler Flags and Toolchains

In the previous chapter, we learned how to process Clang's AST – one of the most common formats for analyzing programs. In addition, we learned how to develop an AST plugin, which is an easy way to insert custom logic into the Clang compilation pipeline. This knowledge will help you augment your skillset for tasks such as source code linting or finding potential security vulnerabilities.

In this chapter, we are ascending from specific subsystems and looking at the bigger picture – the compiler driver and toolchain that orchestrate, configure, and run individual LLVM and Clang components according to users' needs. More specifically, we will focus on how to add new compiler flags and how to create a custom toolchain. As we mentioned in Chapter 5, Exploring Clang's Architecture, compiler drivers and toolchains are often under-appreciated and have long been ignored. However, without these two important...