[Caml-list] Re: ocamlbuild

[Francois Berenger <berenger@riken.jp>]

On 07/26/2013 02:02 PM, Gabriel Scherer wrote:
> I am not very interested in build systems.

Me neither.
And, I'm not even competent enough to write one, unlike the many others
who felt they have to do so.

However, I do think (as a programmer) that the build system must
_NEVER_ get in front of my way.
It must be simple and observable (so that any problem
with the build configuration is easily fixed by anyone)
and parallelize the build to the maximum (this one should be a 
requirement from day 0 of the project).

> I use one (ocamlbuild) that
> I find decent (has several known areas of improvement, but bear with
> me), and instead of rewriting a new one from scratch¹ I decided that
> maybe the existing one I could be improved to fix its shortcomings.

At some point, I feel that some things have to be redesigned from
scratch rather than being patched endlessly.
Or, just switch to a better tool if it already exists.

> You know, by writing bug reports, and more importantly proposing
> patches (to the code or the documentation), instead of just
> complaining on the mailing-list.

You know, especially you Gabriel, that I can do that
(send patches with code, bug reports, etc.).
However, I do this only for projects that I admire.
Projects with a simple, crystal clear and sound design and a plain
UNIX taste.

> I'm not aware, so far, of a major
> design problem that can't be incrementally fixed, and whose resolution
> is worth the pain of switching to a completely new system.

I'm not sure there will be any pain for me to switch to another
build system (I think I will go for obuild).
I've stayed too long with ocamlbuild obviously.

Regards,
Francois.