XSUBPP(1) Perl Programmers Reference Guide XSUBPP(1)
NAME
xsubpp - compiler to convert Perl XS code into C code
SYNOPSIS
xsubpp [-v] [-except] [-s pattern] [-prototypes] [-noversioncheck]
[-nolinenumbers] [-nooptimize] [-typemap typemap] [-output filename]...
file.xs
DESCRIPTION
This compiler is typically run by the makefiles created by
ExtUtils::MakeMaker or by Module::Build or other Perl module build
tools.
xsubpp will compile XS code into C code by embedding the constructs
necessary to let C functions manipulate Perl values and creates the glue
necessary to let Perl access those functions. The compiler uses
typemaps to determine how to map C function parameters and variables to
Perl values.
The compiler will search for typemap files called typemap. It will use
the following search path to find default typemaps, with the rightmost
typemap taking precedence.
../../../typemap:../../typemap:../typemap:typemap
It will also use a default typemap installed as "ExtUtils::typemap".
OPTIONS
Note that the "XSOPT" MakeMaker option may be used to add these options
to any makefiles generated by MakeMaker.
-hiertype
Retains '::' in type names so that C++ hierarchical types can be
mapped.
-except
Adds exception handling stubs to the C code.
-typemap typemap
Indicates that a user-supplied typemap should take precedence over
the default typemaps. This option may be used multiple times, with
the last typemap having the highest precedence.
-output filename
Specifies the name of the output file to generate. If no file is
specified, output will be written to standard output.
-v Prints the xsubpp version number to standard output, then exits.
-prototypes
By default xsubpp will not automatically generate prototype code
for all xsubs. This flag will enable prototypes.
-noversioncheck
Disables the run time test that determines if the object file
(derived from the ".xs" file) and the ".pm" files have the same
version number.
-nolinenumbers
Prevents the inclusion of '#line' directives in the output.
-nooptimize
Disables certain optimizations. The only optimization that is
currently affected is the use of targets by the output C code (see
perlguts). This may significantly slow down the generated code,
but this is the way xsubpp of 5.005 and earlier operated.
-noinout
Disable recognition of "IN", "OUT_LIST" and "INOUT_LIST"
declarations.
-noargtypes
Disable recognition of ANSI-like descriptions of function
signature.
-C++ Currently doesn't do anything at all. This flag has been a no-op
for many versions of perl, at least as far back as perl5.003_07.
It's allowed here for backwards compatibility.
-s=... or -strip=...
This option is obscure and discouraged.
If specified, the given string will be stripped off from the
beginning of the C function name in the generated XS functions (if
it starts with that prefix). This only applies to XSUBs without
"CODE" or "PPCODE" blocks. For example, the XS:
void foo_bar(int i);
when "xsubpp" is invoked with "-s foo_" will install a "foo_bar"
function in Perl, but really call bar(i) in C. Most of the time,
this is the opposite of what you want and failure modes are
somewhat obscure, so please avoid this option where possible.
ENVIRONMENT
No environment variables are used.
AUTHOR
Originally by Larry Wall. Turned into the "ExtUtils::ParseXS" module by
Ken Williams.
MODIFICATION HISTORY
See the file Changes.
SEE ALSO
perl(1), perlxs(1), perlxstut(1), ExtUtils::ParseXS
perl v5.40.1 2025-07-27 XSUBPP(1)
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