1Building and Installing Erlang/OTP
2==================================
3
4Introduction
5------------
6
7This document describes how to build and install Erlang/OTP-%OTP-REL%.
8Erlang/OTP should be possible to build from source on any Unix/Linux system,
9including OS X. You are advised to read the whole document
10before attempting to build and install Erlang/OTP.
11
12The source code can be downloaded from the official site of Erlang/OTP or GitHub.
13* <http://www.erlang.org>
14* <https://github.com/erlang/otp>
15
16Required Utilities
17------------------
18
19These are the tools you need in order to unpack and build Erlang/OTP.
20
21### Unpacking ###
22
23*   GNU unzip, or a modern uncompress.
24*   A TAR program that understands the GNU TAR format for long filenames.
25
26### Building ###
27
28*   GNU `make`
29*   Compiler -- GNU C Compiler, `gcc` or the C compiler frontend for LLVM, `clang`.
30*   Perl 5
31*   GNU `m4` -- If HiPE (native code) support is enabled. HiPE can be
32    disabled using `--disable-hipe`
33*   `ncurses`, `termcap`, or `termlib` -- The development headers and
34    libraries are needed, often known as `ncurses-devel`. Use
35    `--without-termcap` to build without any of these libraries. Note that
36    in this case only the old shell (without any line editing) can be used.
37*  `sed` -- Stream Editor for basic text transformation.
38
39#### Building in Git ####
40
41Build the same way as when building the unpacked tar file.
42
43#### Building on OS X ####
44
45*   Xcode -- Download and install via the Mac App Store.
46    Read about [Building on a Mac][] before proceeding.
47
48### Installing ###
49
50*   An `install` program that can take multiple file names.
51
52
53Optional Utilities
54------------------
55
56Some applications are automatically skipped if the dependencies aren't met.
57Here is a list of utilities needed for those applications. You will
58also find the utilities needed for building the documentation.
59
60### Building ###
61
62*   OpenSSL -- The opensource toolkit for Secure Socket Layer
63    and Transport Layer Security.
64    Required for building the application `crypto`.
65    Further, `ssl` and `ssh` require a working crypto application and
66    will also be skipped if OpenSSL is missing. The `public_key`
67    application is available without `crypto`, but the functionality
68    will be very limited.
69
70    The development package of OpenSSL including the header files are needed as well
71    as the binary command program `openssl`. At least version 0.9.8 of OpenSSL is required.
72    Read more and download from <http://www.openssl.org>.
73*   Oracle Java SE JDK -- The Java Development Kit (Standard Edition).
74    Required for building the application `jinterface`.
75    At least version 1.6.0 of the JDK is required.
76
77    Download from <http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/java/javase/downloads>.
78    We have also tested with IBM's JDK 1.6.0.
79*   `flex` -- Headers and libraries are needed to build the flex
80    scanner for the `megaco` application on Unix/Linux.
81*   wxWidgets -- Toolkit for GUI applications.
82    Required for building the `wx` application. At least
83    version 3.0 of wxWidgets is required.
84
85    Download from <http://sourceforge.net/projects/wxwindows/files/3.0.0/>
86    or get it from GitHub: <https://github.com/wxWidgets/wxWidgets>
87
88    Further instructions on wxWidgets, read [Building with wxErlang][].
89
90
91
92### Building Documentation ###
93
94*   `xsltproc` -- A command line XSLT processor.
95
96    A tool for applying XSLT stylesheets
97    to XML documents. Download xsltproc from
98    <http://xmlsoft.org/XSLT/xsltproc2.html>.
99
100*   `fop` -- Apache FOP print formatter (requires Java). Can be downloaded
101    from <http://xmlgraphics.apache.org/fop>.
102
103
104
105How to Build and Install Erlang/OTP
106-----------------------------------
107
108The following instructions are for building [the released source tar ball][].
109
110The variable `$ERL_TOP` will be mentioned a lot of times. It refers to
111the top directory in the source tree. More information about `$ERL_TOP`
112can be found in the [make and $ERL_TOP][] section below.
113
114### Unpacking ###
115
116Start by unpacking the Erlang/OTP distribution file with your GNU
117compatible TAR program.
118
119    $ tar -zxf otp_src_%OTP-VSN%.tar.gz    # Assuming bash/sh
120
121Now change directory into the base directory and set the `$ERL_TOP` variable.
122
123    $ cd otp_src_%OTP-VSN%
124    $ export ERL_TOP=`pwd`    # Assuming bash/sh
125
126### Configuring ###
127
128Run the following commands to configure the build:
129
130    $ ./configure [ options ]
131
132By default, Erlang/OTP release will be installed in `/usr/local/{bin,lib/erlang}`.
133If you for instance don't have the permission to install in the standard location,
134 you can install Erlang/OTP somewhere else. For example, to install in
135`/opt/erlang/%OTP-VSN%/{bin,lib/erlang}`, use the `--prefix=/opt/erlang/%OTP-VSN%` option.
136
137On some platforms Perl may behave strangely if certain locales are
138set. If you get errors when building, try setting the LANG variable:
139
140    $ export LANG=C   # Assuming bash/sh
141
142
143### Building ###
144
145Build the Erlang/OTP release.
146
147    $ make
148
149
150### Testing ###
151
152Before installation you should test whether your build is working properly
153by running our smoke test. The smoke test is a subset of the complete Erlang/OTP test suites.
154First you will need to build and release the test suites.
155
156    $ make release_tests
157
158This creates an additional folder in `$ERL_TOP/release` called `tests`.
159Now, it's time to start the smoke test.
160
161    $ cd release/tests/test_server
162    $ $ERL_TOP/bin/erl -s ts install -s ts smoke_test batch -s init stop
163
164To verify that everything is ok you should open `$ERL_TOP/release/tests/test_server/index.html`
165in your web browser and make sure that there are zero failed test cases.
166
167> *NOTE*: On builds without `crypto`, `ssl` and `ssh` there is a failed test case
168> for undefined functions. Verify that the failed test case log only shows calls
169> to skipped applications.
170
171### Installing ###
172
173You are now ready to install the Erlang/OTP release!
174The following command will install the release on your system.
175
176    $ make install
177
178
179### Running ###
180
181You should now have a working release of Erlang/OTP!
182Jump to [System Principles][] for instructions on running Erlang/OTP.
183
184
185### How to Build the Documentation ###
186
187Make sure you're in the top directory in the source tree.
188
189    $ cd $ERL_TOP
190
191If you have just built Erlang/OTP in the current source tree, you have
192already ran `configure` and do not need to do this again; otherwise, run
193`configure`.
194
195    $ ./configure [Configure Args]
196
197When building the documentation you need a full Erlang/OTP-%OTP-VSN% system in
198the `$PATH`.
199
200    $ export PATH=$ERL_TOP/bin:$PATH     # Assuming bash/sh
201
202For the FOP print formatter, two steps must be taken:
203
204*   Adding the location of your installation of `fop` in `$FOP_HOME`.
205
206        $ export FOP_HOME=/path/to/fop/dir # Assuming bash/sh
207
208*   Adding the `fop` script (in `$FOP_HOME`) to your `$PATH`, either by adding `$FOP_HOME` to `$PATH`, or by copying the `fop` script to a directory already in your `$PATH`.
209
210Build the documentation.
211
212    $ make docs
213
214#### Build Issues ####
215
216We have sometimes experienced problems with Oracle's `java` running out of
217memory when running `fop`. Increasing the amount of memory available
218as follows has in our case solved the problem.
219
220    $ export FOP_OPTS="-Xmx<Installed amount of RAM in MB>m"
221
222More information can be found at
223*   <http://xmlgraphics.apache.org/fop/0.95/running.html#memory>.
224
225
226### How to Install the Documentation ###
227
228The documentation can be installed either using the `install-docs` target,
229or using the `release_docs` target.
230
231*   If you have installed Erlang/OTP using the `install` target, install
232    the documentation using the `install-docs` target. Install locations
233    determined by `configure` will be used. `$DESTDIR` can be used the
234    same way as when doing `make install`.
235
236        $ make install-docs
237
238*   If you have installed Erlang/OTP using the `release` target, install
239    the documentation using the `release_docs` target. You typically want
240    to use the same `RELEASE_ROOT` as when invoking `make release`.
241
242        $ make release_docs RELEASE_ROOT=<release dir>
243
244
245### Accessing the Documentation ###
246
247After installation you can access the documentation by
248
249*   Reading man pages. Make sure that `erl` is referring to the
250    installed version. For example `/usr/local/bin/erl`.
251    Try viewing at the man page for Mnesia
252
253        $ erl -man mnesia
254
255*   Browsing the html pages by loading the page `/usr/local/lib/erlang/doc/erlang/index.html`
256    or `<BaseDir>/lib/erlang/doc/erlang/index.html` if the prefix option has been used.
257
258
259### How to Install the Pre-formatted Documentation ###
260
261Pre-formatted [html documentation][] and [man pages][] can be downloaded from
262* <http://www.erlang.org/download.html>.
263
264Extract the html archive in the installation directory.
265
266    $ cd <ReleaseDir>
267    $ tar -zxf otp_html_%OTP-VSN%.tar.gz
268
269For `erl -man <page>` to work the Unix manual pages have to be
270installed in the same way, i.e.
271
272    $ cd <ReleaseDir>
273    $ tar -zxf otp_man_%OTP-VSN%.tar.gz
274
275Where `<ReleaseDir>` is
276
277*   `<PrefixDir>/lib/erlang` if you have installed Erlang/OTP using
278    `make install`.
279*   `$DESTDIR<PrefixDir>/lib/erlang` if you have installed Erlang/OTP
280    using `make install DESTDIR=<TmpInstallDir>`.
281*   `RELEASE_ROOT` if you have installed using
282    `make release RELEASE_ROOT=<ReleaseDir>`.
283
284
285Advanced configuration and build of Erlang/OTP
286----------------------------------------------
287
288If you want to tailor your Erlang/OTP build and installation, please read
289on for detailed information about the individual steps.
290
291### make and $ERL\_TOP ###
292
293All the makefiles in the entire directory tree use the environment
294variable `ERL_TOP` to find the absolute path of the installation. The
295`configure` script will figure this out and set it in the top level
296Makefile (which, when building, it will pass on). However, when
297developing it is sometimes convenient to be able to run make in a
298subdirectory. To do this you must set the `ERL_TOP` variable
299before you run make.
300
301For example, assume your GNU make program is called `make` and you
302want to rebuild the application `STDLIB`, then you could do:
303
304    $ cd lib/stdlib; env ERL_TOP=<Dir> make
305
306where `<Dir>` would be what you find `ERL_TOP` is set to in the top level
307Makefile.
308
309### otp\_build vs configure/make ###
310
311Building Erlang/OTP can be done either by using the `$ERL_TOP/otp_build`
312script, or by invoking `$ERL_TOP/configure` and `make` directly. Building using
313`otp_build` is easier since it involves fewer steps, but the `otp_build` build
314procedure is not as flexible as the `configure`/`make` build procedure. The binary
315releases for Windows that we deliver are built using `otp_build`.
316
317### Configuring ###
318
319The configure script is created by the GNU autoconf utility, which
320checks for system specific features and then creates a number of makefiles.
321
322The configure script allows you to customize a number of parameters;
323type `./configure --help` or `./configure --help=recursive` for details.
324`./configure --help=recursive` will give help for all `configure` scripts in
325all applications.
326
327One of the things you can specify is where Erlang/OTP should be installed. By
328default Erlang/OTP will be installed in `/usr/local/{bin,lib/erlang}`.
329To keep the same structure but install in a different place, `<Dir>` say,
330use the `--prefix` argument like this: `./configure --prefix=<Dir>`.
331
332Some of the available `configure` options are:
333
334*   `--prefix=PATH` - Specify installation prefix.
335*   `--disable-parallel-configure` - Disable parallel execution of
336    `configure` scripts (parallel execution is enabled by default)
337*   `--{enable,disable}-kernel-poll` - Kernel poll support (enabled by
338    default if possible)
339*   `--{enable,disable}-hipe` - HiPE support (enabled by default on supported
340    platforms)
341*   `--{enable,disable}-fp-exceptions` - Floating point exceptions (an
342    optimization for floating point operations). The default differs
343    depending on operating system and hardware platform. Note that by
344    enabling this you might get a seemingly working system that sometimes
345    fail on floating point operations.
346*   `--enable-m64-build` - Build 64-bit binaries using the `-m64` flag to
347    `(g)cc`
348*   `--enable-m32-build` - Build 32-bit binaries using the `-m32` flag to
349    `(g)cc`
350*   `--with-assumed-cache-line-size=SIZE` - Set assumed cache-line size in
351    bytes. Default is 64. Valid values are powers of two between and
352    including 16 and 8192. The runtime system use this value in order to
353    try to avoid false sharing. A too large value wastes memory. A to
354    small value will increase the amount of false sharing.
355*   `--{with,without}-termcap` - termcap (without implies that only the old
356    Erlang shell can be used)
357*   `--with-javac=JAVAC` - Specify Java compiler to use
358*   `--{with,without}-javac` - Java compiler (without implies that the
359    `jinterface` application won't be built)
360*   `--{enable,disable}-dynamic-ssl-lib` - Dynamic OpenSSL libraries
361*   `--{enable,disable}-builtin-zlib` - Use the built-in source for zlib.
362*   `--{with,without}-ssl` - OpenSSL (without implies that the `crypto`,
363    `ssh`, and `ssl` won't be built)
364*   `--with-ssl=PATH` - Specify location of OpenSSL include and lib
365*   `--with-ssl-incl=PATH` - Location of OpenSSL `include` directory,
366    if different than specified by `--with-ssl=PATH`
367*   `--with-ssl-rpath=yes|no|PATHS` - Runtime library path for OpenSSL.
368    Default is `yes`, which equates to a number of standard locations. If
369    `no`, then no runtime library paths will be used. Anything else should be
370    a comma separated list of paths.
371*   `--with-libatomic_ops=PATH` - Use the `libatomic_ops` library for atomic
372    memory accesses. If `configure` should inform you about no native atomic
373    implementation available, you typically want to try using the
374    `libatomic_ops` library. It can be downloaded from
375    <https://github.com/ivmai/libatomic_ops/>.
376*   `--disable-smp-require-native-atomics` - By default `configure` will
377    fail if an SMP runtime system is about to be built, and no implementation
378    for native atomic memory accesses can be found. If this happens, you are
379    encouraged to find a native atomic implementation that can be used, e.g.,
380    using `libatomic_ops`, but by passing `--disable-smp-require-native-atomics`
381    you can build using a fallback implementation based on mutexes or spinlocks.
382    Performance of the SMP runtime system will however suffer immensely without
383    an implementation for native atomic memory accesses.
384*   `--enable-static-{nifs,drivers}` - To allow usage of nifs and drivers on OSs
385    that do not support dynamic linking of libraries it is possible to statically
386    link nifs and drivers with the main Erlang VM binary. This is done by passing
387    a comma separated list to the archives that you want to statically link. e.g.
388    `--enable-static-nifs=/home/$USER/my_nif.a`. The path has to be absolute and the
389    name of the archive has to be the same as the module, i.e. `my_nif` in the
390    example above. This is also true for drivers, but then it is the driver name
391    that has to be the same as the filename. You also have to define
392    `STATIC_ERLANG_{NIF,DRIVER}` when compiling the .o files for the nif/driver.
393    If your nif/driver depends on some other dynamic library, you now have to link
394    that to the Erlang VM binary. This is easily achieved by passing `LIBS=-llibname`
395    to configure.
396*   `--without-$app` - By default all applications in Erlang/OTP will be included
397	in a release. If this is not wanted it is possible to specify that Erlang/OTP
398	should be compiled without one or more applications, i.e. `--without-wx`. There is
399	no automatic dependency handling between applications. If you disable
400	an application that another application depends on, you also have to disable the
401	dependant application.
402*   `--enable-gettimeofday-as-os-system-time` - Force usage of `gettimeofday()` for
403    OS system time.
404*   `--enable-prefer-elapsed-monotonic-time-during-suspend` - Prefer an OS monotonic
405    time source with elapsed time during suspend.
406*   `--disable-prefer-elapsed-monotonic-time-during-suspend` - Do not prefer an OS
407    monotonic time source with elapsed time during suspend.
408*   `--with-clock-resolution=high|low` - Try to find clock sources for OS system
409    time, and OS monotonic time with higher or lower resolution than chosen by
410    default. Note that both alternatives may have a negative impact on the performance
411    and scalability compared to the default clock sources chosen.
412*   `--disable-saved-compile-time` - Disable saving of compile date and time
413    in the emulator binary.
414
415If you or your system has special requirements please read the `Makefile` for
416additional configuration information.
417
418#### Updating configure scripts ####
419
420Generated `configure` scripts are nowadays included in the git repository.
421
422If you modify any `configure.in` files or the `erts/aclocal.m4` file, you need
423to regenerate `configure` scripts before the changes will take effect. First
424ensure that you have GNU `autoconf` of version 2.69 in your path. Then execute
425`./otp_build update_configure [--no-commit]` in the `$ERL_TOP` directory. The
426`otp_build` script will verify that `autoconf` is of correct version and will
427refuse to update the `configure` scripts if it is of any other version.
428
429#### Atomic Memory Operations and the VM ####
430
431The VM with SMP support makes quite a heavy use of atomic memory operations.
432An implementation providing native atomic memory operations is therefore very
433important when building Erlang/OTP. By default the VM will refuse to build
434if native atomic memory operations are not available.
435
436Erlang/OTP itself provides implementations of native atomic memory operations
437that can be used when compiling with a `gcc` compatible compiler for 32/64-bit
438x86, 32/64-bit SPARC V9, 32-bit PowerPC, or 32-bit Tile. When compiling with
439a `gcc` compatible compiler for other architectures, the VM may be able to make
440use of native atomic operations using the `__atomic_*` builtins (may be
441available when using a `gcc` of at least version 4.7) and/or using the
442`__sync_*` builtins (may be available when using a `gcc` of at least version
4434.1). If only the `gcc`'s `__sync_*` builtins are available, the performance
444will suffer. Such a configuration should only be used as a last resort. When
445compiling on Windows using a MicroSoft Visual C++ compiler native atomic
446memory operations are provided by Windows APIs.
447
448Native atomic implementation in the order preferred:
4491.  The implementation provided by Erlang/OTP.
4502.  The API provided by Windows.
4513.  The implementation based on the `gcc` `__atomic_*` builtins.
4524.  If none of the above are available for your architecture/compiler, you
453    are recommended to build and install [libatomic_ops][] before building
454    Erlang/OTP. The `libatomic_ops` library provides native atomic memory
455    operations for a variety of architectures and compilers. When building
456    Erlang/OTP you need to inform the build system of where the
457    `libatomic_ops` library is installed using the
458    `--with-libatomic_ops=PATH` `configure` switch.
4595.  As a last resort, the implementation solely based on the `gcc`
460    `__sync_*` builtins. This will however cause lots of expensive and
461    unnecessary memory barrier instructions to be issued. That is,
462    performance will suffer. The `configure` script will warn at the end
463    of its execution if it cannot find any other alternative than this.
464
465### Building ###
466
467Building Erlang/OTP on a relatively fast computer takes approximately
4685 minutes. To speed it up, you can utilize parallel make with the `-j<num_jobs>` option.
469
470    $ export MAKEFLAGS=-j8    # Assuming bash/sh
471    $ make
472
473If you've upgraded the source with a patch you may need to clean up from previous
474builds before the new build.
475Make sure to read the [Pre-built Source Release][] section below before doing a `make clean`.
476
477Other useful information can be found at our GitHub wiki:
478* <http://wiki.github.com/erlang/otp>
479
480#### Within Git ####
481
482Build the same way as when building the unpacked tar file.
483
484#### OS X (Darwin) ####
485
486Make sure that the command `hostname` returns a valid fully qualified host
487name (this is configured in `/etc/hostconfig`). Otherwise you might experience
488problems when running distributed systems.
489
490If you develop linked-in drivers (shared library) you need to link using
491`gcc` and the flags `-bundle -flat_namespace -undefined suppress`. You also
492include `-fno-common` in `CFLAGS` when compiling. Use `.so` as the library
493suffix.
494
495If you have Xcode 4.3, or later, you will also need to download
496"Command Line Tools" via the Downloads preference pane in Xcode.
497
498#### Building with wxErlang ####
499
500If you want to build the `wx` application, you will need to get wxWidgets-3.0
501(`wxWidgets-3.0.3.tar.bz2` from <https://github.com/wxWidgets/wxWidgets/releases/download/v3.0.3/wxWidgets-3.0.3.tar.bz2>) or get it from github with bug fixes:
502
503    $ git clone --branch WX_3_0_BRANCH git@github.com:wxWidgets/wxWidgets.git
504
505The wxWidgets-3.1 version should also work if 2.8 compatibility is enabled,
506add `--enable-compat28` to configure commands below.
507
508Configure and build wxWidgets (shared library on linux):
509
510    $ ./configure --prefix=/usr/local
511    $ make && sudo make install
512    $ export PATH=/usr/local/bin:$PATH
513
514Configure and build wxWidgets (static library on linux):
515
516    $ export CFLAGS=-fPIC
517    $ export CXXFLAGS=-fPIC
518    $ ./configure --prefix=/usr/local --disable-shared
519    $ make && sudo make install
520    $ export PATH=/usr/local/bin:$PATH
521
522Configure and build wxWidgets (on Mavericks - 10.9):
523
524    $ ./configure --with-cocoa --prefix=/usr/local
525    or without support for old versions and with static libs
526    $ ./configure --with-cocoa --prefix=/usr/local --with-macosx-version-min=10.9 --disable-shared
527    $ make
528    $ sudo make install
529    $ export PATH=/usr/local/bin:$PATH
530
531Check that you got the correct wx-config
532
533    $ which wx-config && wx-config --version-full
534
535Build Erlang/OTP
536
537    $ export PATH=/usr/local/bin:$PATH
538    $ cd $ERL_TOP
539    $ ./configure
540    $ make
541    $ sudo make install
542
543
544#### Pre-built Source Release ####
545
546The source release is delivered with a lot of platform independent
547build results already pre-built. If you want to remove these pre-built
548files, invoke `./otp_build remove_prebuilt_files` from the `$ERL_TOP`
549directory. After you have done this, you can build exactly the same way
550as before, but the build process will take a much longer time.
551
552> *WARNING*: Doing `make clean` in an arbitrary directory of the source
553> tree, may remove files needed for bootstrapping the build.
554>
555> Doing `./otp_build save_bootstrap` from the `$ERL_TOP` directory before
556> doing `make clean` will ensure that it will be possible to build after
557> doing `make clean`. `./otp_build save_bootstrap` will be invoked
558> automatically when `make` is invoked from `$ERL_TOP` with either the
559> `clean` target, or the default target. It is also automatically invoked
560> if `./otp_build remove_prebuilt_files` is invoked.
561>
562> If you need to verify the bootstrap beam files match the provided
563> source files, use `./otp_build update_primary` to create a new commit that
564> contains differences, if any exist.
565
566#### How to Build a Debug Enabled Erlang RunTime System ####
567
568After completing all the normal building steps described above a debug
569enabled runtime system can be built. To do this you have to change
570directory to `$ERL_TOP/erts/emulator` and execute:
571
572    $ (cd $ERL_TOP/erts/emulator && make debug)
573
574This will produce a  beam.smp.debug executable. The
575file are installed along side with the normal (opt) version `beam.smp`.
576
577To start the debug enabled runtime system execute:
578
579    $ $ERL_TOP/bin/cerl -debug
580
581The debug enabled runtime system features lock violation checking,
582assert checking and various sanity checks to help a developer ensure
583correctness. Some of these features can be enabled on a normal beam
584using appropriate configure options.
585
586There are other types of runtime systems that can be built as well
587using the similar steps just described.
588
589    $ (cd $ERL_TOP/erts/emulator && make $TYPE)
590
591where `$TYPE` is `opt`, `gcov`, `gprof`, `debug`, `valgrind`, or `lcnt`.
592These different beam types are useful for debugging and profiling
593purposes.
594
595
596### Installing ###
597
598*   Staged install using [DESTDIR][]. You can perform the install
599    phase in a temporary directory and later move the installation into
600    its correct location by use of the `DESTDIR` variable:
601
602        $ make DESTDIR=<tmp install dir> install
603
604    The installation will be created in a location prefixed by `$DESTDIR`.
605    It can, however, not be run from there. It needs to be moved into the
606    correct location before it can be run. If `DESTDIR` have not been set
607    but `INSTALL_PREFIX` has been set, `DESTDIR` will be set to
608    `INSTALL_PREFIX`. Note that `INSTALL_PREFIX` in pre R13B04 was buggy
609    and behaved as `EXTRA_PREFIX` (see below). There are lots of areas of
610    use for an installation procedure using `DESTDIR`, e.g. when creating
611    a package, cross compiling, etc. Here is an example where the
612    installation should be located under `/opt/local`:
613
614        $ ./configure --prefix=/opt/local
615        $ make
616        $ make DESTDIR=/tmp/erlang-build install
617        $ cd /tmp/erlang-build/opt/local
618        $     # gnu-tar is used in this example
619        $ tar -zcf /home/me/my-erlang-build.tgz *
620        $ su -
621        Password: *****
622        $ cd /opt/local
623        $ tar -zxf /home/me/my-erlang-build.tgz
624
625*   Install using the `release` target. Instead of doing `make install` you
626    can create the installation in whatever directory you like using the
627    `release` target and run the `Install` script yourself. `RELEASE_ROOT`
628    is used for specifying the directory where the installation should be
629    created. This is what by default ends up under `/usr/local/lib/erlang`
630    if you do the install using `make install`. All installation paths
631    provided in the `configure` phase are ignored, as well as `DESTDIR`,
632    and `INSTALL_PREFIX`. If you want links from a specific `bin` directory
633    to the installation you have to set those up yourself. An example where
634    Erlang/OTP should be located at `/home/me/OTP`:
635
636        $ ./configure
637        $ make
638        $ make RELEASE_ROOT=/home/me/OTP release
639        $ cd /home/me/OTP
640        $ ./Install -minimal /home/me/OTP
641        $ mkdir -p /home/me/bin
642        $ cd /home/me/bin
643        $ ln -s /home/me/OTP/bin/erl erl
644        $ ln -s /home/me/OTP/bin/erlc erlc
645        $ ln -s /home/me/OTP/bin/escript escript
646        ...
647
648    The `Install` script should currently be invoked as follows in the
649    directory where it resides (the top directory):
650
651        $ ./Install [-cross] [-minimal|-sasl] <ERL_ROOT>
652
653    where:
654
655    *   `-minimal` Creates an installation that starts up a minimal amount
656        of applications, i.e., only `kernel` and `stdlib` are started. The
657        minimal system is normally enough, and is what `make install` uses.
658    *   `-sasl` Creates an installation that also starts up the `sasl`
659        application.
660    *   `-cross` For cross compilation. Informs the install script that it
661        is run on the build machine.
662    *   `<ERL_ROOT>` - The absolute path to the Erlang installation to use
663        at run time. This is often the same as the current working directory,
664        but does not have to be. It can follow any other path through the
665        file system to the same directory.
666
667    If neither `-minimal`, nor `-sasl` is passed as argument you will be
668    prompted.
669
670*   Test install using `EXTRA_PREFIX`. The content of the `EXTRA_PREFIX`
671    variable will prefix all installation paths when doing `make install`.
672    Note that `EXTRA_PREFIX` is similar to `DESTDIR`, but it does *not* have
673    the same effect as `DESTDIR`. The installation can and have to be run
674    from the location specified by `EXTRA_PREFIX`. That is, it can be useful
675    if you want to try the system out, running test suites, etc, before doing
676    the real install without `EXTRA_PREFIX`.
677
678#### Symbolic Links in --bindir ####
679
680When doing `make install` and the default installation prefix is used,
681relative symbolic links will be created from `/usr/local/bin` to all public
682Erlang/OTP executables in `/usr/local/lib/erlang/bin`. The installation phase
683will try to create relative symbolic links as long as `--bindir` and the
684Erlang bin directory, located under `--libdir`, both have `--exec-prefix` as
685prefix. Where `--exec-prefix` defaults to `--prefix`. `--prefix`,
686`--exec-prefix`, `--bindir`, and `--libdir` are all arguments that can be
687passed to `configure`. One can force relative, or absolute links by passing
688`BINDIR_SYMLINKS=relative|absolute` as arguments to `make` during the install
689phase. Note that such a request might cause a failure if the request cannot
690be satisfied.
691
692
693### Running ###
694
695#### Using HiPE ####
696
697HiPE supports the following system configurations:
698
699*   x86: All 32-bit and 64-bit mode processors should work.
700
701    *   Linux: Fedora Core is supported. Both 32-bit and 64-bit modes are
702        supported.
703
704        NPTL glibc is strongly preferred, or a LinuxThreads
705        glibc configured for "floating stacks". Old non-floating
706        stacks glibcs have a fundamental problem that makes HiPE
707        support and threads support mutually exclusive.
708
709    *   Solaris: Solaris 10 (32-bit and 64-bit) and 9 (32-bit) are supported.
710        The build requires a version of the GNU C compiler (gcc)
711        that has been configured to use the GNU assembler (gas).
712        Sun's x86 assembler is emphatically **not** supported.
713
714    *   FreeBSD: FreeBSD 6.1 and 6.2 in 32-bit and 64-bit modes should work.
715
716    *   OS X/Darwin: Darwin 9.8.0 in 32-bit mode should work.
717
718*   PowerPC: All 32-bit 6xx/7xx(G3)/74xx(G4) processors should work. 32-bit
719    mode on 970 (G5) and POWER5 processors should work.
720
721    * Linux (Yellow Dog) and OS X 10.4 are supported.
722
723*   SPARC: All UltraSPARC processors running 32-bit user code should work.
724
725    *   Solaris 9 is supported. The build requires a `gcc` that has been
726        configured to use Sun's assembler and linker. Using the GNU assembler
727        but Sun's linker has been known to cause problems.
728
729    *   Linux (Aurora) is supported.
730
731*   ARM: ARMv5TE (i.e. XScale) processors should work. Both big-endian and
732    little-endian modes are supported.
733
734    * Linux is supported.
735
736HiPE is automatically enabled on the following systems:
737
738*   x86 in 32-bit mode: Linux, Solaris, FreeBSD
739*   x86 in 64-bit mode: Linux, Solaris, FreeBSD
740*   PowerPC: Linux, Mac OSX
741*   SPARC: Linux
742*   ARM: Linux
743
744On other supported systems, see [Advanced Configure][] on how to enable HiPE.
745
746If you are running on a platform supporting HiPE and if you have not disabled
747HiPE, you can compile a module into native code like this from the Erlang
748shell:
749
750    1> c(Module, native).
751
752or
753
754    1> c(Module, [native|OtherOptions]).
755
756Using the erlc program, write like this
757
758    $ erlc +native Module.erl
759
760The native code will be placed into the beam file and automatically loaded
761when the beam file is loaded.
762
763To add hipe options, write like this from the Erlang shell:
764
765    1> c(Module, [native,{hipe,HipeOptions}|MoreOptions]).
766
767Use `hipe:help_options/0` to print out the available options.
768
769    1> hipe:help_options().
770
771
772
773
774   [$ERL_TOP/HOWTO/INSTALL-CROSS.md]: INSTALL-CROSS.md
775   [$ERL_TOP/HOWTO/INSTALL-WIN32.md]: INSTALL-WIN32.md
776   [DESTDIR]: http://www.gnu.org/prep/standards/html_node/DESTDIR.html
777   [Building in Git]: #Advanced-configuration-and-build-of-ErlangOTP_Building_Within-Git
778   [Advanced Configure]: #Advanced-configuration-and-build-of-ErlangOTP_Configuring
779   [Pre-built Source Release]: #Advanced-configuration-and-build-of-ErlangOTP_Building_Prebuilt-Source-Release
780   [make and $ERL_TOP]: #Advanced-configuration-and-build-of-ErlangOTP_make-and-ERLTOP
781   [html documentation]: http://www.erlang.org/download/otp_doc_html_%OTP-VSN%.tar.gz
782   [man pages]: http://www.erlang.org/download/otp_doc_man_%OTP-VSN%.tar.gz
783   [the released source tar ball]: http://www.erlang.org/download/otp_src_%OTP-VSN%.tar.gz
784   [System Principles]: ../system_principles/system_principles
785   [native build]: #How-to-Build-and-Install-ErlangOTP
786   [cross build]: INSTALL-CROSS.md
787   [Required Utilities]: #Required-Utilities
788   [Optional Utilities]: #Optional-Utilities
789   [Building on a Mac]: #Advanced-configuration-and-build-of-ErlangOTP_Building_OS-X-Darwin
790   [Building with wxErlang]: #Advanced-configuration-and-build-of-ErlangOTP_Building_Building-with-wxErlang
791   [libatomic_ops]: https://github.com/ivmai/libatomic_ops/
792