How to Retrieve All Source Dependencies for a Target in SCons

Описание: Discover a comprehensive method to programmatically obtain all dependencies for a target in SCons. Get insights into the solution with sample code!
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This video is based on the question https://stackoverflow.com/q/68598077/ asked by the user 'Evgen' ( https://stackoverflow.com/u/1519684/ ) and on the answer https://stackoverflow.com/a/68707144/ provided by the user 'Evgen' ( https://stackoverflow.com/u/1519684/ ) at 'Stack Overflow' website. Thanks to these great users and Stackexchange community for their contributions.

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How to Retrieve All Source Dependencies for a Target in SCons

When working with build systems, tracking dependencies can often be tricky, especially when you're trying to get a complete picture of a particular target's source dependencies. If you're using SCons and have ever wondered how to programmatically obtain all the source dependencies for a specific target right after it is built, then you’re in the right place! This post will guide you through the process and provide you with a handy solution.

The Problem

You might find yourself in a scenario where you have a target node in SCons, and you need to fetch all source dependencies following its build process. This could include explicit dependencies, those calculated by scanners, or any other dependencies that SCons tracks. Running commands like --tree isn't always feasible, especially when you need real-time dependency tracking during a build.

Using simple methods like accessing sources, prerequisites, or implicit may not suffice to capture all dependencies due to the nature of how SCons structures its dependency trees. You are essentially looking for a solution that retrieves an entire sub-tree of dependencies programmatically and efficiently.

The Solution

Eureka! There is a method to achieve this by combining SCons build information data with a recursive scanning approach. Below, I've broken down the solution into a clear format for better comprehension.

Step-by-Step Guide

Set Up Variables: Define dictionaries to store dependencies.

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Finding Dependencies: Create a function to recursively find and list all dependencies starting from the target node.

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Execution: Run the dependency finding function right after your target is built or just before it is built to capture the dependencies accurately.

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Performance and Practical Use

This approach has been tested to yield 700+ dependencies in about a second on high-performance machines. It's effective for both real-time tracking during builds and for reviewing dependencies afterward. Make sure to implement it as a post-action after building the node for optimal results.

Conclusion

By using a combination of build information and recursive scanning, you can efficiently retrieve all source dependencies for a specific target in SCons. With the provided code snippets, you can implement this solution directly into your build scripts. Happy building!