How to Set Custom Binary Storage Locations in Meson and Ninja Build Systems

Описание: Discover how to configure custom binary storage locations in your projects using `Meson` and `Ninja` build systems to avoid requiring root access during installation.
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This video is based on the question https://stackoverflow.com/q/62475190/ asked by the user 'mle0312' ( https://stackoverflow.com/u/7899820/ ) and on the answer https://stackoverflow.com/a/62486008/ provided by the user 'nielsdg' ( https://stackoverflow.com/u/2921914/ ) at 'Stack Overflow' website. Thanks to these great users and Stackexchange community for their contributions.

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How to Set Custom Binary Storage Locations in Meson and Ninja Build Systems

If you've been working with the Meson and Ninja build systems, you may have encountered a common issue when it comes to installing binaries. By default, binaries are often stored in system directories like /usr/local/bin, which requires root access to write to. This can be cumbersome, especially when you’re frequently debugging and need to rebuild your project. In this guide, we will discuss how to specify a different directory for your binaries, allowing you to install them without requiring a password each time.

The Problem: Default Binary Installation Location

Here's the typical scenario you're facing:

You build your project using the command ./meson.py build.

You subsequently run ./ninja -C build install to install the binaries.

This installation places the binaries in /usr/local/bin, a directory that requires root access.

As a result, every time you make changes and rebuild your project, you are prompted to enter your root password. This is not only annoying but can hinder productivity, especially for frequent builds during development.

The Desired Solution: Custom Install Directory

You would ideally like to specify a custom directory within your home folder, such as ~/projectbin. This way, you can install binaries without the hassle of needing root permissions. Let's break down the steps to achieve this.

Step 1: Create Your Custom Directory

First, you need to create a directory where you want to store your binaries. You can easily do this using the terminal:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

This will create a directory called projectbin in your home folder.

Step 2: Configure Meson with a New Prefix

To set the installation prefix to your newly created directory, you should pass an option during the configuration stage of Meson. This is where many users encounter some confusion.

Important Note: You cannot set the install prefix via the ninja command. Instead, you must do this when you call meson for configuration by using the -D option. Here's how you do it:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Understanding -Dprefix

-D: This flag allows you to specify build options when configuring Meson.

prefix: This option specifies where you want your binaries and other outputs to be installed.

Step 3: Build and Install Your Project

Once configured, you can proceed to build your project using ninja as you normally would:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Then, to install your binaries into the specified directory:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Congratulations! The binaries will now be installed into your ~/projectbin folder, and you won't need to provide a root password every time you rebuild.

Conclusion

By following the steps outlined above, you can effectively manage where your binaries are stored when working with Meson and Ninja. This simple adjustment to your workflow can greatly improve your development experience and efficiency. No more entering root passwords during debugging sessions!

If you have any questions or need further assistance with Meson or Ninja, feel free to reach out or leave a comment below! Happy coding!