Distcc
Encyclopedia
In software development
, distcc is a tool for speeding up compilation
of source code
by using distributed computing
over a computer network
. With the right configuration, distcc can dramatically reduce a project's compilation time .
It is designed to work with the C
programming language (and its derivatives like C++
and Objective-C
) and to use GCC
as its backend, though it provides varying degrees of compatibility with the Intel C++ Compiler
and Sun Microsystems
' Sun Studio Compiler Suite. Distributed under the terms of the GNU General Public License
, distcc is free software
.
and a compatible compiler installed .
distcc works as an agent for the compiler. A distcc daemon has to run on each of the participating machines. The originating machine invokes a preprocessor
to handle header files, preprocessing directives (such as
to other machines over the network via TCP
either unencrypted or using SSH
. Remote machines compile those source files without any local dependencies (such as libraries, header files or macro definitions) to object files and send them back to the originator for further compilation .
distcc version 3 also supports a mode (called pump mode) in which included header files are sent to the remote machines,
so that preprocessing is distributed too.
is another tool aimed to reduce the compilation time by caching
the output from the same input source files. ccache
can also use distcc as its back end providing distributed compiling if it's not already cached by using the CCACHE_PREFIX environment variable.
distcc is an option for distributed builds in Apple's Xcode
development suite.
IncrediBuild is an alternative for developers using Microsoft Visual Studio C/C++ compiler.
Software development
Software development is the development of a software product...
, distcc is a tool for speeding up compilation
Compiler
A compiler is a computer program that transforms source code written in a programming language into another computer language...
of source code
Source code
In computer science, source code is text written using the format and syntax of the programming language that it is being written in. Such a language is specially designed to facilitate the work of computer programmers, who specify the actions to be performed by a computer mostly by writing source...
by using distributed computing
Distributed computing
Distributed computing is a field of computer science that studies distributed systems. A distributed system consists of multiple autonomous computers that communicate through a computer network. The computers interact with each other in order to achieve a common goal...
over a computer network
Computer network
A computer network, often simply referred to as a network, is a collection of hardware components and computers interconnected by communication channels that allow sharing of resources and information....
. With the right configuration, distcc can dramatically reduce a project's compilation time .
It is designed to work with the C
C (programming language)
C is a general-purpose computer programming language developed between 1969 and 1973 by Dennis Ritchie at the Bell Telephone Laboratories for use with the Unix operating system....
programming language (and its derivatives like C++
C++
C++ is a statically typed, free-form, multi-paradigm, compiled, general-purpose programming language. It is regarded as an intermediate-level language, as it comprises a combination of both high-level and low-level language features. It was developed by Bjarne Stroustrup starting in 1979 at Bell...
and Objective-C
Objective-C
Objective-C is a reflective, object-oriented programming language that adds Smalltalk-style messaging to the C programming language.Today, it is used primarily on Apple's Mac OS X and iOS: two environments derived from the OpenStep standard, though not compliant with it...
) and to use GCC
GNU Compiler Collection
The GNU Compiler Collection is a compiler system produced by the GNU Project supporting various programming languages. GCC is a key component of the GNU toolchain...
as its backend, though it provides varying degrees of compatibility with the Intel C++ Compiler
Intel C++ Compiler
Intel C++ Compiler is a group of C and C++ compilers from Intel Corporation available for GNU/Linux, Mac OS X, and Microsoft Windows....
and Sun Microsystems
Sun Microsystems
Sun Microsystems, Inc. was a company that sold :computers, computer components, :computer software, and :information technology services. Sun was founded on February 24, 1982...
' Sun Studio Compiler Suite. Distributed under the terms of the GNU General Public License
GNU General Public License
The GNU General Public License is the most widely used free software license, originally written by Richard Stallman for the GNU Project....
, distcc is free software
Free software
Free software, software libre or libre software is software that can be used, studied, and modified without restriction, and which can be copied and redistributed in modified or unmodified form either without restriction, or with restrictions that only ensure that further recipients can also do...
.
Design
distcc is designed to speed up compilation by taking advantage of unused processing power on other computers. A machine with distcc installed can send code to be compiled across the network to a computer which has the distccd daemonDaemon (computer software)
In Unix and other multitasking computer operating systems, a daemon is a computer program that runs as a background process, rather than being under the direct control of an interactive user...
and a compatible compiler installed .
distcc works as an agent for the compiler. A distcc daemon has to run on each of the participating machines. The originating machine invokes a preprocessor
Preprocessor
In computer science, a preprocessor is a program that processes its input data to produce output that is used as input to another program. The output is said to be a preprocessed form of the input data, which is often used by some subsequent programs like compilers...
to handle header files, preprocessing directives (such as
#ifdef) and the source files and sends the preprocessed sourceTranslation unit (programming)
In C programming language terminology, a translation unit is the ultimate input to a C compiler from which an object file gets generated.-Context:...
to other machines over the network via TCP
Transmission Control Protocol
The Transmission Control Protocol is one of the core protocols of the Internet Protocol Suite. TCP is one of the two original components of the suite, complementing the Internet Protocol , and therefore the entire suite is commonly referred to as TCP/IP...
either unencrypted or using SSH
Secure Shell
Secure Shell is a network protocol for secure data communication, remote shell services or command execution and other secure network services between two networked computers that it connects via a secure channel over an insecure network: a server and a client...
. Remote machines compile those source files without any local dependencies (such as libraries, header files or macro definitions) to object files and send them back to the originator for further compilation .
distcc version 3 also supports a mode (called pump mode) in which included header files are sent to the remote machines,
so that preprocessing is distributed too.
Related software
ccacheCcache
ccache is a software development tool that caches the output of C/C++ compilation so that the next time, the same compilation can be avoided and the results can be taken from the cache. This can greatly speed up recompiling time...
is another tool aimed to reduce the compilation time by caching
Cache
In computer engineering, a cache is a component that transparently stores data so that future requests for that data can be served faster. The data that is stored within a cache might be values that have been computed earlier or duplicates of original values that are stored elsewhere...
the output from the same input source files. ccache
Ccache
ccache is a software development tool that caches the output of C/C++ compilation so that the next time, the same compilation can be avoided and the results can be taken from the cache. This can greatly speed up recompiling time...
can also use distcc as its back end providing distributed compiling if it's not already cached by using the CCACHE_PREFIX environment variable.
distcc is an option for distributed builds in Apple's Xcode
Xcode
Xcode is a suite of tools, developed by Apple, for developing software for Mac OS X and iOS. Xcode 4.2, the latest major version, is available on the Mac App Store for free for Mac OS X 10.7 , and on the Apple Developer Connection website for free to registered developers Xcode is a suite of tools,...
development suite.
IncrediBuild is an alternative for developers using Microsoft Visual Studio C/C++ compiler.