doc/ug/bazel_notes.md - 3p/lowrisc/opentitan - Git at Google

 ---
 title: Bazel Notes
 ---

 Both OpenTitan hardware and software is built with Bazel.
 While our [Getting Started]({{< relref "getting_started" >}}) guides detail some of the Bazel commands that can be used to build both types of artifacts, below are detailed notes on:
 * how Bazel is configured for our project, and
 * brief examples of Bazel commands that are useful for:
     * querying,
     * building, and
     * running tests with Bazel.

 # OpenTitan Bazel Workspace

 The rules for Bazel are described in a language called Starlark, which looks a lot like Python.

 The `$REPO_TOP` directory is defined as a Bazel workspace by the `//WORKSPACE` file.
 `BUILD` files provide the information Bazel needs to build the targets in a directory.
 `BUILD` files also manage any subdirectories that don't have their own `BUILD` files.

 OpenTitan uses .bzl files to specify custom rules to build artifacts that require specific attention like on-device test rules and project specific binaries.

 ## WORKSPACE file

 The `WORKSPACE` file controls external dependencies such that builds can be made reproducible and hermetic.
 Bazel loads specific external dependencies, such as various language toolchains.
 It uses them to build OpenTitan targets (like it does with bazel\_embedded) or to satisfy dependencies (as it does with abseil).
 To produce increasingly stable releases the external dependencies loaded in `WORKSPACE` file attempts to fix a all external `http_archive`s to a specific SHA.
 As we add more dependencies to the workspace, builds and tests will become less sensitive to external updates, and we will vastly simplify the [Getting Started]({{< relref "getting_started" >}}) instructions.

 ## BUILD files

 Throughout the OpenTitan repository, `BUILD` files describe targets and dependencies in the same directory (and subdirectories that lack their own `BUILD` files).
 `BUILD` files are mostly hand-written.
 To maintain the invariant that hand-written files not be included in autogen directories, there are `BUILD` files that describe how to build and depend on auto-generated files in autogen subdirectories.

 # General Commands
 - Build everything (software and Verilator hardware):
   ```console
   bazel build //...
   ```
 - Build and run all tests (on-host tests, and Verilator/FPGA on-device tests):
   ```console
   bazel test --test_tag_filters=-broken,-dv //sw/...
   ```
   Note: this will take several hours.
 - Clean all build outputs and reclaim all disk and memory traces of a Bazel instance:
   ```console
   bazel clean --expunge
   ```
   Note: you should rarely need to run this, see [below]({{< relref "#troubleshooting-builds" >}}) for when this may be necessary.

 # Locating Build Artifacts

 When Bazel builds a target, or the dependencies of a target, it places them in a Bazel-managed output directory.
 This can make them difficult to find manually, however, Bazel also provides a mechanism to query for built artifacts that is demonstrated below.
 Note, the `outquery-*` command shown below is a special command that is parsed via our `bazelisk.sh` script.
 Therefore, it cannot be run with a standalone `bazel ...` invocation.

 ## `opentitan_{rom,flash}_binary` Artifacts

 - Query the locations of all Bazel-built artifacts for all OpenTitan devices for an `opentitan_{rom,flash}_binary` macro:
   ```console
   ./bazelisk.sh outquery-all <target>
   ```
 - Query the locations of all Bazel-built artifacts for a specific OpenTitan device for an `opentitan_{rom,flash}_binary` macro:
   ```console
   ./bazelisk.sh outquery-all <target>_<device>
   ```
   Note: `<device>` will be in {`sim_dv`, `sim_verilator`, `fpga_cw310`}.

 See [Building (and Testing) Software]({{< relref "doc/getting_started/build_sw#device-artifacts" >}}), device software can be built for multiple OpenTitan devices and memories, using OpenTitan-specific Bazel macros.

 ## `opentitan_functest` Artifacts

 As described [Building (and Testing) Software]({{< relref "doc/getting_started/build_sw#device-artifacts" >}}), device software can be built for multiple OpenTitan devices and memories, using OpenTitan-specific Bazel macros.
 Since running tests on multiple OpenTitan devices (whether DV or Verilator simulation, or an FPGA) involves building several software images for multiple memories, we provide a Bazel macro for this.
 This macro is called `opentitan_functest`.

 - List all `sh_test` targets instantiated by a `opentitan_functest`, e.g. the UART smoketest:
   ```console
   bazel query 'labels(tests, //sw/device/tests:uart_smoketest)'
   ```
 - Query the HW and SW dependencies of a specific `opentitan_functest` for the `fpga_cw310` device, e.g. the UART smoketest:
   ```console
   bazel query 'labels(data, //sw/device/tests:uart_smoketest_fpga_cw310)'
   ```
   or for any `opentitan_functest` target and `<device>` in {`sim_dv`, `sim_verilator`, `fpga_cw310`}
   ```console
   bazel query 'labels(data, <target>_<device>)'
   ```
 - Query the software artifacts built for the `opentitan_flash_binary` that is a dependency of an `opentitan_functest` for the `fpga_cw310` device, e.g. the UART smoketest:
   ```console
   bazel query 'labels(srcs, //sw/device/tests:uart_smoketest_prog_fpga_cw310)'
   ```
   or for any `opentitan_functest` `<target>` and `<device>` in {`sim_dv`, `sim_verilator`, `fpga_cw310`}
   ```console
   bazel query 'labels(srcs, <target>_prog_<device>)'
   ```
   Note: if an `opentitan_functest` target has the name `foo`, then the `opentitan_flash_binary` target that is instantiated by the `opentitan_functest` will be named `foo_prog_<device>`.

 # Building Software

 * To build OpenTitan software see [here]({{< relref "doc/getting_started/build_sw#building-software-with-bazel" >}}), or run
   ```console
   bazel build <target>
   ```

 # Testing Software

 ## On-Host Tests

 * To query-for/run *on-host* software tests see [here]({{< relref "doc/getting_started/build_sw#running-tests-with-bazel" >}}).

 ## On-Device Tests

 All device software, regardless of the device, is built with Bazel.
 However, only Verilator simulation and FPGA device software tests can be run with Bazel.

 ### ROM Tests
 * Query for all ROM functional and E2E tests for FPGA:
   ```console
   bazel query 'filter(".*_fpga_cw310", kind(".*test rule", //sw/device/silicon_creator/...))'
   ```
   and for Verilator:
   ```console
   bazel query 'filter(".*_sim_verilator", kind(".*test rule", //sw/device/silicon_creator/...))'
   ```
 * Run all ROM functional and E2E tests on FPGA:
   ```console
   bazel test --test_tag_filters=cw310 //sw/device/silicon_creator/...
   ```
   and for Verilator:
   ```console
   bazel test --test_tag_filters=verilator //sw/device/silicon_creator/...
   ```
 * Run a single ROM functional or E2E test on FPGA and see the output in real time:
   ```console
   bazel test \
     --define DISABLE_VERILATOR_BUILD=true \
     --test_tag_filters=cw310 \
     --test_output=streamed \
     //sw/device/silicon_creator/lib:boot_data_functest
   ```
   or, remove the define/filtering flags and just append the `<device>` name like:
   ```console
   bazel test --test_output=streamed //sw/device/silicon_creator/lib:boot_data_functest_fpga_cw310
   ```
   and similarly for Verilator:
   ```console
   bazel test --test_output=streamed //sw/device/silicon_creator/lib:boot_data_functest_sim_verilator
   ```

 ### Chip-Level Tests
 * Query for all chip-level tests for FPGA:
   ```console
   bazel query 'filter(".*_fpga_cw310", kind(".*test rule", //sw/device/tests/...))'
   ```
   and for Verilator:
   ```console
   bazel query 'filter(".*_sim_verilator", kind(".*test rule", //sw/device/tests/...))'
   ```
 * Run all chip-level tests on FPGA:
   ```console
   bazel test --define DISABLE_VERILATOR_BUILD=true --test_tag_filters=cw310 //sw/device/tests/...
   ```
   and for Verilator:
   ```console
   bazel test --test_tag_filters=verilator //sw/device/tests/...
   ```
 * Run a single chip-level test on FPGA and see the output in real time:
   ```console
   bazel test \
     --define DISABLE_VERILATOR_BUILD=true
     --test_tag_filters=cw310 \
     --test_output=streamed \
     //sw/device/tests:uart_smoketest
   ```
   or, remove the define/filtering flags and just append the `<device>` name like:
   ```console
   bazel test --test_output=streamed //sw/device/tests:uart_smoketest_fpga_cw310
   ```
   and similarly for Verilator:
   ```console
   bazel test --test_output=streamed //sw/device/tests:uart_smoketest_sim_verilator
   ```

 # Linting Software

 There are several Bazel rules that enable running quality checks and fixers on code.
 The subsections below describe how to use them.
 All of the tools described below are run in CI on every pull request, so it is best to run them before committing code.

 ## Linting C/C++ Code
 The OpenTitan supported linter for C/C++ files is `clang-format`.
 It can be run with Bazel as shown below.

 Run the following to check if all C/C++ code as been formatted correctly:
 ```console
 bazel run //:clang_format_check
 ```
 and run the following to fix it, if it is not formatted correctly.
 ```console
 bazel run //:clang_format_fix
 ```

 ## Linting Starlark

 The OpenTitan supported linter for Bazel files is `buildifier`.
 It can be run with Bazel as shown below.

 Run the following to check if all `WORKSPACE`, `BUILD`, and `.bzl` files have been formatted correctly:
 ```console
 bazel run //:buildifier_check
 ```
 and run the following to fix them, if they are not formatted correctly.
 ```console
 bazel run //:buildifier_fix
 ```

 ## Checking License Headers

 Lastly, the OpenTitan supported linter for checking that every source code file contains a license header may be run with:
 ```console
 bazel run //:license_check
 ```

 # Building Hardware

 Note, to run (software) tests on these OpenTitan hardware platforms **does not** require these Bazel commands be invoked before the test commands above.
 Bazel is aware of all dependency relationships, and knows what prerequisites to build to run a test.

 - Build FPGA bitstream with (test) ROM, see [here]({{< relref "doc/getting_started/setup_fpga#build-an-fpga-bitstream" >}}).
 - Build FPGA bitstream with (production) ROM, see [here]({{< relref "doc/getting_started/setup_fpga#build-an-fpga-bitstream" >}}).
 - Build Verilator simulation binary:
   ```console
   bazel build //hw:verilator
   ```

 # Miscellaneous

 ## Troubleshooting Builds

 If you encounter an unexplained error building or running any `bazel` commands, you can issue a subsequent `bazel clean` command to erase any existing building directories to yield a clean build.
 Specifically, according to the Bazel [documentation](https://docs.bazel.build/versions/main/user-manual.html#clean), issuing a
 ```console
 bazel clean
 ```
 deletes all the output build directories, while running a
 ```console
 bazel clean --expunge
 ```
 will wipe all disk and memory traces (i.e., any cached intermediate files) produced by Bazel.
 The latter sledgehammer is only intended to be used as a last resort when the existing configuration is seriously broken.

 ## Create a `.bazelrc` File

 Create a `.bazelrc` file in your home directory to simplify executing bazel commands.
 For example, you can use a `.bazelrc` to:
 * set up a [disk cache]({{< relref "#disk-cache" >}}), or
 * skip running tests on the CW310 FPGA if you don not have one.

 A `.bazelrc` file that would accomplish this would look like:
 ```
 # Make Bazel use a local directory as a remote cache.
 build --disk_cache=~/bazel_cache

 # Skip CW310 FPGA tests, since I do not have said FPGA.
 test --test_tag_filters=-cw310
 ```

 See the [`.bazelrc`](https://github.com/lowRISC/opentitan/blob/master/.bazelrc) file in the OpenTitan repository for more examples.
 Additionally, for more information see the Bazel [documentation](https://bazel.build/run/bazelrc).

 ## Disk Cache

 Bazel can use a directory on the file system as a remote cache.
 This is useful for sharing build artifacts across multiple [`git` worktrees](https://git-scm.com/docs/git-worktree) or multiple workspaces of the same project, such as multiple checkouts.

 Use the `--disk_cache=<filename>` to specify a cache directory.
 For example, running
 ```console
 bazel build //... --disk_cache=~/bazel_cache
 ```
 will cache all built artifacts.
 Alternatively add the following to `$HOME/.bazelrc` to avoid having automatically use the disk cache on every Bazel invocation, as shown [above]({{< relref "#create-a-bazelrc-file" >}}).

 For more documentation on Bazel disk caches see the [official documentation](https://docs.bazel.build/versions/main/remote-caching.html#disk-cache).

 ## Excluding Verilator Simulation Binary Builds

 Many device software targets depend on the Verilator simulation binary,
 The Verilator simulation binary is slow to build.
 To avoid building it, use the
 `--define DISABLE_VERILATOR_BUILD=true` build option.
 For example, to build the UART smoke test artifacts but not the Verilator simulation binary run
 ```console
 bazel build --define DISABLE_VERILATOR_BUILD=true //sw/device/tests:uart_smoketest
 ```

 ## Displaying Test Outputs in Real Time

 By default, Bazel does not write test outputs to STDOUT.
 To see a test's output in real time, use the `--test_output=streamed` flag, like:
 ```console
 bazel test --test_output=streamed //sw/device/tests:uart_smoketest_fpga_cw310
 ```

 ## Filtering Broken Tests

 Some tests are marked known to be broken (and are in the process of being traiged).
 To prevent running these tests when running a block of tests, use the `test_tag_filters=-broken` flag.
 For example, to run all chip-level tests except the broken ones on FPGA:
 ```console
 bazel test --test_tag_filters=cw310,-broken //sw/device/tests/...
 ```

 ## Commonly Encountered Issues

 ### Cannot find ld

 One issue encountered while using bazel is the following error message when attempting to build:
 ```console
   = note: collect2: fatal error: cannot find 'ld'
           compilation terminated.
 ```

 The reason this occurs is related to these issues:
 * [opentitan issue](https://github.com/lowRISC/opentitan/issues/12448)
 * [rust issue](https://github.com/bazelbuild/rules_rust/issues/1114)

 Specifically, when the rustc compiler is invoked, it uses the LLVM linker that is not managed by the bazel flow.
 This means bazel cannot ensure it is installed at a specific location, and instead just uses whatever is available on the host machine.
 The issue above points out that rustc expects the linker to be located in the same directory as `gcc`, so if on the host machine this statement is untrue, there can be build issues.

 To resolve this problem:
 1. Install the LLVM linker with, e.g., `sudo apt install lld`.
 2. Symlink `lld` to where `gcc` is installed.

 This workaround will be needed until the rust issue is resolved.
	---
	title: Bazel Notes
	---

	Both OpenTitan hardware and software is built with Bazel.
	While our [Getting Started]({{< relref "getting_started" >}}) guides detail some of the Bazel commands that can be used to build both types of artifacts, below are detailed notes on:
	* how Bazel is configured for our project, and
	* brief examples of Bazel commands that are useful for:
	* querying,
	* building, and
	* running tests with Bazel.

	# OpenTitan Bazel Workspace

	The rules for Bazel are described in a language called Starlark, which looks a lot like Python.

	The `$REPO_TOP` directory is defined as a Bazel workspace by the `//WORKSPACE` file.
	`BUILD` files provide the information Bazel needs to build the targets in a directory.
	`BUILD` files also manage any subdirectories that don't have their own `BUILD` files.

	OpenTitan uses .bzl files to specify custom rules to build artifacts that require specific attention like on-device test rules and project specific binaries.

	## WORKSPACE file

	The `WORKSPACE` file controls external dependencies such that builds can be made reproducible and hermetic.
	Bazel loads specific external dependencies, such as various language toolchains.
	It uses them to build OpenTitan targets (like it does with bazel\_embedded) or to satisfy dependencies (as it does with abseil).
	To produce increasingly stable releases the external dependencies loaded in `WORKSPACE` file attempts to fix a all external `http_archive`s to a specific SHA.
	As we add more dependencies to the workspace, builds and tests will become less sensitive to external updates, and we will vastly simplify the [Getting Started]({{< relref "getting_started" >}}) instructions.

	## BUILD files

	Throughout the OpenTitan repository, `BUILD` files describe targets and dependencies in the same directory (and subdirectories that lack their own `BUILD` files).
	`BUILD` files are mostly hand-written.
	To maintain the invariant that hand-written files not be included in autogen directories, there are `BUILD` files that describe how to build and depend on auto-generated files in autogen subdirectories.

	# General Commands
	- Build everything (software and Verilator hardware):
	```console
	bazel build //...
	```
	- Build and run all tests (on-host tests, and Verilator/FPGA on-device tests):
	```console
	bazel test --test_tag_filters=-broken,-dv //sw/...
	```
	Note: this will take several hours.
	- Clean all build outputs and reclaim all disk and memory traces of a Bazel instance:
	```console
	bazel clean --expunge
	```
	Note: you should rarely need to run this, see [below]({{< relref "#troubleshooting-builds" >}}) for when this may be necessary.

	# Locating Build Artifacts

	When Bazel builds a target, or the dependencies of a target, it places them in a Bazel-managed output directory.
	This can make them difficult to find manually, however, Bazel also provides a mechanism to query for built artifacts that is demonstrated below.
	Note, the `outquery-*` command shown below is a special command that is parsed via our `bazelisk.sh` script.
	Therefore, it cannot be run with a standalone `bazel ...` invocation.

	## `opentitan_{rom,flash}_binary` Artifacts

	- Query the locations of all Bazel-built artifacts for all OpenTitan devices for an `opentitan_{rom,flash}_binary` macro:
	```console
	./bazelisk.sh outquery-all <target>
	```
	- Query the locations of all Bazel-built artifacts for a specific OpenTitan device for an `opentitan_{rom,flash}_binary` macro:
	```console
	./bazelisk.sh outquery-all <target>_<device>
	```
	Note: `<device>` will be in {`sim_dv`, `sim_verilator`, `fpga_cw310`}.

	See [Building (and Testing) Software]({{< relref "doc/getting_started/build_sw#device-artifacts" >}}), device software can be built for multiple OpenTitan devices and memories, using OpenTitan-specific Bazel macros.

	## `opentitan_functest` Artifacts

	As described [Building (and Testing) Software]({{< relref "doc/getting_started/build_sw#device-artifacts" >}}), device software can be built for multiple OpenTitan devices and memories, using OpenTitan-specific Bazel macros.
	Since running tests on multiple OpenTitan devices (whether DV or Verilator simulation, or an FPGA) involves building several software images for multiple memories, we provide a Bazel macro for this.
	This macro is called `opentitan_functest`.

	- List all `sh_test` targets instantiated by a `opentitan_functest`, e.g. the UART smoketest:
	```console
	bazel query 'labels(tests, //sw/device/tests:uart_smoketest)'
	```
	- Query the HW and SW dependencies of a specific `opentitan_functest` for the `fpga_cw310` device, e.g. the UART smoketest:
	```console
	bazel query 'labels(data, //sw/device/tests:uart_smoketest_fpga_cw310)'
	```
	or for any `opentitan_functest` target and `<device>` in {`sim_dv`, `sim_verilator`, `fpga_cw310`}
	```console
	bazel query 'labels(data, <target>_<device>)'
	```
	- Query the software artifacts built for the `opentitan_flash_binary` that is a dependency of an `opentitan_functest` for the `fpga_cw310` device, e.g. the UART smoketest:
	```console
	bazel query 'labels(srcs, //sw/device/tests:uart_smoketest_prog_fpga_cw310)'
	```
	or for any `opentitan_functest` `<target>` and `<device>` in {`sim_dv`, `sim_verilator`, `fpga_cw310`}
	```console
	bazel query 'labels(srcs, <target>_prog_<device>)'
	```
	Note: if an `opentitan_functest` target has the name `foo`, then the `opentitan_flash_binary` target that is instantiated by the `opentitan_functest` will be named `foo_prog_<device>`.

	# Building Software

	* To build OpenTitan software see [here]({{< relref "doc/getting_started/build_sw#building-software-with-bazel" >}}), or run
	```console
	bazel build <target>
	```

	# Testing Software

	## On-Host Tests

	* To query-for/run on-host software tests see [here]({{< relref "doc/getting_started/build_sw#running-tests-with-bazel" >}}).

	## On-Device Tests

	All device software, regardless of the device, is built with Bazel.
	However, only Verilator simulation and FPGA device software tests can be run with Bazel.

	### ROM Tests
	* Query for all ROM functional and E2E tests for FPGA:
	```console
	bazel query 'filter("._fpga_cw310", kind(".test rule", //sw/device/silicon_creator/...))'
	```
	and for Verilator:
	```console
	bazel query 'filter("._sim_verilator", kind(".test rule", //sw/device/silicon_creator/...))'
	```
	* Run all ROM functional and E2E tests on FPGA:
	```console
	bazel test --test_tag_filters=cw310 //sw/device/silicon_creator/...
	```
	and for Verilator:
	```console
	bazel test --test_tag_filters=verilator //sw/device/silicon_creator/...
	```
	* Run a single ROM functional or E2E test on FPGA and see the output in real time:
	```console
	bazel test \
	--define DISABLE_VERILATOR_BUILD=true \
	--test_tag_filters=cw310 \
	--test_output=streamed \
	//sw/device/silicon_creator/lib:boot_data_functest
	```
	or, remove the define/filtering flags and just append the `<device>` name like:
	```console
	bazel test --test_output=streamed //sw/device/silicon_creator/lib:boot_data_functest_fpga_cw310
	```
	and similarly for Verilator:
	```console
	bazel test --test_output=streamed //sw/device/silicon_creator/lib:boot_data_functest_sim_verilator
	```

	### Chip-Level Tests
	* Query for all chip-level tests for FPGA:
	```console
	bazel query 'filter("._fpga_cw310", kind(".test rule", //sw/device/tests/...))'
	```
	and for Verilator:
	```console
	bazel query 'filter("._sim_verilator", kind(".test rule", //sw/device/tests/...))'
	```
	* Run all chip-level tests on FPGA:
	```console
	bazel test --define DISABLE_VERILATOR_BUILD=true --test_tag_filters=cw310 //sw/device/tests/...
	```
	and for Verilator:
	```console
	bazel test --test_tag_filters=verilator //sw/device/tests/...
	```
	* Run a single chip-level test on FPGA and see the output in real time:
	```console
	bazel test \
	--define DISABLE_VERILATOR_BUILD=true
	--test_tag_filters=cw310 \
	--test_output=streamed \
	//sw/device/tests:uart_smoketest
	```
	or, remove the define/filtering flags and just append the `<device>` name like:
	```console
	bazel test --test_output=streamed //sw/device/tests:uart_smoketest_fpga_cw310
	```
	and similarly for Verilator:
	```console
	bazel test --test_output=streamed //sw/device/tests:uart_smoketest_sim_verilator
	```

	# Linting Software

	There are several Bazel rules that enable running quality checks and fixers on code.
	The subsections below describe how to use them.
	All of the tools described below are run in CI on every pull request, so it is best to run them before committing code.

	## Linting C/C++ Code
	The OpenTitan supported linter for C/C++ files is `clang-format`.
	It can be run with Bazel as shown below.

	Run the following to check if all C/C++ code as been formatted correctly:
	```console
	bazel run //:clang_format_check
	```
	and run the following to fix it, if it is not formatted correctly.
	```console
	bazel run //:clang_format_fix
	```

	## Linting Starlark

	The OpenTitan supported linter for Bazel files is `buildifier`.
	It can be run with Bazel as shown below.

	Run the following to check if all `WORKSPACE`, `BUILD`, and `.bzl` files have been formatted correctly:
	```console
	bazel run //:buildifier_check
	```
	and run the following to fix them, if they are not formatted correctly.
	```console
	bazel run //:buildifier_fix
	```

	## Checking License Headers

	Lastly, the OpenTitan supported linter for checking that every source code file contains a license header may be run with:
	```console
	bazel run //:license_check
	```

	# Building Hardware

	Note, to run (software) tests on these OpenTitan hardware platforms does not require these Bazel commands be invoked before the test commands above.
	Bazel is aware of all dependency relationships, and knows what prerequisites to build to run a test.

	- Build FPGA bitstream with (test) ROM, see [here]({{< relref "doc/getting_started/setup_fpga#build-an-fpga-bitstream" >}}).
	- Build FPGA bitstream with (production) ROM, see [here]({{< relref "doc/getting_started/setup_fpga#build-an-fpga-bitstream" >}}).
	- Build Verilator simulation binary:
	```console
	bazel build //hw:verilator
	```

	# Miscellaneous

	## Troubleshooting Builds

	If you encounter an unexplained error building or running any `bazel` commands, you can issue a subsequent `bazel clean` command to erase any existing building directories to yield a clean build.
	Specifically, according to the Bazel [documentation](https://docs.bazel.build/versions/main/user-manual.html#clean), issuing a
	```console
	bazel clean
	```
	deletes all the output build directories, while running a
	```console
	bazel clean --expunge
	```
	will wipe all disk and memory traces (i.e., any cached intermediate files) produced by Bazel.
	The latter sledgehammer is only intended to be used as a last resort when the existing configuration is seriously broken.

	## Create a `.bazelrc` File

	Create a `.bazelrc` file in your home directory to simplify executing bazel commands.
	For example, you can use a `.bazelrc` to:
	* set up a [disk cache]({{< relref "#disk-cache" >}}), or
	* skip running tests on the CW310 FPGA if you don not have one.

	A `.bazelrc` file that would accomplish this would look like:
	```
	# Make Bazel use a local directory as a remote cache.
	build --disk_cache=~/bazel_cache

	# Skip CW310 FPGA tests, since I do not have said FPGA.
	test --test_tag_filters=-cw310
	```

	See the [`.bazelrc`](https://github.com/lowRISC/opentitan/blob/master/.bazelrc) file in the OpenTitan repository for more examples.
	Additionally, for more information see the Bazel [documentation](https://bazel.build/run/bazelrc).

	## Disk Cache

	Bazel can use a directory on the file system as a remote cache.
	This is useful for sharing build artifacts across multiple [`git` worktrees](https://git-scm.com/docs/git-worktree) or multiple workspaces of the same project, such as multiple checkouts.

	Use the `--disk_cache=<filename>` to specify a cache directory.
	For example, running
	```console
	bazel build //... --disk_cache=~/bazel_cache
	```
	will cache all built artifacts.
	Alternatively add the following to `$HOME/.bazelrc` to avoid having automatically use the disk cache on every Bazel invocation, as shown [above]({{< relref "#create-a-bazelrc-file" >}}).

	For more documentation on Bazel disk caches see the [official documentation](https://docs.bazel.build/versions/main/remote-caching.html#disk-cache).

	## Excluding Verilator Simulation Binary Builds

	Many device software targets depend on the Verilator simulation binary,
	The Verilator simulation binary is slow to build.
	To avoid building it, use the
	`--define DISABLE_VERILATOR_BUILD=true` build option.
	For example, to build the UART smoke test artifacts but not the Verilator simulation binary run
	```console
	bazel build --define DISABLE_VERILATOR_BUILD=true //sw/device/tests:uart_smoketest
	```

	## Displaying Test Outputs in Real Time

	By default, Bazel does not write test outputs to STDOUT.
	To see a test's output in real time, use the `--test_output=streamed` flag, like:
	```console
	bazel test --test_output=streamed //sw/device/tests:uart_smoketest_fpga_cw310
	```

	## Filtering Broken Tests

	Some tests are marked known to be broken (and are in the process of being traiged).
	To prevent running these tests when running a block of tests, use the `test_tag_filters=-broken` flag.
	For example, to run all chip-level tests except the broken ones on FPGA:
	```console
	bazel test --test_tag_filters=cw310,-broken //sw/device/tests/...
	```

	## Commonly Encountered Issues

	### Cannot find ld

	One issue encountered while using bazel is the following error message when attempting to build:
	```console
	= note: collect2: fatal error: cannot find 'ld'
	compilation terminated.
	```

	The reason this occurs is related to these issues:
	* [opentitan issue](https://github.com/lowRISC/opentitan/issues/12448)
	* [rust issue](https://github.com/bazelbuild/rules_rust/issues/1114)

	Specifically, when the rustc compiler is invoked, it uses the LLVM linker that is not managed by the bazel flow.
	This means bazel cannot ensure it is installed at a specific location, and instead just uses whatever is available on the host machine.
	The issue above points out that rustc expects the linker to be located in the same directory as `gcc`, so if on the host machine this statement is untrue, there can be build issues.

	To resolve this problem:
	1. Install the LLVM linker with, e.g., `sudo apt install lld`.
	2. Symlink `lld` to where `gcc` is installed.

	This workaround will be needed until the rust issue is resolved.