# Getting Started on Linux with CMake

<!--
Notes to those updating this guide:

    * This document should be __simple__ and cover essential items only.
      Notes for optional components should go in separate files.

    * This document parallels getting_started_windows_cmake.md.
      Please keep them in sync.
-->

This guide walks through building the core compiler and runtime parts of IREE
from source. Auxilary components like the Python bindings and Vulkan driver are
documented separately, as they require further setup.

## Prerequisites

### Install CMake

Install CMake version >= 3.13:

```shell
$ sudo apt install cmake
```

> Tip:<br>
> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Your editor of choice likely has plugins for CMake,
> such as the Visual Studio Code
> [CMake Tools](https://github.com/microsoft/vscode-cmake-tools) extension.

### Install Ninja

[Ninja](https://ninja-build.org/) is a fast build system that you can use as a
CMake generator. Follow Ninja's
[installing documentation](https://github.com/ninja-build/ninja/wiki/Pre-built-Ninja-packages).

### Install a Compiler

We recommend Clang. GCC is not fully supported.

```shell
$ sudo apt install clang
```

Set environment variables:

```shell
export CC=clang
export CXX=clang++
```

## Clone and Build

### Clone

Clone the repository and initialize its submodules:

```shell
$ git clone https://github.com/google/iree.git
$ cd iree
$ git submodule update --init
```

> Tip:<br>
> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Editors and other programs can also clone the
> repository, just make sure that they initialize the submodules.

### Build

Configure:

```shell
$ cmake -G Ninja -B build/ .
```

> Tip:<br>
> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The root
> [CMakeLists.txt](https://github.com/google/iree/blob/master/CMakeLists.txt) file
> has options for configuring which parts of the project to enable.

Build all targets:

```shell
$ cmake --build build/
```

## What's next?

### Take a Look Around

Check out the contents of the 'tools' build directory:

```shell
$ ls build/iree/tools
$ ./build/iree/tools/iree-translate --help
```

Translate a
[MLIR file](https://github.com/google/iree/blob/master/iree/tools/test/simple.mlir)
and execute a function in the compiled module:

```shell
$ ./build/iree/tools/iree-run-mlir $PWD/iree/tools/test/simple.mlir -input-value="i32=-2" -iree-hal-target-backends=vmla -print-mlir
```

### Further Reading

*   To target GPUs using Vulkan, see
    [Getting Started on Linux with Vulkan](./getting_started_linux_vulkan.md)

More documentation coming soon...

<!-- TODO(scotttodd): Running tests -->
<!-- TODO(scotttodd): Running samples -->
<!-- TODO(scotttodd): "getting_started.md" equivalent for iree-translate etc. -->