docs/developers/get_started/getting_started_linux_cmake.md

# Getting Started on Linux with CMake

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

## Prerequisites

### Install CMake

IREE uses CMake version `>= 3.13.4`. First try installing via your
distribution's package manager and verify the version:

```shell
$ sudo apt install cmake
$ cmake --version # >= 3.13.4
```

Some package managers (like `apt`) distribute old versions of cmake. If your
package manager installs a version `< 3.13.4`, then follow the installation
instructions [here](https://cmake.org/install/) to install a newer version (e.g.
the latest).

> 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
```

## 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 ../iree-build/ -DCMAKE_C_COMPILER=clang -DCMAKE_CXX_COMPILER=clang++ .
```

> Tip:<br>
> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The root
> [CMakeLists.txt](https://github.com/google/iree/blob/main/CMakeLists.txt)
> file has options for configuring which parts of the project to enable.<br>
> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;These are further documented in [CMake Options and Variables](cmake_options_and_variables.md).

Build all targets:

```shell
$ cmake --build ../iree-build/
```

## What's next?

### Take a Look Around

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

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

Translate a
[MLIR file](https://github.com/google/iree/blob/main/iree/samples/models/simple_abs.mlir)
and execute a function in the compiled module:

```shell
$ ../iree-build/iree/tools/iree-run-mlir $PWD/iree/samples/models/simple_abs.mlir \
  -function-input="f32=-2" -iree-hal-target-backends=vmvx -print-mlir
```

### LLVM Ahead-of-Time (AOT) backend

Translate a source MLIR into an IREE module:

```shell
# Assuming in IREE source root
$ ../iree-build/iree/tools/iree-translate \
    -iree-mlir-to-vm-bytecode-module \
    -iree-llvm-target-triple=x86_64-linux-gnu \
    -iree-hal-target-backends=dylib-llvm-aot \
    iree/samples/models/simple_abs.mlir \
    -o /tmp/simple_abs_dylib.vmfb
```

Then run the compiled module using the `dylib` HAL driver:

```shell
$ ../iree-build/iree/tools/iree-run-module \
    --driver=dylib \
    --module_file=/tmp/simple_abs_dylib.vmfb \
    --entry_function=abs \
    --function_input=f32=-5

EXEC @abs
f32=5
```


### Further Reading

*   For an introduction to IREE's project structure and developer tools, see
    [Developer Overview](../developing_iree/developer_overview.md)
*   To target GPUs using Vulkan, see
    [Getting Started on Linux with Vulkan](getting_started_linux_vulkan.md)
*   To use IREE's Python bindings, see
    [Getting Started with Python](getting_started_python.md)