7.1 Evaluating Modes

These modes are used to rebuild files within VMake. The two evaluating modes are batch and interactive. The goal of evaluation, e.g., the files to be built, can be specified by the command line option goal. In contrast to other tools (see Chapter 1), VMake allows to check dependences not only LOCAL like make or GLOBAL like Jam. Five different checking areas are available:

1. ALL, the goal is evaluated in all known working projects. For non predefined goals this checking area is identical to GLOBAL.
2. GLOBAL, all dependences between files are checked globally over project boundaries.
3. PROJECT, dependences between files are checked only within the project of the goal.
4. SUBTREE, dependences are checked only in the subtree starting from the working directory of the goal.
5. LOCAL, dependences are only checked in the current working directory of the goal.

The default checking area is GLOBAL. No further update will be performed for an existing file residing outside of the checking area, e.g., for LOCAL no files are updated if they are not in the same directory as the actual goal. Non existing files are always updated. The default checking area can be overridden by using the command line interface with the command line option identical to the checking area name, e.g., project wide dependence checking is selected with the command line option project.

The checking area is also used by the other operation modes. These modes execute then only in the specific checking area. Since the default checking area is GLOBAL, all modes usually work on multiple projects.

 
• 7.1.1 Goals
• 7.1.2 Batch Operation
• 7.1.3 Interactive Operation