xmake-io Xmake Toolchains
A toolchain bundles a compiler, linker, archiver, and related tools. You pick one per configure.
Listing and switching
xmake show -l toolchains # list available toolchains (~77 of them)
xmake f --toolchain=clang
xmake f --toolchain=gcc-11 # gcc-12 .. gcc-16 exist as well
xmake f --toolchain=mingw --mingw=/opt/llvm-mingw
xmake f --toolchain=msvc --vs=2022
Notable ones beyond the usual gcc/clang/msvc:
| Toolchain | For |
|---|---|
zigcc |
C/C++ through zig cc, a cross compiler with no sysroot — @see the xmake-zigcc skill |
zig |
Zig code |
muslcc |
musl-based cross toolchains, downloaded on demand |
emcc / wasi |
WebAssembly (emscripten / WASI) |
cosmocc |
build-once run-anywhere binaries |
dotnet |
C# and the .NET SDK |
cuda |
nvcc / nvc / nvc++ / nvfortran |
filc |
a memory-safe C/C++ implementation |
ascendc |
Huawei Ascend C (bisheng driver) |
armclang / iar / sdcc |
embedded compilers |
Pointing at an sdk
xmake f --toolchain=clang --sdk=/opt/llvm-18 # the sdk root
xmake f --toolchain=gcc --bin=/opt/gcc/bin # only the bin directory
xmake f --toolchain=clang --cc=clang-18 --cxx=clang++-18 # individual tools
--sdk is the standard knob: xmake derives bin/, include/ and lib/ from it.
In xmake.lua:
set_toolchains("clang")
target("app")
set_toolchains("gcc-11") -- override per target
Cross-compilation
Android
xmake f -p android --ndk=~/android-ndk-r26 -a arm64-v8a
xmake
Arch options: armeabi-v7a, arm64-v8a, x86, x86_64.
iOS / macOS
xmake f -p iphoneos -a arm64
xmake f -p macosx -a arm64 # Apple Silicon
Windows from Linux (mingw)
xmake f -p mingw --mingw=/usr/x86_64-w64-mingw32 -a x86_64
WebAssembly
xmake f -p wasm --toolchain=emcc
Generic cross-gcc
xmake f -p cross --sdk=/opt/my-sdk --cross=arm-linux-gnueabihf- -a arm
--sdk points to the SDK root; --cross is the tool prefix.
musl cross toolchains
No sdk to download by hand — xmake fetches the toolchain itself:
xmake f -p linux -a arm64 --toolchain=muslcc
xmake f -p cross --toolchain=muslcc --cross=riscv64-linux-musl
zig cc (no sysroot needed)
xmake f -p linux -a arm64 --toolchain=zigcc
xmake f -p freebsd --cross=x86_64-freebsd --toolchain=zigcc
zig cc carries its own libc for every target, so there is nothing to install. @see the
xmake-zigcc skill for the tuple mapping and its gotchas.
Defining a custom toolchain
toolchain("my-cross")
set_kind("standalone")
set_sdkdir("/opt/my-sdk")
set_toolset("cc", "arm-linux-gnueabihf-gcc")
set_toolset("cxx", "arm-linux-gnueabihf-g++")
set_toolset("ld", "arm-linux-gnueabihf-g++")
set_toolset("ar", "arm-linux-gnueabihf-ar")
set_toolset("strip", "arm-linux-gnueabihf-strip")
toolchain_end()
xmake f --toolchain=my-cross -p cross -a arm
Using a toolchain only for one target
target("firmware")
set_toolchains("my-cross")
set_plat("cross")
set_arch("arm")
Platform / mode probes
if is_plat("android", "iphoneos") then ... end
if is_arch("arm64", "arm64-v8a") then ... end
if is_host("windows") then ... end -- the machine running xmake
When to branch out
- Adding packages that also need cross-build →
xmake-packages - Target-level compile flags →
xmake-targets