Xmake Vala

Building Vala with Xmake

Vala compiles to C (via valac), then to native code. Xmake handles both steps via the vala rule. Supported since v2.5.7 (binaries) / v2.5.8 (libraries).

1. Minimal console program

add_rules("mode.debug", "mode.release")
add_requires("glib")                                 -- mandatory

target("hello")
    set_kind("binary")
    add_rules("vala")                                -- required
    add_files("src/*.vala")
    add_packages("glib")
    add_values("vala.packages", "glib-2.0", "gobject-2.0")

Three things every Vala target needs:

• add_rules("vala") — tells xmake this is a Vala target.
• add_requires("glib") + add_packages("glib") — Vala's runtime.
• add_values("vala.packages", ...) — the VAPI package names that valac should import.

2. Static library with exported API

target("mymath")
    set_kind("static")
    add_rules("vala")
    add_files("src/*.vala")
    add_packages("glib")
    add_values("vala.packages", "glib-2.0", "gobject-2.0")
    add_values("vala.header", "mymath.h")             -- exported C header
    add_values("vala.vapi",   "mymath-1.0.vapi")      -- exported VAPI

Consumers in C can #include "mymath.h"; consumers in Vala import mymath-1.0.vapi.

3. Shared library

target("mymath")
    set_kind("shared")
    add_rules("vala")
    add_files("src/*.vala")
    add_packages("glib")
    add_values("vala.packages", "glib-2.0", "gobject-2.0")
    add_values("vala.header", "mymath.h")
    add_values("vala.vapi",   "mymath-1.0.vapi")

4. Consuming a Vala library in C

target("app")
    set_kind("binary")
    add_files("src/main.c")
    add_deps("mymath")
    add_packages("glib")

The exported header and VAPI flow through add_deps automatically.

Pitfalls

• Forgot add_rules("vala"). .vala files are treated as unknown — build fails. Always add the rule.
• Missing glib dep. Vala's runtime is glib. Add it as a package even for "hello world".
• vala.packages vs add_packages. These are different axes: vala.packages is what valac imports (VAPI names), add_packages is what xmake links. You usually need both for glib.
• Version in the VAPI name. glib-2.0, not glib. Check pkg-config --list-all for the exact names.
• Cross-compile. Vala's two-step build (Vala → C → native) makes cross-compile trickier than pure C. Works but requires the cross toolchain to also have glib headers.

When to branch out

• Package management → xmake-packages
• Target basics → xmake-targets