What This Guide Contains

This guide contains the following chapters:

• Getting Started with GNAT, describes how to get started compiling and running Ada programs with the GNAT Ada programming environment.
• The GNAT Compilation Model, describes the compilation model used by GNAT.
• Compiling Using gcc, describes how to compile Ada programs with gcc, the Ada compiler.
• Binding Using gnatbind, describes how to perform binding of Ada programs with gnatbind, the GNAT binding utility.
• Linking Using gnatlink, describes gnatlink, a program that provides for linking using the GNAT run-time library to construct a program. gnatlink can also incorporate foreign language object units into the executable.
• The GNAT Make Program gnatmake, describes gnatmake, a utility that automatically determines the set of sources needed by an Ada compilation unit, and executes the necessary compilations binding and link.
• Renaming Files Using gnatchop, describes gnatchop, a utility that allows you to preprocess a file that contains Ada source code, and split it into one or more new files, one for each compilation unit.
• Configuration Pragmas, describes the configuration pragmas handled by GNAT.
• Handling Arbitrary File Naming Conventions Using gnatname, shows how to override the default GNAT file naming conventions, either for an individual unit or globally.
• GNAT Project Manager, describes how to use project files to organize large projects.
• Elaboration Order Handling in GNAT, describes how GNAT helps you deal with elaboration order issues.
• The Cross-Referencing Tools gnatxref and gnatfind, discusses gnatxref and gnatfind, two tools that provide an easy way to navigate through sources.
• File Name Krunching Using gnatkr, describes the gnatkr file name krunching utility, used to handle shortened file names on operating systems with a limit on the length of names.
• Preprocessing Using gnatprep, describes gnatprep, a preprocessor utility that allows a single source file to be used to generate multiple or parameterized source files, by means of macro substitution.
• The GNAT Library Browser gnatls, describes gnatls, a utility that displays information about compiled units, including dependences on the corresponding sources files, and consistency of compilations.
• GNAT and Libraries, describes the process of creating and using Libraries with GNAT. It also describes how to recompile the GNAT run-time library.
• Using the GNU make Utility, describes some techniques for using the GNAT toolset in Makefiles.
• Finding Memory Problems with gnatmem, describes gnatmem, a utility that monitors dynamic allocation and deallocation activity in a program, and displays information about incorrect deallocations and sources of possible memory leaks.
• Finding Memory Problems with GNAT Debug Pool, describes how to use the GNAT-specific Debug Pool in order to detect as early as possible the use of incorrect memory references.
• Creating Sample Bodies Using gnatstub, discusses gnatstub, a utility that generates empty but compilable bodies for library units.
• Reducing the Size of Ada Executables with gnatelim, describes gnatelim, a tool which detects unused subprograms and helps the compiler to create a smaller executable for the program.
• Other Utility Programs, discusses several other GNAT utilities, including gnatpsta.
• Running and Debugging Ada Programs, describes how to run and debug Ada programs.
• Inline Assembler, shows how to use the inline assembly facility in an Ada program.
• Performance Considerations, reviews the trade offs between using defaults or options in program development.