Controlling a Build From the Command Line

SCons User Guide 0.98.0
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# Chapter 9. Controlling a Build From the Command Line

SCons provides a number of ways that allow the writer of the `SConscript` files to give users a great deal of control over how to run the builds.

# 9.1. Not Having to Specify Command-Line Options Each Time: the `SCONSFLAGS` Environment Variable

Users may find themselves supplying the same command-line options every time they run SCons. For example, a user might find that it saves time to specify a value of `-j 2` to run the builds in parallel. To avoid having to type `-j 2` by hand every time, you can set the external environment variable `SCONSFLAGS` to a string containing command-line options that you want SCons to use.

If, for example, you're using a POSIX shell that's compatible with the Bourne shell, and you always want SCons to use the `-Q` option, you can set the `SCONSFLAGS` environment as follows:

          % scons
          scons: Reading SConscript files ...
          scons: done reading SConscript files.
          scons: Building targets ...
              ... [build output] ...
          scons: done building targets.
          % export SCONSFLAGS="-Q"
          % scons
              ... [build output] ...

Users of csh-style shells on POSIX systems can set the `SCONSFLAGS` environment as follows:

          $ setenv SCONSFLAGS "-Q"

Windows users may typically want to set the `SCONSFLAGS` in the appropriate tab of the `System Properties` window.

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Controlling the External Environment Used to Execute Build Commands |  | Getting at Command-Line Targets