# `node-gyp` - Node.js native addon build tool
[](https://github.com/nodejs/node-gyp/actions?query=workflow%3ATests+branch%3Amain)
`node-gyp` is a cross-platform command-line tool written in Node.js for
compiling native addon modules for Node.js. It contains a vendored copy of the
[gyp-next](https://github.com/nodejs/gyp-next) project that was previously used
by the Chromium team and extended to support the development of Node.js native
addons.
Note that `node-gyp` is _not_ used to build Node.js itself.
All current and LTS target versions of Node.js are supported. Depending on what version of Node.js is actually installed on your system
`node-gyp` downloads the necessary development files or headers for the target version. List of stable Node.js versions can be found on [Node.js website](https://nodejs.org/en/about/previous-releases).
## Features
* The same build commands work on any of the supported platforms
* Supports the targeting of different versions of Node.js
## Installation
You can install `node-gyp` using `npm`:
``` bash
npm install -g node-gyp
```
Depending on your operating system, you will need to install:
### On Unix
* [A supported version of Python](https://devguide.python.org/versions/)
* `make`
* A proper C/C++ compiler toolchain, like [GCC](https://gcc.gnu.org)
### On macOS
* [A supported version of Python](https://devguide.python.org/versions/)
* `Xcode Command Line Tools` which will install `clang`, `clang++`, and `make`.
* Install the `Xcode Command Line Tools` standalone by running `xcode-select --install`. -- OR --
* Alternatively, if you already have the [full Xcode installed](https://developer.apple.com/xcode/download/), you can install the Command Line Tools under the menu `Xcode -> Open Developer Tool -> More Developer Tools...`.
### On Windows
Install the current [version of Python](https://devguide.python.org/versions/) from the
[Microsoft Store](https://apps.microsoft.com/store/search?publisher=Python+Software+Foundation).
Install tools and configuration manually:
* Install Visual C++ Build Environment: For Visual Studio 2019 or later, use the `Desktop development with C++` workload from [Visual Studio Community](https://visualstudio.microsoft.com/thank-you-downloading-visual-studio/?sku=Community). For a version older than Visual Studio 2019, install [Visual Studio Build Tools](https://visualstudio.microsoft.com/thank-you-downloading-visual-studio/?sku=BuildTools) with the `Visual C++ build tools` option.
If the above steps didn't work for you, please visit [Microsoft's Node.js Guidelines for Windows](https://github.com/Microsoft/nodejs-guidelines/blob/master/windows-environment.md#compiling-native-addon-modules) for additional tips.
To target native ARM64 Node.js on Windows on ARM, add the components "Visual C++ compilers and libraries for ARM64" and "Visual C++ ATL for ARM64".
To use the native ARM64 C++ compiler on Windows on ARM, ensure that you have Visual Studio 2022 [17.4 or later](https://devblogs.microsoft.com/visualstudio/arm64-visual-studio-is-officially-here/) installed.
It's advised to install following Powershell module: [VSSetup](https://github.com/microsoft/vssetup.powershell) using `Install-Module VSSetup -Scope CurrentUser`.
This will make Visual Studio detection logic to use more flexible and accessible method, avoiding Powershell's `ConstrainedLanguage` mode.
### Configuring Python Dependency
`node-gyp` requires that you have installed a [supported version of Python](https://devguide.python.org/versions/).
If you have multiple versions of Python installed, you can identify which version
`node-gyp` should use in one of the following ways:
1. by setting the `--python` command-line option, e.g.:
``` bash
node-gyp <command> --python /path/to/executable/python
```
2. If `node-gyp` is called by way of `npm`, *and* you have multiple versions of
Python installed, then you can set the `npm_config_python` environment variable
to the appropriate path:
``` bash
export npm_config_python=/path/to/executable/python
```
Or on Windows:
```console
py --list-paths # To see the installed Python versions
set npm_config_python=C:\path\to\python.exe
```
3. If the `PYTHON` environment variable is set to the path of a Python executable,
then that version will be used if it is a supported version.
4. If the `NODE_GYP_FORCE_PYTHON` environment variable is set to the path of a
Python executable, it will be used instead of any of the other configured or
built-in Python search paths. If it's not a compatible version, no further
searching will be done.
### Build for Third Party Node.js Runtimes
When building modules for third-party Node.js runtimes like Electron, which have
different build configurations from the official Node.js distribution, you
should use `--dist-url` or `--nodedir` flags to specify the headers of the
runtime to build for.
Also when `--dist-url` or `--nodedir` flags are passed, node-gyp will use the
`config.gypi` shipped in the headers distribution to generate build
configurations, which is different from the default mode that would use the
`process.config` object of the running Node.js instance.
Some old versions of Electron shipped malformed `config.gypi` in their headers
distributions, and you might need to pass `--force-process-config` to node-gyp
to work around configuration errors.
## How to Use
To compile your native addon first go to its root directory:
``` bash
cd my_node_addon
```
The next step is to generate the appropriate project build files for the current
platform. Use `configure` for that:
``` bash
node-gyp configure
```
Auto-detection fails for Visual C++ Build Tools 2015, so `--msvs_version=2015`
needs to be added (not needed when run by npm as configured above):
``` bash
node-gyp configure --msvs_version=2015
```
__Note__: The `configure` step looks for a `binding.gyp` file in the current
directory to process. See below for instructions on creating a `binding.gyp` file.
Now you will have either a `Makefile` (on Unix platforms) or a `vcxproj` file
(on Windows) in the `build/` directory. Next, invoke the `build` command:
``` bash
node-gyp build
```
Now you have your compiled `.node` bindings file! The compiled bindings end up
in `build/Debug/` or `build/Release/`, depending on the build mode. At this point,
you can require the `.node` file with Node.js and run your tests!
__Note:__ To create a _Debug_ build of the bindings file, pass the `--debug` (or
`-d`) switch when running either the `configure`, `build` or `rebuild` commands.
## The `binding.gyp` file
A `binding.gyp` file describes the configuration to build your module, in a
JSON-like format. This file gets placed in the root of your package, alongside
`package.json`.
A barebones `gyp` file appropriate for building a Node.js addon could look like:
```python
{
"targets": [
{
"target_name": "binding",
"sources": [ "src/binding.cc" ]
}
]
}
```
## Further reading
The **[docs](./docs/)** directory contains additional documentation on specific node-gyp topics that may be useful if you are experiencing problems installing or building addons using node-gyp.
Some additional resources for Node.js native addons and writing `gyp` configuration files:
* ["Going Native" a nodeschool.io tutorial](http://nodeschool.io/#goingnative)
* ["Hello World" node addon example](https://github.com/nodejs/node/tree/main/test/addons/hello-world)
* [gyp user documentation](https://gyp.gsrc.io/docs/UserDocumentation.md)
* [gyp input format reference](https://gyp.gsrc.io/docs/InputFormatReference.md)
* [*"binding.gyp" files out in the wild* wiki page](./docs/binding.gyp-files-in-the-wild.md)
## Commands
`node-gyp` responds to the following commands:
| **Command** | **Description**
|:--------------|:---------------------------------------------------------------
| `help` | Shows the help dialog
| `build` | Invokes `make`/`msbuild.exe` and builds the native addon
| `clean` | Removes the `build` directory if it exists
| `configure` | Generates project build files for the current platform
| `rebuild` | Runs `clean`, `configure` and `build` all in a row
| `install` | Installs Node.js header files for the given version
| `list` | Lists the currently installed Node.js header versions
| `remove` | Removes the Node.js header files for the given version
## Command Options
`node-gyp` accepts the following command options:
| **Command** | **Description**
|:----------------------------------|:------------------------------------------
| `-j n`, `--jobs n` | Run `make` in parallel. The value `max` will use all available CPU cores
| `--target=v6.2.1` | Node.js version to build for (default is `process.version`)
| `--silly`, `--loglevel=silly` | Log all progress to console
| `--verbose`, `--loglevel=verbose` | Log most progress to console
| `--silent`, `--loglevel=silent` | Don't log anything to console
| `debug`, `--debug` | Make Debug build (default is `Release`)
| `--release`, `--no-debug` | Make Release build
| `-C $dir`, `--directory=$dir` | Run command in different directory
| `--make=$make` | Override `make` command (e.g. `gmake`)
| `--thin=yes` | Enable thin static libraries
| `--arch=$arch` | Set target architecture (e.g. ia32)
| `--tarball=$path` | Get headers from a local tarball
| `--devdir=$path` | SDK download directory (default is OS cache directory)
| `--ensure` | Don't reinstall headers if already present
| `--dist-url=$url` | Download header tarball from custom URL
| `--proxy=$url` | Set HTTP(S) proxy for downloading header tarball
| `--noproxy=$urls` | Set urls to ignore proxies when downloading header tarball
| `--cafile=$cafile` | Override default CA chain (to download tarball)
| `--nodedir=$path` | Set the path to the node source code
| `--python=$path` | Set path to the Python binary
| `--msvs_version=$version` | Set Visual Studio version (Windows only)
| `--solution=$solution` | Set Visual Studio Solution version (Windows only)
| `--force-process-config` | Force using runtime's `process.config` object to generate `config.gypi` file
## Configuration
### Environment variables
Use the form `npm_config_OPTION_NAME` for any of the command options listed
above (dashes in option names should be replaced by underscores).
For example, to set `devdir` equal to `/tmp/.gyp`, you would:
Run this on Unix:
```bash
export npm_config_devdir=/tmp/.gyp
```
Or this on Windows:
```console
set npm_config_devdir=c:\temp\.gyp
```
### `npm` configuration for npm versions before v9
Use the form `OPTION_NAME` for any of the command options listed above.
For example, to set `devdir` equal to `/tmp/.gyp`, you would run:
```bash
npm config set [--global] devdir /tmp/.gyp
```
**Note:** Configuration set via `npm` will only be used when `node-gyp`
is run via `npm`, not when `node-gyp` is run directly.
## License
`node-gyp` is available under the MIT license. See the [LICENSE
file](LICENSE) for details.
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