About Build Configurations

A build configuration captures information about what to build, and how to build it. Build configurations include the following:

- Build Areas

A build area defines where the files related to a build are checked out to, or delivered to. Although build areas are created in the Dimensions Administration Console (and referred to there as file areas), each build configuration must specify one or more build areas. Most builds use work areas or deployment areas.

- Build Targets

A build target defines the end-product of a build. Build targets include the specifications for inputs and outputs. Build targets can be real, such as an executable file, or virtual, such as "clean" or "all".

- Sources

A source can be a source code file, an include file, another target, and so on. A source file must be imported as a source and then defined as an input to a target.

- Build Options

A build option defines elective settings that may or may not be part of the build, such as a debug switch. Individual options may be collected into option groups. For details about Dimensions Build predefined symbols, see the Developer's API Reference.

- Scripts

A script defines the specific commands necessary to run the build. Scripts indicate which build tool is to be used, which build options, and so on. You can define scripts to execute before the build, during the build, and after the build.

- Versions

A version is a previously checked-in build configuration. Versions are numbered, time- and date-stamped, and include associations with build areas and targets.

Build configurations can be exported to an XML file (and later re-imported).

Related Topics

Basic Build Configuration Operations

Build Areas

Sources

Build Targets

Inputs

Outputs

Scripts

Build Options

Versions

Exporting and Importing