# Meson {#meson}

[Meson](https://mesonbuild.com/) is an open source meta build system meant to be
fast and user-friendly.

In Nixpkgs, meson comes with a setup hook that overrides the configure, check,
and install phases.

Being a meta build system, meson needs an accompanying backend. In the context
of Nixpkgs, the typical companion backend is [Ninja](#ninja), that provides a
setup hook registering ninja-based build and install phases.

## Variables controlling Meson {#meson-variables-controlling}

### Meson Exclusive Variables {#meson-exclusive-variables}

#### `mesonFlags` {#meson-flags}

Controls the flags passed to `meson setup` during configure phase.

#### `mesonWrapMode` {#meson-wrap-mode}

Which value is passed as
[`-Dwrap_mode=`](https://mesonbuild.com/Builtin-options.html#core-options)
to. In Nixpkgs the default value is `nodownload`, so that no subproject will be
downloaded (since network access is already disabled during deployment in
Nixpkgs).

Note: Meson allows pre-population of subprojects that would otherwise be
downloaded.

#### `mesonBuildType` {#meson-build-type}

Which value is passed as
[`--buildtype`](https://mesonbuild.com/Builtin-options.html#core-options) to
`meson setup` during configure phase. In Nixpkgs the default value is `plain`.

#### `mesonAutoFeatures` {#meson-auto-features}

Which value is passed as
[`-Dauto_features=`](https://mesonbuild.com/Builtin-options.html#core-options)
to `meson setup` during configure phase. In Nixpkgs the default value is
`enabled`, meaning that every feature declared as "auto" by the meson scripts
will be enabled.

#### `mesonCheckFlags` {#meson-check-flags}

Controls the flags passed to `meson test` during check phase.

#### `mesonInstallFlags` {#meson-install-flags}

Controls the flags passed to `meson install` during install phase.

#### `mesonInstallTags` {#meson-install-tags}

A list of installation tags passed to Meson's commandline option
[`--tags`](https://mesonbuild.com/Installing.html#installation-tags) during
install phase.

Note: `mesonInstallTags` should be a list of strings, that will be converted to
a comma-separated string that is recognized to `--tags`.
Example: `mesonInstallTags = [ "emulator" "assembler" ];` will be converted to
`--tags emulator,assembler`.

#### `dontUseMesonConfigure` {#dont-use-meson-configure}

When set to true, don't use the predefined `mesonConfigurePhase`.

#### `dontUseMesonCheck` {#dont-use-meson-check}

When set to true, don't use the predefined `mesonCheckPhase`.

#### `dontUseMesonInstall` {#dont-use-meson-install}

When set to true, don't use the predefined `mesonInstallPhase`.

### Honored variables {#meson-honored-variables}

The following variables commonly used by `stdenv.mkDerivation` are honored by
Meson setup hook.

- `prefixKey`
- `enableParallelBuilding`