Xmake Dlang

Building D (dlang) with Xmake

D has three main compilers (DMD, LDC, GDC); xmake drives all of them through a unified target() API and supports DUB for package dependencies.

1. Minimal project

xmake create -l dlang -t console hello
cd hello
xmake run

add_rules("mode.debug", "mode.release")

target("hello")
    set_kind("binary")
    add_files("src/*.d")

2. Target kinds

target("app")       set_kind("binary")
target("mylib")     set_kind("static")
target("mydyn")     set_kind("shared")

3. DUB dependencies (v2.3.6+)

add_requires("dub::vibe-d ~>0.9.5")
add_requires("dub::libasync")

target("app")
    set_kind("binary")
    add_files("src/*.d")
    add_packages("dub::vibe-d", "dub::libasync")

Known limitation: cascading transitive deps must be declared manually for now. Add every dep in the tree explicitly.

4. Compiler selection

xmake f --toolchain=dlang                    # DMD (default)
xmake f --toolchain=ldc
xmake f --toolchain=gdc

Or pin paths:

xmake f --toolchain=ldc --sdk=/opt/ldc-1.30

LDC is usually the best choice for release builds (LLVM backend, best optimization). DMD is fastest to compile with.

5. Flags

target("app")
    add_files("src/*.d")
    add_dcflags("-O", "-release")          -- passed to the D compiler
    add_ldflags("-Wl,--as-needed")

add_dcflags = D compiler flags. Each compiler has its own flag dialect — prefer portable ones or gate with if is_toolchain("ldc") then ... end.

6. Mixing D with C

target("app")
    set_kind("binary")
    add_files("src/main.d", "src/extern.c")    -- mix C and D in one target
    add_includedirs("include")

D can call C directly via extern (C) declarations on the D side. No bridging needed.

Pitfalls

• Transitive DUB deps. You must add them manually until xmake's DUB integration is complete.
• Compiler-specific flags leaking across toolchains. add_dcflags("-mattr=+avx2") works on LDC, fails on DMD. Gate with is_toolchain.
• D shared libraries on Windows. DMD and LDC produce different import-library formats; stick to one per project on Windows.

When to branch out

• Build modes → xmake-targets, xmake-build-optimization
• Cross-compile → xmake-cross-compilation (LDC supports many targets)
• Package management basics → xmake-packages

Source & license

This open-source skill is cataloged on AgentStack and links to its original source — we do not rehost the code.

• Author: xmake-io
• Source: xmake-io/xmake-skills
• License: Apache-2.0

Install and usage instructions live in the source repository linked above.