# Trick the meson build system into thinking \`zig rc\` is \`rc.exe\` · gitcafe/zig

[View on GitCafe](https://git.cafe/gitcafe/zig/commit/9c9d3931df4c1decffec610e5e47b3049b147c8d)

Repository: [gitcafe/zig](https://git.cafe/gitcafe/zig)

Visibility: public

Requested revision: 9c9d3931df4c1decffec610e5e47b3049b147c8d

Requested commit: 9c9d3931df4c1decffec610e5e47b3049b147c8d

Commit: 9c9d3931df4c1decffec610e5e47b3049b147c8d

Tree: 4680ad0845405f8369610d37a07748190c4cee1f

Author: Ryan Liptak

Committer: Andrew Kelley

## Message

````
Trick the meson build system into thinking `zig rc` is `rc.exe`

When determining the type of RC compiler, meson passes `/?` or `--version` and then reads from `stdout` looking for particular string(s) anywhere in the output.

So, by adding the string "Microsoft Resource Compiler" to the `/?` output, meson will recognize `zig rc` as rc.exe and give it the correct options, which works fine since `zig rc` is drop-in CLI compatible with rc.exe.

This allows using `zig rc` with meson for (cross-)compiling, by either:

- Setting WINDRES="zig rc" or putting windres = ['zig', 'rc'] in the cross-file
  + This will work like rc.exe, so it will output .res files. This will only link successfully if you are using a linker that can do .res -> .obj conversion (so something like zig cc, MSVC, lld)
- Setting WINDRES="zig rc /:output-format coff" or putting windres = ['zig', 'rc', '/:output-format', 'coff'] in the cross-file
  + This will make meson pass flags as if it were rc.exe, but it will cause the resulting .res file to actually be a COFF object file, meaning it will work with any linker that handles COFF object files

Example cross file that uses `zig cc` (which can link `.res` files, so `/:output-format coff` is not necessary) and `zig rc`:

```
[binaries]
c = ['zig', 'cc', '--target=x86_64-windows-gnu']
windres = ['zig', 'rc']

[target_machine]
system = 'windows'
cpu_family = 'x86_64'
cpu = 'x86_64'
endian = 'little'
```

````

## Parents

- [aa8aa6625323702a7320ae4b98ede36887060782](https://git.cafe/gitcafe/zig/commit/aa8aa6625323702a7320ae4b98ede36887060782?format=markdown)

[Source at this commit](https://git.cafe/gitcafe/zig/tree/9c9d3931df4c1decffec610e5e47b3049b147c8d?format=markdown)