SN bindgen

Scala 3 Native binding generator to C libraries
HomeCookbookSemantics MotivationLimitationsConfiguration Quick start

Quickest way to start would be to use the template.

For more involved examples, see a dedicated repository

Pre-requisites

The bindgen's binary is dynamically linked against Clang 14.

Therefore you must have it installed on the system that generates the code, you can follow Scala Native's instructions.

Code generated by bindgen has no runtime dependencies on bindgen, LLVM, or Clang.

Supported platforms

OSArchitectureTested on CIBinary publishedComments
Linux x64
Mac OS X x64
Windows x64
Mac OS X M1 (arm64) Works well, M1 is where I develop this project
Linux arm64 Anecdotal evidence that it works, I run tests in an arm64 VM sometimes
Windows arm64 Anecdotal evidence that it works, I run tests in an arm64 VM sometimes

Installation with SBT

project/plugins.sbt

// only add this line if you're living on the edge and using 
// a version that has "SNAPSHOT" in it
resolvers += Resolver.sonatypeRepo("snapshots")

addSbtPlugin("com.indoorvivants" % "bindgen-sbt-plugin" % "0.0.16+1-f12b1354-SNAPSHOT")

build.sbt

// only add this line if you're living on the edge and using 
// a version that has "SNAPSHOT" in it
resolvers += Resolver.sonatypeRepo("snapshots")
scalaVersion := "3.2.2"

enablePlugins(ScalaNativePlugin, BindgenPlugin)

import bindgen.interface.Binding

bindgenBindings := Seq(
  Binding
    .builder(
      /* 1 */  (Compile / resourceDirectory).value / "scala-native" / "header.h",
      /* 2 */  "libtest"
    )
    .addCImport("header.h") /* 3 */
    .build
  )
)
  1. Path to the header file - in this example we're putting it into a location recognised by Scala Native's SBT plugin, any sources there will be linked alongside the Scala sources
  2. Package name where generated definitions will be put
  3. List of imports that will be added to generated C files (if there are any, see Semantics page for details)

There are more settings available, see Configuration page for details.

Now all that is left to do is put some definitions into the header file:

src/main/resources/scala-native/header.h

typedef enum { X = 1, Y = 2} bla;
void sum(bla one, bla two);
Generated Scala
package libtest

import _root_.scala.scalanative.unsafe.*
import _root_.scala.scalanative.unsigned.*
import _root_.scala.scalanative.libc.*
import _root_.scala.scalanative.*

object predef:
private[libtest] trait CEnumU[T](using eq: T =:= UInt):
given Tag[T] = Tag.UInt.asInstanceOf[Tag[T]]
extension (inline t: T)
inline def int: CInt = eq.apply(t).toInt
inline def uint: CUnsignedInt = eq.apply(t)
inline def value: CUnsignedInt = eq.apply(t)


object enumerations:
import predef.*
/**
* [bindgen] header: /tmp/10382416543232442504header.h
*/
opaque type bla = CUnsignedInt
object bla extends CEnumU[bla]:
given _tag: Tag[bla] = Tag.UInt
inline def define(inline a: Long): bla = a.toUInt
val X = define(1)
val Y = define(2)
inline def getName(inline value: bla): Option[String] =
inline value match
case X => Some("X")
case Y => Some("Y")
case _ => None
extension (a: bla)
inline def &(b: bla): bla = a & b
inline def |(b: bla): bla = a | b
inline def is(b: bla): Boolean = (a & b) == b


@extern
private[libtest] object extern_functions:
import _root_.libtest.enumerations.*

/**
* [bindgen] header: /tmp/10382416543232442504header.h
*/
def sum(one : bla, two : bla): Unit = extern


object functions:
import _root_.libtest.enumerations.*

import extern_functions.*
export extern_functions.*

object types:
export _root_.libtest.enumerations.*

object all:
export _root_.libtest.enumerations.bla
export _root_.libtest.functions.sum

After that in your Scala sources you can use libtest package to access the generated bindings.