Native Code Compilation

A native code file is a platform-specific shared library. Under Windows, native code files typically use the extension .dll. Under Unix and MacOS, native code files typically use the extension .so.

Native code files are loaded into MzScheme with the load-extension procedure (see dynamic extensions in PLT MzScheme: Language Manual).

The native code compiler attempts to optimize a source program so that it runs faster than the source code or byte code version of the program. See section 1.5 for information on obtaining the best possible performance from mzc-compiled programs.

Native code compilation produces C source code in an intermediate stage; your system must provide an external C compiler to produce native code. The mzc compiler cannot produce native code directly from Scheme code.

• Under Unix, gcc is used as the C compiler if it can be found in any of the directories listed in the PATH environment variable. If gcc is not found, cc is used if it can be found.
• Under Windows, cl.exe, Microsoft Visual C, is used as the C compiler if it can be found in any of the directories listed in the PATH environment variable. If cl.exe is not found, gcc.exe is used if it can be found.
• Under MacOS, Metrowerks CodeWarrior is used as the C compiler if it can be found.

Except for MacOS, the C compiler and compiler flags used by mzc can be adjusted via command line flags.