Option to pass flags to rustc while bootstrapping using a file

[WaffleLapkin]

When bootstrapping rustc invocations can be rather large. For example this is an invocation I wanted to debug today (~10.9 KiB):

LD_LIBRARY_PATH="/loc/waffle/rust-h/build/x86_64-unknown-linux-gnu/stage1/lib:/loc/waffle/rust-h/build/x86_64-unknown-linux-gnu/stage1-std/release/deps" RUST_BACKTRACE="1" "/loc/waffle/rust-h/build/x86_64-unknown-linux-gnu/stage1/bin/rustc" "--crate-name" "compiler_builtins" "--edition=2021" "/usr/sec/waffle/.cargo/registry/src/index.crates.io-6f17d22bba15001f/compiler_builtins-0.1.138/src/[lib.rs](http://lib.rs/)" "--error-format=json" "--json=diagnostic-rendered-ansi,artifacts,future-incompat" "--diagnostic-width=204" "--crate-type" "lib" "--emit=dep-info,metadata,link" "-C" "opt-level=3" "-C" "embed-bitcode=no" "-C" "codegen-units=10000" "-C" "debuginfo=line-tables-only" "--cfg" "feature=\"compiler-builtins\"" "--cfg" "feature=\"core\"" "--cfg" "feature=\"default\"" "--cfg" "feature=\"mem\"" "--cfg" "feature=\"rustc-dep-of-std\"" "--check-cfg" "cfg(docsrs)" "--check-cfg" "cfg(feature, values(\"c\", \"cc\", \"compiler-builtins\", \"core\", \"default\", \"mangled-names\", \"mem\", \"no-asm\", \"no-f16-f128\", \"public-test-deps\", \"rustc-dep-of-std\"))" "-C" "metadata=8b1a123d4d7caf72" "-C" "extra-filename=-8b1a123d4d7caf72" "--out-dir" "/loc/waffle/rust-h/build/x86_64-unknown-linux-gnu/stage1-std/riscv32i-unknown-none-tasking/release/deps" "--target" "riscv32i-unknown-none-tasking" "-C" "linker=cc" "-L" "dependency=/loc/waffle/rust-h/build/x86_64-unknown-linux-gnu/stage1-std/riscv32i-unknown-none-tasking/release/deps" "-L" "dependency=/loc/waffle/rust-h/build/x86_64-unknown-linux-gnu/stage1-std/release/deps" "--extern" "core=/loc/waffle/rust-h/build/x86_64-unknown-linux-gnu/stage1-std/riscv32i-unknown-none-tasking/release/deps/librustc_std_workspace_core-2e8331c85d5501e5.rmeta" "--cap-lints" "warn" "-Csymbol-mangling-version=legacy" "--check-cfg=cfg(feature,values(any()))" "-Zunstable-options" "--check-cfg=cfg(bootstrap)" "-Zmacro-backtrace" "-Csplit-debuginfo=off" "-Cforce-frame-pointers=true" "-Cprefer-dynamic" "-Zinline-mir" "-Zinline-mir-preserve-debug" "-Clink-args=-Wl,-z,origin" "-Clink-args=-Wl,-rpath,$ORIGIN/../lib" "-Cembed-bitcode=yes" "-Clto=off" "-Cforce-unwind-tables=yes" "-Cforce-frame-pointers=yes" "-Zcrate-attr=doc(html_root_url=\[https://doc.rust-lang.org/nightly/\](https://doc.rust-lang.org/nightly/))" "-Z" "binary-dep-depinfo" "--cfg" "f16_enabled" "--cfg" "f128_enabled" "--cfg" "feature=\"unstable\"" "--cfg" "feature=\"force-soft-floats\"" "--cfg" "feature=\"mem\"" "--check-cfg" "cfg(__ashldi3, values(\"optimized-c\"))" "--check-cfg" "cfg(__ashlsi3, values(\"optimized-c\"))" "--check-cfg" "cfg(__ashrdi3, values(\"optimized-c\"))" "--check-cfg" "cfg(__ashrsi3, values(\"optimized-c\"))" "--check-cfg" "cfg(__bswapsi2, values(\"optimized-c\"))" "--check-cfg" "cfg(__bswapdi2, values(\"optimized-c\"))" "--check-cfg" "cfg(__bswapti2, values(\"optimized-c\"))" "--check-cfg" "cfg(__divdi3, values(\"optimized-c\"))" "--check-cfg" "cfg(__divsi3, values(\"optimized-c\"))" "--check-cfg" "cfg(__divmoddi4, values(\"optimized-c\"))" "--check-cfg" "cfg(__divmodsi4, values(\"optimized-c\"))" "--check-cfg" "cfg(__divmodsi4, values(\"optimized-c\"))" "--check-cfg" "cfg(__divmodti4, values(\"optimized-c\"))" "--check-cfg" "cfg(__lshrdi3, values(\"optimized-c\"))" "--check-cfg" "cfg(__lshrsi3, values(\"optimized-c\"))" "--check-cfg" "cfg(__moddi3, values(\"optimized-c\"))" "--check-cfg" "cfg(__modsi3, values(\"optimized-c\"))" "--check-cfg" "cfg(__muldi3, values(\"optimized-c\"))" "--check-cfg" "cfg(__udivdi3, values(\"optimized-c\"))" "--check-cfg" "cfg(__udivmoddi4, values(\"optimized-c\"))" "--check-cfg" "cfg(__udivmodsi4, values(\"optimized-c\"))" "--check-cfg" "cfg(__udivsi3, values(\"optimized-c\"))" "--check-cfg" "cfg(__umoddi3, values(\"optimized-c\"))" "--check-cfg" "cfg(__umodsi3, values(\"optimized-c\"))" "--check-cfg" "cfg(__aarch64_cas1_relax, values(\"optimized-c\"))" "--check-cfg" "cfg(__aarch64_cas1_acq, values(\"optimized-c\"))" "--check-cfg" "cfg(__aarch64_cas1_rel, values(\"optimized-c\"))" "--check-cfg" "cfg(__aarch64_cas1_acq_rel, values(\"optimized-c\"))" "--check-cfg" "cfg(__aarch64_cas2_relax, values(\"optimized-c\"))" "--check-cfg" "cfg(__aarch64_cas2_acq, values(\"optimized-c\"))" "--check-cfg" "cfg(__aarch64_cas2_rel, values(\"optimized-c\"))" "--check-cfg" "cfg(__aarch64_cas2_acq_rel, values(\"optimized-c\"))" "--check-cfg" "cfg(__aarch64_cas4_relax, values(\"optimized-c\"))" "--check-cfg" "cfg(__aarch64_cas4_acq, values(\"optimized-c\"))" "--check-cfg" "cfg(__aarch64_cas4_rel, values(\"optimized-c\"))" "--check-cfg" "cfg(__aarch64_cas4_acq_rel, values(\"optimized-c\"))" "--check-cfg" "cfg(__aarch64_cas8_relax, values(\"optimized-c\"))" "--check-cfg" "cfg(__aarch64_cas8_acq, values(\"optimized-c\"))" "--check-cfg" "cfg(__aarch64_cas8_rel, values(\"optimized-c\"))" "--check-cfg" "cfg(__aarch64_cas8_acq_rel, values(\"optimized-c\"))" "--check-cfg" "cfg(__aarch64_cas16_relax, values(\"optimized-c\"))" "--check-cfg" "cfg(__aarch64_cas16_acq, values(\"optimized-c\"))" "--check-cfg" "cfg(__aarch64_cas16_rel, values(\"optimized-c\"))" "--check-cfg" "cfg(__aarch64_cas16_acq_rel, values(\"optimized-c\"))" "--check-cfg" "cfg(__aarch64_ldadd1_relax, values(\"optimized-c\"))" "--check-cfg" "cfg(__aarch64_ldadd1_acq, values(\"optimized-c\"))" "--check-cfg" "cfg(__aarch64_ldadd1_rel, values(\"optimized-c\"))" "--check-cfg" "cfg(__aarch64_ldadd1_acq_rel, values(\"optimized-c\"))" "--check-cfg" "cfg(__aarch64_ldadd2_relax, values(\"optimized-c\"))" "--check-cfg" "cfg(__aarch64_ldadd2_acq, values(\"optimized-c\"))" "--check-cfg" "cfg(__aarch64_ldadd2_rel, values(\"optimized-c\"))" "--check-cfg" "cfg(__aarch64_ldadd2_acq_rel, values(\"optimized-c\"))" "--check-cfg" "cfg(__aarch64_ldadd4_relax, values(\"optimized-c\"))" "--check-cfg" "cfg(__aarch64_ldadd4_acq, values(\"optimized-c\"))" "--check-cfg" "cfg(__aarch64_ldadd4_rel, values(\"optimized-c\"))" "--check-cfg" "cfg(__aarch64_ldadd4_acq_rel, values(\"optimized-c\"))" "--check-cfg" "cfg(__aarch64_ldadd8_relax, values(\"optimized-c\"))" "--check-cfg" "cfg(__aarch64_ldadd8_acq, values(\"optimized-c\"))" "--check-cfg" "cfg(__aarch64_ldadd8_rel, values(\"optimized-c\"))" "--check-cfg" "cfg(__aarch64_ldadd8_acq_rel, values(\"optimized-c\"))" "--check-cfg" "cfg(__aarch64_ldclr1_relax, values(\"optimized-c\"))" "--check-cfg" "cfg(__aarch64_ldclr1_acq, values(\"optimized-c\"))" "--check-cfg" "cfg(__aarch64_ldclr1_rel, values(\"optimized-c\"))" "--check-cfg" "cfg(__aarch64_ldclr1_acq_rel, values(\"optimized-c\"))" "--check-cfg" "cfg(__aarch64_ldclr2_relax, values(\"optimized-c\"))" "--check-cfg" "cfg(__aarch64_ldclr2_acq, values(\"optimized-c\"))" "--check-cfg" "cfg(__aarch64_ldclr2_rel, values(\"optimized-c\"))" "--check-cfg" "cfg(__aarch64_ldclr2_acq_rel, values(\"optimized-c\"))" "--check-cfg" "cfg(__aarch64_ldclr4_relax, values(\"optimized-c\"))" "--check-cfg" "cfg(__aarch64_ldclr4_acq, values(\"optimized-c\"))" "--check-cfg" "cfg(__aarch64_ldclr4_rel, values(\"optimized-c\"))" "--check-cfg" "cfg(__aarch64_ldclr4_acq_rel, values(\"optimized-c\"))" "--check-cfg" "cfg(__aarch64_ldclr8_relax, values(\"optimized-c\"))" "--check-cfg" "cfg(__aarch64_ldclr8_acq, values(\"optimized-c\"))" "--check-cfg" "cfg(__aarch64_ldclr8_rel, values(\"optimized-c\"))" "--check-cfg" "cfg(__aarch64_ldclr8_acq_rel, values(\"optimized-c\"))" "--check-cfg" "cfg(__aarch64_ldeor1_relax, values(\"optimized-c\"))" "--check-cfg" "cfg(__aarch64_ldeor1_acq, values(\"optimized-c\"))" "--check-cfg" "cfg(__aarch64_ldeor1_rel, values(\"optimized-c\"))" "--check-cfg" "cfg(__aarch64_ldeor1_acq_rel, values(\"optimized-c\"))" "--check-cfg" "cfg(__aarch64_ldeor2_relax, values(\"optimized-c\"))" "--check-cfg" "cfg(__aarch64_ldeor2_acq, values(\"optimized-c\"))" "--check-cfg" "cfg(__aarch64_ldeor2_rel, values(\"optimized-c\"))" "--check-cfg" "cfg(__aarch64_ldeor2_acq_rel, values(\"optimized-c\"))" "--check-cfg" "cfg(__aarch64_ldeor4_relax, values(\"optimized-c\"))" "--check-cfg" "cfg(__aarch64_ldeor4_acq, values(\"optimized-c\"))" "--check-cfg" "cfg(__aarch64_ldeor4_rel, values(\"optimized-c\"))" "--check-cfg" "cfg(__aarch64_ldeor4_acq_rel, values(\"optimized-c\"))" "--check-cfg" "cfg(__aarch64_ldeor8_relax, values(\"optimized-c\"))" "--check-cfg" "cfg(__aarch64_ldeor8_acq, values(\"optimized-c\"))" "--check-cfg" "cfg(__aarch64_ldeor8_rel, values(\"optimized-c\"))" "--check-cfg" "cfg(__aarch64_ldeor8_acq_rel, values(\"optimized-c\"))" "--check-cfg" "cfg(__aarch64_ldset1_relax, values(\"optimized-c\"))" "--check-cfg" "cfg(__aarch64_ldset1_acq, values(\"optimized-c\"))" "--check-cfg" "cfg(__aarch64_ldset1_rel, values(\"optimized-c\"))" "--check-cfg" "cfg(__aarch64_ldset1_acq_rel, values(\"optimized-c\"))" "--check-cfg" "cfg(__aarch64_ldset2_relax, values(\"optimized-c\"))" "--check-cfg" "cfg(__aarch64_ldset2_acq, values(\"optimized-c\"))" "--check-cfg" "cfg(__aarch64_ldset2_rel, values(\"optimized-c\"))" "--check-cfg" "cfg(__aarch64_ldset2_acq_rel, values(\"optimized-c\"))" "--check-cfg" "cfg(__aarch64_ldset4_relax, values(\"optimized-c\"))" "--check-cfg" "cfg(__aarch64_ldset4_acq, values(\"optimized-c\"))" "--check-cfg" "cfg(__aarch64_ldset4_rel, values(\"optimized-c\"))" "--check-cfg" "cfg(__aarch64_ldset4_acq_rel, values(\"optimized-c\"))" "--check-cfg" "cfg(__aarch64_ldset8_relax, values(\"optimized-c\"))" "--check-cfg" "cfg(__aarch64_ldset8_acq, values(\"optimized-c\"))" "--check-cfg" "cfg(__aarch64_ldset8_rel, values(\"optimized-c\"))" "--check-cfg" "cfg(__aarch64_ldset8_acq_rel, values(\"optimized-c\"))" "--check-cfg" "cfg(__aarch64_swp1_relax, values(\"optimized-c\"))" "--check-cfg" "cfg(__aarch64_swp1_acq, values(\"optimized-c\"))" "--check-cfg" "cfg(__aarch64_swp1_rel, values(\"optimized-c\"))" "--check-cfg" "cfg(__aarch64_swp1_acq_rel, values(\"optimized-c\"))" "--check-cfg" "cfg(__aarch64_swp2_relax, values(\"optimized-c\"))" "--check-cfg" "cfg(__aarch64_swp2_acq, values(\"optimized-c\"))" "--check-cfg" "cfg(__aarch64_swp2_rel, values(\"optimized-c\"))" "--check-cfg" "cfg(__aarch64_swp2_acq_rel, values(\"optimized-c\"))" "--check-cfg" "cfg(__aarch64_swp4_relax, values(\"optimized-c\"))" "--check-cfg" "cfg(__aarch64_swp4_acq, values(\"optimized-c\"))" "--check-cfg" "cfg(__aarch64_swp4_rel, values(\"optimized-c\"))" "--check-cfg" "cfg(__aarch64_swp4_acq_rel, values(\"optimized-c\"))" "--check-cfg" "cfg(__aarch64_swp8_relax, values(\"optimized-c\"))" "--check-cfg" "cfg(__aarch64_swp8_acq, values(\"optimized-c\"))" "--check-cfg" "cfg(__aarch64_swp8_rel, values(\"optimized-c\"))" "--check-cfg" "cfg(__aarch64_swp8_acq_rel, values(\"optimized-c\"))" "--check-cfg" "cfg(target_feature, values(\"vis3\"))" "--check-cfg" "cfg(feature, values(\"checked\"))" "--check-cfg" "cfg(assert_no_panic)" "--check-cfg" "cfg(f16_enabled)" "--check-cfg" "cfg(f128_enabled)" "--check-cfg" "cfg(feature, values(\"unstable\", \"force-soft-floats\"))" "--check-cfg" "cfg(feature, values(\"mem-unaligned\"))" "--check-cfg" "cfg(thumb)" "--check-cfg" "cfg(thumb_1)" "--check-cfg" "cfg(kernel_user_helpers)" "-Wrust_2018_idioms" "-Wunused_lifetimes" "--sysroot" "/loc/waffle/rust-h/build/x86_64-unknown-linux-gnu/stage1" "-Z" "force-unstable-if-unmarked"

This causes shells to melt (good luck editing a command when it doesn't render), which is very annoying when you want to change something about the command, or even simply run it through gdb (NB: you need to insert gdb --args in between the env vars and the rest of the command, which is mostly impossible when the command doesn't render!!).

One of the things I'd wish for is a way for cargo to pass check-cfg without repeating --check-cfg ~139 times. Something like --check-cfg "all(cfg(uwu), cfg(owo))" (or "cfg(uwu); cfg(owo)") maybe?

The second thing is for bootstrap to have an option (cli, config) to pass options to the rustc binary via a file. Note that rustc supports reading command line arguments from a file with @file:

: ~; echo '--version' > ./args.txt
: ~; rustc @./args.txt
rustc 1.86.0-nightly (48a426eca 2025-01-12)

Bootstrap could create a file in /tmp or in ./build/.. with the arguments and pass that to rustc. That would make it much easier to re-run commands run by bootstrap, which is sometimes useful when debugging.

cc @jieyouxu