/opt/fil

My favorite way to install Fil-C is the /opt/fil distribution. This distribution's benefits are that it:

• Places a Fil-C slice into the /opt/fil prefix, allowing Fil-C to be used by everyone on the system. Just add /opt/fil/bin to your $PATH if you want to use the Fil-C versions of software.

• Installs the compiler as filcc (for C) and fil++ (for C++), so there's no ambiguity between invoking your system compiler (gcc or clang) and the Fil-C compiler.

• Uses the Fil-C port of glibc 2.40 as the C library. This gives you the maximum compatibility with modern Linux software.

• Comes with a bunch useful programs and libraries compiled with Fil-C so they are memory safe:

  • bash
  • binutils
  • bzip2
  • coreutils
  • curl
  • diff
  • find
  • flex
  • gawk
  • git
  • grep
  • gzip
  • icu4c
  • kerberos5
  • keyutils
  • less
  • libaudit
  • libevent
  • libidn2
  • libpsl
  • libselinux
  • libtasn1
  • libuv
  • libxcrypt
  • lz4
  • make
  • mg
  • nghttp2
  • openssh
  • openssl
  • p11-kit
  • pam
  • patch
  • pcre2
  • pkgconf
  • procps-ng
  • psmisc
  • sed
  • sudo
  • tar
  • tmux
  • unistring
  • wget
  • xz
  • zlib
  • zstd

/opt/fil is laid out as follows:

• The compiler is /opt/fil/bin/filcc and /opt/fil/bin/fil++. These are symlinks to /opt/fil/bin/filcc-clang-20.

• Fil-C system headers are in /opt/fil/include.

• All of the compiler's headers are in /opt/fil/lib/clang/20/include.

• Libraries built with Fil-C, as well as core Fil-C libraries (like libpizlo.so), are in /opt/fil/lib.

• Fil-C programs use /etc for configuration files. This means, for example, that the OpenSSH server tin /opt/fil/sbin/sshd will use your system's sshd_config and host keys. If that configuration calls for PAM or Kerberos V, then that should work: the /opt/fil distribution comes with PAM and Kerberos V libraries, and those will also search /etc for their configuration files.

• Programs compiled with Fil-C are in /opt/fil/bin and /opt/fil/sbin.

This allows Fil-C libraries and programs to coexist with non-Fil-C libraries and programs on any modern Linux distribution. Segregating Fil-C libraries and binaries into a separate directory structure avoids ABI compatibility problems. The Fil-C compiler is smart enough to know that if it finds itself installed in /opt/fil/bin, then it should:

• Use /opt/fil/include and /opt/fil/lib/clang/20/include for headers.
• Use /opt/fil/lib for libraries and CRT object files.
• Use /opt/fil/bin/ld as its linker.

The alternatives to /opt/fil are the pizfix slice and the Pizlix Linux distribution.