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+[All code is copyright © 2010-2012 Ceedling Project
+by Mike Karlesky, Mark VanderVoord, and Greg Williams.
+
+This Documentation Is Released Under a
+Creative Commons 3.0 Attribution Share-Alike License]
+
+What the What?
+
+Assembling build environments for C projects - especially with
+automated unit tests - is a pain. Whether it's Make or Rake or Premake
+or what-have-you, set up with an all-purpose build environment
+tool is tedious and requires considerable glue code to pull together
+the necessary tools and libraries. Ceedling allows you to generate
+an entire test and build environment for a C project from a single
+YAML configuration file. Ceedling is written in Ruby and works
+with the Rake build tool plus other goodness like Unity and CMock
+- the unit testing and mocking frameworks for C. Ceedling and
+its complementary tools can support the tiniest of embedded
+processors, the beefiest 64 bit power houses available, and
+everything in between.
+
+For a build project including unit tests and using the default
+toolchain gcc, the configuration file could be as simple as this:
+
+```yaml
+:project:
+ :build_root: project/build/
+ :release_build: TRUE
+
+:paths:
+ :test:
+ - tests/**
+ :source:
+ - source/**
+```
+
+From the command line, to build the release version of your project,
+you would simply run `ceedling release`. To run all your unit tests,
+you would run `ceedling test:all`. That's it!
+
+Of course, many more advanced options allow you to configure
+your project with a variety of features to meet a variety of needs.
+Ceedling can work with practically any command line toolchain
+and directory structure – all by way of the configuration file.
+Further, because Ceedling piggy backs on Rake, you can add your
+own Rake tasks to accomplish project tasks outside of testing
+and release builds. A facility for plugins also allows you to
+extend Ceedling's capabilities for needs such as custom code
+metrics reporting and coverage testing.
+
+What's with this Name?
+
+Glad you asked. Ceedling is tailored for unit tested C projects
+and is built upon / around Rake (Rake is a Make replacement implemented
+in the Ruby scripting language). So, we've got C, our Rake, and
+the fertile soil of a build environment in which to grow and tend
+your project and its unit tests. Ta da - _Ceedling_.
+
+What Do You Mean "tailored for unit tested C projects"?
+
+Well, we like to write unit tests for our C code to make it lean and
+mean (that whole [Test-Driven Development][tdd]
+thing). Along the way, this style of writing C code spawned two
+tools to make the job easier: a unit test framework for C called
+_Unity_ and a mocking library called _CMock_. And, though it's
+not directly related to testing, a C framework for exception
+handling called _CException_ also came along.
+
+[tdd]: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Test-driven_development
+
+These tools and frameworks are great, but they require quite
+a bit of environment support to pull them all together in a convenient,
+usable fashion. We started off with Rakefiles to assemble everything.
+These ended up being quite complicated and had to be hand-edited
+or created anew for each new project. Ceedling replaces all that
+tedium and rework with a configuration file that ties everything
+together.
+
+Though Ceedling is tailored for unit testing, it can also go right ahead
+and build your final binary release artifact for you as well. Or,
+Ceedling and your tests can live alongside your existing release build
+setup. That said, Ceedling is more powerful as a unit test build
+environment than it is a general purpose release build environment;
+complicated projects including separate bootloaders or multiple library
+builds, etc. are not its strong suit.
+
+Hold on. Back up. Ruby? Rake? YAML? Unity? CMock? CException?
+
+Seem overwhelming? It's not bad at all, and for the benefits tests
+bring us, it's all worth it.
+
+[Ruby][] is a handy scripting
+language like Perl or Python. It's a modern, full featured language
+that happens to be quite handy for accomplishing tasks like code
+generation or automating one's workflow while developing in
+a compiled language such as C.
+
+[Ruby]: http://www.ruby-lang.org/en/
+
+[Rake][] is a utility written in Ruby
+for accomplishing dependency tracking and task automation
+common to building software. It's a modern, more flexible replacement
+for [Make][]).
+Rakefiles are Ruby files, but they contain build targets similar
+in nature to that of Makefiles (but you can also run Ruby code in
+your Rakefile).
+
+[Rake]: http://rubyrake.org/
+[Make]: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Make_(software)
+
+[YAML][] is a "human friendly data serialization standard for all
+programming languages." It's kinda like a markup language, but don't
+call it that. With a YAML library, you can [serialize][] data structures
+to and from the file system in a textual, human readable form. Ceedling
+uses a serialized data structure as its configuration input.
+
+[YAML]: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yaml
+[serialize]: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serialization
+
+[Unity] is a [unit test framework][test] for C. It provides facilities
+for test assertions, executing tests, and collecting / reporting test
+results. Unity derives its name from its implementation in a single C
+source file (plus two C header files) and from the nature of its
+implementation - Unity will build in any C toolchain and is configurable
+for even the very minimalist of processors.
+
+[Unity]: http://github.com/ThrowTheSwitch/Unity
+[test]: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unit_testing
+
+[CMock] is a tool written in Ruby able to generate entire
+[mock functions][mock] in C code from a given C header file. Mock
+functions are invaluable in [interaction-based unit testing][ut].
+CMock's generated C code uses Unity.
+
+[CMock]: http://github.com/ThrowTheSwitch/CMock
+[mock]: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mock_object
+[ut]: http://martinfowler.com/articles/mocksArentStubs.html
+
+[CException] is a C source and header file that provide a simple
+[exception mechanism][exn] for C by way of wrapping up the
+[setjmp / longjmp][setjmp] standard library calls. Exceptions are a much
+cleaner and preferable alternative to managing and passing error codes
+up your return call trace.
+
+[CException]: http://github.com/ThrowTheSwitch/CException
+[exn]: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exception_handling
+[setjmp]: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Setjmp.h
+
+Notes
+-----
+
+* YAML support is included with Ruby - requires no special installation
+ or configuration.
+
+* Unity, CMock, and CException are bundled with Ceedling, and
+ Ceedling is designed to glue them all together for your project
+ as seamlessly as possible.
+
+
+Installation & Setup: What Exactly Do I Need to Get Started?
+------------------------------------------------------------
+
+As a [Ruby gem](http://docs.rubygems.org/read/chapter/1):
+
+1. [Download and install Ruby](http://www.ruby-lang.org/en/downloads/)
+
+2. Use Ruby's command line gem package manager to install Ceedling:
+ `gem install ceedling`
+ (Unity, CMock, and CException come along with Ceedling for free)
+
+3. Execute Ceedling at command line to create example project
+ or an empty Ceedling project in your filesystem (executing
+ `ceedling help` first is, well, helpful).
+
+Gem install notes:
+
+1. Steps 1-2 are a one time affair for your local environment.
+ When steps 1-2 are completed once, only step 3 is needed for
+ each new project.
+
+
+
+General notes:
+
+1. Certain advanced features of Ceedling rely on gcc and cpp
+ as preprocessing tools. In most *nix systems, these tools
+ are already available. For Windows environments, we recommend
+ the [mingw project](http://www.mingw.org/) (Minimalist
+ GNU for Windows). This represents an optional, additional
+ setup / installation step to complement the list above. Upon
+ installing mingw ensure your system path is updated or set
+ [:environment][:path] in your `project.yml` file (see
+ environment section later in this document).
+
+2. To use a project file name other than the default `project.yml`
+ or place the project file in a directory other than the one
+ in which you'll run Rake, create an environment variable
+ `CEEDLING_MAIN_PROJECT_FILE` with your desired project
+ file path.
+
+3. To better understand Rake conventions, Rake execution,
+ and Rakefiles, consult the [Rake tutorial, examples, and
+ user guide](http://rubyrake.org/).
+
+4. When using Ceedling in Windows environments, a test file name may
+ not include the sequences “patch” or “setup”. The Windows Installer
+ Detection Technology (part of UAC), requires administrator
+ privileges to execute file names with these strings.
+
+
+
+Now What? How Do I Make It GO?
+------------------------------
+
+We're getting a little ahead of ourselves here, but it's good
+context on how to drive this bus. Everything is done via the command
+line. We'll cover conventions and how to actually configure
+your project in later sections.
+
+To run tests, build your release artifact, etc., you will be interacting
+with Rake on the command line. Ceedling works with Rake to present
+you with named tasks that coordinate the file generation and
+build steps needed to accomplish something useful. You can also
+add your own independent Rake tasks or create plugins to extend
+Ceedling (more on this later).
+
+
+* `ceedling [no arguments]`:
+
+ Run the default Rake task (conveniently recognized by the name default
+ by Rake). Neither Rake nor Ceedling provide a default task. Rake will
+ abort if run without arguments when no default task is defined. You can
+ conveniently define a default task in the Rakefile discussed in the
+ preceding setup & installation section of this document.
+
+* `ceedling -T`:
+
+ List all available Rake tasks with descriptions (Rake tasks without
+ descriptions are not listed). -T is a command line switch for Rake and
+ not the same as tasks that follow.
+
+* `ceedling <tasks...> --trace`:
+
+ For advanced users troubleshooting a confusing build error, debug
+ Ceedling or a plugin, --trace provides a stack trace of dependencies
+ walked during task execution and any Ruby failures along the way. Note
+ that --trace is a command line switch for Rake and is not the same as
+ tasks that follow.
+
+* `ceedling environment`:
+
+ List all configured environment variable names and string values. This
+ task is helpful in verifying the evaluatio of any Ruby expressions in
+ the [:environment] section of your config file.`: Note: Ceedling may
+ set some convenience environment variables by default.
+
+* `ceedling paths:*`:
+
+ List all paths collected from [:paths] entries in your YAML config
+ file where * is the name of any section contained in [:paths]. This
+ task is helpful in verifying the expansion of path wildcards / globs
+ specified in the [:paths] section of your config file.
+
+* `ceedling files:assembly`
+* `ceedling files:header`
+* `ceedling files:source`
+* `ceedling files:test`
+
+ List all files and file counts collected from the relevant search
+ paths specified by the [:paths] entries of your YAML config file. The
+ files:assembly task will only be available if assembly support is
+ enabled in the [:release_build] section of your configuration file.
+
+* `ceedling options:*`:
+
+ Load and merge configuration settings into the main project
+ configuration. Each task is named after a *.yml file found in the
+ configured options directory. See documentation for the configuration
+ setting [:project][:options_path] and for options files in advanced
+ topics.
+
+* `ceedling test:all`:
+
+ Run all unit tests (rebuilding anything that's changed along the way).
+
+* `ceedling test:delta`:
+
+ Run only those unit tests for which the source or test files have
+ changed (i.e. incremental build). Note: with the
+ [:project][:use_test_preprocessor] configuration file option set,
+ runner files are always regenerated limiting the total efficiency this
+ text execution option can afford.
+
+* `ceedling test:*`:
+
+ Execute the named test file or the named source file that has an
+ accompanying test. No path. Examples: ceedling test:foo.c or ceed
+ test:test_foo.c
+
+* `ceedling test:pattern[*]`:
+
+ Execute any tests whose name and/or path match the regular expression
+ pattern (case sensitive). Example: ceedling "test:pattern[(I|i)nit]" will
+ execute all tests named for initialization testing. Note: quotes may
+ be necessary around the ceedling parameter to distinguish regex characters
+ from command line operators.
+
+* `ceedling test:path[*]`:
+
+ Execute any tests whose path contains the given string (case
+ sensitive). Example: ceedling test:path[foo/bar] will execute all tests
+ whose path contains foo/bar. Note: both directory separator characters
+ / and \ are valid.
+
+* `ceedling release`:
+
+ Build all source into a release artifact (if the release build option
+ is configured).
+
+* `ceedling release:compile:*`:
+
+ Sometimes you just need to compile a single file dagnabit. Example:
+ ceedling release:compile:foo.c
+
+* `ceedling release:assemble:*`:
+
+ Sometimes you just need to assemble a single file doggonit. Example:
+ ceedling release:assemble:foo.s
+
+* `ceedling module:create[Filename]`:
+* `ceedling module:create[<Path:>Filename]`:
+
+ It's often helpful to create a file automatically. What's better than
+ that? Creating a source file, a header file, and a corresponding test
+ file all in one step!
+
+ There are also patterns which can be specified to automatically generate
+ a bunch of files. Try `ceedling module:create[Poodles,mch]` for example!
+
+ The module generator has several options you can configure.
+ F.e. Generating the source/header/test file in a subdirectory (by adding <Path> when calling module:create).
+ For more info, refer to the [Module Generator](https://github.com/ThrowTheSwitch/Ceedling/blob/master/docs/CeedlingPacket.md#module-generator) section.
+
+* `ceedling logging <tasks...>`:
+
+ Enable logging to <build path>/logs. Must come before test and release
+ tasks to log their steps and output. Log names are a concatenation of
+ project, user, and option files loaded. User and option files are
+ documented in the advanced topics section of this document.
+
+* `ceedling verbosity[x] <tasks...>`:
+
+ Change the default verbosity level. [x] ranges from 0 (quiet) to 4
+ (obnoxious). Level [3] is the default. The verbosity task must precede
+ all tasks in the command line list for which output is desired to be
+ seen. Verbosity settings are generally most meaningful in conjunction
+ with test and release tasks.
+
+* `ceedling summary`:
+
+ If plugins are enabled, this task will execute the summary method of
+ any plugins supporting it. This task is intended to provide a quick
+ roundup of build artifact metrics without re-running any part of the
+ build.
+
+* `ceedling clean`:
+
+ Deletes all toolchain binary artifacts (object files, executables),
+ test results, and any temporary files. Clean produces no output at the
+ command line unless verbosity has been set to an appreciable level.
+
+* `ceedling clobber`:
+
+ Extends clean task's behavior to also remove generated files: test
+ runners, mocks, preprocessor output. Clobber produces no output at the
+ command line unless verbosity has been set to an appreciable level.
+
+To better understand Rake conventions, Rake execution, and
+Rakefiles, consult the [Rake tutorial, examples, and user guide][guide].
+
+[guide]: http://rubyrake.org/
+
+At present, none of Ceedling's commands provide persistence.
+That is, they must each be specified at the command line each time
+they are needed. For instance, Ceedling's verbosity command
+only affects output at the time it's run.
+
+Individual test and release file tasks
+are not listed in `-T` output. Because so many files may be present
+it's unwieldy to list them all.
+
+Multiple rake tasks can be executed at the command line (order
+is executed as provided). For example, `ceed
+clobber test:all release` will removed all generated files;
+build and run all tests; and then build all source - in that order.
+If any Rake task fails along the way, execution halts before the
+next task.
+
+The `clobber` task removes certain build directories in the
+course of deleting generated files. In general, it's best not
+to add to source control any Ceedling generated directories
+below the root of your top-level build directory. That is, leave
+anything Ceedling & its accompanying tools generate out of source
+control (but go ahead and add the top-level build directory that
+holds all that stuff). Also, since Ceedling is pretty smart about
+what it rebuilds and regenerates, you needn't clobber often.
+
+Important Conventions
+=====================
+
+Directory Structure, Filenames & Extensions
+-------------------------------------------
+
+Much of Ceedling's functionality is driven by collecting files
+matching certain patterns inside the paths it's configured
+to search. See the documentation for the [:extensions] section
+of your configuration file (found later in this document) to
+configure the file extensions Ceedling uses to match and collect
+files. Test file naming is covered later in this section.
+
+Test files and source files must be segregated by directories.
+Any directory structure will do. Tests can be held in subdirectories
+within source directories, or tests and source directories
+can be wholly separated at the top of your project's directory
+tree.
+
+Search Path Order
+-----------------
+
+When Ceedling searches for files (e.g. looking for header files
+to mock) or when it provides search paths to any of the default
+gcc toolchain executables, it organizes / prioritizes its search
+paths. The order is always: test paths, support paths, source
+paths, and then include paths. This can be useful, for instance,
+in certain testing scenarios where we desire Ceedling or a compiler
+to find a stand-in header file in our support directory before
+the actual source header file of the same name.
+
+This convention only holds when Ceedling is using its default
+tool configurations and / or when tests are involved. If you define
+your own tools in the configuration file (see the [:tools] section
+documented later in this here document), you have complete control
+over what directories are searched and in what order. Further,
+test and support directories are only searched when appropriate.
+That is, when running a release build, test and support directories
+are not used at all.
+
+Source Files & Binary Release Artifacts
+---------------------------------------
+
+Your binary release artifact results from the compilation and
+linking of all source files Ceedling finds in the specified source
+directories. At present only source files with a single (configurable)
+extension are recognized. That is, *.c and *.cc files will not
+both be recognized - only one or the other. See the configuration
+options and defaults in the documentation for the [:extensions]
+sections of your configuration file (found later in this document).
+
+Test Files & Executable Test Fixtures
+-------------------------------------
+
+Ceedling builds each individual test file with its accompanying
+source file(s) into a single, monolithic test fixture executable.
+Test files are recognized by a naming convention: a (configurable)
+prefix such as "`test_`" in the file name with the same file extension
+as used by your C source files. See the configuration options
+and defaults in the documentation for the [:project] and [:extensions]
+sections of your configuration file (found later in this document).
+Depending on your configuration options, Ceedling can recognize
+a variety of test file naming patterns in your test search paths.
+For example: `test_some_super_functionality.c`, `TestYourSourceFile.cc`,
+or `testing_MyAwesomeCode.C` could each be valid test file
+names. Note, however, that Ceedling can recognize only one test
+file naming convention per project.
+
+Ceedling knows what files to compile and link into each individual
+test executable by way of the #include list contained in each
+test file. Any C source files in the configured search directories
+that correspond to the header files included in a test file will
+be compiled and linked into the resulting test fixture executable.
+From this same #include list, Ceedling knows which files to mock
+and compile and link into the test executable (if you use mocks
+in your tests). That was a lot of clauses and information in a very
+few sentences; the example that follows in a bit will make it clearer.
+
+By naming your test functions according to convention, Ceedling
+will extract and collect into a runner C file calls to all your
+test case functions. This runner file handles all the execution
+minutiae so that your test file can be quite simple and so that
+you never forget to wire up a test function to be executed. In this
+generated runner lives the `main()` entry point for the resulting
+test executable. There are no configuration options for the
+naming convention of your test case functions. A test case function
+signature must have these three elements: void return, void
+parameter list, and the function name prepended with lowercase
+"`test`". In other words, a test function signature should look
+like this: `void test``[any name you like]``(void)`.
+
+A commented sample test file follows on the next page. Also, see
+the sample project contained in the Ceedling documentation
+bundle.
+
+```c
+// test_foo.c -----------------------------------------------
+#include "unity.h" // compile/link in Unity test framework
+#include "types.h" // header file with no *.c file -- no compilation/linking
+#include "foo.h" // source file foo.c under test
+#include "mock_bar.h" // bar.h will be found and mocked as mock_bar.c + compiled/linked in;
+ // foo.c includes bar.h and uses functions declared in it
+#include "mock_baz.h" // baz.h will be found and mocked as mock_baz.c + compiled/linked in
+ // foo.c includes baz.h and uses functions declared in it
+
+
+void setUp(void) {} // every test file requires this function;
+ // setUp() is called by the generated runner before each test case function
+
+void tearDown(void) {} // every test file requires this function;
+ // tearDown() is called by the generated runner before each test case function
+
+// a test case function
+void test_Foo_Function1_should_Call_Bar_AndGrill(void)
+{
+ Bar_AndGrill_Expect(); // setup function from mock_bar.c that instructs our
+ // framework to expect Bar_AndGrill() to be called once
+ TEST_ASSERT_EQUAL(0xFF, Foo_Function1()); // assertion provided by Unity
+ // Foo_Function1() calls Bar_AndGrill() & returns a byte
+}
+
+// another test case function
+void test_Foo_Function2_should_Call_Baz_Tec(void)
+{
+ Baz_Tec_ExpectAnd_Return(1); // setup function provided by mock_baz.c that instructs our
+ // framework to expect Baz_Tec() to be called once and return 1
+ TEST_ASSERT_TRUE(Foo_Function2()); // assertion provided by Unity
+}
+
+// end of test_foo.c ----------------------------------------
+```
+
+From the test file specified above Ceedling will generate `test_foo_runner.c`;
+this runner file will contain `main()` and call both of the example
+test case functions.
+
+The final test executable will be `test_foo.exe` (for Windows
+machines or `test_foo.out` for *nix systems - depending on default
+or configured file extensions). Based on the #include list above,
+the test executable will be the output of the linker having processed
+`unity.o`, `foo.o`, `mock_bar.o`, `mock_baz.o`, `test_foo.o`,
+and `test_foo_runner.o`. Ceedling finds the files, generates
+mocks, generates a runner, compiles all the files, and links
+everything into the test executable. Ceedling will then run
+the test executable and collect test results from it to be reported
+to the developer at the command line.
+
+For more on the assertions and mocks shown, consult the documentation
+for Unity and CMock.
+
+The Magic of Dependency Tracking
+--------------------------------
+
+Ceedling is pretty smart in using Rake to build up your project's
+dependencies. This means that Ceedling automagically rebuilds
+all the appropriate files in your project when necessary: when
+your configuration changes, Ceedling or any of the other tools
+are updated, or your source or test files change. For instance,
+if you modify a header file that is mocked, Ceedling will ensure
+that the mock is regenerated and all tests that use that mock are
+rebuilt and re-run when you initiate a relevant testing task.
+When you see things rebuilding, it's for a good reason. Ceedling
+attempts to regenerate and rebuild only what's needed for a given
+execution of a task. In the case of large projects, assembling
+dependencies and acting upon them can cause some delay in executing
+tasks.
+
+With one exception, the trigger to rebuild or regenerate a file
+is always a disparity in timestamps between a target file and
+its source - if an input file is newer than its target dependency,
+the target is rebuilt or regenerated. For example, if the C source
+file from which an object file is compiled is newer than that object
+file on disk, recompilation will occur (of course, if no object
+file exists on disk, compilation will always occur). The one
+exception to this dependency behavior is specific to your input
+configuration. Only if your logical configuration changes
+will a system-wide rebuild occur. Reorganizing your input configuration
+or otherwise updating its file timestamp without modifying
+the values within the file will not trigger a rebuild. This behavior
+handles the various ways in which your input configuration can
+change (discussed later in this document) without having changed
+your actual project YAML file.
+
+Ceedling needs a bit of help to accomplish its magic with deep
+dependencies. Shallow dependencies are straightforward:
+a mock is dependent on the header file from which it's generated,
+a test file is dependent upon the source files it includes (see
+the preceding conventions section), etc. Ceedling handles
+these "out of the box." Deep dependencies are specifically a
+C-related phenomenon and occur as a consequence of include statements
+within C source files. Say a source file includes a header file
+and that header file in turn includes another header file which
+includes still another header file. A change to the deepest header
+file should trigger a recompilation of the source file, a relinking
+of all the object files comprising a test fixture, and a new execution
+of that test fixture.
+
+Ceedling can handle deep dependencies but only with the help
+of a C preprocessor. Ceedling is quite capable, but a full C preprocessor
+it ain't. Your project can be configured to use a C preprocessor
+or not. Simple projects or large projects constructed so as to
+be quite flat in their include structure generally don't need
+deep dependency preprocessing - and can enjoy the benefits of
+faster execution. Legacy code, on the other hand, will almost
+always want to be tested with deep preprocessing enabled. Set
+up of the C preprocessor is covered in the documentation for the
+[:project] and [:tools] section of the configuration file (later
+in this document). Ceedling contains all the configuration
+necessary to use the gcc preprocessor by default. That is, as
+long as gcc is in your system search path, deep preprocessing
+of deep dependencies is available to you by simply enabling it
+in your project configuration file.
+
+Ceedling's Build Output
+-----------------------
+
+Ceedling requires a top-level build directory for all the stuff
+that it, the accompanying test tools, and your toolchain generate.
+That build directory's location is configured in the [:project]
+section of your configuration file (discussed later). There
+can be a ton of generated files. By and large, you can live a full
+and meaningful life knowing absolutely nothing at all about
+the files and directories generated below the root build directory.
+
+As noted already, it's good practice to add your top-level build
+directory to source control but nothing generated beneath it.
+You'll spare yourself headache if you let Ceedling delete and
+regenerate files and directories in a non-versioned corner
+of your project's filesystem beneath the top-level build directory.
+
+The `artifacts` directory is the one and only directory you may
+want to know about beneath the top-level build directory. The
+subdirectories beneath `artifacts` will hold your binary release
+target output (if your project is configured for release builds)
+and will serve as the conventional location for plugin output.
+This directory structure was chosen specifically because it
+tends to work nicely with Continuous Integration setups that
+recognize and list build artifacts for retrieval / download.
+
+The Almighty Project Configuration File (in Glorious YAML)
+----------------------------------------------------------
+
+Please consult YAML documentation for the finer points of format
+and to understand details of our YAML-based configuration file.
+We recommend [Wikipedia's entry on YAML](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yaml)
+for this. A few highlights from that reference page:
+
+* YAML streams are encoded using the set of printable Unicode
+ characters, either in UTF-8 or UTF-16
+
+* Whitespace indentation is used to denote structure; however
+ tab characters are never allowed as indentation
+
+* Comments begin with the number sign ( # ), can start anywhere
+ on a line, and continue until the end of the line unless enclosed
+ by quotes
+
+* List members are denoted by a leading hyphen ( - ) with one member
+ per line, or enclosed in square brackets ( [ ] ) and separated
+ by comma space ( , )
+
+* Hashes are represented using the colon space ( : ) in the form
+ key: value, either one per line or enclosed in curly braces
+ ( { } ) and separated by comma space ( , )
+
+* Strings (scalars) are ordinarily unquoted, but may be enclosed
+ in double-quotes ( " ), or single-quotes ( ' )
+
+* YAML requires that colons and commas used as list separators
+ be followed by a space so that scalar values containing embedded
+ punctuation can generally be represented without needing
+ to be enclosed in quotes
+
+* Repeated nodes are initially denoted by an ampersand ( & ) and
+ thereafter referenced with an asterisk ( * )
+
+
+Notes on what follows:
+
+* Each of the following sections represent top-level entries
+ in the YAML configuration file.
+
+* Unless explicitly specified in the configuration file, default
+ values are used by Ceedling.
+
+* These three settings, at minimum, must be specified:
+ * [:project][:build_root]
+ * [:paths][:source]
+ * [:paths][:test]
+
+* As much as is possible, Ceedling validates your settings in
+ properly formed YAML.
+
+* Improperly formed YAML will cause a Ruby error when the YAML
+ is parsed. This is usually accompanied by a complaint with
+ line and column number pointing into the project file.
+
+* Certain advanced features rely on gcc and cpp as preprocessing
+ tools. In most *nix systems, these tools are already available.
+ For Windows environments, we recommend the [mingw project](http://www.mingw.org/)
+ (Minimalist GNU for Windows).
+
+* Ceedling is primarily meant as a build tool to support automated
+ unit testing. All the heavy lifting is involved there. Creating
+ a simple binary release build artifact is quite trivial in
+ comparison. Consequently, most default options and the construction
+ of Ceedling itself is skewed towards supporting testing though
+ Ceedling can, of course, build your binary release artifact
+ as well. Note that complex binary release artifacts (e.g.
+ application + bootloader or multiple libraries) are beyond
+ Ceedling's release build ability.
+
+
+Conventions / features of Ceedling-specific YAML:
+
+* Any second tier setting keys anywhere in YAML whose names end
+ in `_path` or `_paths` are automagically processed like all
+ Ceedling-specific paths in the YAML to have consistent directory
+ separators (i.e. "/") and to take advantage of inline Ruby
+ string expansion (see [:environment] setting below for further
+ explanation of string expansion).
+
+
+**Let's Be Careful Out There:** Ceedling performs validation
+on the values you set in your configuration file (this assumes
+your YAML is correct and will not fail format parsing, of course).
+That said, validation is limited to only those settings Ceedling
+uses and those that can be reasonably validated. Ceedling does
+not limit what can exist within your configuration file. In this
+way, you can take full advantage of YAML as well as add sections
+and values for use in your own custom plugins (documented later).
+The consequence of this is simple but important. A misspelled
+configuration section name or value name is unlikely to cause
+Ceedling any trouble. Ceedling will happily process that section
+or value and simply use the properly spelled default maintained
+internally - thus leading to unexpected behavior without warning.
+
+project: global project settings
+
+
+* `build_root`:
+
+ Top level directory into which generated path structure and files are
+ placed. Note: this is one of the handful of configuration values that
+ must be set. The specified path can be absolute or relative to your
+ working directory.
+
+ **Default**: (none)
+
+* `use_exceptions`:
+
+ Configures the build environment to make use of CException. Note that
+ if you do not use exceptions, there's no harm in leaving this as its
+ default value.
+
+ **Default**: TRUE
+
+* `use_mocks`:
+
+ Configures the build environment to make use of CMock. Note that if
+ you do not use mocks, there's no harm in leaving this setting as its
+ default value.
+
+ **Default**: TRUE
+
+* `use_test_preprocessor`:
+
+ This option allows Ceedling to work with test files that contain
+ conditional compilation statements (e.g. #ifdef) and header files you
+ wish to mock that contain conditional preprocessor statements and/or
+ macros.
+
+ Ceedling and CMock are advanced tools with sophisticated parsers.
+ However, they do not include entire C language preprocessors.
+ Consequently, with this option enabled, Ceedling will use gcc's
+ preprocessing mode and the cpp preprocessor tool to strip down /
+ expand test files and headers to their applicable content which can
+ then be processed by Ceedling and CMock.
+
+ With this option enabled, the gcc & cpp tools must exist in an
+ accessible system search path and test runner files are always
+ regenerated.
+
+ **Default**: FALSE
+
+* `use_deep_dependencies`:
+
+ The base rules and tasks that Ceedling creates using Rake capture most
+ of the dependencies within a standard project (e.g. when the source
+ file accompanying a test file changes, the corresponding test fixture
+ executable will be rebuilt when tests are re-run). However, deep
+ dependencies cannot be captured this way. If a typedef or macro
+ changes in a header file three levels of #include statements deep,
+ this option allows the appropriate incremental build actions to occur
+ for both test execution and release builds.
+
+ This is accomplished by using the dependencies discovery mode of gcc.
+ With this option enabled, gcc must exist in an accessible system
+ search path.
+
+ **Default**: FALSE
+
+* `generate_deep_dependencies`:
+
+ When `use_deep_dependencies` is set to TRUE, Ceedling will run a separate
+ build step to generate the deep dependencies. If you are using gcc as your
+ primary compiler, or another compiler that can generate makefile rules as
+ a side effect of compilation, then you can set this to FALSE to avoid the
+ extra build step but still use the deep dependencies data when deciding
+ which source files to rebuild.
+
+ **Default**: TRUE
+
+* `test_file_prefix`:
+
+ Ceedling collects test files by convention from within the test file
+ search paths. The convention includes a unique name prefix and a file
+ extension matching that of source files.
+
+ Why not simply recognize all files in test directories as test files?
+ By using the given convention, we have greater flexibility in what we
+ do with C files in the test directories.
+
+ **Default**: "test_"
+
+* `options_paths`:
+
+ Just as you may have various build configurations for your source
+ codebase, you may need variations of your project configuration.
+
+ By specifying options paths, Ceedling will search for other project
+ YAML files, make command line tasks available (ceedling options:variation
+ for a variation.yml file), and merge the project configuration of
+ these option files in with the main project file at runtime. See
+ advanced topics.
+
+ Note these Rake tasks at the command line - like verbosity or logging
+ control - must come before the test or release task they are meant to
+ modify.
+
+ **Default**: [] (empty)
+
+* `release_build`:
+
+ When enabled, a release Rake task is exposed. This configuration
+ option requires a corresponding release compiler and linker to be
+ defined (gcc is used as the default).
+
+ More release configuration options are available in the release_build
+ section.
+
+ **Default**: FALSE
+
+
+Example `[:project]` YAML blurb
+
+```yaml
+:project:
+ :build_root: project_awesome/build
+ :use_exceptions: FALSE
+ :use_test_preprocessor: TRUE
+ :use_deep_dependencies: TRUE
+ :options_paths:
+ - project/options
+ - external/shared/options
+ :release_build: TRUE
+```
+
+Ceedling is primarily concerned with facilitating the somewhat
+complicated mechanics of automating unit tests. The same mechanisms
+are easily capable of building a final release binary artifact
+(i.e. non test code; the thing that is your final working software
+that you execute on target hardware).
+
+
+* `output`:
+
+ The name of your release build binary artifact to be found in <build
+ path>/artifacts/release. Ceedling sets the default artifact file
+ extension to that as is explicitly specified in the [:extensions]
+ section or as is system specific otherwise.
+
+ **Default**: `project.exe` or `project.out`
+
+* `use_assembly`:
+
+ If assembly code is present in the source tree, this option causes
+ Ceedling to create appropriate build directories and use an assembler
+ tool (default is the GNU tool as - override available in the [:tools]
+ section.
+
+ **Default**: FALSE
+
+* `artifacts`:
+
+ By default, Ceedling copies to the <build path>/artifacts/release
+ directory the output of the release linker and (optionally) a map
+ file. Many toolchains produce other important output files as well.
+ Adding a file path to this list will cause Ceedling to copy that file
+ to the artifacts directory. The artifacts directory is helpful for
+ organizing important build output files and provides a central place
+ for tools such as Continuous Integration servers to point to build
+ output. Selectively copying files prevents incidental build cruft from
+ needlessly appearing in the artifacts directory. Note that inline Ruby
+ string replacement is available in the artifacts paths (see discussion
+ in the [:environment] section).
+
+ **Default**: [] (empty)
+
+Example `[:release_build]` YAML blurb
+
+```yaml
+:release_build:
+ :output: top_secret.bin
+ :use_assembly: TRUE
+ :artifacts:
+ - build/release/out/c/top_secret.s19
+```
+
+**paths**: options controlling search paths for source and header
+(and assembly) files
+
+* `test`:
+
+ All C files containing unit test code. Note: this is one of the
+ handful of configuration values that must be set.
+
+ **Default**: [] (empty)
+
+* `source`:
+
+ All C files containing release code (code to be tested). Note: this is
+ one of the handful of configuration values that must be set.
+
+ **Default**: [] (empty)
+
+* `support`:
+
+ Any C files you might need to aid your unit testing. For example, on
+ occasion, you may need to create a header file containing a subset of
+ function signatures matching those elsewhere in your code (e.g. a
+ subset of your OS functions, a portion of a library API, etc.). Why?
+ To provide finer grained control over mock function substitution or
+ limiting the size of the generated mocks.
+
+ **Default**: [] (empty)
+
+* `include`:
+
+ Any header files not already in the source search path. Note there's
+ no practical distinction between this search path and the source
+ search path; it's merely to provide options or to support any
+ peculiar source tree organization.
+
+ **Default**: [] (empty)
+
+* `test_toolchain_include`:
+
+ System header files needed by the test toolchain - should your
+ compiler be unable to find them, finds the wrong system include search
+ path, or you need a creative solution to a tricky technical problem.
+ Note that if you configure your own toolchain in the [:tools] section,
+ this search path is largely meaningless to you. However, this is a
+ convenient way to control the system include path should you rely on
+ the default gcc tools.
+
+ **Default**: [] (empty)
+
+* `release_toolchain_include`:
+
+ Same as preceding albeit related to the release toolchain.
+
+ **Default**: [] (empty)
+
+* `<custom>`
+
+ Any paths you specify for custom list. List is available to tool
+ configurations and/or plugins. Note a distinction. The preceding names
+ are recognized internally to Ceedling and the path lists are used to
+ build collections of files contained in those paths. A custom list is
+ just that - a custom list of paths.
+
+Notes on path grammar within the [:paths] section:
+
+* Order of search paths listed in [:paths] is preserved when used by an
+ entry in the [:tools] section
+
+* Wherever multiple path lists are combined for use Ceedling prioritizes
+ path groups as follows:
+ test paths, support paths, source paths, include paths.
+
+ This can be useful, for instance, in certain testing scenarios where
+ we desire Ceedling or the compiler to find a stand-in header file before
+ the actual source header file of the same name.
+
+* Paths:
+
+ 1. can be absolute or relative
+
+ 2. can be singly explicit - a single fully specified path
+
+ 3. can include a glob operator (more on this below)
+
+ 4. can use inline Ruby string replacement (see [:environment]
+ section for more)
+
+ 5. default as an addition to a specific search list (more on this
+ in the examples)
+
+ 6. can act to subtract from a glob included in the path list (more
+ on this in the examples)
+
+
+[Globs](http://ruby.about.com/od/beginningruby/a/dir2.htm)
+as used by Ceedling are wildcards for specifying directories
+without the need to list each and every required search path.
+Ceedling globs operate just as Ruby globs except that they are
+limited to matching directories and not files. Glob operators
+include the following * ** ? [-] {,} (note: this list is space separated
+and not comma separated as commas are used within the bracket
+operators).
+
+* `*`:
+
+ All subdirectories of depth 1 below the parent path and including the
+ parent path
+
+* `**`:
+
+ All subdirectories recursively discovered below the parent path and
+ including the parent path
+
+* `?`:
+
+ Single alphanumeric character wildcard
+
+* `[x-y]`:
+
+ Single alphanumeric character as found in the specified range
+
+* `{x,y}`:
+
+ Single alphanumeric character from the specified list
+
+Example [:paths] YAML blurbs
+
+```yaml
+:paths:
+ :source: #together the following comprise all source search paths
+ - project/source/* #expansion yields all subdirectories of depth 1 plus parent directory
+ - project/lib #single path
+ :test: #all test search paths
+ - project/**/test? #expansion yields any subdirectory found anywhere in the project that
+ #begins with "test" and contains 5 characters
+
+:paths:
+ :source: #all source search paths
+ - +:project/source/** #all subdirectories recursively discovered plus parent directory
+ - -:project/source/os/generated #subtract os/generated directory from expansion of above glob
+ #note that '+:' notation is merely aesthetic; default is to add
+
+ :test: #all test search paths
+ - project/test/bootloader #explicit, single search paths (searched in the order specified)
+ - project/test/application
+ - project/test/utilities
+
+ :custom: #custom path list
+ - "#{PROJECT_ROOT}/other" #inline Ruby string expansion
+```
+
+Globs and inline Ruby string expansion can require trial and
+error to arrive at your intended results. Use the `ceedling paths:*`
+command line options (documented in preceding section) to verify
+your settings.
+
+Ceedling relies on file collections automagically assembled
+from paths, globs, and file extensions. File collections greatly
+simplify project set up. However, sometimes you need to remove
+from or add individual files to those collections.
+
+
+* `test`:
+
+ Modify the collection of unit test C files.
+
+ **Default**: [] (empty)
+
+* `source`:
+
+ Modify the collection of all source files used in unit test builds and release builds.
+
+ **Default**: [] (empty)
+
+* `assembly`:
+
+ Modify the (optional) collection of assembly files used in release builds.
+
+ **Default**: [] (empty)
+
+* `include`:
+
+ Modify the collection of all source header files used in unit test builds (e.g. for mocking) and release builds.
+
+ **Default**: [] (empty)
+
+* `support`:
+
+ Modify the collection of supporting C files available to unit tests builds.
+
+ **Default**: [] (empty)
+
+
+Note: All path grammar documented in [:paths] section applies
+to [:files] path entries - albeit at the file path level and not
+the directory level.
+
+Example [:files] YAML blurb
+
+```yaml
+:files:
+ :source:
+ - callbacks/comm.c # entry defaults to file addition
+ - +:callbacks/comm*.c # add all comm files matching glob pattern
+ - -:source/board/atm134.c # not our board
+ :test:
+ - -:test/io/test_output_manager.c # remove unit tests from test build
+```
+
+**environment:** inserts environment variables into the shell
+instance executing configured tools
+
+Ceedling creates environment variables from any key / value
+pairs in the environment section. Keys become an environment
+variable name in uppercase. The values are strings assigned
+to those environment variables. These value strings are either
+simple string values in YAML or the concatenation of a YAML array.
+
+Ceedling is able to execute inline Ruby string substitution
+code to set environment variables. This evaluation occurs when
+the project file is first processed for any environment pair's
+value string including the Ruby string substitution pattern
+`#{…}`. Note that environment value strings that _begin_ with
+this pattern should always be enclosed in quotes. YAML defaults
+to processing unquoted text as a string; quoting text is optional.
+If an environment pair's value string begins with the Ruby string
+substitution pattern, YAML will interpret the string as a Ruby
+comment (because of the `#`). Enclosing each environment value
+string in quotes is a safe practice.
+
+[:environment] entries are processed in the configured order
+(later entries can reference earlier entries).
+
+Special case: PATH handling
+
+In the specific case of specifying an environment key named _path_,
+an array of string values will be concatenated with the appropriate
+platform-specific path separation character (e.g. ':' on *nix,
+';' on Windows). All other instances of environment keys assigned
+YAML arrays use simple concatenation.
+
+Example [:environment] YAML blurb
+
+```yaml
+:environment:
+ - :license_server: gizmo.intranet #LICENSE_SERVER set with value "gizmo.intranet"
+ - :license: "#{`license.exe`}" #LICENSE set to string generated from shelling out to
+ #execute license.exe; note use of enclosing quotes
+
+ - :path: #concatenated with path separator (see special case above)
+ - Tools/gizmo/bin #prepend existing PATH with gizmo path
+ - "#{ENV['PATH']}" #pattern #{…} triggers ruby evaluation string substitution
+ #note: value string must be quoted because of '#'
+
+ - :logfile: system/logs/thingamabob.log #LOGFILE set with path for a log file
+```
+
+**extension**: configure file name extensions used to collect lists of files searched in [:paths]
+
+* `header`:
+
+ C header files
+
+ **Default**: .h
+
+* `source`:
+
+ C code files (whether source or test files)
+
+ **Default**: .c
+
+* `assembly`:
+
+ Assembly files (contents wholly assembly instructions)
+
+ **Default**: .s
+
+* `object`:
+
+ Resulting binary output of C code compiler (and assembler)
+
+ **Default**: .o
+
+* `executable`:
+
+ Binary executable to be loaded and executed upon target hardware
+
+ **Default**: .exe or .out (Win or *nix)
+
+* `testpass`:
+
+ Test results file (not likely to ever need a new value)
+
+ **Default**: .pass
+
+* `testfail`:
+
+ Test results file (not likely to ever need a new value)
+
+ **Default**: .fail
+
+* `dependencies`:
+
+ File containing make-style dependency rules created by gcc preprocessor
+
+ **Default**: .d
+
+
+Example [:extension] YAML blurb
+
+ :extension:
+ :source: .cc
+ :executable: .bin
+
+**defines**: command line defines used in test and release compilation by configured tools
+
+* `test`:
+
+ Defines needed for testing. Useful for:
+
+ 1. test files containing conditional compilation statements (i.e.
+ tests active in only certain contexts)
+
+ 2. testing legacy source wherein the isolation of source under test
+ afforded by Ceedling and its complementary tools leaves certain
+ symbols unset when source files are compiled in isolation
+
+ **Default**: [] (empty)
+
+* `test_preprocess`:
+
+ If [:project][:use_test_preprocessor] or
+ [:project][:use_deep_dependencies] is set and code is structured in a
+ certain way, the gcc preprocessor may need symbol definitions to
+ properly preprocess files to extract function signatures for mocking
+ and extract deep dependencies for incremental builds.
+
+ **Default**: [] (empty)
+
+* `release`:
+
+ Defines needed for the release build binary artifact.
+
+ **Default**: [] (empty)
+
+* `release_preprocess`:
+
+ If [:project][:use_deep_dependencies] is set and code is structured in
+ a certain way, the gcc preprocessor may need symbol definitions to
+ properly preprocess files for incremental release builds due to deep
+ dependencies.
+
+ **Default**: [] (empty)
+
+
+Example [:defines] YAML blurb
+
+```yaml
+:defines:
+ :test:
+ - UNIT_TESTING #for select cases in source to allow testing with a changed behavior or interface
+ - OFF=0
+ - ON=1
+ - FEATURE_X=ON
+ :source:
+ - FEATURE_X=ON
+```
+
+
+**libraries**: command line defines used in test and release compilation by configured tools
+
+Ceedling allows you to pull in specific libraries for the purpose of release and test builds.
+It has a few levels of support for this. Start by adding a :libraries main section in your
+configuration. In this section, you can optionally have the following subsections:
+
+* `test`:
+
+ Library files that should be injected into your tests when linking occurs.
+ These can be specified as either relative or absolute paths. These files MUST
+ exist when the test attempts to build.
+
+* `source`:
+
+ Library files that should be injected into your release when linking occurs. These
+ can be specified as either relative or absolute paths. These files MUST exist when
+ the release attempts to build UNLESS you are using the subprojects plugin. In that
+ case, it will attempt to build that library for you as a dynamic dependency.
+
+* `system`:
+
+ These libraries are assumed to be in the tool path somewhere and shouldn't need to be
+ specified. The libraries added here will be injected into releases and tests.
+
+* `flag`:
+
+ This is the method of adding an argument for each library. For example, gcc really likes
+ it when you specify “-l${1}”
+
+Notes:
+
+* If you've specified your own link step, you are going to want to add ${4} to your argument
+list in the place where library files should be added to the command call. For gcc, this is
+often the very end. Other tools may vary.
+
+
+**flags**: configure per-file compilation and linking flags
+
+Ceedling tools (see later [:tools] section) are used to configure
+compilation and linking of test and source files. These tool
+configurations are a one-size-fits-all approach. Should individual files
+require special compilation or linking flags, the settings in the
+[:flags] section work in conjunction with tool definitions by way of
+argument substitution to achieve this.
+
+* `release`:
+
+ [:compile] or [:link] flags for release build
+
+* `test`:
+
+ [:compile] or [:link] flags for test build
+
+Notes:
+
+* Ceedling works with the [:release] and [:test] build contexts
+ as-is; plugins can add additional contexts
+
+* Only [:compile] and [:link] are recognized operations beneath
+ a context
+
+* File specifiers do not include a path or file extension
+
+* File specifiers are case sensitive (must match original file
+ name)
+
+* File specifiers do support regular expressions if encased in quotes
+
+* '*' is a special (optional) file specifier to provide flags
+ to all files not otherwise specified
+
+
+Example [:flags] YAML blurb
+
+```yaml
+:flags:
+ :release:
+ :compile:
+ :main: # add '-Wall' to compilation of main.c
+ - -Wall
+ :fan: # add '--O2' to compilation of fan.c
+ - --O2
+ :'test_.+': # add '-pedantic' to all test-files
+ - -pedantic
+ :*: # add '-foo' to compilation of all files not main.c or fan.c
+ - -foo
+ :test:
+ :compile:
+ :main: # add '--O1' to compilation of main.c as part of test builds including main.c
+ - --O1
+ :link:
+ :test_main: # add '--bar --baz' to linking of test_main.exe
+ - --bar
+ - --baz
+```
+
+Ceedling sets values for a subset of CMock settings. All CMock
+options are available to be set, but only those options set by
+Ceedling in an automated fashion are documented below. See CMock
+documentation.
+
+**cmock**: configure CMock's code generation options and set symbols used to modify CMock's compiled features
+Ceedling sets values for a subset of CMock settings. All CMock options are available to be set, but only those options set by Ceedling in an automated fashion are documented below. See CMock documentation.
+
+* `enforce_strict_ordering`:
+
+ Tests fail if expected call order is not same as source order
+
+ **Default**: TRUE
+
+* `mock_path`:
+
+ Path for generated mocks
+
+ **Default**: <build path>/tests/mocks
+
+* `defines`:
+
+ List of conditional compilation symbols used to configure CMock's
+ compiled features. See CMock documentation to understand available
+ options. No symbols must be set unless defaults are inappropriate for
+ your specific environment. All symbols are used only by Ceedling to
+ compile CMock C code; contents of [:defines] are ignored by CMock's
+ Ruby code when instantiated.
+
+ **Default**: [] (empty)
+
+* `verbosity`:
+
+ If not set, defaults to Ceedling's verbosity level
+
+* `plugins`:
+
+ If [:project][:use_exceptions] is enabled, the internal plugins list is pre-populated with 'cexception'.
+
+ Whether or not you have included [:cmock][:plugins] in your
+ configuration file, Ceedling automatically adds 'cexception' to the
+ plugin list if exceptions are enabled. To add to the list Ceedling
+ provides CMock, simply add [:cmock][:plugins] to your configuration
+ and specify your desired additional plugins.
+
+* `includes`:
+
+ If [:cmock][:unity_helper] set, pre-populated with unity_helper file
+ name (no path).
+
+ The [:cmock][:includes] list works identically to the plugins list
+ above with regard to adding additional files to be inserted within
+ mocks as #include statements.
+
+
+The last four settings above are directly tied to other Ceedling
+settings; hence, why they are listed and explained here. The
+first setting above, [:enforce_strict_ordering], defaults
+to FALSE within CMock. It is set to TRUE by default in Ceedling
+as our way of encouraging you to use strict ordering. It's a teeny
+bit more expensive in terms of code generated, test execution
+time, and complication in deciphering test failures. However,
+it's good practice. And, of course, you can always disable it
+by overriding the value in the Ceedling YAML configuration file.
+
+
+**cexception**: configure symbols used to modify CException's compiled features
+
+* `defines`:
+
+ List of conditional compilation symbols used to configure CException's
+ features in its source and header files. See CException documentation
+ to understand available options. No symbols must be set unless the
+ defaults are inappropriate for your specific environment.
+
+ **Default**: [] (empty)
+
+
+**unity**: configure symbols used to modify Unity's compiled features
+
+* `defines`:
+
+ List of conditional compilation symbols used to configure Unity's
+ features in its source and header files. See Unity documentation to
+ understand available options. No symbols must be set unless the
+ defaults are inappropriate for your specific environment. Most Unity
+ defines can be easily configured through the YAML file.
+
+ **Default**: [] (empty)
+
+Example [:unity] YAML blurbs
+```yaml
+:unity: #itty bitty processor & toolchain with limited test execution options
+ :defines:
+ - UNITY_INT_WIDTH=16 #16 bit processor without support for 32 bit instructions
+ - UNITY_EXCLUDE_FLOAT #no floating point unit
+
+:unity: #great big gorilla processor that grunts and scratches
+ :defines:
+ - UNITY_SUPPORT_64 #big memory, big counters, big registers
+ - UNITY_LINE_TYPE=\"unsigned int\" #apparently we're using really long test files,
+ - UNITY_COUNTER_TYPE=\"unsigned int\" #and we've got a ton of test cases in those test files
+ - UNITY_FLOAT_TYPE=\"double\" #you betcha
+```
+
+
+Notes on Unity configuration:
+
+* **Verification** - Ceedling does no verification of your configuration
+ values. In a properly configured setup, your Unity configuration
+ values are processed, collected together with any test define symbols
+ you specify elsewhere, and then passed to your toolchain during test
+ compilation. Unity's conditional compilation statements, your
+ toolchain's preprocessor, and/or your toolchain's compiler will
+ complain appropriately if your specified configuration values are
+ incorrect, incomplete, or incompatible.
+
+* **Routing $stdout** - Unity defaults to using `putchar()` in C's
+ standard library to display test results. For more exotic environments
+ than a desktop with a terminal (e.g. running tests directly on a
+ non-PC target), you have options. For example, you could create a
+ routine that transmits a character via RS232 or USB. Once you have
+ that routine, you can replace `putchar()` calls in Unity by overriding
+ the function-like macro `UNITY_OUTPUT_CHAR`. Consult your toolchain
+ and shell documentation. Eventhough this can also be defined in the YAML file
+ most shell environments do not handle parentheses as command line arguments
+ very well. To still be able to add this functionality all necessary
+ options can be defined in the `unity_config.h`. Unity needs to be told to look for
+ the `unity_config.h` in the YAML file, though.
+
+Example [:unity] YAML blurbs
+```yaml
+:unity:
+ :defines:
+ - UNITY_INCLUDE_CONFIG_H
+```
+
+Example unity_config.h
+```
+#ifndef UNITY_CONFIG_H
+#define UNITY_CONFIG_H
+
+#include "uart_output.h" //Helper library for your custom environment
+
+#define UNITY_INT_WIDTH 16
+#define UNITY_OUTPUT_START() uart_init(F_CPU, BAUD) //Helperfunction to init UART
+#define UNITY_OUTPUT_CHAR(a) uart_putchar(a) //Helperfunction to forward char via UART
+#define UNITY_OUTPUT_COMPLETE() uart_complete() //Helperfunction to inform that test has ended
+
+#endif
+```
+
+
+**tools**: a means for representing command line tools for use under
+Ceedling's automation framework
+
+Ceedling requires a variety of tools to work its magic. By default,
+the GNU toolchain (gcc, cpp, as) are configured and ready for
+use with no additions to the project configuration YAML file.
+However, as most work will require a project-specific toolchain,
+Ceedling provides a generic means for specifying / overriding
+tools.
+
+* `test_compiler`:
+
+ Compiler for test & source-under-test code
+ ${1}: input source ${2}: output object ${3}: optional output list ${4}: optional output dependencies file
+
+ **Default**: gcc
+
+* `test_linker`:
+
+ Linker to generate test fixture executables
+ ${1}: input objects ${2}: output binary ${3}: optional output map ${4}: optional library list
+
+ **Default**: gcc
+
+* `test_fixture`:
+
+ Executable test fixture
+ ${1}: simulator as executable with ${1} as input binary file argument or native test executable
+
+ **Default**: ${1}
+
+* `test_includes_preprocessor`:
+
+ Extractor of #include statements
+ ${1}: input source file
+
+ **Default**: cpp
+
+* `test_file_preprocessor`:
+
+ Preprocessor of test files (macros, conditional compilation statements)
+ ${1}: input source file ${2}: preprocessed output source file
+
+ **Default**: gcc
+
+* `test_dependencies_generator`:
+
+ Discovers deep dependencies of source & test (for incremental builds)
+ ${1}: input source file ${2}: compiled object filepath ${3}: output dependencies file
+
+ **Default**: gcc
+
+* `release_compiler`:
+
+ Compiler for release source code
+ ${1}: input source ${2}: output object ${3}: optional output list ${4}: optional output dependencies file
+
+ **Default**: gcc
+
+* `release_assembler`:
+
+ Assembler for release assembly code
+ ${1}: input assembly source file ${2}: output object file
+
+ **Default**: as
+
+* `release_linker`:
+
+ Linker for release source code
+ ${1}: input objects ${2}: output binary ${3}: optional output map ${4}: optional library list
+
+ **Default**: gcc
+
+* `release_dependencies_generator`:
+
+ Discovers deep dependencies of source files (for incremental builds)
+ ${1}: input source file ${2}: compiled object filepath ${3}: output dependencies file
+
+ **Default**: gcc
+
+
+A Ceedling tool has a handful of configurable elements:
+
+1. [:executable] (required) - Command line executable having
+ the form of:
+
+2. [:arguments] (required) - List of command line arguments
+ and substitutions
+
+3. [:name] - Simple name (e.g. "nickname") of tool beyond its
+ executable name (if not explicitly set then Ceedling will
+ form a name from the tool's YAML entry name)
+
+4. [:stderr_redirect] - Control of capturing $stderr messages
+ {:none, :auto, :win, :unix, :tcsh}.
+ Defaults to :none if unspecified; create a custom entry by
+ specifying a simple string instead of any of the available
+ symbols.
+
+5. [:background_exec] - Control execution as background process
+ {:none, :auto, :win, :unix}.
+ Defaults to :none if unspecified.
+
+
+Tool Element Runtime Substitution
+---------------------------------
+
+To accomplish useful work on multiple files, a configured tool will most
+often require that some number of its arguments or even the executable
+itself change for each run. Consequently, every tool's argument list and
+executable field possess two means for substitution at runtime. Ceedling
+provides two kinds of inline Ruby execution and a notation for
+populating elements with dynamically gathered values within the build
+environment.
+
+Tool Element Runtime Substitution: Inline Ruby Execution
+--------------------------------------------------------
+
+In-line Ruby execution works similarly to that demonstrated for the
+[:environment] section except that substitution occurs as the tool is
+executed and not at the time the configuration file is first scanned.
+
+* `#{...}`:
+
+ Ruby string substitution pattern wherein the containing string is
+ expanded to include the string generated by Ruby code between the
+ braces. Multiple instances of this expansion can occur within a single
+ tool element entry string. Note that if this string substitution
+ pattern occurs at the very beginning of a string in the YAML
+ configuration the entire string should be enclosed in quotes (see the
+ [:environment] section for further explanation on this point).
+
+* `{...} `:
+
+ If an entire tool element string is enclosed with braces, it signifies
+ that Ceedling should execute the Ruby code contained within those
+ braces. Say you have a collection of paths on disk and some of those
+ paths include spaces. Further suppose that a single tool that must use
+ those paths requires those spaces to be escaped, but all other uses of
+ those paths requires the paths to remain unchanged. You could use this
+ Ceedling feature to insert Ruby code that iterates those paths and
+ escapes those spaces in the array as used by the tool of this example.
+
+Tool Element Runtime Substitution: Notational Substitution
+----------------------------------------------------------
+
+A Ceedling tool's other form of dynamic substitution relies on a '$'
+notation. These '$' operators can exist anywhere in a string and can be
+decorated in any way needed. To use a literal '$', escape it as '\\$'.
+
+* `$`:
+
+ Simple substitution for value(s) globally available within the runtime
+ (most often a string or an array).
+
+* `${#}`:
+
+ When a Ceedling tool's command line is expanded from its configured
+ representation and used within Ceedling Ruby code, certain calls to
+ that tool will be made with a parameter list of substitution values.
+ Each numbered substitution corresponds to a position in a parameter
+ list. Ceedling Ruby code expects that configured compiler and linker
+ tools will contain ${1} and ${2} replacement arguments. In the case of
+ a compiler ${1} will be a C code file path, and ${2} will be the file
+ path of the resulting object file. For a linker ${1} will be an array
+ of object files to link, and ${2} will be the resulting binary
+ executable. For an executable test fixture ${1} is either the binary
+ executable itself (when using a local toolchain such as gcc) or a
+ binary input file given to a simulator in its arguments.
+
+
+Example [:tools] YAML blurbs
+
+```yaml
+:tools:
+ :test_compiler:
+ :executable: compiler #exists in system search path
+ :name: 'acme test compiler'
+ :arguments:
+ - -I"$": COLLECTION_PATHS_TEST_TOOLCHAIN_INCLUDE #expands to -I search paths
+ - -I"$": COLLECTION_PATHS_TEST_SUPPORT_SOURCE_INCLUDE_VENDOR #expands to -I search paths
+ - -D$: COLLECTION_DEFINES_TEST_AND_VENDOR #expands to all -D defined symbols
+ - --network-license #simple command line argument
+ - -optimize-level 4 #simple command line argument
+ - "#{`args.exe -m acme.prj`}" #in-line ruby sub to shell out & build string of arguments
+ - -c ${1} #source code input file (Ruby method call param list sub)
+ - -o ${2} #object file output (Ruby method call param list sub)
+ :test_linker:
+ :executable: /programs/acme/bin/linker.exe #absolute file path
+ :name: 'acme test linker'
+ :arguments:
+ - ${1} #list of object files to link (Ruby method call param list sub)
+ - -l$-lib: #inline yaml array substitution to link in foo-lib and bar-lib
+ - foo
+ - bar
+ - -o ${2} #executable file output (Ruby method call param list sub)
+ :test_fixture:
+ :executable: tools/bin/acme_simulator.exe #relative file path to command line simulator
+ :name: 'acme test fixture'
+ :stderr_redirect: :win #inform Ceedling what model of $stderr capture to use
+ :arguments:
+ - -mem large #simple command line argument
+ - -f "${1}" #binary executable input file to simulator (Ruby method call param list sub)
+```
+
+Resulting command line constructions from preceding example [:tools] YAML blurbs
+
+ > compiler -I"/usr/include” -I”project/tests”
+ -I"project/tests/support” -I”project/source” -I”project/include”
+ -DTEST -DLONG_NAMES -network-license -optimize-level 4 arg-foo
+ arg-bar arg-baz -c project/source/source.c -o
+ build/tests/out/source.o
+
+[notes: (1.) "arg-foo arg-bar arg-baz" is a fabricated example
+string collected from $stdout as a result of shell execution
+of args.exe
+(2.) the -c and -o arguments are
+fabricated examples simulating a single compilation step for
+a test; ${1} & ${2} are single files]
+
+ > \programs\acme\bin\linker.exe thing.o unity.o
+ test_thing_runner.o test_thing.o mock_foo.o mock_bar.o -lfoo-lib
+ -lbar-lib -o build\tests\out\test_thing.exe
+
+[note: in this scenario ${1} is an array of all the object files
+needed to link a test fixture executable]
+
+ > tools\bin\acme_simulator.exe -mem large -f "build\tests\out\test_thing.bin 2>&1”
+
+[note: (1.) :executable could have simply been ${1} - if we were compiling
+and running native executables instead of cross compiling (2.) we're using
+$stderr redirection to allow us to capture simulator error messages to
+$stdout for display at the run's conclusion]
+
+
+Notes:
+
+* The upper case names are Ruby global constants that Ceedling
+ builds
+
+* "COLLECTION_" indicates that Ceedling did some work to assemble
+ the list. For instance, expanding path globs, combining multiple
+ path globs into a convenient summation, etc.
+
+* At present, $stderr redirection is primarily used to capture
+ errors from test fixtures so that they can be displayed at the
+ conclusion of a test run. For instance, if a simulator detects
+ a memory access violation or a divide by zero error, this notice
+ might go unseen in all the output scrolling past in a terminal.
+
+* The preprocessing tools can each be overridden with non-gcc
+ equivalents. However, this is an advanced feature not yet
+ documented and requires that the replacement toolchain conform
+ to the same conventions used by gcc.
+
+**Ceedling Collection Used in Compilation**:
+
+* `COLLECTION_PATHS_TEST`:
+
+ All test paths
+
+* `COLLECTION_PATHS_SOURCE`:
+
+ All source paths
+
+* `COLLECTION_PATHS_INCLUDE`:
+
+ All include paths
+
+* `COLLECTION_PATHS_SUPPORT`:
+
+ All test support paths
+
+* `COLLECTION_PATHS_SOURCE_AND_INCLUDE`:
+
+ All source and include paths
+
+* `COLLECTION_PATHS_SOURCE_INCLUDE_VENDOR`:
+
+ All source and include paths + applicable vendor paths (e.g.
+ CException's source path if exceptions enabled)
+
+* `COLLECTION_PATHS_TEST_TOOLCHAIN_INCLUDE`:
+
+ All test toolchain include paths
+
+* `COLLECTION_PATHS_TEST_SUPPORT_SOURCE_INCLUDE`:
+
+ All test, source, and include paths
+
+* `COLLECTION_PATHS_TEST_SUPPORT_SOURCE_INCLUDE_VENDOR`:
+
+ All test, source, include, and applicable vendor paths (e.g. Unity's
+ source path plus CMock and CException's source paths if mocks and
+ exceptions are enabled)
+
+* `COLLECTION_PATHS_RELEASE_TOOLCHAIN_INCLUDE`:
+
+ All release toolchain include paths
+
+* `COLLECTION_DEFINES_TEST_AND_VENDOR`:
+
+ All symbols specified in [:defines][:test] + symbols defined for
+ enabled vendor tools - e.g. [:unity][:defines], [:cmock][:defines],
+ and [:cexception][:defines]
+
+* `COLLECTION_DEFINES_RELEASE_AND_VENDOR`:
+
+ All symbols specified in [:defines][:release] plus symbols defined by
+[:cexception][:defines] if exceptions are ena bled
+
+
+Notes:
+
+* Other collections exist within Ceedling. However, they are
+ only useful for advanced features not yet documented.
+
+* Wherever multiple path lists are combined for use Ceedling prioritizes
+ path groups as follows: test paths, support paths, source paths, include
+ paths.
+ This can be useful, for instance, in certain testing scenarios
+ where we desire Ceedling or the compiler to find a stand-in header file
+ before the actual source header file of the same name.
+
+
+**plugins**: Ceedling extensions
+
+* `load_paths`:
+
+ Base paths to search for plugin subdirectories or extra ruby functionalit
+
+ **Default**: [] (empty)
+
+* `enabled`:
+
+ List of plugins to be used - a plugin's name is identical to the
+ subdirectory that contains it (and the name of certain files within
+ that subdirectory)
+
+ **Default**: [] (empty)
+
+
+Plugins can provide a variety of added functionality to Ceedling. In
+general use, it's assumed that at least one reporting plugin will be
+used to format test results. However, if no reporting plugins are
+specified, Ceedling will print to `$stdout` the (quite readable) raw
+test results from all test fixtures executed.
+
+Example [:plugins] YAML blurb
+
+```yaml
+:plugins:
+ :load_paths:
+ - project/tools/ceedling/plugins #home to your collection of plugin directories
+ - project/support #maybe home to some ruby code your custom plugins share
+ :enabled:
+ - stdout_pretty_tests_report #nice test results at your command line
+ - our_custom_code_metrics_report #maybe you needed line count and complexity metrics, so you
+ #created a plugin to scan all your code and collect that info
+```
+
+* `stdout_pretty_tests_report`:
+
+ Prints to $stdout a well-formatted list of ignored and failed tests,
+ final test counts, and any extraneous output (e.g. printf statements
+ or simulator memory errors) collected from executing the test
+ fixtures. Meant to be used with runs at the command line.
+
+* `stdout_ide_tests_report`:
+
+ Prints to $stdout simple test results formatted such that an IDE
+ executing test-related Rake tasks can recognize file paths and line
+ numbers in test failures, etc. Thus, you can click a test result in
+ your IDE's execution window and jump to the failure (or ignored test)
+ in your test file (obviously meant to be used with an [IDE like
+ Eclipse][ide], etc).
+
+ [ide]: http://throwtheswitch.org/white-papers/using-with-ides.html
+
+* `xml_tests_report`:
+
+ Creates an XML file of test results in the xUnit format (handy for
+ Continuous Integration build servers or as input to other reporting
+ tools). Produces a file report.xml in <build root>/artifacts/tests.
+
+* `bullseye`:
+
+ Adds additional Rake tasks to execute tests with the commercial code
+ coverage tool provided by [Bullseye][]. See readme.txt inside the bullseye
+ plugin directory for configuration and use instructions. Note:
+ Bullseye only works with certain compilers and linkers (healthy list
+ of supported toolchains though).
+
+ [bullseye]: http://www.bullseye.com
+
+* `gcov`:
+
+ Adds additional Rake tasks to execute tests with the GNU code coverage
+ tool [gcov][]. See readme.txt inside the gcov directory for configuration
+ and use instructions. Only works with GNU compiler and linker.
+
+ [gcov]: http://gcc.gnu.org/onlinedocs/gcc/Gcov.html
+
+* `warnings_report`:
+
+ Scans compiler and linker `$stdout / $stderr` output for the word
+ 'warning' (case insensitive). All code warnings (or tool warnings) are
+ logged to a file warnings.log in the appropriate `<build
+ root>/artifacts` directory (e.g. test/ for test tasks, `release/` for a
+ release build, or even `bullseye/` for bullseye runs).
+
+Module Generator
+========================
+Ceedling includes a plugin called module_generator that will create a source, header and test file for you.
+There are several possibilities to configure this plugin through your project.yml to suit your project's needs.
+
+Directory Structure
+-------------------------------------------
+
+The default configuration for directory/project structure is:
+```yaml
+:module_generator:
+ :project_root: ./
+ :source_root: src/
+ :test_root: test/
+```
+You can change these variables in your project.yml file to comply with your project's directory structure.
+
+If you call `ceedling module:create`, it will create three files:
+1. A source file in the source_root
+2. A header file in the source_root
+3. A test file in the test_root
+
+If you want your header file to be in another location,
+you can specify the ':inc_root:" in your project.yml file:
+```yaml
+:module_generator:
+ :inc_root: inc/
+```
+The module_generator will then create the header file in your defined ':inc_root:'.
+By default, ':inc_root:' is not defined so the module_generator will use the source_root.
+
+Sometimes, your project can't be divided into a single src, inc, and test folder. You have several directories
+with sources/..., something like this for example:
+<project_root>
+ - myDriver
+ - src
+ - inc
+ - test
+ - myOtherDriver
+ - src
+ - inc
+ - test
+ - ...
+
+Don't worry, you don't have to manually create the source/header/test files.
+The module_generator can accept a path to create a source_root/inc_root/test_root folder with your files:
+`ceedling module:create[<module_root_path>:<module_name>]`
+
+F.e., applied to the above project structure:
+`ceedling module:create[myOtherDriver:driver]`
+This will make the module_generator run in the subdirectory 'myOtherDriver' and generate the module files
+for you in that directory. So, this command will generate the following files:
+1. A source file 'driver.c' in <project_root>/myOtherDriver/<source_root>
+2. A header file 'driver.h' in <project_root>/myOtherDriver/<source_root> (or <inc_root> if specified)
+3. A test file 'test_driver.c' in <project_root>/myOtherDriver/<test_root>
+
+Naming
+-------------------------------------------
+By default, the module_generator will generate your files in lowercase.
+`ceedling module:create[mydriver]` and `ceedling module:create[myDriver]`(note the uppercase) will generate the same files:
+1. mydriver.c
+2. mydriver.h
+3. test_mydriver.c
+
+You can configure the module_generator to use a differect naming mechanism through the project.yml:
+```yaml
+:module_generator:
+ :naming: "camel"
+```
+There are other possibilities as well (bumpy, camel, snake, caps).
+Refer to the unity module generator for more info (the unity module generator is used under the hood by module_generator).
+
+Advanced Topics (Coming)
+========================
+
+Modifying Your Configuration without Modifying Your Project File: Option Files & User Files
+-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+Modifying your project file without modifying your project file
+
+Debugging and/or printf()
+-------------------------
+
+When you gotta get your hands dirty...
+
+Ceedling Plays Nice with Others - Using Ceedling for Tests Alongside Another Release Build Setup
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+You've got options.
+
+Adding Handy Rake Tasks for Your Project (without Fancy Pants Custom Plugins)
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+Simple as snot.
+
+Working with Non-Desktop Testing Environments
+---------------------------------------------
+
+For those crazy platforms lacking command line simulators and for which
+cross-compiling on the desktop just ain't gonna get it done.
+
+Creating Custom Plugins
+-----------------------
+
+Oh boy. This is going to take some explaining.