TBLGEN(1)

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🌈 TBLGEN(1) — the LLVM manual, bestie edition 🌈

Okay so this is TBLGEN(1), the LLVM manual page for the whole tablegen family. Grab a strawberry drink 🍓 and let’s get into it, because this is lowkey iconic compiler-nerd territory.

💖 NAME 💖

tblgen — literally “Description to C++ Code.” That’s the assignment, no cap. 💅

✨ SYNOPSIS ✨

clang-tblgen [options] [filename]

lldb-tblgen [options] [filename]

llvm-tblgen [options] [filename]

mlir-tblgen [options] [filename]

🧚 DESCRIPTION 🧚

*-tblgen is a whole family of programs that translates target description (.td) files into C++ code and other output formats. Slay, honestly. Most users of LLVM will not need to use this program — it’s used only for writing parts of the compiler, debugger, and LLVM target backends. So if you’re just vibing with LLVM normally, this is probably not your main-character tool. 🫶

The full tea on the input and output of the *-tblgen programs is beyond the scope of this short introduction; please see the TableGen Overview <> for an introduction and for references to additional TableGen documents. Yes bestie, there are more docs. 💖

The filename argument specifies the name of the Target Description (.td) file that TableGen processes. That’s the file it’s gonna chew on. 🍓

💅 OPTIONS 💅

🌸 General Options 🌸

  • -help — Print a description of the command line options. Helpful queen behavior. 👑
  • -help-list — Print a description of the command line options in a simple list format. Same info, listified. ✨
  • -D=macroname — Specify the name of a macro to be defined. The name is defined, but it has no particular value. It’s giving “name only, no notes.” 💀
  • -d=filename — Specify the name of the dependency filename.
  • -debug — Enable debug output. Turn on the little debug goblin mode. 🙈
  • -dump-json — Print a JSON representation of all records, suitable for further automated processing. JSON girlies rise. 🌸
  • -I directory — Specify where to find other target description files for inclusion. The directory value should be a full or partial path to a directory that contains target description files. So it’s like “look here for more .td files.” 🎀
  • -null-backend — Parse the source files and build the records, but do not run any backend. This is useful for timing the frontend. Frontend timing era. ⏱️
  • -o filename — Specify the output file name. If filename is -, then *-tblgen sends its output to standard output. Classic dash-to-stdout slay. 💅
  • -print-records — Print all classes and records to standard output (default backend option). The default backend option, periodt. 🫶
  • -print-detailed-records — Print a detailed report of all global variables, classes, and records to standard output. Detailed records, detailed vibes. 🔥
  • -stats — Print a report with any statistics collected by the backend. Stats bestie.
  • -time-phases — Time the parser and backend phases and print a report. Timing the phases like a little performance review. ⭐
  • -version — Show the version number of the program. Version check, obviously. 💖
  • -write-if-changed — Write the output file only if it is new or has changed. No unnecessary rewrites, we love a low-waste queen. 🌈

🌷 clang-tblgen Options 🌷

  • -gen-clang-attr-classes — Generate Clang attribute classes.
  • -gen-clang-attr-parser-string-switches — Generate all parser-related attribute string switches.
  • -gen-clang-attr-subject-match-rules-parser-string-switches — Generate all parser-related attribute subject match rule string switches.
  • -gen-clang-attr-impl — Generate Clang attribute implementations.
  • -gen-clang-attr-list" — Generate a Clang attribute list. (Yes, the quote is literally there in the original — we keep it exact, bestie. 🫶)
  • -gen-clang-attr-subject-match-rule-list — Generate a Clang attribute subject match rule list.
  • -gen-clang-attr-pch-read — Generate Clang PCH attribute reader.
  • -gen-clang-attr-pch-write — Generate Clang PCH attribute writer.
  • -gen-clang-attr-has-attribute-impl — Generate a Clang attribute spelling list.
  • -gen-clang-attr-spelling-index — Generate a Clang attribute spelling index.
  • -gen-clang-attr-ast-visitor — Generate a recursive AST visitor for Clang attributes.
  • -gen-clang-attr-template-instantiate — Generate a Clang template instantiate code.
  • -gen-clang-attr-parsed-attr-list — Generate a Clang parsed attribute list.
  • -gen-clang-attr-parsed-attr-impl — Generate the Clang parsed attribute helpers.
  • -gen-clang-attr-parsed-attr-kinds — Generate a Clang parsed attribute kinds.
  • -gen-clang-attr-text-node-dump — Generate Clang attribute text node dumper.
  • -gen-clang-attr-node-traverse — Generate Clang attribute traverser.
  • -gen-clang-diags-defs — Generate Clang diagnostics definitions.
  • -clang-component component — Only use warnings from specified component.
  • -gen-clang-diag-groups — Generate Clang diagnostic groups.
  • -gen-clang-diags-index-name — Generate Clang diagnostic name index.
  • -gen-clang-basic-reader — Generate Clang BasicReader classes.
  • -gen-clang-basic-writer — Generate Clang BasicWriter classes.
  • -gen-clang-comment-nodes — Generate Clang AST comment nodes.
  • -gen-clang-decl-nodes — Generate Clang AST declaration nodes.
  • -gen-clang-stmt-nodes — Generate Clang AST statement nodes.
  • -gen-clang-type-nodes — Generate Clang AST type nodes.
  • -gen-clang-type-reader — Generate Clang AbstractTypeReader class.
  • -gen-clang-type-writer — Generate Clang AbstractTypeWriter class.
  • -gen-clang-opcodes — Generate Clang constexpr interpreter opcodes.
  • -gen-clang-sa-checkers — Generate Clang static analyzer checkers.
  • -gen-clang-comment-html-tags — Generate efficient matchers for HTML tag names that are used in documentation comments.
  • -gen-clang-comment-html-tags-properties — Generate efficient matchers for HTML tag properties.
  • -gen-clang-comment-html-named-character-references — Generate function to translate named character references to UTF-8 sequences.
  • -gen-clang-comment-command-info — Generate command properties for commands that are used in documentation comments.
  • -gen-clang-comment-command-list — Generate list of commands that are used in documentation comments.
  • -gen-clang-opencl-builtins — Generate OpenCL builtin declaration handlers.
  • -gen-arm-neon — Generate arm_neon.h for Clang.
  • -gen-arm-fp16 — Generate arm_fp16.h for Clang.
  • -gen-arm-bf16 — Generate arm_bf16.h for Clang.
  • -gen-arm-neon-sema — Generate ARM NEON sema support for Clang.
  • -gen-arm-neon-test — Generate ARM NEON tests for Clang.
  • -gen-arm-sve-header — Generate arm_sve.h for Clang.
  • -gen-arm-sve-builtins — Generate arm_sve_builtins.inc for Clang.
  • -gen-arm-sve-builtin-codegen — Generate arm_sve_builtin_cg_map.inc for Clang.
  • -gen-arm-sve-typeflags — Generate arm_sve_typeflags.inc for Clang.
  • -gen-arm-sve-sema-rangechecks — Generate arm_sve_sema_rangechecks.inc for Clang.
  • -gen-arm-mve-header — Generate arm_mve.h for Clang.
  • -gen-arm-mve-builtin-def — Generate ARM MVE builtin definitions for Clang.
  • -gen-arm-mve-builtin-sema — Generate ARM MVE builtin sema checks for Clang.
  • -gen-arm-mve-builtin-codegen — Generate ARM MVE builtin code-generator for Clang.
  • -gen-arm-mve-builtin-aliases — Generate list of valid ARM MVE builtin aliases for Clang.
  • -gen-arm-cde-header — Generate arm_cde.h for Clang.
  • -gen-arm-cde-builtin-def — Generate ARM CDE builtin definitions for Clang.
  • -gen-arm-cde-builtin-sema — Generate ARM CDE builtin sema checks for Clang.
  • -gen-arm-cde-builtin-codegen — Generate ARM CDE builtin code-generator for Clang.
  • -gen-arm-cde-builtin-aliases — Generate list of valid ARM CDE builtin aliases for Clang.
  • -gen-riscv-vector-header — Generate riscv_vector.h for Clang.
  • -gen-riscv-vector-builtins — Generate riscv_vector_builtins.inc for Clang.
  • -gen-riscv-vector-builtin-codegen — Generate riscv_vector_builtin_cg.inc for Clang.
  • -gen-riscv-sifive-vector-builtins — Generate riscv_sifive_vector_builtins.inc for Clang.
  • -gen-riscv-sifive-vector-builtin-codegen — Generate riscv_sifive_vector_builtin_cg.inc for Clang.
  • -gen-attr-docs — Generate attribute documentation.
  • -gen-diag-docs — Generate diagnostic documentation.
  • -gen-opt-docs — Generate option documentation.
  • -gen-clang-data-collectors — Generate data collectors for AST nodes.
  • -gen-clang-test-pragma-attribute-supported-attributes — Generate a list of attributes supported by #pragma Clang attribute for testing purposes.

🐚 lldb-tblgen Options 🐚

  • gen-lldb-option-defs — Generate lldb OptionDefinition values.
  • gen-lldb-property-defs — Generate lldb PropertyDefinition values.
  • gen-lldb-property-enum-defs — Generate lldb PropertyDefinition enum values.

🔥 llvm-tblgen Options 🔥

  • -gen-asm-matcher — Generate assembly instruction matcher.
  • -match-prefix=prefix — Make -gen-asm-matcher match only instructions with the given prefix.
  • -gen-asm-parser — Generate assembly instruction parser.
  • -asmparsernum=n — Make -gen-asm-parser emit assembly parser number n.
  • -gen-asm-writer — Generate assembly writer.
  • -asmwriternum=n — Make -gen-asm-writer emit assembly writer number n.
  • -gen-attrs — Generate attributes.
  • -gen-automata — Generate generic automata.
  • -gen-callingconv — Generate calling convention descriptions.
  • -gen-compress-inst-emitter — Generate RISC-V compressed instructions.
  • -gen-ctags — Generate ctags-compatible index.
  • -gen-dag-isel — Generate a DAG (directed acyclic graph) instruction selector.
  • -instrument-coverage — Make -gen-dag-isel generate tables to help identify the patterns matched.
  • -omit-comments — Make -gen-dag-isel omit comments. The default is false.
  • -gen-dfa-packetizer — Generate DFA Packetizer for VLIW targets.
  • -gen-directive-decl — Generate directive related declaration code (header file).
  • -gen-directive-gen — Generate directive related implementation code part.
  • -gen-directive-impl — Generate directive related implementation code.
  • -gen-disassembler — Generate disassembler.
  • -gen-emitter — Generate machine code emitter.
  • -gen-exegesis — Generate llvm-exegesis tables.
  • -gen-fast-isel — Generate a “fast” instruction selector.
  • -gen-global-isel — Generate GlobalISel selector.
  • -gisel-coverage-file=filename — Specify the file from which to retrieve coverage information.
  • -instrument-gisel-coverage — Make -gen-global-isel generate coverage instrumentation.
  • -optimize-match-table — Make -gen-global-isel generate an optimized version of the match table.
  • -warn-on-skipped-patterns — Make -gen-global-isel explain why a pattern was skipped for inclusion.
  • -gen-global-isel-combiner — generates the legacy GlobalISel combiner. Heads up bestie: this one is deprecated, pending removal 💀 so maybe don't build your whole personality around it.
  • -gen-global-isel-combiner-matchtable — generates the MatchTable-based GlobalISel combiner. The new hotness ✨
  • -combiners=list — makes -gen-global-isel-combiner and -gen-global-isel-combiner-matchtable emit exactly the combiners you name in list.
  • -gicombiner-show-expansions — makes -gen-global-isel-combiner drop C++ comments in to flag where code expansion happens. Little breadcrumbs 🍓
  • -gicombiner-stop-after-build — makes -gen-global-isel-combiner clock out right after building the match tree.
  • -gicombiner-stop-after-parse — makes -gen-global-isel-combiner and -gen-global-isel-combiner-matchtable stop right after parsing rules, then dump the state. Early exit, main character energy 💅
  • -gen-instr-info — generates instruction descriptions.
  • -gen-instr-docs — generates instruction documentation.
  • -gen-intrinsic-enums — generates intrinsic enums.
  • -intrinsic-prefix=prefix — makes -gen-intrinsic-enums generate intrinsics with this target prefix.
  • -gen-intrinsic-impl — generates intrinsic information.
  • -gen-opt-parser-defs — generates options definitions.
  • -gen-opt-rst — generates option RST.
  • -gen-pseudo-lowering — generates pseudo instruction lowering.
  • -gen-register-bank — generates register bank descriptions.
  • -gen-register-info — generates registers and register classes info.
  • -register-info-debug — makes -gen-register-info dump register information for debugging. Peek behind the curtain 🦋
  • -gen-searchable-tables — generates generic searchable tables. The page says: See TableGen BackEnds <> for a detailed description.
  • -gen-subtarget — generates subtarget enumerations.
  • -gen-x86-EVEX2VEX-tables — generates X86 EVEX to VEX compress tables.
  • -gen-x86-fold-tables — generates X86 fold tables.
  • -long-string-literals — when emitting large string tables, prefers string literals over comma-separated char literals. Genuinely can be a readability and compile-time performance win, but it upsets some compilers 😭 (their loss, honestly).
  • -print-enums — prints enumeration values for a class.
  • -class=classname — makes -print-enums print the enumeration list for the class you name in classname.
  • -print-sets — prints expanded sets, for testing DAG exprs.

🧚 mlir-tblgen Options 🧚

Okay so this whole next crew is the mlir-tblgen fam 🫶

  • -gen-avail-interface-decls — generates availability interface declarations.
  • -gen-avail-interface-defs — generates op interface definitions.
  • -gen-dialect-doc — generates dialect documentation.
  • -dialect — the dialect to generate.
  • -gen-directive-decl — generates declarations for directives (OpenMP, etc.).
  • -gen-enum-decls — generates enum utility declarations.
  • -gen-enum-defs — generates enum utility definitions.
  • -gen-enum-from-llvmir-conversions — generates conversions of EnumAttrs from LLVM IR.
  • -gen-enum-to-llvmir-conversions — generates conversions of EnumAttrs to LLVM IR.
  • -gen-llvmir-conversions — generates LLVM IR conversions.
  • -gen-llvmir-intrinsics — generates LLVM IR intrinsics.
  • -llvmir-intrinsics-filter — only keeps the intrinsics with the specified substring in their record name. Filtered, curated, iconic 👑
  • -dialect-opclass-base — the base class for the ops in the dialect we are to emit.
  • -gen-op-decls — generates operation declarations.
  • -gen-op-defs — generates operation definitions.
  • -asmformat-error-is-fatal — emits a fatal error if format parsing fails. No soft launches here, it's fatal fr fr 💀
  • -op-exclude-regex — regular expression of name of ops to exclude (no filter if empty).
  • -op-include-regex — regular expression of name of ops to include (no filter if empty).
  • -gen-op-doc — generates operation documentation.
  • -gen-pass-decls — the page literally describes this one as "Generate operation documentation." Yep. That's what it says 🤨 keeping it exactly as documented.
  • -name namestring — the name of this group of passes, given as namestring.
  • -gen-pass-doc — generates pass documentation.
  • -gen-rewriters — generates pattern rewriters.
  • -gen-spirv-avail-impls — generates SPIR-V operation utility definitions.
  • -gen-spirv-capability-implication — generates a utility function to return implied capabilities for a given capability.
  • -gen-spirv-enum-avail-decls — generates SPIR-V enum availability declarations.
  • -gen-spirv-enum-avail-defs — generates SPIR-V enum availability definitions.
  • -gen-spirv-op-utils — generates SPIR-V operation utility definitions.
  • -gen-spirv-serialization — generates SPIR-V (de)serialization utilities and functions.
  • -gen-struct-attr-decls — generates struct utility declarations.
  • -gen-struct-attr-defs — generates struct utility definitions.
  • -gen-typedef-decls — generates TypeDef declarations.
  • -gen-typedef-defs — generates TypeDef definitions.
  • -typedefs-dialect name — generates types for this dialect, named name.

✨ EXIT STATUS ✨

If *-tblgen succeeds, it will exit with 0 — slay 💖 Otherwise, if an error occurs, it will exit with a non-zero value. That's the whole vibe check.

🌸 Author 🌸

Maintained by the LLVM Team (https://llvm.org/). Shoutout to the maintainers, they're carrying 🫶

2003-2026, LLVM Project

And that's the whole page, bestie! This was TBLGEN(1), version 15, dated 2026-09-09 — go forth and generate all the things 🌈⭐💜

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