rules_kconfig

Bazel rules for parsing Kconfig files and generating equivalent Bazel build settings.

A kconfig repository exposes each config symbol as a Bazel build setting flag (bool_flag, int_flag, or string_flag) whose default matches the Kconfig-declared default. It also generates a config.h header (via rules_cc_autoconf) that reflects the active flag values, so C/C++ code can consume the configuration with #include "config.h".

Setup

Add the dependency to your MODULE.bazel:

bazel_dep(name = "rules_kconfig", version = "{version}")

A Python toolchain is required for parsing. Configure one with rules_python:

python = use_extension("@rules_python//python/extensions:python.bzl", "python")
python.toolchain(python_version = "3.12")
use_repo(python, "python_3_12_host")

Then register a kconfig repository via the module extension:

kconfig = use_extension("@rules_kconfig//kconfig:extensions.bzl", "kconfig")
kconfig.repo(
    name = "my_kconfig",
    kconfig = "//:Kconfig",
    interpreter = "@python_3_12_host//:python",
)
use_repo(kconfig, "my_kconfig")

Generated repository

For a Kconfig file such as:

config FOO
    bool "Enable FOO"
    default n

config COUNT
    int "Count"
    default 3

The generated repository @my_kconfig contains:

TargetDescription
@my_kconfig//:CONFIG_FOObool_flag (default False)
@my_kconfig//:CONFIG_COUNTint_flag (default 3)
@my_kconfig//:configcc_library providing config.h

Usage

Setting flag values

Flags can be set on the command line or in .bazelrc:

build --@my_kconfig//:CONFIG_FOO=true
build --@my_kconfig//:CONFIG_COUNT=7

Consuming config.h

Depend on the generated cc_library to include the header:

cc_library(
    name = "mylib",
    srcs = ["mylib.c"],
    deps = ["@my_kconfig//:config"],
)
#include "config.h"

#if CONFIG_FOO
/* FOO is enabled */
#endif

Reacting to flags with config_setting

Use config_setting + select() to vary build behavior:

config_setting(
    name = "foo_enabled",
    flag_values = {"@my_kconfig//:CONFIG_FOO": "true"},
)

cc_library(
    name = "mylib",
    srcs = ["mylib.c"],
    deps = select({
        ":foo_enabled": ["//extras:foo_support"],
        "//conditions:default": [],
    }),
)

Providing defaults via .config

You can supply a .config file to override Kconfig defaults. Pass the defaults attribute when declaring the repository:

kconfig.repo(
    name = "my_kconfig",
    kconfig = "//:Kconfig",
    defaults = "//:.config",
    interpreter = "@python_3_12_host//:python",
)

If any Kconfig symbol uses $(shell,...) for its default and is not explicitly set in the .config file, the repository rule will fail with an actionable error message.

Interactive configuration with menuconfig

The menuconfig rule launches kconfiglib's terminal UI for interactive Kconfig editing. Add a target to your BUILD.bazel:

load("@rules_kconfig//kconfig:menuconfig.bzl", "menuconfig")

menuconfig(
    name = "menuconfig",
    kconfig = "//:Kconfig",
)

Then run:

bazel run //:menuconfig

The TUI reads and writes the .config file in your workspace root.

Overriding configuration on external repositories

When a kconfig repository is declared by an external dependency, use kconfig.overrides to overlay your own .config without modifying the external module. If the source repository was itself created with a .config, the overrides are stacked on top of those base values:

kconfig = use_extension("@rules_kconfig//kconfig:extensions.bzl", "kconfig")
kconfig.overrides(
    name = "my_board_config",
    kconfig = "@ext_kconfig//:ext_kconfig",
    config = "//:.config",
    interpreter = "@python_3_12_host//:python",
)
use_repo(kconfig, "my_board_config")

Then wrap targets that depend on kconfig flags with the generated transition rule:

load("@my_board_config//:defs.bzl", "with_kconfig_overrides")

with_kconfig_overrides(
    name = "ext_config_customized",
    actual = "@ext_kconfig//:config",
)

Values explicitly set on the command line take precedence over the overlay.

rules_kconfig

Bazel rules for parsing Kconfig files and generating equivalent Bazel build settings and config.h headers.

Module extension

The primary interface is the kconfig module extension. Each kconfig.repo tag parses a Kconfig file tree and generates a repository containing:

  • A bool_flag, int_flag, or string_flag for every config symbol.
  • A cc_library target (:config) that provides config.h reflecting the active flag values.
kconfig = use_extension("@rules_kconfig//kconfig:extensions.bzl", "kconfig")
kconfig.repo(
    name = "my_kconfig",
    kconfig = "//:Kconfig",
    interpreter = "@python_3_12_host//:python",
)
use_repo(kconfig, "my_kconfig")

Use kconfig.overrides to overlay a .config file onto an external kconfig repository via a Starlark transition:

kconfig.overrides(
    name = "my_board_config",
    kconfig = "@ext_kconfig//:ext_kconfig",
    config = "//:.config",
    interpreter = "@python_3_12_host//:python",
)
use_repo(kconfig, "my_board_config")

See the Introduction for full setup and usage instructions.

Rules

Providers

Repository Rules

Module Extensions

kconfig_library

load("@rules_kconfig//kconfig:defs.bzl", "kconfig_library")

kconfig_library(name, deps, srcs, root)

Collect Kconfig source files into a single provider for use by menuconfig and repository rules.

All source files must be real (non-generated) files. If a single source is provided, it is automatically treated as the root. When multiple sources are present, set root explicitly to indicate the top-level Kconfig entry point. Transitive sources from deps are included in the provider.

ATTRIBUTES

NameDescriptionTypeMandatoryDefault
nameA unique name for this target.Namerequired
depsOther kconfig_library targets whose sources should be included transitively.List of labelsoptional[]
srcsKconfig source files. Must be real (non-generated) files.List of labelsoptional[]
rootThe top-level Kconfig file. Inferred automatically when srcs contains exactly one file.LabeloptionalNone

kconfig_toolchain

load("@rules_kconfig//kconfig:defs.bzl", "kconfig_toolchain")

kconfig_toolchain(name, kconfiglib)

Declares a kconfig toolchain backed by kconfiglib.

ATTRIBUTES

NameDescriptionTypeMandatoryDefault
nameA unique name for this target.Namerequired
kconfiglibA py_library providing kconfiglib.Labelrequired

load("@rules_kconfig//kconfig:defs.bzl", "menuconfig")

menuconfig(name, config, kconfig)

Launch kconfiglib's menuconfig TUI for interactive Kconfig editing.

Run with bazel run to interactively create or edit a .config file against a Kconfig tree. The TUI writes the resulting configuration to the path specified by config (relative to the workspace root).

ATTRIBUTES

NameDescriptionTypeMandatoryDefault
nameA unique name for this target.Namerequired
configWorkspace-relative path to the .config file to read/write.Stringrequired
kconfigA kconfig_library target providing the Kconfig source tree.Labelrequired

KConfigInfo

load("@rules_kconfig//kconfig:defs.bzl", "KConfigInfo")

KConfigInfo(root, srcs)

Encapsulates a Kconfig source tree: an optional root file and all source files (direct and transitive).

FIELDS

NameDescription
rootOptional[File]: The top-level Kconfig file that kconfiglib should parse. May be None when a library contributes sources but is not itself a root.
srcsdepset[File]: All Kconfig source files (direct and transitive) reachable from this library.

kconfig_overrides_repository

load("@rules_kconfig//kconfig:defs.bzl", "kconfig_overrides_repository")

kconfig_overrides_repository(name, config, interpreter, kconfig, kconfiglib_anchor)

Overlay .config values onto an existing kconfig repository.

Reads the manifest from the source kconfig repository to locate the symlinked Kconfig source tree, then reparses with kconfiglib and a user-provided .config file. If the source repository was itself created with a .config, the overrides are stacked on top of those base values. Generates a defs.bzl containing a Starlark transition and wrapper rule that apply the overrides.

Values explicitly set on the command line take precedence over the overlay.

The generated defs.bzl creates the transition and rule:

ruledescription
kconfig_override_transitionA transition that applies transitions for each default in .config
with_kconfig_overridesA rule similar to alias that applies kconfig_override_transition to the target

Use with_kconfig_overrides to wrap a kconfig-dependent target:

load("@base_kconfig_override//:defs.bzl", "with_kconfig_overrides")

with_kconfig_overrides(
    name = "config",
    actual = ":consumer_of_base",
)

ATTRIBUTES

NameDescriptionTypeMandatoryDefault
nameA unique name for this repository.Namerequired
config.config file with override values.Labelrequired
interpreterA Python interpreter target used to run the generator.Labelrequired
kconfigLabel to the kconfig manifest from the source kconfig repository (e.g. @my_kconfig//:my_kconfig).Labelrequired
kconfiglib_anchorLabel used to locate the kconfiglib package. Managed by the module extension.Labelrequired

kconfig_repository

load("@rules_kconfig//kconfig:defs.bzl", "kconfig_repository")

kconfig_repository(name, apparent_name, defaults, interpreter, kconfig, kconfiglib_anchor)

Parse a Kconfig file tree and generate a Bazel repository with build settings.

The generated repository contains a bool_flag, int_flag, or string_flag for every config symbol found in the Kconfig tree, plus a cc_library target (:config) providing a config.h header that reflects the active flag values.

The Kconfig source tree is symlinked into kconfig_srcs/ and a kconfig.manifest.json records the root file and all visited files. A repo-named symlink (e.g. @my_kconfig//:my_kconfig) points to the manifest for downstream consumers.

Prefer using the kconfig module extension rather than calling this rule directly.

ATTRIBUTES

NameDescriptionTypeMandatoryDefault
nameA unique name for this repository.Namerequired
apparent_nameThe user-facing repository name (used for the repo-named symlink). Defaults to the canonical name.Stringoptional""
defaultsOptional .config file with explicit symbol values that override Kconfig defaults.LabeloptionalNone
interpreterA Python interpreter target used to run the Kconfig parser.Labelrequired
kconfigThe root Kconfig file to parse. All files referenced via source directives are followed automatically.Labelrequired
kconfiglib_anchorLabel used to locate the kconfiglib package. Managed by the module extension.Labelrequired

kconfig

kconfig = use_extension("@rules_kconfig//kconfig:defs.bzl", "kconfig")
kconfig.overrides(name, config, interpreter, kconfig)
kconfig.repo(name, defaults, interpreter, kconfig)

Configure kconfig repositories.

TAG CLASSES

overrides

Overlay .config overrides onto an existing kconfig repository.

Attributes

NameDescriptionTypeMandatoryDefault
nameThe name of the generated overrides repository.Namerequired
config.config file with override values.Labelrequired
interpreterA Python interpreter target (e.g. @python_3_12_host//:python).Labelrequired
kconfigLabel to the kconfig manifest from the source repository (e.g. @ext_kconfig//:ext_kconfig).Labelrequired

repo

Declare a kconfig repository to be generated from a Kconfig file tree.

Attributes

NameDescriptionTypeMandatoryDefault
nameThe name of the generated repository. Symbols are accessible as @<name>//:CONFIG_<symbol>.Namerequired
defaultsOptional .config file providing default overrides for Kconfig symbols.LabeloptionalNone
interpreterA Python interpreter target used to run the Kconfig parser (e.g. @python_3_12_host//:python).Labelrequired
kconfigThe root Kconfig file to parse. All files referenced via source directives are followed automatically.Labelrequired