# The Optional Retro Compiler

In addition to the base system, users of RETRO on Unix hosts
with ELF executables can build and use the `retro-compiler`
to generate turnkey executables.

## Requirements

- Unix host
- ELF executable support
- `objcopy` in the $PATH

## Building

   make bin/retro-compiler

## Installing

Copy `bin/retro-compiler` to somewhere in your $PATH.

## Using

`retro-compiler` takes two arguments: the source file to
compile and the name of the word to use as the main entry
point.

Example:

Given a `hello.forth`:

    ~~~
    :hello 'Hello_World! s:put nl ;
    ~~~

Use:

    retro-compiler hello.forth hello

The compiler will generate an `a.out` file which you can
then rename.

## Known Limitations

This does not provide the scripting support for command line
arguments that the standard `retro` interface offers.

A copy of `objcopy` needs to be in the path for compilation
to work.

The current working directory must be writable.

This only supports hosts using ELF executables.

The output file name is fixed to `a.out`.