distcc is a free software program for compiling C and its derivatives like C++ and Objective-C source code over a computer network. It is designed to work with gcc, although it provides varying degrees of compatibility with the Intel C++ Compiler and Sun's compiler[1]. With the right configuration, distcc can dramatically reduce a project's compilation time. distcc is distributed under the terms of the GNU General Public License.
| distcc | |
|---|---|
| Developer(s) | Martin Pool |
| Stable release | 2.18.3
/ November 30, 2004 |
| Repository | |
| Operating system | Cross-platform |
| Type | Compiling tools |
| License | GNU General Public License |
| Website | distcc |
The intention is to speed up compilation by utilising unused processing power on other computers. A machine with distcc installed can send code to be compiled across the network to a computer which has the distccd daemon and a compatible compiler installed.
distcc works as an agent for the compiler. A distcc daemon has to run on each of the participating machines. The originating machine invokes a preprocessor to handle header files, preprocessing directives (such as #ifdef) and the source files and sends the preprocessed source to other machines over the network via TCP either unencrypted or using SSH. Remote machines compile those source files without any local dependencies (such as libraries, header files or macro definitions) to object files and send them back to the originator for further compilation.
ccache is another tool aimed to reduce the compilation time by caching the output from the same input source files.
distcc is included in Apple's Xcode development suite.
