CODEWITHSUNDEEP
compilationerlang
null
null

Reputation: 145

Why Erlang compile:file does not report error for unknown options?

The correct option for debug information is debug_info:

1> compile:file(hello, [debug_info, export_all]).
{ok,hello}

On the other hand, what I don't understand is why the compilation is always successful, also when passing non-existing options?

For example

2> compile:file(hello, [debug, export_all]).
{ok,hello}

or

3> compile:file(hello, [foobar, export_all]).
{ok,hello}

Why these two examples do not report error ?

Upvotes: 2

Views: 65

Answers (1)

Steve Pallen
Steve Pallen

Reputation: 4507

It is common in Erlang to ignore invalid options. Options are fetched with defaults. Something like this:

1> Opts = [{opt1, 1}, {other, 2}].
[{opt1,1},{other,2}]
2> %% Inside function
2> Opt1 = proplists:get_value(one, Opts, 1),
2> Opt2 = proplists:get_value(two, Opts, 2).
2
3> Opt1.
1
4> Opt2.
2
5>

Upvotes: 2

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