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Update docs site for version 2.24.0a0 (#294)
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4 changes: 4 additions & 0 deletions versioned_docs/version-2.24/docs/ad-hoc-tools/_category_.json
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{
"label": "Ad-Hoc Tools",
"position": 13
}
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---
title: Integrating new tools without plugins
sidebar_position: 999
---

---

## Integrating new tools without plugins

The `adhoc_tool` target allows you to execute "runnable" targets inside the Pants sandbox. Runnable targets include first-party sources that can be run with `pants run`, 3rd-party dependencies like `python_requirement` or `jvm_artifact`, or even executables that exist on your system and managed externally to Pants.

`adhoc_tool` provides you with the building blocks needed to put together a custom build process without needing to develop and maintain a plugin. The level of initial effort involved in using `adhoc_tool` is significantly lower than that of [writing a plugin](../writing-plugins/overview.mdx), so it's well-suited to consuming one-off scripts, or for rapidly prototyping a process before actually writing a plugin. The tradeoff is that there is more manual work involved in defining build processes that reflect your codebase's structure, and that the targets that define the tools you consume are less easy to reuse.

The `antlr` demo in the [`example-adhoc` repository](https://github.com/pantsbuild/example-adhoc) shows an example of running a JVM-based tool to transparently generate Python code that can be used in another language:

```
adhoc_tool(
name="run_antlr",
runnable=":antlr4",
args=["Expr.g4", "-Dlanguage=Python3", "-o", "expr_parser", "-package", "expr_parser",],
output_directories=["expr_parser",],
# These are consumed by `antlr`, but are not relevant to this target's dependents.
execution_dependencies=[":grammars"],
# These are needed by the code that is output by this target
output_dependencies=[":antlr4-python3-runtime",],
root_output_directory=".",
log_output=True,
)
```

### `runnable` targets

"Runnable" targets are targets that Pants knows how to execute within its sandbox. Generally, these correspond to targets that can be executed with the `pants run` goal, and include first-party source files, as well as third-party dependencies.

The tool will be run with values from `args` specified as arguments. By default, the process' working directory will be the directory where the `BUILD` file is defined. This can be adjusted using the `workdir` field.

:::caution `runnable` targets must be pure functions
When run by `adhoc_tool`, Pants assumes that the inputs provided to the process -- that is, the values of the `adhoc_tool`'s fields, and the contents of the runnable and execution dependencies -- fully describe the output. Output values will be [cached](../introduction/how-does-pants-work.mdx#caching) by Pants, and future invocations with identical inputs will be retrieved from the cache instead of being re-executed. If your process has behavior that is not fully defined by its inputs, Pants' behavior may be unexpected or inconsistent.
:::

:::caution `runnable` targets must be idempotent
`adhoc_tool` processes may be cancelled or retried any number of times, so it is important that any side effects are idempotent. That is, it should not matter if it is run several times, or only partially.
:::

### Specifying dependencies

`adhoc_tool` has more complexity surrounding dependencies compared with Pants' first-class targets. This is because you need to do manual work to set up the execution environment, which is usually taken care of by plugin code.

`adhoc_tool` has three dependencies fields:

- `output_dependencies`, which defines dependencies that are required to effectively consume the output of the tool, _e.g._ runtime libraries for generated code bindings. Any targets that (transitively) depend on the `adhoc_tool` target will also transitively depend on these dependencies.
- `execution_dependencies`, which define data dependencies required for the tool to produce its output. These are not considered when resolving transitive dependencies that include this `adhoc_tool` target.
- `runnable_dependencies`, which define runnables that the `adhoc_tool` needs on its `PATH` to execute as a subprocess. These are also not considered when resolving transitive dependencies. The discussion of `system_binary` later in this page shows one key use of `runnable_dependencies`.

In the `antlr` example, `output_dependencies` is used because the tool produces Python-based bindings that depend on a runtime library. `execution_dependencies` specifies the sources that are consumed by the tool, but do not need to be consumed by subsequent build steps.

### Specifying outputs

Generally, `adhoc_tool` targets are run to produce outputs that can be supplied to other targets. These can be in the form of files or directories that are output directly by the tools: use the `output_files` field to capture individual files, or `output_directories` to capture entire directories as output.

Files are captured relative to the build root by default: this is useful when passing results to further `adhoc_tool` targets defined in the same `BUILD` file. If this behavior is not right for you, for example, if you are producing an artifact for packaging, you can change the root of the outputs using the `root_output_directory` field.

Finally, if you want to capture `stdout` or `stderr` from your tool, you can use the `stdout` or `stderr` fields. These specify filenames where those streams will be dumped once the process completes. Note that these files are specified in addition to those from the `output_files` field, and an error will occur if the filename occurs in the outputs arising from `output_files` or `output_directories` and the contents of that file are different.

### Chaining processes together

_Our [JavaScript demo](https://github.com/pantsbuild/example-adhoc/tree/main/javascript) demonstrates a string of `adhoc_tool` targets that's used to produce a resource file._

To get the best cache efficiency, it can make sense to break your `adhoc_tool` into smaller incremental steps. For example, if your process needs to fetch dependencies and then build a library based on those dependencies and some first-party source files, having one `adhoc_tool` for each of those steps means that the dependency-fetching stage will only be re-run when your requirements change, and not when the first-party source files change.

Generally, if you are chaining `adhoc_tool` targets together , it will be easier to use the default `workdir` and `root_output_directory` fields for each step that will be consumed by an `adhoc_tool` in the same `BUILD` file. Change the `root_output_directory` only for targets that are intended to be used in other places or ways.

### Wrapping generated sources for use by other targets

_Our [Antlr demo](https://github.com/pantsbuild/example-adhoc/tree/main/antlr) demonstrates wrapping the outputs of `adhoc_tool` targets for use as Python sources._

`adhoc_tool` generates `file` sources by default. This can be acceptable if generating assets that do not need to be consumed as source files for another Pants backend. Other Pants backends need generated sources to be marked as actual source files.

There are several targets included in Pants with the prefix `experimental_wrap_as_`. These act as a source target that can be used as a dependency in a given language backend, with the caveat that dependency inference is not available.

### Using externally-managed tools

_Our [JavaScript demo](https://github.com/pantsbuild/example-adhoc/tree/main/javascript) demonstrates the use of externally-managed binaries._

Some build processes need to make use of tools that can't be modeled within a Pants codebase. The `system_binary` target lets you make use of a binary that is installed on the system. `system_binary` targets may be specified as `runnable` or `runnable_dependency` values for `adhoc_tool`.

`system_binary` will search for a binary in pre-defined or user-supplied search paths with a given `binary_name`. To improve reproducibility, it's possible to test matching binaries with sample arguments, to see if its output matches a given regular expression. This can be used to match against version strings. If a such a binary does not exist on the system where Pants is being run, any build involving this `system_binary` target will fail.

When specified as a `runnable_dependency`, the binary will be available on the `PATH` with the target name of the dependency. This can be important if the `runnable` field invokes a subprocess (for example, `yarn` tries to invoke a binary called `node` as its interpreter).

### Running shell scripts

Currently, `shell_source` targets are not runnable. In the meantime, it is possible to run a shell script as an `adhoc_tool` through the following approach:

- Declare a `system_binary` target referring to your preferred shell (e.g. `bash`, `zsh`, `fish`)
- Declare an `adhoc_tool`, with the `runnable` field pointing at your `system_binary` target, add your `shell_source` as an `execution_dependency`, and provide your script's path relative to the buildroot as the first value in `args`

This is clearly not as convenient as directly running a `shell_source` target, and we anticipate adding support in a future version of Pants.
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{
"label": "Contributions",
"position": 16
}
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{
"label": "Development",
"position": 2
}
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---
title: Debugging and benchmarking
sidebar_position: 4
---

Some techniques to figure out why Pants is behaving the way it is.

---

## Benchmarking with `hyperfine`

We use `hyperfine` to benchmark, especially comparing before and after to see the impact of a change: [https://github.com/sharkdp/hyperfine](https://github.com/sharkdp/hyperfine).

When benchmarking, you must decide if you care about cold cache performance vs. warm cache (or both). If cold, use `--no-pantsd --no-local-cache`. If warm, use hyperfine's option `--warmup=1`.

For example:

```
❯ hyperfine --warmup=1 --runs=5 'pants list ::`
❯ hyperfine --runs=5 'pants --no-pantsd --no-local-cache lint ::'
```

## CPU profiling with py-spy

`py-spy` is a profiling sampler which can also be used to compare the impact of a change before and after: [https://github.com/benfred/py-spy](https://github.com/benfred/py-spy).

To profile with `py-spy`:

1. Activate Pants' development venv
- `source ~/.cache/pants/pants_dev_deps/<your platform dir>/bin/activate`
2. Install `py-spy` into it
- `pip install py-spy`
3. Run Pants with `py-spy` (be sure to disable `pantsd`)
- `PYTHONPATH=src/python NO_SCIE_WARNING=1 py-spy record --subprocesses -- python -m pants.bin.pants_loader --no-pantsd <pants args>`
- If you're running Pants from sources on code in another repo, set `PYTHONPATH` to the `src/python` dir in the pants repo, and set `PANTS_VERSION` to the current dev version in that repo.
- On MacOS you may have to run this as root, under `sudo`.

The default output is a flamegraph. `py-spy` can also output speedscope ([https://github.com/jlfwong/speedscope](https://github.com/jlfwong/speedscope)) JSON with the `--format speedscope` flag. The resulting file can be uploaded to [https://www.speedscope.app/](https://www.speedscope.app/) which provides a per-process, interactive, detailed UI.

Additionally, to profile the Rust code the `--native` flag can be passed to `py-spy` as well. The resulting output will contain frames from Pants Rust code.

## Memory profiling with memray

`memray` is a Python memory profiler that can also track allocation in native extension modules: [https://bloomberg.github.io/memray/](https://bloomberg.github.io/memray/).

To profile with `memray`:

1. Activate Pants' development venv
- `source ~/.cache/pants/pants_dev_deps/<your platform dir>/bin/activate`
2. Install `memray` into it
- `pip install memray`
3. Run Pants with `memray`
- `PYTHONPATH=src/python NO_SCIE_WARNING=1 memray run --native -o output.bin -m pants.bin.pants_loader --no-pantsd <pants args>`
- If you're running Pants from sources on code in another repo, set `PYTHONPATH` to the `src/python` dir in the pants repo, and set `PANTS_VERSION` to the current dev version in that repo.

Note that in many cases it will be easier and more useful to run Pants with the `--stats-memory-summary` flag.

## Debugging `rule` code with a debugger in VSCode

Running pants with the `PANTS_DEBUG` environment variable set will use `debugpy` ([https://github.com/microsoft/debugpy](https://github.com/microsoft/debugpy))
to start a Debug-Adapter server ([https://microsoft.github.io/debug-adapter-protocol/](https://microsoft.github.io/debug-adapter-protocol/)) which will
wait for a client connection before running Pants.

You can connect any Debug-Adapter-compliant editor (Such as VSCode) as a client, and use breakpoints,
inspect variables, run code in a REPL, and break-on-exceptions in your `rule` code.

NOTE: `PANTS_DEBUG` doesn't work with the pants daemon, so `--no-pantsd` must be specified.

## Debugging `rule` code with a debugger in PyCharm

You'll have to follow a different procedure until PyCharm adds Debug-Adapter support:

1. Add a requirement on `pydevd-pycharm` in your local clone of the pants source in [3rdparty/python/requirements.txt](https://github.com/pantsbuild/pants/blob/main/3rdparty/python/requirements.txt)
2. Add this snippet where you want to break:

```python
import pydevd_pycharm
pydevd_pycharm.settrace('localhost', port=5000, stdoutToServer=True, stderrToServer=True)
```

3. Start a remote debugging session
4. Run pants from your clone. The build will automatically install the new requirement. For example:

```
example-python$ PANTS_SOURCE=<path_to_your_pants_clone> pants --no-pantsd test ::
```

## Identifying the impact of Python's GIL (on macOS)

<iframe
class="embedly-embed"
src="//cdn.embedly.com/widgets/media.html?src=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fembed%2FzALr3zFIQJo%3Ffeature%3Doembed&display_name=YouTube&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DzALr3zFIQJo&image=https%3A%2F%2Fi.ytimg.com%2Fvi%2FzALr3zFIQJo%2Fhqdefault.jpg&key=f2aa6fc3595946d0afc3d76cbbd25dc3&type=text%2Fhtml&schema=youtube"
width="640"
height="480"
scrolling="no"
title="YouTube embed"
frameborder="0"
allow="autoplay; fullscreen"
allowfullscreen="true"
></iframe>

## Obtaining Full Thread Backtraces

Pants runs as a Python program that calls into a native Rust library. In debugging locking and deadlock issues, it is useful to capture dumps of the thread stacks in order to figure out where a deadlock may be occurring.

One-time setup:

1. Ensure that gdb is installed.
- Ubuntu: `sudo apt install gdb`
2. Ensure that the kernel is configured to allow debuggers to attach to processes that are not in the same parent/child process hierarchy.
- `echo 0 | sudo tee /proc/sys/kernel/yama/ptrace_scope`
- To make the change permanent, add a file to /etc/sysctl.d named `99-ptrace.conf` with contents `kernel.yama.ptrace_scope = 0`. **Note: This is a security exposure if you are not normally debugging processes across the process hierarchy.**
3. Ensure that the debug info for your system Python binary is installed.
- Ubuntu: `sudo apt install python3-dbg`

Dumping thread stacks:

1. Find the pants binary (which may include pantsd if pantsd is enabled).
- Run: `ps -ef | grep pants`
2. Invoke gdb with the python binary and the process ID:
- Run: `gdb /path/to/python/binary PROCESS_ID`
3. Enable logging to write the thread dump to `gdb.txt`: `set logging on`
4. Dump all thread backtraces: `thread apply all bt`
5. If you use pyenv to manage your Python install, a gdb script will exist in the same directory as the Python binary. Source it into gdb:
- `source ~/.pyenv/versions/3.8.5/bin/python3.8-gdb.py` (if using version 3.8.5)
6. Dump all Python stacks: `thread apply all py-bt`
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