Full definition of .cabal file syntax

Question

I have googled extensively, and while I can find many examples of cabal files as well as good tutorials, I would like to have a proper grammar definition for the .cabal file format. Alas, I have not been able to find it. The more recent cabal documentation only mentions that its file format is backwards compatible -- with no links to the 'original' format with which it is compatible! Not useful.

score 15 · Answer 1 · edited Mar 17 '15 at 20:19

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a proper grammar definition for the .cabal file format.

The grammar is defined by its parser. I don't know of a formal specification.

edited Mar 17 '15 at 20:19

Benjamin Barenblat

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answered Jun 18 '12 at 11:54

Don Stewart

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It certainly is *an* answer. I may even be forced to accept it as 'the' answer. Unfortunate. – Jacques Carette Jun 18 '12 at 20:38
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If a formal grammar existed there is no reason the developers would not have included it along with the sources, hence the parser is very likely the closest thing to a grammar that you will find. – Laurent Giroud Jun 26 '14 at 05:28

score 4 · Accepted Answer · answered Jun 24 '15 at 14:01

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Is this what you want?

Distribution.PackageDiscription

answered Jun 24 '15 at 14:01

rem

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score 1 · Answer 3 · answered Jan 30 '20 at 02:06

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The list of the fields, whether they are required or not, and what goes in them is here https://www.haskell.org/cabal/users-guide/developing-packages.html#package-properties.

Not the most obvious of places, I must admit.

answered Jan 30 '20 at 02:06

Marcelo Lazaroni

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Full definition of .cabal file syntax

3 Answers3