&SCons; supports several types of &build_actions;
that can be performed to build one or more target files.
Usually, a &build_action; is a command-line string
that invokes an external command.
A build action can also be an external command
specified as a list of arguments,
or even a Python function.
Build action objects are created by the &Action; function.
This function is, in fact, what &SCons; uses
to interpret the &action;
keyword argument when you call the &Builder; function.
So the following line that creates a simple Builder:
b = Builder(action = 'build < $SOURCE > $TARGET')
Is equivalent to:
b = Builder(action = Action('build < $SOURCE > $TARGET'))
The advantage of using the &Action; function directly
is that it can take a number of additional options
to modify the action's behavior in many useful ways.
Command Strings as Actions
Suppressing Command-Line Printing
XXX
Argument Lists as Actions
XXX
Python Functions as Actions
XXX
Modifying How an Action is Printed
XXX: the &strfunction; keyword argument
XXX
XXX: the &cmdstr; keyword argument
XXX
Making an Action Depend on Variable Contents: the &varlist; keyword argument
XXX
Batch Building of Multiple Targets from Separate Sources: the &batch_key; keyword argument
XXX
Manipulating the Exit Status of an Action: the &exitstatfunc; keyword argument
XXX