aboutsummaryrefslogtreecommitdiff
path: root/README.md
diff options
context:
space:
mode:
Diffstat (limited to 'README.md')
-rw-r--r--README.md35
1 files changed, 35 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d6fbc17
--- /dev/null
+++ b/README.md
@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+# cabal-helper
+
+`cabal-helper` provides a library which wraps the internal use of executables
+to lift the restrictions imposed by linking against versions of GHC before
+`7.10`.
+
+`cabal-helper` uses a wrapper executable to compile the actual cabal-helper
+executable at runtime while linking against an arbitrary version of
+Cabal. This runtime-compiled helper executable is then used to extract
+various bits and peices from Cabal on disk state (dist/setup-config) written
+by it's configure command.
+
+In addition to this the wrapper executable also supports installing any
+version of Cabal from hackage in case it cannot be found in any available
+package database. The wrapper installs these instances of the Cabal library
+into a private package database so as to not interfere with the user's
+packages.
+
+Furthermore the wrapper supports one special case namely reading a state
+file for Cabal itself. This is needed as Cabal compiles it's Setup.hs using
+itself and not using any version of Cabal installed in any package database.
+
+Currently `cabal-helper` supports @Cabal >= 1.16@.
+
+## IRC
+
+If you have any problems, suggestions, comments swing by
+[\#ghc-mod (web client)](https://kiwiirc.com/client/irc.freenode.org/ghc-mod) on
+Freenode. If you're reporting a bug please also create an issue
+[here](https://github.com/DanielG/cabal-helper/issues) so we have a way to
+contact you if you don't have time to stay.
+
+Do hang around for a while if no one answers and repeat your question if you
+still haven't gotten any answer after a day or so. You're most likely to get an
+answer during the day in GMT+1.