.. _embedding_build_configuration:

========================
Build Configuration
========================

.. _unicode:

----------
Unicode
----------

.. index:: single: Unicode

By default Squirrel strings are plain 8-bits ASCII characters; however if the symbol
'SQUNICODE' is defined the VM, compiler and API will use 16-bit characters (UCS2).

.. _squirrel_64bits:

--------------------------------
Squirrel on 64-bit architectures
--------------------------------

.. index::
    single: Squirrel on 64-bit architectures
    single: 64 bits

Squirrel can be compiled on 64-bit architectures by defining '_SQ64' in the C++
preprocessor. This flag should be defined in any project that includes 'squirrel.h'.

.. _userdata_alignment:

------------------
Userdata Alignment
------------------

.. index:: single: Userdata Alignment

Both class instances and userdatas can have a buffer associated to them.
Squirrel specifies the alignment(in bytes) through the preprocessor defining 'SQ_ALIGNMENT'.
By default SQ_ALIGNMENT is defined as 4 for 32-bit builds and 8 for 64-bit builds and builds that use 64-bit floats.
It is possible to override the value of SQ_ALIGNMENT respecting the following rules.
SQ_ALIGNMENT shall be less than or equal to SQ_MALLOC alignments, and it shall be power of 2.

.. note:: This only applies for userdata allocated by the VM, specified via sq_setclassudsize() or belonging to a userdata object.
        userpointers specified by the user are not affected by alignment rules.

.. _standalone_vm:

------------------------------------
Stand-alone VM without compiler
------------------------------------

.. index:: single: Stand-alone VM without compiler

Squirrel's VM can be compiled without its compiler by defining 'NO_COMPILER' in the C++ preprocessor.
When 'NO_COMPILER' is defined all function related to the compiler (eg. sq_compile) will fail. Other functions
that conditionally load precompiled bytecode or compile a file (eg. sqstd_dofile) will only work with
precompiled bytecode.