c2hs

TLDR

Generate Haskell bindings from C header

$ c2hs [header.h] [bindings.chs]

Specify include path

$ c2hs -C -I[/path/to/includes] [bindings.chs]

Pass preprocessor defines

$ c2hs -C -D[MACRO=value] [bindings.chs]

Specify output directory

$ c2hs -o [output_dir] [bindings.chs]

Show help

$ c2hs --help

SYNOPSIS

c2hs [options] header.h binding.chs

c2hs is a C to Haskell interface generator that simplifies creating FFI bindings to C libraries. It extracts interface information from C header files and generates Haskell code with foreign imports and correct type marshaling.
The tool processes .chs files containing Haskell code with embedded hooks that reference C structures and functions.

PARAMETERS

-C options

Pass options to C preprocessor (-I, -D, etc.)

-o directory

Output directory for generated files

-c compiler

Use specific C compiler

--cppopts=options

C preprocessor options

-d type

Dump internal information (trace, genbind, ctrav, chs)

-k

Keep intermediate files

--help

Show help

--version

Show version

WORKFLOW

1. Write .chs file with Haskell code and C hooks
2. Run c2hs to generate .hs file
3. Compile generated Haskell module

CABAL INTEGRATION

Cabal automatically processes .chs files and runs c2hs with appropriate flags.

CAVEATS

Generated code is BSD licensed. Requires C header files to be accessible. Complex C constructs may need manual binding.