This document is an overview of building and installing Modules on a Unix system.
Modules consists of one Tcl script so to run it from a user shell the only
requirement is to have a working version of tclsh (version 8.5 or later)
available on your system. tclsh is a part of Tcl
(http://www.tcl-lang.org/software/tcltk/).
To install Modules from a distribution tarball or a clone of the git repository, a build step is there to tailor the :file:`modulecmd.tcl` and the initialization scripts to the chosen installation configuration and create the documentation files. This build step requires the tools to be found on your system:
- bash
- make
- sed
- runtest
When also installing Modules Tcl extension library (enabled by default), these additional tools are needed:
- grep
- gcc
- tcl-devel >= 8.5
When installing from a distribution tarball, documentation is pre-built and scripts to configure Modules Tcl extension library build are already generated. Thus no additional software is required. When installing from a clone of the git repository or from a git archive export, documentation and scripts to prepare for compilation have to be built and the following tools are required:
- autoconf
- automake
- autopoint
- m4
- python
- sphinx >= 1.0
- gzip
The following features of Modules rely on external tools. Default tool may be changed or their location on target system may be specified. Alternatively these features may also be disabled.
| Feature option | Default external tool | Installation options |
|---|---|---|
| pager | less |
:instopt:`--with-pager`,
--without-pager |
| logger | logger |
:instopt:`--with-logger`,
--without-logger |
| tcl_linter | nagelfar.tcl |
:instopt:`--with-tcl-linter`,
--without-linter |
Modules can usually be installed with the package manager of your Unix system.
It it is available by default on most Linux distributions, on OS X and
FreeBSD either
under the name of modules or environment-modules.
If you want to install Modules from sources, tarballs from all Modules' releases can be retrieved from one of the following link:
- https://github.com/cea-hpc/modules/releases/
- https://sourceforge.net/projects/modules/files/Modules/
For instance to download then unpack the last release of Modules:
:ps:`$` curl -LJO |gh_tgz_dl_url| :ps:`$` tar xfz modules-|version|.tar.gz
The simplest way to build and install Modules is:
:ps:`$` ./configure :ps:`$` make :ps:`$` make install
Some explanation, step by step:
cdto the directory containing the package's source code. Your system must have the above requirements installed to properly build scripts, and documentation if build occurs from a clone of the git repository.- Type
./configureto adapt the installation for your system. At this step you can choose the installation paths and the features you want to enable in the initialization scripts (see Build and installation options section below for a complete overview of the available options) - Type
maketo adapt scripts to the configuration, build Tcl extension library if enabled and build documentation if working from git repository. - Optionally, type
make test QUICKTEST=1to run the lightweight version of the non-regression test suite. - Type
make installto install modulecmd.tcl, initialization scripts and documentation. - Optionally, type
make testinstallto run the installation test suite. - You can remove the built files from the source code directory by typing
make clean. To also remove the files thatconfigurecreated, typemake distclean.
A default installation process like described above will install Modules
under /usr/local/Modules. You can change this with the :instopt:`--prefix`
option. By default, /usr/local/Modules/modulefiles will be setup as
the default directory containing modulefiles. :instopt:`--modulefilesdir`
option enables to change this directory location. For example:
:ps:`$` ./configure --prefix=/usr/share/Modules \ --modulefilesdir=/etc/modulefiles
See Build and installation options section to discover all ./configure
option available.
Note
GNU Make is excepted to be used for this build and installation
process. On non-Linux systems, the gmake should be called instead of
make.
Once installed you should review and adapt the configuration to make it fit your needs. The following steps are provided for example. They are not necessarily mandatory as it depends of the kind of setup you want to achieve.
Enable Modules initialization at shell startup. An easy way to get module function defined and its associated configuration setup at shell startup is to make the initialization scripts part of the system-wide environment setup in
/etc/profile.d. To do so, make a link in this directory to the profile scripts that can be found in your Modules installation init directory::ps:`$` ln -s PREFIX/init/profile.sh /etc/profile.d/modules.sh :ps:`$` ln -s PREFIX/init/profile.csh /etc/profile.d/modules.csh
These profile scripts will automatically adapt to the kind of
shorcshshell you are running.Another approach may be to get the Modules initialization script sourced from the shell configuration startup file. For instance following line could be added to the end of the
~/.bashrcfile if running Bash shell:source PREFIX/init/bash
Beware that shells have multiple ways to initialize depending if they are a login shell or not and if they are launched in interactive mode or not.
Define module paths to enable by default. Edit :file:`initrc` configuration file in the directory designated by the :instopt:`--etcdir` option or edit :file:`modulespath` in the same directory.
If you use :file:`modulespath` configuration file, add one line mentioning each modulefile directory:
/path/to/regular/modulefiles /path/to/other/modulefiles
If you use :file:`initrc` configuration file, add one line mentioning each modulefile directory prefixed by the :subcmd:`module use<use>` command:
module use /path/to/regular/modulefiles module use /path/to/other/modulefiles
In case both configuration files :file:`initrc` and :file:`modulespath` are present, Modules initialization process will first evaluate :file:`modulespath` then :file:`initrc`.
By default, the modulepaths specified on the :instopt:`--with-modulepath` installation option are automatically defined for use in :file:`initrc` (or in :file:`modulespath` if the :instopt:`--enable-modulespath` installation option has been set).
Note
If you have set :instopt:`--with-initconf-in` to
initdirto install the Modules initialization configurations in the configuration directory designated by the :instopt:`--initdir` option, the configuration files :file:`initrc` and :file:`modulespath` are respectively namedmodulercand.modulespath.Define modulefiles to load by default. Edit :file:`initrc` configuration file. Modulefiles to load cannot be specified in :file:`modulespath` file. Add there all the modulefiles you want to load by default at Modules initialization time.
Add one line mentioning each modulefile to load prefixed by the :subcmd:`module load<load>` command:
module load foo module load bar
By default, the modules specified on the :instopt:`--with-loadedmodules` installation option are automatically defined for load in :file:`initrc`.
Alternatively, if users have :ref:`module collections<collections>` saved in their :envvar:`HOME` directory, you may prefer restoring their default collection when Modules initializes rather loading the default module list:
if {[is-saved default]} { module restore } else { module load foo module load bar }
In fact you can add to the :file:`initrc` configuration file any kind of supported module command, like :subcmd:`module config<config>` commands to tune :command:`module`'s default behaviors. This configuration way is recommended over directly modifying the shell initialization scripts.
See the Configuration options section to discover all Modules :subcmd:`config` options available, their default value and the installation options linked to them.
If you go through the above steps you should have a valid setup tuned to your needs. After that you still have to write modulefiles to get something to load and unload in your newly configured Modules setup. In case you want to achieve a specific setup, some additional steps may be required:
In case the configuration you expect cannot be achieved through the :file:`initrc` configuration file, you may review and tune the initialization scripts. These files are located in the directory designated by the :instopt:`--initdir` option. Beware that these scripts could be overwritten when upgrading to a newer version of Modules, so configuration should be done through the :file:`initrc` file as far as possible.
If you want to alter the way the :file:`modulecmd.tcl` script operates, the :file:`siteconfig.tcl` script may be used. This Tcl file is located in the directory designated by the :instopt:`--etcdir` option. Every time the :command:`module` command is called, it executes the :file:`modulecmd.tcl` script which in turns sources the :file:`siteconfig.tcl` script during its startup phase. The site-specific configuration script could override default configuration values and more largely could supersede all procedures defined in :file:`modulecmd.tcl` to obtain specific behaviors.
Prior running the module sub-command specified as argument, the :file:`modulecmd.tcl` script evaluates the global run-command files. These files are either the :file:`rc` file in the directory designated by the :instopt:`--etcdir` option, the file(s) designated in the :envvar:`MODULERCFILE` environment variable or the user-specific RC file located in :file:`$HOME/.modulerc`. The RC files are modulefiles (limited to a subset of the :ref:`modulefile Tcl commands<Modules specific Tcl commands>`) that could define global module aliases, virtual modules or module properties such as tags, forbidding rules, etc.
Note
Run-command files are intended to set parameters for modulefiles, not to configure the :command:`module` command itself.
To learn more about siteconfig and run-command files, see the :ref:`Modulecmd startup` section in :ref:`module(1)` reference manual. You may also look at the available :ref:`setup recipes<cookbook>` to get concrete deployment examples of these files.
In case you want to upgrade a pre-existing Modules installation, it is suggested to:
- Backup configuration files stored in etcdir (like :file:`siteconfig.tcl` or :file:`initrc`);
- Remove previous Modules installation;
- Install new Modules version;
- Review specific configuration of previous installation and adapt configuration files of new version.
It is advised to look at the different documents describing changes and new features appearing between versions. By reading these documents you will be able to determine the specific configuration options to apply to satisfy your use cases.
In case you install Modules with the :instopt:`--enable-versioning` option set, you may be able to install a new version of Modules alongside existing ones (if they also have been installed with this option set).
Options available at the ./configure installation step are described
below. These options enable to choose the installation paths and the features
to enable or disable. You can also get a description of these options by
typing ./configure --help.
Fine tuning of the installation directories (the default value for each option is displayed within brackets):
.. instopt:: --bindir=DIR Directory for executables reachable by users [``PREFIX/bin``]
.. instopt:: --datarootdir=DIR Base directory to set the man and doc directories [``PREFIX/share``]
.. instopt:: --docdir=DIR Directory to host documentation other than man pages like README, license file, etc [``DATAROOTDIR/doc``]
.. instopt:: --etcdir=DIR
Directory for the executable configuration scripts
[``PREFIX/etc``]
.. only:: html
.. versionadded:: 4.1
.. instopt:: --initdir=DIR Directory for the per-shell environment initialization scripts [``PREFIX/init``]
.. instopt:: --libdir=DIR Directory for object code libraries like libtclenvmodules.so [``PREFIX/lib``]
.. instopt:: --libexecdir=DIR Directory for executables called by other executables like modulecmd.tcl [``PREFIX/libexec``]
.. instopt:: --mandir=DIR Directory to host man pages [``DATAROOTDIR/man``]
.. instopt:: --modulefilesdir=DIR
Directory of main modulefiles also called system modulefiles
[``PREFIX/modulefiles``]
.. only:: html
.. versionadded:: 4.0
.. instopt:: --nagelfardatadir=DIR
Directory to host Nagelfar linter addon files [``DATAROOTDIR/nagelfar``]
.. only:: html
.. versionadded:: 5.2
.. instopt:: --prefix=PREFIX Installation root directory [``/usr/local/Modules``]
.. instopt:: --vimdatadir=DIR
Directory to host Vim addon files [``DATAROOTDIR/vim/vimfiles``]
.. only:: html
.. versionadded:: 4.3
Optional Features (the default for each option is displayed within
parenthesis, to disable an option replace enable by disable for
instance :instopt:`--disable-set-manpath<--enable-set-manpath>`):
.. instopt:: --enable-advanced-version-spec
Activate the advanced module version specifiers which enables to finely
select module versions by specifying after the module name a version
constraint prefixed by the ``@`` character. This option also allows to
specify module variants. (default=yes)
This installation option defines the default value of the
:mconfig:`advanced_version_spec` configuration option which could be changed
after installation with the :subcmd:`config` sub-command.
.. only:: html
.. versionadded:: 4.4
.. versionchanged:: 5.0
Configuration option default set to ``yes``
.. instopt:: --enable-append-binpath
Append rather prepend binary directory to the PATH environment variable when
the :instopt:`--enable-set-binpath` option is enabled. (default=no)
.. only:: html
.. versionadded:: 4.2
.. instopt:: --enable-append-manpath
Append rather prepend man page directory to the MANPATH environment variable
when the :instopt:`--enable-set-manpath` option is enabled. (default=no)
.. only:: html
.. versionadded:: 4.2
.. instopt:: --enable-auto-handling
Set modulecmd.tcl to automatically apply automated modulefiles handling
actions, like loading the pre-requisites of a modulefile when loading this
modulefile. (default=yes)
This installation option defines the default value of the
:mconfig:`auto_handling` configuration option which could be changed after
installation with the :subcmd:`config` sub-command.
.. only:: html
.. versionadded:: 4.2
.. versionchanged:: 5.0
Configuration option default set to ``yes``
.. instopt:: --enable-avail-indepth
When performing an :subcmd:`avail` sub-command, include in search results the
matching modulefiles and directories and recursively the modulefiles and
directories contained in these matching directories when enabled or limit
search results to the matching modulefiles and directories found at the depth
level expressed by the search query if disabled. (default=yes)
This installation option defines the default value of the
:mconfig:`avail_indepth` configuration option which could be changed after
installation with the :subcmd:`config` sub-command.
.. only:: html
.. versionadded:: 4.3
.. instopt:: --enable-color
Control if output should be colored by default or not. A value of ``yes``
equals to the ``auto`` color mode. ``no`` equals to the ``never`` color
mode. (default=yes)
This installation option defines the default value of the
:mconfig:`color` configuration option which could be changed after
installation with the :subcmd:`config` sub-command.
.. only:: html
.. versionadded:: 4.3
.. versionchanged:: 5.0
Configuration option default set to ``yes``
.. instopt:: --enable-doc-install
Install the documentation files in the documentation directory defined with
the :instopt:`--docdir` option. This feature has no impact on manual pages
installation. Disabling documentation file installation is useful in case of
installation process handled via a package manager which handles by itself
the installation of this kind of documents. (default=yes)
.. only:: html
.. versionadded:: 4.0
.. instopt:: --enable-example-modulefiles
Install some modulefiles provided as example in the system modulefiles
directory defined with the :instopt:`--modulefilesdir` option. (default=yes)
.. only:: html
.. versionadded:: 4.0
.. instopt:: --enable-extended-default
Allow to specify module versions by their starting part, i.e. substring
separated from the rest of the version string by a ``.`` character.
(default=yes)
This installation option defines the default value of the
:mconfig:`extended_default` configuration option which could be changed after
installation with the :subcmd:`config` sub-command.
.. only:: html
.. versionadded:: 4.4
.. versionchanged:: 5.0
Configuration option default set to ``yes``
.. instopt:: --enable-implicit-default
Define an implicit default version, for modules with none explicitly defined,
to select when the name of the module to evaluate is passed without the
mention of a specific version. When this option is disabled the name of the
module passed for evaluation should be fully qualified elsewhere an error is
returned. (default=yes)
This installation option defines the default value of the
:mconfig:`implicit_default` configuration option which could be changed after
installation with the :subcmd:`config` sub-command.
.. only:: html
.. versionadded:: 4.3
.. instopt:: --enable-implicit-requirement
Implicitly define a prereq or a conflict requirement toward modules specified
respectively on :mfcmd:`module load<module>` or :mfcmd:`module
unload<module>` commands in modulefile. (default=yes)
This installation option defines the default value of the
:mconfig:`implicit_requirement` configuration option which could be changed
after installation with the :subcmd:`config` sub-command.
.. only:: html
.. versionadded:: 4.7
.. instopt:: --enable-libtclenvmodules
Build and install the Modules Tcl extension library which provides optimized
Tcl commands for the modulecmd.tcl script. (default=yes)
.. only:: html
.. versionadded:: 4.3
.. instopt:: --enable-mcookie-version-check
Enable check of the version specified right after Modules magic cookie
(i.e., ``#%Module`` file signature) in modulefiles, which defines the minimal
version of the Modules tool to use in order to evaluate the modulefile.
(default=yes)
This installation option defines the default value of the
:mconfig:`mcookie_version_check` configuration option which could be changed
after installation with the :subcmd:`config` sub-command.
.. only:: html
.. versionadded:: 4.7
.. instopt:: --enable-ml
Define the :command:`ml` command, a handy frontend to the module command,
when Modules initializes. (default=yes)
This installation option defines the default value of the :mconfig:`ml`
configuration option which could be changed after installation with the
:subcmd:`config` sub-command.
.. only:: html
.. versionadded:: 4.5
.. instopt:: --enable-modulespath, --enable-dotmodulespath
Set the module paths defined by :instopt:`--with-modulepath` option in a
:file:`modulespath` file (following C version fashion) within the
initialization directory defined by the :instopt:`--etcdir` option rather
than within the :file:`initrc` file. Or respectively, if option
:instopt:`--with-initconf-in` has been set to ``initdir``, in a
``.modulespath`` file within the configuration directory defined by the
:instopt:`--initdir` option rather than within the ``modulerc`` file.
(default=no)
.. only:: html
.. versionadded:: 4.0
.. versionchanged:: 4.3
Option ``--enable-modulespath`` added
.. instopt:: --enable-multilib-support
Support multilib systems by looking in modulecmd.tcl at an alternative
location where to find the Modules Tcl extension library depending on current
machine architecture. (default=no)
.. only:: html
.. versionadded:: 4.6
.. instopt:: --enable-nagelfar-addons
Install the Nagelfar linter addon files (syntax databases and plugins to lint
modulefiles and modulercs) in the Nagelfar addons directory defined with the
:instopt:`--nagelfardatadir` option. (default=yes)
.. only:: html
.. versionadded:: 5.2
.. instopt:: --enable-new-features
Enable all new features that are disabled by default due to the substantial
behavior changes they imply on Modules 5. This option is equivalent to the
cumulative use of
:instopt:`--with-abort-on-error=load:ml:reload:switch<--with-abort-on-error>`.
(default=no)
.. only:: html
.. versionadded:: 4.7
.. versionchanged:: 5.0
Configuration option has been reset following major version change as
:instopt:`--enable-auto-handling`, :instopt:`--enable-color`,
:instopt:`--with-icase=search<--with-icase>`,
:instopt:`--enable-extended-default` and
:instopt:`--enable-advanced-version-spec` are set by default on Modules
5.
.. versionchanged:: 5.4
Enables *abort on error* behavior on :subcmd:`load` and
:subcmd:`switch` sub-commands.
.. instopt:: --enable-quarantine-support
Generate code in module function definition to add support for the
environment variable quarantine mechanism (default=no)
This installation option defines the default value of the
:mconfig:`quarantine_support` configuration option which could be changed
after installation with the :subcmd:`config` sub-command.
.. only:: html
.. versionadded:: 4.1
.. versionchanged:: 5.0
Configuration option default set to ``no``
.. instopt:: --enable-set-binpath
Prepend binary directory defined by the :instopt:`--bindir` option to the
PATH environment variable in the shell initialization scripts. (default=yes)
.. only:: html
.. versionadded:: 4.0
.. instopt:: --enable-set-manpath
Prepend man page directory defined by the :instopt:`--mandir` option to the
MANPATH environment variable in the shell initialization scripts.
(default=yes)
.. only:: html
.. versionadded:: 4.0
.. instopt:: --enable-set-shell-startup
Set when module function is defined the shell startup file to ensure that the
module function is still defined in sub-shells. (default=no)
This installation option defines the default value of the
:mconfig:`set_shell_startup` configuration option which could be changed
after installation with the :subcmd:`config` sub-command.
.. only:: html
.. versionadded:: 4.3
.. versionchanged:: 5.0
Configuration option default set to ``no``
.. instopt:: --enable-silent-shell-debug-support
Generate code in module function definition to add support for silencing
shell debugging properties (default=no)
This installation option defines the default value of the
:mconfig:`silent_shell_debug` configuration option which could be changed
after installation with the :subcmd:`config` sub-command.
.. only:: html
.. versionadded:: 4.2
.. versionchanged:: 5.0
Configuration option default set to ``no``
.. instopt:: --enable-source-cache
Cache content of files evaluated through :manpage:`source(n)` Tcl command in
modulefile. When same file is sourced multiple times, cached content is
reused rather reading file again.
This installation option defines the default value of the
:mconfig:`source_cache` configuration option which could be changed
after installation with the :subcmd:`config` sub-command.
.. only:: html
.. versionadded:: 5.4
.. instopt:: --enable-versioning Append Modules version to installation prefix and deploy a ``versions`` modulepath shared between all versioning enabled Modules installation. A modulefile corresponding to Modules version is added to the shared modulepath and enables to switch from one Modules version to another. (default=no)
.. instopt:: --enable-unique-name-loaded
Only allow one module loaded per module name. A conflict is raised when
loading a module whose name or alternative names are shared by an already
loaded module. (default=no)
This installation option defines the default value of the
:mconfig:`unique_name_loaded` configuration option which could be changed
after installation with the :subcmd:`config` sub-command.
.. only:: html
.. versionadded:: 5.4
.. instopt:: --enable-vim-addons
Install the Vim addon files in the Vim addons directory defined with the
:instopt:`--vimdatadir` option. (default=yes)
.. only:: html
.. versionadded:: 4.3
.. instopt:: --enable-wa-277
Activate workaround for issue #277 related to Tcsh history mechanism which
does not cope well with default module alias definition. Note that enabling
this workaround solves Tcsh history issue but weakens shell evaluation of the
code produced by modulefiles. (default=no)
This installation option defines the default value of the :mconfig:`wa_277`
configuration option which could be changed after installation with the
:subcmd:`config` sub-command.
.. only:: html
.. versionadded:: 4.3
.. instopt:: --enable-windows-support
Install all required files for Windows platform (:command:`module`,
:command:`ml` and :command:`envml` command batch file and ``cmd.cmd``
initialization script). (default=no)
.. only:: html
.. versionadded:: 4.5
Optional Packages (the default for each option is displayed within
parenthesis, to disable an option replace with by without for
instance :instopt:`--without-modulepath<--with-modulepath>`):
.. instopt:: --with-abort-on-error=LIST
When evaluating multiple modulefiles, if one fails abort evaluation sequence
and withdraw already evaluated modulefiles for listed module sub-commands.
Sub-commands accepted in LIST are: :subcmd:`load`, :command:`ml`,
:subcmd:`mod-to-sh`, :subcmd:`purge`, :subcmd:`reload`, :subcmd:`switch`,
:subcmd:`switch_unload<switch>`, :subcmd:`try-load` and :subcmd:`unload`
(elements in LIST are separated by ``:``).
(default=\ ``ml:reload:switch_unload``)
This installation option defines the default value of the
:mconfig:`abort_on_error` configuration option which could be changed after
installation with the :subcmd:`config` sub-command.
.. only:: html
.. versionadded:: 5.4
.. instopt:: --with-avail-output=LIST
Specify the content to report on avail sub-command regular output in addition
to the available module names. Elements accepted in LIST are: ``modulepath``,
``alias``, ``dirwsym``, ``indesym``, ``sym``, ``tag``, ``key``, ``variant``
and ``variantifspec`` (elements in LIST are separated by ``:``). The order of
the elements in LIST does not matter.
(default=\ ``modulepath:alias:dirwsym:sym:tag:variantifspec:key``)
This installation option defines the default value of the
:mconfig:`avail_output` configuration option which could be changed after
installation with the :subcmd:`config` sub-command.
.. only:: html
.. versionadded:: 4.7
.. versionchanged:: 5.3
Element ``variant`` added
.. versionchanged:: 5.3
Element ``variantifspec`` added and set by default
.. versionchanged:: 5.3.1
Element ``indesym`` added
.. instopt:: --with-avail-terse-output=LIST
Specify the content to report on avail sub-command terse output in addition
addition to the available module names. Elements accepted in LIST are:
``modulepath``, ``alias``, ``dirwsym``, ``indesym``, ``sym``, ``tag``,
``key``, ``variant`` and ``variantifspec`` (elements in LIST are separated by
``:``). The order of the elements in LIST does not matter.
(default=\ ``modulepath:alias:dirwsym:sym:tag:variantifspec``)
This installation option defines the default value of the
:mconfig:`avail_terse_output` configuration option which could be changed
after installation with the :subcmd:`config` sub-command.
.. only:: html
.. versionadded:: 4.7
.. versionchanged:: 5.3
Element ``variant`` added
.. versionchanged:: 5.3
Element ``variantifspec`` added and set by default
.. versionchanged:: 5.3.1
Element ``indesym`` added
.. instopt:: --with-bashcompletiondir=DIR
Directory for Bash completion scripts. When this option is not set Bash
completion script for Modules is installed in the initialization script
directory and is sourced from Modules Bash initialization script. (default=)
.. only:: html
.. versionadded:: 5.1
.. instopt:: --with-bin-search-path=PATHLIST
List of paths to look at when searching the location of tools required to
build and configure Modules (default=\ ``/usr/bin:/bin:/usr/local/bin``)
.. only:: html
.. versionadded:: 4.2
.. instopt:: --with-dark-background-colors=SGRLIST
Default color set to apply if terminal background color is defined to
``dark``. SGRLIST follows the same syntax than used in ``LS_COLORS``. Each
element in SGRLIST is an output item associated to a Select Graphic Rendition
(SGR) code. Elements in SGRLIST are separated by ``:``. Output items are
designated by keys.
Items able to be colorized are: highlighted element (``hi``), debug
information (``db``), trace information (``tr``) tag separator (``se``);
Error (``er``), warning (``wa``), module error (``me``) and info (``in``)
message prefixes; Modulepath (``mp``), directory (``di``), module alias
(``al``), module variant (``va``), module symbolic version (``sy``) and
module ``default`` version (``de``).
:ref:`Module tags` can also be colorized. The key to set in the color palette
to get a graphical rendering of a tag is the tag name or the tag abbreviation
if one is defined for tag. The SGR code applied to a tag name is ignored if
an abbreviation is set for this tag thus the SGR code should be defined for
this abbreviation to get a graphical rendering. Each basic tag has by default
a key set in the color palette, based on its abbreviated string: auto-loaded
(``aL``), forbidden (``F``), hidden and hidden-loaded (``H``), loaded
(``L``), nearly-forbidden (``nF``), sticky (``S``), super-sticky (``sS``) and
keep-loaded (``kL``).
For a complete SGR code reference, see
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ANSI_escape_code#SGR_(Select_Graphic_Rendition)_parameters.
(default=\ ``hi=1:db=2:tr=2:se=2:er=91:wa=93:me=95:in=94:mp=1;94:di=94:al=96:va=93:sy=95:de=4:cm=92:aL=100:L=90;47:H=2:F=41:nF=43:S=46:sS=44:kL=30;48;5;109``)
This installation option defines the default value of the :mconfig:`colors`
configuration option when :mconfig:`term_background` configuration option
equals ``dark``. :mconfig:`colors` could be changed after installation with
the :subcmd:`config` sub-command.
.. only:: html
.. versionadded:: 4.3
.. versionchanged:: 4.6
Output item for trace information (``tr``) added
.. versionchanged:: 4.7
Output items for module tags auto-loaded (``aL``), forbidden (``F``),
hidden and hidden-loaded (``H``), loaded (``L``), nearly-forbidden
(``nF``), sticky (``S``) and super-sticky (``sS``) added
.. versionchanged:: 4.8
Output item for module variant (``va``) added
.. versionchanged:: 5.1
Output item for keep-loaded module tag (``kL``) added
.. instopt:: --with-editor=BIN
Name or full path of default editor program to use to open modulefile through
the :subcmd:`edit` sub-command. (default=\ ``vi``)
This installation option defines the default value of the :mconfig:`editor`
configuration option which could be changed after installation with the
:subcmd:`config` sub-command.
.. only:: html
.. versionadded:: 4.8
.. instopt:: --with-fishcompletiondir=DIR
Directory for Fish completion scripts. When this option is not set Fish
completion script for Modules is installed in the initialization script
directory and is sourced from Modules Fish initialization script. (default=)
.. only:: html
.. versionadded:: 5.1
.. instopt:: --with-icase=VALUE
Apply a case insensitive match to module specification on :subcmd:`avail`,
:subcmd:`whatis` and :subcmd:`paths` sub-commands (when set to ``search``) or
on all module sub-commands and modulefile Tcl commands for the module
specification they receive as argument (when set to ``always``). Case
insensitive match is disabled when this option is set to ``never``.
(default=\ ``search``)
This installation option defines the default value of the :mconfig:`icase`
configuration option which could be changed after installation with the
:subcmd:`config` sub-command.
.. only:: html
.. versionadded:: 4.4
.. versionchanged:: 5.0
Configuration option default set to ``search``
.. instopt:: --with-initconf-in=VALUE
Location where to install Modules initialization configuration files. Either
``initdir`` or ``etcdir`` (default=\ ``etcdir``)
.. only:: html
.. versionadded:: 4.1
.. versionchanged:: 5.0
Configuration option default set to ``etcdir``
.. instopt:: --with-light-background-colors=SGRLIST
Default color set to apply if terminal background color is defined to
``light``. Expect the same syntax than described for
:instopt:`--with-dark-background-colors`.
(default=\ ``hi=1:db=2:tr=2:se=2:er=31:wa=33:me=35:in=34:mp=1;34:di=34:al=36:va=33:sy=35:de=4:cm=32:aL=107:L=47:H=2:F=101:nF=103:S=106:sS=104:kL=48;5;109``)
This installation option defines the default value of the :mconfig:`colors`
configuration option when :mconfig:`term_background` configuration option
equals ``light``. :mconfig:`colors` could be changed after installation with
the :subcmd:`config` sub-command.
.. only:: html
.. versionadded:: 4.3
.. versionchanged:: 4.6
Output item for trace information (``tr``) added
.. versionchanged:: 4.7
Output items for module tags auto-loaded (``aL``), forbidden (``F``),
hidden and hidden-loaded (``H``), loaded (``L``), nearly-forbidden
(``nF``), sticky (``S``) and super-sticky (``sS``) added
.. versionchanged:: 4.8
Output item for module variant (``va``) added
.. versionchanged:: 5.1
Output item for keep-loaded module tag (``kL``) added
.. instopt:: --with-list-output=LIST
Specify the content to report on list sub-command regular output in addition
to the loaded module names. Elements accepted in LIST are: ``header``,
``idx``, ``variant``, ``alias``, ``indesym``, ``sym``, ``tag`` and ``key``
(elements in LIST are separated by ``:``). The order of the elements in LIST
does not matter. (default=\ ``header:idx:variant:sym:tag:key``)
This installation option defines the default value of the
:mconfig:`list_output` configuration option which could be changed after
installation with the :subcmd:`config` sub-command.
.. only:: html
.. versionadded:: 4.7
.. versionchanged:: 4.8
Element ``variant`` added and set by default
.. versionchanged:: 5.4
Elements ``alias`` and ``indesym`` added
.. instopt:: --with-list-terse-output=LIST
Specify the content to report on list sub-command terse output in addition
to the loaded module names. Elements accepted in LIST are: ``header``,
``idx``, ``variant``, ``alias``, ``indesym``, ``sym``, ``tag`` and ``key``
(elements in LIST are separated by ``:``). The order of the elements in LIST
does not matter. (default=\ ``header``)
This installation option defines the default value of the
:mconfig:`list_terse_output` configuration option which could be changed
after installation with the :subcmd:`config` sub-command.
.. only:: html
.. versionadded:: 4.7
.. versionchanged:: 4.8
Element ``variant`` added
.. versionchanged:: 5.4
Elements ``alias`` and ``indesym`` added
.. instopt:: --with-loadedmodules=MODLIST
Default modulefiles to load at Modules initialization time. Each modulefile
in this list should be separated by ``:``. Defined value is registered in the
:file:`initrc` configuration file or in the ``modulerc`` file if
:instopt:`--with-initconf-in` is set to ``initdir``. (default=)
.. only:: html
.. versionadded:: 4.0
.. instopt:: --with-locked-configs=CONFIGLIST
Ignore environment variable superseding value for the listed configuration
options. Accepted option names in CONFIGLIST are :mconfig:`extra_siteconfig`
, :mconfig:`implicit_default`, :mconfig:`logged_events` and :mconfig:`logger`
(each option name should be separated by whitespace character). (default=)
This installation option defines the default value of the
:mconfig:`locked_configs` configuration option which cannot not be changed
after installation.
.. only:: html
.. versionadded:: 4.3
.. versionchanged:: 5.5
Configs ``logged_events`` and ``logger`` added
.. instopt:: --with-logged-events=EVENTLIST
Events to log. Accepted event names in EVENTLIST are ``auto_eval``,
``requested_eval`` and ``requested_cmd`` (each event name in this list should
be separated by ``:``). The order of the elements in EVENTLIST does not
matter. (default=)
This installation option defines the default value of the
:mconfig:`logged_events` configuration option which cannot not be changed
after installation.
.. only:: html
.. versionadded:: 5.5
.. instopt:: --with-logger=BIN
Name or full path of default logger program to use to log information (can be
superseded at run-time by environment variable) (default=\ ``logger``)
This installation option and :instopt:`--with-logger-opts` define the default
value of the :mconfig:`logger` configuration option which could be changed
after installation with the :subcmd:`config` sub-command.
.. only:: html
.. versionadded:: 5.5
.. instopt:: --with-logger-opts=OPTLIST
Settings to apply to default logger program (default=\ ``-t modules``)
This installation option and :instopt:`--with-logger` define the default
value of the :mconfig:`logger` configuration option which could be changed
after installation with the :subcmd:`config` sub-command.
.. only:: html
.. versionadded:: 5.5
.. instopt:: --with-modulepath=PATHLIST
Default path list to setup as the default modulepaths. Each path in this list
should be separated by ``:``. Defined value is registered in the
:file:`initrc` or :file:`modulespath` configuration file, depending on the
:instopt:`--enable-modulespath` option. These files are respectively called
``modulerc`` and ``.modulespath`` if :instopt:`--with-initconf-in` is set to
``initdir``. The path list value is read at initialization time to populate
the MODULEPATH environment variable. By default, this modulepath is composed
of the directory set for the system modulefiles
(default=\ ``PREFIX/modulefiles`` or
``BASEPREFIX/$MODULE_VERSION/modulefiles`` if versioning installation mode
enabled)
.. only:: html
.. versionadded:: 4.0
.. instopt:: --with-moduleshome
Location of the main Modules package file directory (default=\ ``PREFIX``)
This installation option defines the default value of the :mconfig:`home`
configuration option which could be changed after installation with the
:subcmd:`config` sub-command.
.. only:: html
.. versionadded:: 4.4
.. instopt:: --with-nearly-forbidden-days=VALUE
Define the number of days a module is considered nearly forbidden prior
reaching its expiry date. VALUE should be an integer comprised between 0 and
365. (default=\ ``14``)
This installation option defines the default value of the
:mconfig:`nearly_forbidden_days` configuration option which could be changed
after installation with the :subcmd:`config` sub-command.
.. only:: html
.. versionadded:: 4.6
.. instopt:: --with-pager=BIN
Name or full path of default pager program to use to paginate informational
message output (can be superseded at run-time by environment variable)
(default=\ ``less``)
This installation option and :instopt:`--with-pager-opts` define the default
value of the :mconfig:`pager` configuration option which could be changed
after installation with the :subcmd:`config` sub-command.
.. only:: html
.. versionadded:: 4.1
.. instopt:: --with-pager-opts=OPTLIST
Settings to apply to default pager program (default=\ ``-eFKRX``)
This installation option and :instopt:`--with-pager` define the default value
of the :mconfig:`pager` configuration option which could be changed after
installation with the :subcmd:`config` sub-command.
.. only:: html
.. versionadded:: 4.1
.. instopt:: --with-python=BIN
Name or full path of Python interpreter command to set as shebang for helper
scripts. (default=\ ``python``)
.. only:: html
.. versionadded:: 4.5
.. instopt:: --with-quarantine-vars=<VARNAME[=VALUE] ...>
Environment variables to put in quarantine when running the module command to
ensure it a sane execution environment (each variable should be separated by
space character). A value can eventually be set to a quarantine variable
instead of emptying it. (default=)
This installation option defines the default value of the
:envvar:`MODULES_RUN_QUARANTINE` and :envvar:`MODULES_RUNENV_\<VAR\>`
environment variables which could be changed after installation with the
:subcmd:`config` sub-command on :mconfig:`run_quarantine` configuration
option.
.. only:: html
.. versionadded:: 4.1
.. instopt:: --with-search-match=VALUE
When searching for a module with :subcmd:`avail` sub-command, match query
string against module name start (``starts_with``) or any part of module name
string (``contains``). (default=\ ``starts_with``)
This installation option defines the default value of the
:mconfig:`search_match` configuration option which could be changed after
installation with the :subcmd:`config` sub-command.
.. only:: html
.. versionadded:: 4.3
.. instopt:: --with-sticky-purge=VALUE
When unloading a sticky or super-sticky module during a module purge, raise
an ``error`` or emit a ``warning`` message or be ``silent``.
(default=\ ``error``)
This installation option defines the default value of the
:mconfig:`sticky_purge` configuration option which could be changed after
installation with the :subcmd:`config` sub-command.
.. only:: html
.. versionadded:: 5.4
.. instopt:: --with-tag-abbrev=ABBRVLIST
Define the abbreviation to use when reporting each module tag. Each element
in ABBRVLIST is a tag name associated to an abbreviation string (elements in
ABBRVLIST are separated by ``:``).
(default=\ ``auto-loaded=aL:loaded=L:hidden=H:hidden-loaded=H:forbidden=F:nearly-forbidden=nF:sticky=S:super-sticky=sS:keep-loaded=kL``)
This installation option defines the default value of the
:mconfig:`tag_abbrev` configuration option which could be changed after
installation with the :subcmd:`config` sub-command.
.. only:: html
.. versionadded:: 4.7
.. versionchanged:: 5.1
Abbreviation for ``keep-loaded`` tag added
.. instopt:: --with-tag-color-name=TAGLIST
Define the tags whose graphical rendering should be applied over their name
instead of over the name of the module they are attached to. Each element in
TAGLIST is a tag name or abbreviation (elements in TAGLIST are separated by
``:``). (default=)
This installation option defines the default value of the
:mconfig:`tag_color_name` configuration option which could be changed after
installation with the :subcmd:`config` sub-command.
.. only:: html
.. versionadded:: 4.7
.. instopt:: --with-tcl Directory containing the Tcl configuration script ``tclConfig.sh``. Useful to compile Modules Tcl extension library if this file cannot be automatically found in default locations.
.. instopt:: --with-tclinclude Directory containing the Tcl header files. Useful to compile Modules Tcl extension library if these headers cannot be automatically found in default locations.
.. instopt:: --with-tclsh=BIN
Name or full path of Tcl interpreter shell (default=\ ``tclsh``)
.. only:: html
.. versionadded:: 4.0
.. instopt:: --with-tcl-linter=BIN
Name or full path of program to use to lint modulefile through the
:subcmd:`lint` sub-command. (default=\ ``nagelfar.tcl``)
This installation option and :instopt:`--with-tcl-linter-opts` define the
default value of the :mconfig:`tcl_linter` configuration option which could
be changed after installation with the :subcmd:`config` sub-command.
.. only:: html
.. versionadded:: 5.2
.. instopt:: --with-tcl-linter-opts=OPTLIST
Settings to apply to Tcl linter program (default=)
This installation option and :instopt:`--with-tcl-linter` define the default
value of the :mconfig:`tcl_linter` configuration option which could be
changed after installation with the :subcmd:`config` sub-command.
.. only:: html
.. versionadded:: 5.2
.. instopt:: --with-terminal-background=VALUE
The terminal background color that determines the color set to apply by
default between the ``dark`` background colors or the ``light`` background
colors (default=\ ``dark``)
This installation option defines the default value of the
:mconfig:`term_background` configuration option which could be changed after
installation with the :subcmd:`config` sub-command.
.. only:: html
.. versionadded:: 4.3
.. instopt:: --with-unload-match-order=VALUE
When unloading a module if multiple loaded modules match the request, unload
module loaded first (``returnfirst``) or module loaded last (``returnlast``)
(default=\ ``returnlast``)
This installation option defines the default value of the
:mconfig:`unload_match_order` configuration option which could be changed
after installation with the :subcmd:`config` sub-command.
.. only:: html
.. versionadded:: 4.3
.. instopt:: --with-variant-shortcut=SHORTCUTLIST
Define the shortcut characters that could be used to specify variant names.
Each element in SHORTCUTLIST is a variant name associated to a shortcut
character (e.g., ``foo=%``). Shortcuts cannot exceed a length of 1 character
and cannot be alphanumeric characters ([A-Za-z0-9]) or characters with
already a special meaning ([+~/@=-]). Elements in SHORTCUTLIST are separated
by ``:``. (default=)
This installation option defines the default value of the
:mconfig:`variant_shortcut` configuration option which could be changed after
installation with the :subcmd:`config` sub-command.
.. only:: html
.. versionadded:: 4.8
.. instopt:: --with-verbosity=VALUE
Specify default message verbosity. accepted values are ``silent``,
``concise``, ``normal``, ``verbose``, ``verbose2``, ``trace``, ``debug`` and
``debug2``. (default=\ ``normal``)
This installation option defines the default value of the
:mconfig:`verbosity` configuration option which could be changed after
installation with the :subcmd:`config` sub-command.
.. only:: html
.. versionadded:: 4.3
.. instopt:: --with-zshcompletiondir=DIR
Directory for Zsh completion scripts. When this option is not set Zsh
completion script for Modules is installed in the initialization script
directory and :envvar:`FPATH` is set in Zsh initialization script to point to
this location. (default=)
.. only:: html
.. versionadded:: 5.1
Options available through the :subcmd:`config` sub-command are described below. In addition to their default value, the related installation option, environment variable and command-line switch are listed for each configuration option. This table also describes if each configuration option needs to be set prior or during Modules initialization and if it can be modified after installation.