Introduction

This guide shows how to build statically-linked Win32 XSD compiler with GCC-Mingw toolchain using the Cygwin environment. The resulting binary is supposed to be self-sufficient and can be used on other Win32 machines without installing Cygwin or copying any DLLs. The generated code can be compiled with other C++ compiler (e.g., Visual C++). The XSD runtime is a header-only library and does not need to be built. If you run into problems while following these instructions feel free to ask for help on the xsd-users mailing list.

Unfortunately, the stock libstdc++ (Standard C++ Library, part of g++) that comes with the Cygwin/Mingw environment is compiled without support for wchar_t. You can read more about this on the Mingw website. As a result, we will be using STLPort instead of libstdc++.

The build commands presented below assume that you download and build source code in your home directory. Adjust your paths accordingly if you are using a different directory.

Cygwin

Download Cygwin from the Cygwin website. When installing, make sure the following packages are selected:

Devel/gcc
Devel/gcc-core
Devel/gcc-g++          (3.4.4 or later)
Devel/gcc-mingw-core
Devel/gcc-mingw-g++    (3.4.4 or later)
Devel/make

Interpreters/m4

Shells/bash

Util/bzip2

GNU make

Check the version of GNU make that comes with Cygwin by executing make --version. If the version is lower than 3.81, download GNU make 3.81 or later from the GNU make website. Then follow these build and installation instructions: 

$ cd
$ bzip -dc make-3.81.tar.bz2 | tar x
$ cd make-3.81
$ ./configure
$ make
$ make install
$ make --version
GNU Make 3.81

Build

Download the latest build source release from the build project page. Then follow these installation instructions: 

$ cd
$ bzip2 -dc build-0.3.3.tar.bz2 | tar x
$ cd build-0.3.3
$ make install install_prefix=/usr/local

Note that you need to install build in a location where GNU make looks for included makefiles by default (normally /usr/include and /usr/local/include). Otherwise you will need to add the build include directory to the make search list. For example, if you installed build to /home/user/install, then the following command will add the include directory in this path to the make search list:

$ export MAKEFLAGS=-I/home/user/install/include

STLPort

Download STLPort version 5.0.1 with MinGW fixes (you can also try the latest version from the STLPort website, however, the following build instructions may not work). Then follow these build instructions: 

$ cd
$ bzip2 -dc STLport-5.0.1-mingw.tar.bz2 | tar x
$ cd STLport-5.0.1/build/lib
$ ./configure --no-cygwin
$ make -f gcc.mak install-release-static

If you are using a fairly old version of Cygwin then you may get a few compilation errors that look like this:

.../winbase.h:1667: error: declaration of C function
`LONG InterlockedDecrement(LONG*)' conflicts with
.../_windows.h:167: error: previous declaration
`long int InterlockedDecrement(volatile long int*)' here

If that's the case then you will need to open STLport-5.0.1/stlport/stl_user_config.h and comment out the definition of the _STLP_NEW_PLATFORM_SDK macro with /* */. Then re-run make -f gcc.mak install-release-static.

Boost-jam

Download the latest precompiled boost-jam binary for Windows from the Boost website (follow the "Download" link on the right). The package name will be something like boost-jam-3.1.12-1-ntx86.zip. Then follow these installation instructions: 

$ cd
$ unzip boost-jam-3.1.12-1-ntx86.zip
$ cp boost-jam-3.1.12-1-ntx86/bjam.exe /usr/local/bin/
$ chmod ug+x /usr/local/bin/bjam
$ bjam -v
Boost.Jam  Version 3.1.12. OS=NT.

Boost

Download Boost version 1.33.1 (you can also try the latest version from the Boost website, however, the following build instructions may not work). Then follow these build instructions:

$ cd
$ bzip2 -dc boost_1_33_1.tar.bz2 | tar x

$ cd boost_1_33_1/libs/filesystem/build/
$ bjam -sTOOLS=mingw-stlport "-sBUILD=release <runtime-link>static" \
"-sGXX=g++ -mno-cygwin -D_REENTRANT" \
-sSTLPORT_5.0.1_PATH=../../../../STLport-5.0.1 -sSTLPORT_VERSION=5.0.1

$ cd ../../regex/build
$ bjam -sTOOLS=mingw-stlport "-sBUILD=release <runtime-link>static" \
"-sGXX=g++ -mno-cygwin -D_REENTRANT" \
-sSTLPORT_5.0.1_PATH=../../../../STLport-5.0.1 -sSTLPORT_VERSION=5.0.1

$ cd ../../../stage/lib/
$ ln -s libboost_filesystem-mgw-sp-1_33_1.lib libboost_filesystem-gcc-1_33_1.a
$ ln -s libboost_regex-mgw-sp-1_33_1.lib libboost_regex-gcc-1_33_1.a

Xerces-C++

Download the latest Xerces-C++ source release from the Xerces-C++ download page. You have a choice of using Xerces-C++ 2-series (e.g., 2.8.0) or 3-series (e.g., 3.0.0). For XSD 3.2.0 or later Xerces-C++ 3-series is recommended.

For Xerces-C++ 3-series, follow these build instructions:

$ cd
$ gzip -dc xerces-c-3.0.0.tar.gz | tar x
$ cd xerces-c-3.0.0
$ ./configure --disable-threads --disable-network \
--enable-transcoder-windows --disable-shared --host=i686-mingw32msvc \
CXXFLAGS="-mno-cygwin -O2" CFLAGS="-mno-cygwin -O2"
$ cd src
$ make

For Xerces-C++ 2-series, follow these build instructions:

$ cd
$ gzip -dc xerces-c-src_2_8_0.tar.gz | tar x
$ export XERCESCROOT=~/xerces-c-src_2_8_0
$ cd xerces-c-src_2_8_0/src/xercesc
$ ./runConfigure -p mingw-msys -c gcc -x g++ -n fileonly \
-r none -s -z -mno-cygwin -C --host=i686-mingw32
$ make

Libcult

Download the latest libcult source release from the libcult website. Then follow these build instructions: 

$ cd
$ bzip2 -dc libcult-1.4.2.tar.bz2 | tar x
$ cd libcult-1.4.2
$ make

Please select the C++ compiler you would like to use:
(1) GNU C++ (g++)
(2) Intel C++ (icc)
[1]: 1

Would you like the C++ compiler to optimize generated code?
[y]: y

Would you like the C++ compiler to generate debug information?
[y]: n

Embed dynamic library paths into executables (rpath)?
[y]: n

Please enter any extra C++ preprocessor options.
[]: -I ~/STLport-5.0.1/stlport -D_REENTRANT

Please enter any extra C++ compiler options.
[]: -mno-cygwin

Please enter any extra C++ linker options.
[]: -L ~/STLport-5.0.1/lib

Please enter any extra C++ libraries.
[]: -lstlport.5.0

Would you like to build a multi-threaded version of 'libcult'?
[y]: n

Would you like to build the network subsystem of 'libcult'?
[y]: n

Would you like to build the data representation subsystem of 'libcult'?
[y]: n

Please select the default library type:
(1) archive
(2) shared object
[2]: 1

Please enter the archiver (ar) binary you would like to use.
[ar]: ar

Please enter the indexer (ranlib) binary you would like to use.
[ranlib]: ranlib

Please enter the g++ binary you would like to use, for example 'g++-3.4',
'/usr/local/bin/g++' or 'distcc g++'.
[g++]: g++

Please select the optimization level you would like to use:
[2]: 2

Libfrontend-elements

Download the latest libfrontend-elements source release from the libfrontend-elements website. Then follow these build instructions: 

$ cd
$ bzip2 -dc libfrontend-elements-1.1.1.tar.bz2 | tar x
$ cd libfrontend-elements-1.1.1
$ make

Please select the C++ compiler you would like to use:
(1) GNU C++ (g++)
(2) Intel C++ (icc)
[1]: 1

Would you like the C++ compiler to optimize generated code?
[y]: y

Would you like the C++ compiler to generate debug information?
[y]: n

Embed dynamic library paths into executables (rpath)?
[y]: n

Please enter any extra C++ preprocessor options.
[]: -I ~/STLport-5.0.1/stlport -D_REENTRANT

Please enter any extra C++ compiler options.
[]: -mno-cygwin

Please enter any extra C++ linker options.
[]: -L ~/STLport-5.0.1/lib

Please enter any extra C++ libraries.
[]: -lstlport.5.0

Please select the default library type:
(1) archive
(2) shared object
[2]: 1

Please enter the archiver (ar) binary you would like to use.
[ar]: ar

Please enter the indexer (ranlib) binary you would like to use.
[ranlib]: ranlib

Would you like to configure dependency on the installed
version of 'libcult' as opposed to the development build?
[y]: n

Please enter the src_root for 'libcult'.
[]: ../libcult-1.4.2

Please enter the out_root for 'libcult'.
[/home/boris/libcult-1.4.2]: ../libcult-1.4.2

Please enter the g++ binary you would like to use, for example 'g++-3.4',
'/usr/local/bin/g++' or 'distcc g++'.
[g++]: g++

Please select the optimization level you would like to use:
[2]: 2

Libbackend-elements

Download the latest libbackend-elements source release from the libbackend-elements website. Then follow these build instructions: 

$ cd
$ bzip2 -dc libbackend-elements-1.6.1.tar.bz2 | tar x
$ cd libbackend-elements-1.6.1
$ make

Please select the C++ compiler you would like to use:
(1) GNU C++ (g++)
(2) Intel C++ (icc)
[1]: 1

Would you like the C++ compiler to optimize generated code?
[y]: y

Would you like the C++ compiler to generate debug information?
[y]: n

Embed dynamic library paths into executables (rpath)?
[y]: n

Please enter any extra C++ preprocessor options.
[]: -I ~/STLport-5.0.1/stlport -D_REENTRANT

Please enter any extra C++ compiler options.
[]: -mno-cygwin

Please enter any extra C++ linker options.
[]: -L ~/STLport-5.0.1/lib

Please enter any extra C++ libraries.
[]: -lstlport.5.0

Please select the default library type:
(1) archive
(2) shared object
[2]: 1

Please enter the archiver (ar) binary you would like to use.
[ar]: ar

Please enter the indexer (ranlib) binary you would like to use.
[ranlib]: ranlib

Would you like to configure dependency on the installed version
of 'boost libraries' as opposed to the development build?
[y]: n

Please enter the 'boost' root directory.
[]: ../boost_1_33_1

Please select the library type you would like to use:
(1) archive
(2) shared object
[2]: 1

For boost 1.34.0 and later, please enter the toolset version
that is embedded into the library names. For example, for
gcc34 enter 34. For previous versions of boost leave this
field blank.
[]:

Would you like to configure dependency on the installed
version of 'libcult' as opposed to the development build?
[y]: n

Please enter the src_root for 'libcult'.
[]: ../libcult-1.4.2

Please enter the out_root for 'libcult'.
[/home/boris/libcult-1.4.2]: ../libcult-1.4.2

Please enter the g++ binary you would like to use, for example 'g++-3.4',
'/usr/local/bin/g++' or 'distcc g++'.
[g++]: g++

Please select the optimization level you would like to use:
[2]: 2

Libxsd-frontend

Download the latest libxsd-frontend source release from the libxsd-frontend project page. Then follow these build instructions: 

$ cd
$ bzip2 -dc libxsd-frontend-1.15.0.tar.bz2 | tar x
$ cd libxsd-frontend-1.15.0
$ make

Please select the C++ compiler you would like to use:
(1) GNU C++ (g++)
(2) Intel C++ (icc)
[1]: 1

Would you like the C++ compiler to optimize generated code?
[y]: y

Would you like the C++ compiler to generate debug information?
[y]: n

Embed dynamic library paths into executables (rpath)?
[y]: n

Please enter any extra C++ preprocessor options.
[]: -I ~/STLport-5.0.1/stlport -D_REENTRANT -DXML_LIBRARY

Please enter any extra C++ compiler options.
[]: -mno-cygwin

Please enter any extra C++ linker options.
[]: -L ~/STLport-5.0.1/lib

Please enter any extra C++ libraries.
[]: -lstlport.5.0

Please select the default library type:
(1) archive
(2) shared object
[2]: 1

Please enter the archiver (ar) binary you would like to use.
[ar]: ar

Please enter the indexer (ranlib) binary you would like to use.
[ranlib]: ranlib

Would you like to configure dependency on the installed version
of 'libfrontend-elements' as opposed to the development build?
[y]: n

Please enter the src_root for 'libfrontend-elements'.
[]: ../libfrontend-elements-1.1.1

Please enter the out_root for 'libfrontend-elements'.
[/home/boris/libfrontend-elements-1.1.1]: ../libfrontend-elements-1.1.1

Would you like to configure dependency on the installed
version of 'libcult' as opposed to the development build?
[y]: n

Please enter the src_root for 'libcult'.
[]: ../libcult-1.4.2

Please enter the out_root for 'libcult'.
[/home/boris/libcult-1.4.2]: ../libcult-1.4.2

Would you like to configure dependency on the installed version
of 'libxerces-c' as opposed to the development build?
[y]: n

Please enter the 'libxerces-c' root directory.
[]: ../xerces-c-3.0.0

Please select the library type you would like to use:
(1) archive
(2) shared object
[2]: 1

Would you like to configure dependency on the installed version
of 'boost libraries' as opposed to the development build?
[y]: n

Please enter the 'boost' root directory.
[]: ../boost_1_33_1

Please select the library type you would like to use:
(1) archive
(2) shared object
[2]: 1

For boost 1.34.0 and later, please enter the toolset version
that is embedded into the library names. For example, for
gcc34 enter 34. For previous versions of boost leave this
field blank.
[]:

Please enter the g++ binary you would like to use, for example 'g++-3.4',
'/usr/local/bin/g++' or 'distcc g++'.
[g++]: g++

Please select the optimization level you would like to use:
[2]: 2

XSD

Download the latest XSD source release from the XSD project page. Then follow these build instructions: 

$ cd
$ bzip2 -dc xsd-3.2.0-1.tar.bz2 | tar x
$ cd xsd-3.2.0-1/xsd
$ make

Please select the C++ compiler you would like to use:
(1) GNU C++ (g++)
(2) Intel C++ (icc)
[1]: 1

Would you like the C++ compiler to optimize generated code?
[y]: y

Would you like the C++ compiler to generate debug information?
[y]: n

Embed dynamic library paths into executables (rpath)?
[y]: n

Please enter any extra C++ preprocessor options.
[]: -I ~/STLport-5.0.1/stlport -D_REENTRANT -DXML_LIBRARY

Please enter any extra C++ compiler options.
[]: -mno-cygwin

Please enter any extra C++ linker options.
[]: -L ~/STLport-5.0.1/lib

Please enter any extra C++ libraries.
[]: -lstlport.5.0

Would you like to configure dependency on the installed
version of 'libxsd-frontend' as opposed to the development build?
[y]: n

Please enter the src_root for 'libxsd-frontend'.
[]: ../../libxsd-frontend-1.15.0

Please enter the out_root for 'libxsd-frontend'.
[/home/boris/libxsd-frontend-1.15.0]: ../../libxsd-frontend-1.15.0

Would you like to configure dependency on the installed version
of 'boost libraries' as opposed to the development build?
[y]: n

Please enter the 'boost' root directory.
[]: ../../boost_1_33_1

Please select the library type you would like to use:
(1) archive
(2) shared object
[2]: 1

Would you like to configure dependency on the installed version
of 'libbackend-elements' as opposed to the development build?
[y]: n

Please enter the src_root for 'libbackend-elements'.
[]: ../../libbackend-elements-1.6.1

Please enter the out_root for 'libbackend-elements'.
[/home/boris/libbackend-elements-1.6.1]: ../../libbackend-elements-1.6.1

Would you like to configure dependency on the installed
version of 'libcult' as opposed to the development build?
[y]: n

Please enter the src_root for 'libcult'.
[]: ../../libcult-1.4.2

Please enter the out_root for 'libcult'.
[/home/boris/libcult-1.4.2]: ../../libcult-1.4.2

Would you like to build optional parts of 'XSD' that require
the 'ACE' library?
[n]: n

Would you like to build optional parts of 'XSD' that require
the 'XDR' library (part of the system in most GNU/Linux and
UNIX distributions)?
[n]: n

Would you like to build optional parts of 'XSD' that require
the boost 'serialization' library?
[n]: n

Would you like to build optional parts of 'XSD' that require
the boost 'date_time' library?
[n]: n

Would you like to build optional parts of 'XSD' that require
the 'Berkeley DB XML' library?
[n]: n

Would you like to build optional parts of 'XSD' that require
the XQilla library?
[n]: n

Please enter the g++ binary you would like to use, for example 'g++-3.4',
'/usr/local/bin/g++' or 'distcc g++'.
[g++]: g++

Please select the optimization level you would like to use:
[2]: 2

$ ./xsd --version
XML Schema Definition Compiler 3.2.0

After this step the XSD compiler executable can be found in the xsd-3.2.0-1/xsd directory. Note that you've just built a native Win32 executable and as such it expects Win32 paths. As a result, you cannot use absolute Cygwin paths (e.g., /tmp/schema.xsd) with this binary.