From 107d335c0ddc554c04c22297399ca9ad2f7a7aa2 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: cd rubin Date: Wed, 30 Oct 2024 01:08:43 +0000 Subject: [PATCH] Share that APE files are also zip archives and how to use them! (#1319) --- tool/cosmocc/README.md | 27 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 1 file changed, 27 insertions(+) diff --git a/tool/cosmocc/README.md b/tool/cosmocc/README.md index f2bb6df58..137c4426b 100644 --- a/tool/cosmocc/README.md +++ b/tool/cosmocc/README.md @@ -88,6 +88,33 @@ format used by the host system; however it's also possible to explicitly convert APE programs to any architectures / OS combination. For further details on usage, run the `assimilate -h` command. + +## Binary archive format + +The APE format includes another portability superpower: the ability to +distribute application support files WITHIN the compiled executable file. +This is because APE files are also mostly regular zip files! You will +need a copy of a compatible zip tool like the modified version of +Info-ZIP available here: https://cosmo.zip/pub/cosmos/bin/zip. With this +in hand the following command: + +```sh +zip [APE file] [support_file.txt] +``` + +adds support_file.txt to your executable. You can see it listed within +the archive with `unzip -l [APE file]`. + +Cosmo libc includes compatible file handling functions for accessing the +contents of an APE file at the special '/zip' path. So your code is now +able to do the following: + +```c +if (access( "/zip/support_file.txt", F_OK) == 0) { + fprintf(stderr, "/zip/support_file.txt FOUND and can be used as an asset\n"); +} +``` + ## Gotchas If you use zsh and have trouble running APE programs try `sh -c ./prog`