CCFLAGS

ccflags refers to a set of flags passed to the C compiler when compiling C source files. It is a build-system concept used in several projects, notably in embedded systems and kernel/build scripts, to hold options that should apply specifically to C compilation. In many environments ccflags is used alongside or as a subset of CFLAGS, and it is distinct from CXXFLAGS (used for C++) and CPPFLAGS (preprocessor options). Some toolchains expose ccflags as a separate variable to allow finer-grained control over C compilation without altering non-C parts of the build.

Common usage patterns vary by project. In make-based builds you might see assignments such as ccflags-y := -Wall -Wextra, or ccflags += -DDEBUG, indicating flags that should be used when compiling C sources. In other systems the global CFLAGS variable serves the same purpose, with ccflags acting as a project-specific alias or extension. Cross-compilation projects may set ccflags to target a particular architecture or ABI, for example adding -march or -m32/-m64 options.

Typical flags found in ccflags include general warnings and debugging options (-Wall, -Wextra, -g), optimization or performance hints (-O2, -fno-omit-frame-pointer), and correctness or portability aids (-fPIC, -DDEBUG, -m32/-m64, -march=...). They may also influence code generation and ABI compatibility, so changes should be tested across targets.

Best practices emphasize keeping ccflags focused on C source compilation, avoiding broad platform-wide options unless necessary, and understanding how ccflags interacts with CFLAGS, CPPFLAGS, and CXXFLAGS within the specific build system.