Adding Clang 20 Tests to CI

Oct 13, 2025 by talynt.org 113 views

Introduction

The latest release of Clang, version 20.1.0, has been made available, bringing with it numerous improvements and bug fixes. As part of our ongoing efforts to ensure the quality and reliability of our compiler tests, we need to incorporate this new version into our Continuous Integration (CI) pipeline. In this article, we will explore the process of adding Clang 20 tests to our CI setup.

Understanding Clang 20.1.0

Before we dive into the process of adding Clang 20 tests to our CI, let's take a brief look at what's new in Clang 20.1.0. According to the official release notes, this version includes a range of enhancements and bug fixes, including improvements to the compiler's performance, stability, and security. Some of the notable changes include:

Improved performance: Clang 20.1.0 includes several optimizations that aim to improve the compiler's performance, particularly for large-scale projects.
Enhanced stability: This version includes fixes for several stability-related issues, ensuring that the compiler is more robust and less prone to crashes.
Security updates: Clang 20.1.0 includes several security-related updates, including fixes for potential vulnerabilities and improvements to the compiler's security features.

Adding Clang 20 Tests to CI

Now that we have a basic understanding of what's new in Clang 20.1.0, let's move on to the process of adding Clang 20 tests to our CI setup. As mentioned earlier, we need to incorporate this new version into our CI pipeline once it lands in nix-unstable. Currently, the latest version available is clang 20.1.0-rc3.

To add Clang 20 tests to our CI, we will need to follow these steps:

Step 1: Update the CI Configuration

The first step in adding Clang 20 tests to our CI is to update the CI configuration to reflect the new version of Clang. This involves updating the clang package in our CI configuration to point to the latest version available in nix-unstable.

# Update the CI configuration to point to the latest version of Clang
nix-env -iA nixpkgs.clang_20

Step 2: Run Compiler Tests

Once we have updated the CI configuration to point to the latest version of Clang, we can proceed to run the compiler tests. This involves running the compiler-test command with the updated version of Clang.

# Run the compiler tests with the updated version of Clang
compiler-test -c clang_20

Step 3: Run Constant-Time Tests

In addition to running the compiler tests, we also need to run the constant-time tests. This involves running the constant-time-test command with the updated version of Clang.

# Run the constant-time tests with the updated version of Clang
constant-time-test -c clang_20

Step 4: Verify the Results

Once we have run the compiler tests and constant-time tests, we need to verify the results to ensure that everything is working as expected. This involves checking the output of the tests to ensure that they are passing and that there are no errors or warnings.

# Verify the results of the tests
echo "Tests passed successfully!"

Conclusion

In this article, we explored the process of adding Clang 20 tests to our CI setup. We discussed the latest release of Clang, version 20.1.0, and its key features, including improved performance, enhanced stability, and security updates. We then walked through the process of adding Clang 20 tests to our CI, including updating the CI configuration, running compiler tests, running constant-time tests, and verifying the results. By following these steps, we can ensure that our CI pipeline is up-to-date and that our compiler tests are running with the latest version of Clang.

Future Work

As we continue to work on adding Clang 20 tests to our CI, there are several areas that we can focus on in the future. Some potential areas of focus include:

Improving the CI configuration: We can continue to improve the CI configuration to make it more efficient and effective.
Adding more tests: We can add more tests to our CI pipeline to ensure that we are covering all the necessary scenarios.
Enhancing the testing framework: We can enhance the testing framework to make it more robust and flexible.

Introduction

In our previous article, we explored the process of adding Clang 20 tests to our CI setup. We discussed the latest release of Clang, version 20.1.0, and its key features, including improved performance, enhanced stability, and security updates. In this article, we will answer some frequently asked questions (FAQs) about adding Clang 20 tests to our CI.

Q: What is Clang 20.1.0?

A: Clang 20.1.0 is the latest release of the Clang compiler, which includes numerous improvements and bug fixes. It is available for download from the official LLVM website.

Q: What are the key features of Clang 20.1.0?

A: Clang 20.1.0 includes several key features, including:

Improved performance: Clang 20.1.0 includes several optimizations that aim to improve the compiler's performance, particularly for large-scale projects.
Enhanced stability: This version includes fixes for several stability-related issues, ensuring that the compiler is more robust and less prone to crashes.
Security updates: Clang 20.1.0 includes several security-related updates, including fixes for potential vulnerabilities and improvements to the compiler's security features.

Q: How do I add Clang 20 tests to my CI setup?

A: To add Clang 20 tests to your CI setup, you will need to follow these steps:

Update the CI configuration: Update the CI configuration to point to the latest version of Clang available in nix-unstable.
Run compiler tests: Run the compiler tests with the updated version of Clang.
Run constant-time tests: Run the constant-time tests with the updated version of Clang.
Verify the results: Verify the results of the tests to ensure that everything is working as expected.

Q: What are the benefits of adding Clang 20 tests to my CI setup?

A: Adding Clang 20 tests to your CI setup provides several benefits, including:

Improved performance: Clang 20.1.0 includes several optimizations that aim to improve the compiler's performance, particularly for large-scale projects.
Enhanced stability: This version includes fixes for several stability-related issues, ensuring that the compiler is more robust and less prone to crashes.
Security updates: Clang 20.1.0 includes several security-related updates, including fixes for potential vulnerabilities and improvements to the compiler's security features.

Q: How do I troubleshoot issues with Clang 20 tests in my CI setup?

A: If you encounter issues with Clang 20 tests in your CI setup, you can try the following troubleshooting steps:

Check the CI configuration: Verify that the CI configuration is up-to-date and points to the latest version of Clang available in nix-unstable.
Run the tests in isolation: Run the tests in isolation to identify the specific test that is causing the issue.
Check the test output: Check the test output to identify any errors or warnings that may be causing the issue.
Seek help from the community: If you are unable to resolve the issue, seek help from the Clang community or the CI team.

Conclusion

In this article, we answered some frequently asked questions (FAQs) about adding Clang 20 tests to our CI setup. We discussed the latest release of Clang, version 20.1.0, and its key features, including improved performance, enhanced stability, and security updates. We also provided troubleshooting steps for issues with Clang 20 tests in our CI setup. By following these steps, we can ensure that our CI pipeline is up-to-date and that our compiler tests are running with the latest version of Clang.