Fatele

Fatele is a term primarily used within the context of the programming language and environment Nim to refer to a file used for package management and build configuration. It is the successor to the older ".nims" file format.

A Fatele file defines dependencies, compilation flags, and other metadata necessary for building and using a Nim package. It is essentially a configuration file written in Nim syntax, allowing for expressive and flexible build definitions.

Key aspects of a Fatele file include:

• Dependencies: Declares the other Nim packages or libraries that the current package relies on. These dependencies are typically specified using their names and potentially version constraints.
• Compilation Options: Sets compiler flags such as optimization levels, debugging options, and platform-specific settings.
• Source Files: Lists the Nim source files that belong to the package.
• Tasks: Defines custom tasks that can be executed during the build process, such as running tests or generating documentation.
• Packages and Modules: Specifies the package structure, including modules and their relationships.
• Metadata: Provides information about the package, such as its name, version, author, and description.

The Nim compiler uses the Fatele file to determine how to build the package and resolve its dependencies. The nimble package manager utilizes the information in the Fatele file to install, update, and manage packages.

Compared to the older ".nims" format, Fatele files offer several advantages, including better expressiveness, improved support for complex build configurations, and more seamless integration with the nimble package manager.