gperf - generate a perfect hash function from a key set
SYNOPSIS
gperf [OPTION]... [INPUT-FILE]
DESCRIPTION
GNU `gperf' generates perfect hash functions.
If a long option shows an argument as mandatory, then it
is mandatory for the equivalent short option also.
Input file interpretation:
-e, --delimiters=DELIMITER-LIST
Allow user to provide a string containing delim
iters used to separate keywords from their
attributes. Default is ",\n".
-t, --struct-type
Allows the user to include a structured type decla
ration for generated code. Any text before %% is
considered part of the type declaration. Key words
and additional fields may follow this, one group of
fields per line.
Language for the output code:
-L, --language=LANGUAGE-NAME
Generates code in the specified language. Languages
handled are currently C++, ANSI-C, C, and KR-C. The
default is C.
Details in the output code:
-K, --slot-name=NAME
Select name of the keyword component in the keyword
structure.
-F, --initializer-suffix=INITIALIZERS
Initializers for additional components in the key
word structure.
-H, --hash-fn-name=NAME
Specify name of generated hash function. Default is
`hash'.
-N, --lookup-fn-name=NAME
Specify name of generated lookup function. Default
name is `in_word_set'.
-Z, --class-name=NAME
Specify name of generated C++ class. Default name
is `Perfect_Hash'.
-7, --seven-bit
Assume 7-bit characters.
Generate comparison code using strncmp rather than
strcmp.
-C, --readonly-tables
Make the contents of generated lookup tables con
stant, i.e., readonly.
-E, --enum
Define constant values using an enum local to the
lookup function rather than with defines.
-I, --includes
Include the necessary system include file
<string.h> at the beginning of the code.
-G, --global
Generate the static table of keywords as a static
global variable, rather than hiding it inside of
the lookup function (which is the default behav
ior).
-W, --word-array-name=NAME
Specify name of word list array. Default name is
`wordlist'.
-S, --switch=COUNT
Causes the generated C code to use a switch state
ment scheme, rather than an array lookup table.
This can lead to a reduction in both time and space
requirements for some keyfiles. The COUNT argument
determines how many switch statements are gener
ated. A value of 1 generates 1 switch containing
all the elements, a value of 2 generates 2 tables
with 1/2 the elements in each table, etc. If COUNT
is very large, say 1000000, the generated C code
does a binary search.
-T, --omit-struct-type
Prevents the transfer of the type declaration to
the output file. Use this option if the type is
already defined elsewhere.
Algorithm employed by gperf:
-k, --key-positions=KEYS
Select the key positions used in the hash function.
The allowable choices range between 1-126, inclu
sive. The positions are separated by commas,
ranges may be used, and key positions may occur in
any order. Also, the meta-character '*' causes the
generated hash function to consider ALL key posi
tions, and $ indicates the ``final character'' of a
key, e.g., $,1,2,4,6-10.
Compare key lengths before trying a string compari
son. This helps cut down on the number of string
comparisons made during the lookup.
-D, --duplicates
Handle keywords that hash to duplicate values. This
is useful for certain highly redundant keyword
sets.
-f, --fast=ITERATIONS
Generate the gen-perf.hash function ``fast''. This
decreases gperf's running time at the cost of mini
mizing generated table size. The numeric argument
represents the number of times to iterate when
resolving a collision. `0' means ``iterate by the
number of keywords''.
-i, --initial-asso=N
Provide an initial value for the associate values
array. Default is 0. Setting this value larger
helps inflate the size of the final table.
-j, --jump=JUMP-VALUE
Affects the ``jump value'', i.e., how far to
advance the associated character value upon colli
sions. Must be an odd number, default is 5.
-n, --no-strlen
Do not include the length of the keyword when com
puting the hash function.
-o, --occurrence-sort
Reorders input keys by frequency of occurrence of
the key sets. This should decrease the search time
dramatically.
-r, --random
Utilizes randomness to initialize the associated
values table.
-s, --size-multiple=N
Affects the size of the generated hash table. The
numeric argument N indicates ``how many times
larger or smaller'' the associated value range
should be, in relationship to the number of keys,
e.g. a value of 3 means ``allow the maximum associ
ated value to be about 3 times larger than the num
ber of input keys.'' Conversely, a value of -3
means ``make the maximum associated value about 3
times smaller than the number of input keys. A
larger table should decrease the time required for
an unsuccessful search, at the expense of extra
table space. Default value is 1.
-h, --help
Print this message.
-v, --version
Print the gperf version number.
-d, --debug
Enables the debugging option (produces verbose out
put to the standard error).
REPORTING BUGS
Report bugs to <bug-gnu-utils@gnu.org>.
SEE ALSO
The full documentation for gperf is maintained as a Tex
info manual. If the info and gperf programs are properly
installed at your site, the command
info gperf
should give you access to the complete manual.
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