Command-line options

Command-line options

Agda accepts the following options on the command line. Where noted, these options can also serve as pragma options, i.e., be supplied in a file via the {-# OPTIONS ... #-} pragma or in the flags section of an .agda-lib file.

General options

--help[={TOPIC}], -?[{TOPIC}]

Show basically this help, or more help about TOPIC. Current topics available: warning.

--interaction

For use with the Emacs mode (no need to invoke yourself).

--interaction-json

New in version 2.6.1.

For use with other editors such as Atom (no need to invoke yourself).

--interaction-exit-on-error

New in version 2.6.3.

Makes Agda exit with a non-zero exit code if --interaction or --interaction-json are used and a type error is encountered. The option also makes Agda exit with exit code 113 if Agda fails to parse a command.

This option might for instance be used if Agda is controlled from a script.

--interactive, -I

Start in interactive mode (not maintained).

--trace-imports[=(0|1|2|3)]

New in version 2.6.4.

Configure printing of messages when an imported module is accessed during type-checking.

0

Do not print any messages about checking a module.

1
Print only Checking … when an access to an uncompiled module occurs.
This is the default behavior if --trace-imports is not specified.

2
Use the effect of 1, but also print Finished …
when a compilation of an uncompiled module is finished.
This is the behavior if --trace-imports is specified without a value.

3
Use the effect of 2, but also print Loading …
when a compiled module (interface) is accessed during the type-checking.
--only-scope-checking

New in version 2.5.3.

Only scope-check the top-level module, do not type-check it (see Quicker generation without typechecking).

--version, -V

Show version number.

--print-agda-dir

New in version 2.6.2.

Outputs the root (AGDA_DIR) of the directory structure holding Agda’s data files such as core libraries, style files for the backends etc.

--transliterate

New in version 2.6.3.

When writing to stdout or stderr Agda will (hopefully) replace code points that are not supported by the current locale or code page by something else, perhaps question marks.

This option is not supported when --interaction or --interaction-json are used, because when those options are used Agda uses UTF-8 when writing to stdout (and when reading from stdin).

Compilation

See Compilers for backend-specific options.

--compile-dir={DIR}

Set DIR as directory for compiler output (default: the project root).

--no-main

Do not treat the requested/current module as the main module of a program when compiling.

Pragma option since 2.5.3.

--main

New in version 2.6.4.

Default, opposite of --no-main.

--with-compiler={PATH}

Set PATH as the executable to call to compile the backend’s output (default: ghc for the GHC backend).

Generating highlighted source code

--count-clusters

New in version 2.5.3.

Count extended grapheme clusters when generating LaTeX code (see Counting Extended Grapheme Clusters). Available only when Agda was built with Cabal flag enable-cluster-counting. Then default (since 2.6.4).

Pragma option since 2.5.4.

--no-count-clusters

New in version 2.6.4..

Opposite of --count-clusters.

--css={URL}

Set URL of the CSS file used by the HTML files to URL (can be relative).

--dependency-graph={FILE}

New in version 2.3.0.

Generate a Dot file FILE with a module dependency graph.

--dependency-graph-include={LIBRARY}

New in version 2.6.3.

Include modules from the given library in the dependency graph. This option can be used multiple times to include modules from several libraries. If this option is not used at all, then all modules are included. (Note that the module given on the command line might not be included.)

A module M is considered to be in the library L if L is the name of a .agda-lib file A associated to M (even if M’s file can not be found via the include paths in A).

--html

New in version 2.2.0.

Generate HTML files with highlighted source code (see Generating HTML).

--html-dir={DIR}

Set directory in which HTML files are placed to DIR (default: html).

--html-highlight=[code,all,auto]

New in version 2.6.0.

Whether to highlight non-Agda code as comments in generated HTML files (default: all; see Generating HTML).

--latex

New in version 2.3.2.

Generate LaTeX with highlighted source code (see Generating LaTeX).

--latex-dir={DIR}

New in version 2.5.2.

Set directory in which LaTeX files are placed to DIR (default: latex).

--vim

Generate Vim highlighting files.

Imports and libraries

(see Library Management)

--ignore-all-interfaces

New in version 2.6.0.

Ignore all interface files, including builtin and primitive modules; only use this if you know what you are doing!

--ignore-interfaces

Ignore interface files (re-type check everything, except for builtin and primitive modules).

--include-path={DIR}, -i={DIR}

Look for imports in DIR.

--library={DIR}, -l={LIB}

New in version 2.5.1.

Use library LIB.

--library-file={FILE}

New in version 2.5.1.

Use FILE instead of the standard libraries file.

--local-interfaces

New in version 2.6.1.

Read and write interface files next to the Agda files they correspond to (i.e. do not attempt to regroup them in a _build/ directory at the project’s root).

--no-default-libraries

New in version 2.5.1.

Don’t use default library files.

--no-libraries

New in version 2.5.2.

Don’t use any library files.

Command-line and pragma options

The following options can also be given in .agda files using the OPTIONS pragma.

Performance

--auto-inline

New in version 2.6.2.

Turn on automatic compile-time inlining. See The INLINE and NOINLINE pragmas for more information.

--no-auto-inline

New in version 2.5.4.

Disable automatic compile-time inlining (default). Only definitions marked INLINE will be inlined. On by default.

--caching, --no-caching

New in version 2.5.4.

Enable or disable caching of typechecking.

Default: --caching.

--call-by-name

New in version 2.6.2.

Disable call-by-need evaluation in the Agda Abstract Machine.

--no-call-by-name

New in version 2.6.4.

Default, opposite of --call-by-name.

--no-fast-reduce

New in version 2.6.0.

Disable reduction using the Agda Abstract Machine.

--fast-reduce

New in version 2.6.4.

Default, opposite of --no-fast-reduce.

--no-forcing

New in version 2.2.10.

Disable the forcing optimisation. Since Agda 2.6.1 it is a pragma option.

--forcing

New in version 2.6.4.

Default, opposite of --no-forcing.

--no-projection-like

New in version 2.6.1.

Turn off the analysis whether a type signature likens that of a projection.

Projection-likeness is an optimization that reduces the size of terms by dropping parameter-like reconstructible function arguments. Thus, it is advisable to leave this optimization on, the flag is meant for debugging Agda.

See also the NOT_PROJECTION_LIKE pragma.

--projection-like

New in version 2.6.4.

Default, opposite of --no-projection-like.

Printing and debugging

--no-unicode

New in version 2.5.4.

Do not use unicode characters to print terms.

--unicode

New in version 2.6.4.

Default, opposite of --no-unicode.

--show-identity-substitutions

New in version 2.6.2.

Show all arguments of metavariables when pretty-printing a term, even if they amount to just applying all the variables in the context.

--no-show-identity-substitutions

New in version 2.6.4.

Default, opposite of --show-identity-substitutions.

--show-implicit

Show implicit arguments when printing.

--no-show-implicit

New in version 2.6.4.

Default, opposite of --show-implicit.

--show-irrelevant

New in version 2.3.2.

Show irrelevant arguments when printing.

--no-show-irrelevant

New in version 2.6.4.

Default, opposite of --show-irrelevant.

--verbose={N}, -v={N}

Set verbosity level to N.

--profile={PROF}

New in version 2.6.3.

Turn on profiling option PROF. Available options are

internal

Measure time taken by various parts of the system (type checking, serialization, etc)

modules

Measure time spent on individual (Agda) modules

definitions

Measure time spent on individual (Agda) definitions

sharing

Measure things related to sharing

serialize

Collect detailed statistics about serialization

constraints

Collect statistics about constraint solving

metas

Count number of created metavariables

interactive

Measure time of interactive commands

conversion

Count number of times various steps of the conversion algorithm are used (reduction, eta-expansion, syntactic equality, etc)

Only one of internal, modules, and definitions can be turned on at a time. You can also give --profile=all to turn on all profiling options (choosing internal over modules and definitions, use --profile=modules --profile=all to pick modules instead).

Copatterns and projections

--copatterns, --no-copatterns

New in version 2.4.0.

Enable or disable definitions by copattern matching (see Copatterns).

Default: --copatterns (since 2.4.2.4).

--postfix-projections

New in version 2.5.2.

Make postfix projection notation the default.

--no-postfix-projections

New in version 2.6.4.

Default, opposite of --postfix-projections.

Experimental features

--allow-exec

New in version 2.6.2.

Enable system calls during type checking (see Reflection).

--no-allow-exec

New in version 2.6.4.

Default, opposite of --allow-exec.

--confluence-check, --local-confluence-check

New in version 2.6.1.

Enable optional (global or local) confluence checking of REWRITE rules (see Confluence checking).

--cubical

New in version 2.6.0.

Enable cubical features. Turns on --cubical-compatible and --without-K (see Cubical).

--erased-cubical

New in version 2.6.3.

Enable a variant of Cubical Agda, and turn on --without-K.

--experimental-irrelevance

New in version 2.3.0.

Enable potentially unsound irrelevance features (irrelevant levels, irrelevant data matching) (see Irrelevance).

--no-experimental-irrelevance

New in version 2.6.4.

Default, opposite of --experimental-irrelevance.

--guarded

New in version 2.6.2.

Enable locks and ticks for guarded recursion (see Guarded Type Theory).

--no-guarded

New in version 2.6.4.

Default, opposite of --guarded.

--injective-type-constructors

New in version 2.2.8.

Enable injective type constructors (makes Agda anti-classical and possibly inconsistent).

--no-injective-type-constructors

New in version 2.6.4.

Default, opposite of --injective-type-constructors.

--prop, --no-prop

New in version 2.6.0.

Enable or disable declaration and use of definitionally proof-irrelevant propositions (see proof-irrelevant propositions).

Default: –no-prop. In this case, Prop is since 2.6.4 not in scope by default (--import-sorts).

--rewriting

New in version 2.4.2.4.

Enable declaration and use of REWRITE rules (see Rewriting).

--no-rewriting

New in version 2.6.4.

Default, opposite of --rewriting.

--two-level

New in version 2.6.2.

Enable the use of strict (non-fibrant) type universes SSet (two-level type theory). Since 2.6.4, brings SSet into scope unless --no-import-sorts.

--no-two-level

New in version 2.6.4.

Default, opposite of --two-level.

Errors and warnings

--allow-incomplete-matches

New in version 2.6.1.

Succeed and create interface file regardless of incomplete pattern-matching definitions. See also the NON_COVERING pragma.

--no-allow-incomplete-matches

New in version 2.6.4.

Default, opposite of --allow-incomplete-matches.

--allow-unsolved-metas

Succeed and create interface file regardless of unsolved meta variables (see Metavariables).

--no-allow-unsolved-metas

New in version 2.6.4.

Default, opposite of --allow-unsolved-metas.

--no-positivity-check

Do not warn about not strictly positive data types (see Positivity Checking).

--positivity-check

New in version 2.6.4.

Default, opposite of --no-positivity-check.

--no-termination-check

Do not warn about possibly nonterminating code (see Termination Checking).

--termination-check

New in version 2.6.4.

Default, opposite of --no-termination-check.

--warning={GROUP|FLAG}, -W {GROUP|FLAG}

New in version 2.5.3.

Set warning group or flag (see Warnings).

Pattern matching and equality

--exact-split, --no-exact-split

New in version 2.5.1.

Require [do not require] all clauses in a definition to hold as definitional equalities unless marked CATCHALL (see Case trees).

Default: --no-exact-split.

--hidden-argument-puns, --no-hidden-argument-puns

New in version 2.6.4.

Enable [disable] hidden argument puns.

Default: --no-hidden-argument-puns.

--no-eta-equality

New in version 2.5.1.

Default records to no-eta-equality (see Eta-expansion).

--eta-equality

New in version 2.6.4.

Default, opposite of --no-eta-equality.

--cohesion

New in version 2.6.3.

Enable the cohesion modalities, in particular @♭ (see Flat Modality).

--no-cohesion

New in version 2.6.4.

Default, opposite of --cohesion.

--flat-split

New in version 2.6.1.

Enable pattern matching on @♭ arguments (see Pattern Matching on @♭). Implies --cohesion.

--no-flat-split

New in version 2.6.4.

Default, opposite of --flat-split.

--no-pattern-matching

New in version 2.4.0.

Disable pattern matching completely.

--pattern-matching

New in version 2.6.4.

Default, opposite of --no-pattern-matching.

--with-K

New in version 2.4.2.

Overrides a global --without-K in a file (see Without K).

--without-K

New in version 2.2.10.

Disables reasoning principles incompatible with univalent type theory, most importantly Streicher’s K axiom (see Without K).

--cubical-compatible

New in version 2.6.3.

Generate internal support code necessary for use from Cubical Agda (see Cubical compatible). Implies --without-K.

--keep-pattern-variables

New in version 2.6.1.

Prevent interactive case splitting from replacing variables with dot patterns (see Dot patterns).

--no-keep-pattern-variables

New in version 2.6.4.

Default, opposite of --keep-pattern-variables.

--infer-absurd-clauses, --no-infer-absurd-clauses

New in version 2.6.4.

--no-infer-absurd-clauses prevents interactive case splitting and coverage checking from automatically filtering out absurd clauses. This means that these absurd clauses have to be written out in the Agda text. Try this option if you experience type checking performance degradation with omitted absurd clauses.

Default: --infer-absurd-clauses.

Search depth and instances

--instance-search-depth={N}

New in version 2.5.2.

Set instance search depth to N (default: 500; see Instance Arguments).

--inversion-max-depth={N}

New in version 2.5.4.

Set maximum depth for pattern match inversion to N (default: 50). Should only be needed in pathological cases.

--termination-depth={N}

New in version 2.2.8.

Allow termination checker to count decrease/increase upto N (default: 1; see Termination Checking).

--overlapping-instances, --no-overlapping-instances

New in version 2.6.0.

Consider [do not consider] recursive instance arguments during pruning of instance candidates.

Default: --no-overlapping-instances.

--qualified-instances, --no-qualified-instances

New in version 2.6.2.

Consider [do not consider] instances that are (only) in scope under a qualified name.

Default: --qualified-instances.

Other features

--double-check

Enable double-checking of all terms using the internal typechecker. Off by default.

--no-double-check

New in version 2.6.2.

Opposite of --double-check. On by default.

--guardedness, --no-guardedness

New in version 2.6.0.

Enable [disable] constructor-based guarded corecursion (see Coinduction).

The option --guardedness is inconsistent with sized types, thus, it cannot be used with both --safe and --sized-types.

Default: --no-guardedness (since 2.6.2).

--irrelevant-projections, --no-irrelevant-projections

New in version 2.5.4.

Enable [disable] projection of irrelevant record fields (see Irrelevance). The option --irrelevant-projections makes Agda inconsistent.

Default (since version 2.6.1): --no-irrelevant-projections.

--no-print-pattern-synonyms

New in version 2.5.4.

Always expand Pattern Synonyms during printing. With this option enabled you can use pattern synonyms freely, but Agda will not use any pattern synonyms when printing goal types or error messages, or when generating patterns for case splits.

--print-pattern-synonyms

New in version 2.6.4.

Default, opposite of --no-print-pattern-synonyms.

--no-syntactic-equality

New in version 2.6.0.

Disable the syntactic equality shortcut in the conversion checker.

--syntactic-equality={N}

New in version 2.6.3.

Give the syntactic equality shortcut N units of fuel (N must be a natural number).

If N is omitted, then the syntactic equality shortcut is enabled without any restrictions. (This is the default.)

If N is given, then the syntactic equality shortcut is given N units of fuel. The exact meaning of this is implementation-dependent, but successful uses of the shortcut do not affect the amount of fuel.

Note that this option is experimental and subject to change.

--safe

New in version 2.3.0.

Disable postulates, unsafe OPTIONS pragmas and primTrustMe. Prevents to have both --sized-types and --guardedness on. Further reading: Safe Agda.

--sized-types, --no-sized-types

New in version 2.2.0.

Enable [disable] sized types (see Sized Types).

The option --sized-types is inconsistent with constructor-based guarded corecursion, thus, it cannot be used with both --safe and --guardedness.

Default: --no-sized-types (since 2.6.2).

--type-in-type

Ignore universe levels (this makes Agda inconsistent; see type-in-type).

--no-type-in-type

New in version 2.6.4.

Default, opposite of --type-in-type.

--omega-in-omega

New in version 2.6.0.

Enable typing rule Setω : Setω (this makes Agda inconsistent; see omega-in-omega).

--no-omega-in-omega

New in version 2.6.4.

Default, opposite of --omega-in-omega.

--level-universe, --no-level-universe

New in version 2.6.4.

Makes Level live in its own universe LevelUniv and disallows having levels depend on terms that are not levels themselves. When this option is turned off, LevelUniv still exists, but reduces to Set (see level-universe).

Note: While compatible with the --cubical option, this option is currently not compatible with cubical builtin files.

Default: --no-level-universe.

--universe-polymorphism, --no-universe-polymorphism

New in version 2.3.0.

Enable [disable] universe polymorphism (see Universe Levels).

Default: --universe-polymorphism.

--cumulativity, --no-cumulativity

New in version 2.6.1.

Enable [disable] cumulative subtyping of universes, i.e., if A : Set i then also A : Set j for all j >= i.

Default: --no-cumulativity.

--no-import-sorts

New in version 2.6.2.

Disable the implicit statement open import Agda.Primitive using (Set; ...) at the start of each top-level Agda module.

--import-sorts

New in version 2.6.4.

Default, opposite of --no-import-sorts.

Brings Set into scope, and if --prop is active, also Prop, and if --two-level is active, even SSet.

--no-load-primitives

New in version 2.6.3.

Do not load the primitive modules (Agda.Primitive, Agda.Primitive.Cubical) when type-checking this program. This is useful if you want to declare Agda’s very magical primitives in a Literate Agda file of your choice.

If you are using this option, it is your responsibility to ensure that all of the BUILTIN things defined in those modules are loaded. Agda will not work otherwise.

Implies --no-import-sorts.

Incompatible with --safe.

--load-primitives

New in version 2.6.4.

Default, opposite of --no-load-primitives.

--save-metas, --no-save-metas

New in version 2.6.3.

Save [or do not save] meta-variables in .agdai files. The alternative is to expand the meta-variables to their definitions. This option can affect performance. The default is to not save the meta-variables.

--erasure, --no-erasure

New in version 2.6.4.

Allow use of the annotations @0 and @erased; allow use of names defined in Cubical Agda in Erased Cubical Agda; and mark parameters as erased in the type signatures of constructors and record fields (if --with-K is not active this is not done for indexed data types).

Default: --no-erasure.

--erased-matches, --no-erased-matches

New in version 2.6.4.

Allow matching in erased positions for single-constructor, non-indexed data/record types. (This kind of matching is always allowed for record types with η-equality.)

Default: --erased-matches when --with-K is active, either by explicit activation or the absence of options like --without-K; otherwise --no-erased-matches.

If --erased-matches is given explicitly, it implies --erasure.

--erase-record-parameters

New in version 2.6.3.

Mark parameters as erased in record module telescopes.

Implies --erasure.

--no-erase-record-parameters

New in version 2.6.4.

Default, opposite of --erase-record-parameters.

Warnings

The -W or --warning option can be used to disable or enable different warnings. The flag -W error (or --warning=error) can be used to turn all warnings into errors, while -W noerror turns this off again.

A group of warnings can be enabled by -W {group}, where group is one of the following:

all

All of the existing warnings.

warn.

Default warning level.

ignore

Ignore all warnings.

The command agda --help=warning provides information about which warnings are turned on by default.

Individual warnings can be turned on and off by -W {Name} and -W {noName} respectively. The flags available are:

AbsurdPatternRequiresNoRHS

RHS given despite an absurd pattern in the LHS.

CantGeneralizeOverSorts

Attempt to generalize over sort metas in ‘variable’ declaration.

CoInfectiveImport

Importing a file not using e.g. --safe from one which does.

CoverageIssue

Failed coverage checks.

CoverageNoExactSplit

Failed exact split checks.

DeprecationWarning

Feature deprecation.

EmptyAbstract

Empty abstract blocks.

EmptyInstance

Empty instance blocks.

EmptyMacro

Empty macro blocks.

EmptyMutual

Empty mutual blocks.

EmptyPostulate

Empty postulate blocks.

EmptyPrimitive

Empty primitive blocks.

EmptyPrivate

Empty private blocks.

EmptyRewritePragma

Empty REWRITE pragmas.

IllformedAsClause

Illformed as-clauses in import statements.

InfectiveImport

Importing a file using e.g. --cubical into one which doesn’t.

InstanceNoOutputTypeName

Instance arguments whose type does not end in a named or variable type are never considered by instance search.

InstanceArgWithExplicitArg

Instance arguments with explicit arguments are never considered by instance search.

InstanceWithExplicitArg

Instance declarations with explicit arguments are never considered by instance search.

InvalidCatchallPragma

CATCHALL pragmas before a non-function clause.

InvalidNoPositivityCheckPragma

No positivity checking pragmas before non-data, record or mutual blocks.

InvalidTerminationCheckPragma

Termination checking pragmas before non-function or mutual blocks.

InversionDepthReached

Inversions of pattern-matching failed due to exhausted inversion depth.

LibUnknownField

Unknown field in library file.

MissingDefinitions

Names declared without an accompanying definition.

ModuleDoesntExport

Names mentioned in an import statement which are not exported by the module in question.

NotAllowedInMutual

Declarations not allowed in a mutual block.

NotStrictlyPositive

Failed strict positivity checks.

OldBuiltin

Deprecated BUILTIN pragmas.

OverlappingTokensWarning

Multi-line comments spanning one or more literate text blocks.

PolarityPragmasButNotPostulates

Polarity pragmas for non-postulates.

PragmaCompiled

COMPILE pragmas not allowed in safe mode.

PragmaCompileErased

COMPILE pragma targeting an erased symbol.

PragmaNoTerminationCheck

NO_TERMINATION_CHECK pragmas are deprecated.

RewriteMaybeNonConfluent

Failed confluence checks while computing overlap.

RewriteNonConfluent

Failed confluence checks while joining critical pairs.

SafeFlagNonTerminating

NON_TERMINATING pragmas with the safe flag.

SafeFlagNoPositivityCheck

NO_POSITIVITY_CHECK pragmas with the safe flag.

SafeFlagNoUniverseCheck

NO_UNIVERSE_CHECK pragmas with the safe flag.

SafeFlagPolarity

POLARITY pragmas with the safe flag.

SafeFlagPostulate

postulate blocks with the safe flag

SafeFlagPragma

Unsafe OPTIONS pragmas with the safe flag.

SafeFlagTerminating

TERMINATING pragmas with the safe flag.

SafeFlagWithoutKFlagPrimEraseEquality

primEraseEquality used with the safe and without-K flags.

ShadowingInTelescope

Repeated variable name in telescope.

TerminationIssue

Failed termination checks.

UnknownFixityInMixfixDecl

Mixfix names without an associated fixity declaration.

UnknownNamesInFixityDecl

Names not declared in the same scope as their syntax or fixity declaration.

UnknownNamesInPolarityPragmas

Names not declared in the same scope as their polarity pragmas.

UnreachableClauses

Unreachable function clauses.

UnsolvedConstraints

Unsolved constraints.

UnsolvedInteractionMetas

Unsolved interaction meta variables.

UnsolvedMetaVariables

Unsolved meta variables.

UselessAbstract

abstract blocks where they have no effect.

UselessInline

INLINE pragmas where they have no effect.

UselessInstance

instance blocks where they have no effect.

UselessPrivate

private blocks where they have no effect.

UselessPublic

public blocks where they have no effect.

WithoutKFlagPrimEraseEquality

primEraseEquality used with the without-K flags.

WrongInstanceDeclaration

Terms marked as eligible for instance search should end with a name.

Examples

Run Agda with all warnings enabled, except for warnings about empty abstract blocks:

agda -W all --warning=noEmptyAbstract file.agda

Run Agda on a file which uses the standard library. Note that you must have already created a libraries file as described in Library Management.

agda -l standard-library -i. file.agda

(Or if you have added standard-library to your defaults file, simply agda file.agda.)

Consistency checking of options used

Agda checks that options used in imported modules are consistent with each other.

An infective option is an option that if used in one module, must be used in all modules that depend on this module. The following options are infective:

Furthermore --cubical and --erased-cubical are jointly infective: if one of them is used in one module, then one or the other must be used in all modules that depend on this module.

A coinfective option is an option that if used in one module, must be used in all modules that this module depends on. The following options are coinfective:

Furthermore the option --cubical-compatible is mostly coinfective. If a module uses --cubical-compatible then all modules that this module imports (directly) must also use --cubical-compatible, with the following exception: if a module uses both --cubical-compatible and --with-K, then it is not required to use --cubical-compatible in (directly) imported modules that use --with-K. (Note that one cannot use --cubical-compatible and --with-K at the same time if --safe is used.)

Agda records the options used when generating an interface file. If any of the following options differ when trying to load the interface again, the source file is re-typechecked instead: