# Glasgow Haskell Compiler User's Guide

# 6. Using runghc

`runghc` allows you to run Haskell programs without first having to compile them.

## 6.1. Usage

The `runghc` command-line looks like:

    runghc [runghc flags] [GHC flags] module [program args]

Any flags not recognized by runghc are automatically passed to GHC. If a flag is recognized by both runghc and GHC but you want to pass it to GHC then you can place it after a `--` separator. Flags after the separator are treated as GHC only flags. Alternatively you can use the runghc option `--ghc-arg=<arg>` to pass any flag or argument directly to GHC.

`module` could be a Haskell source filename with or without the extension. If for some reason the filename starts with a `-` you can use a second `--` to indicate the end of flags. Anything following a second `--` will be considered a program file or module name followed by its arguments. For example:

- `runghc -- -- -hello.hs`

## 6.2. runghc flags

runghc accepts the following flags:

- `-f /path/to/ghc`: tell runghc the path of GHC executable to use to run the program. By default runghc will search for GHC in the directories in the system search path.
- `--ghc-arg=<arg>`: Pass an option or argument to GHC
- `--help`: print usage information.
- `--version`: print version information.

## 6.3. GHC Flags

As discussed earlier, use `--` or `--ghc-arg=<arg>` to disambiguate GHC flags when needed. For example, `-f` is recognized by runghc, therefore to pass `-fliberate-case` to GHC use any of the following:

- `runghc -- -fliberate-case`
- `runghc --ghc-arg=-fliberate-case`

Note that any non-flag arguments are never passed to GHC. An unused non-flag argument will be considered as the name of the program to run. If a GHC flag takes an argument use `--ghc-arg=<arg>` to pass the argument to GHC. For example, if you want to pass `-package foo` to GHC use any of the following:

- `runghc -package --ghc-arg=foo Main.hs`
- `runghc --ghc-arg=-package --ghc-arg=foo Main.hs`