> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.hex-rays.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.hex-rays.com/ida-9.3/ida-actions/setupcompiler.md).

# SetupCompiler

## Description

Setup target compiler and its parameters. This dialog allows the user to specify the compiler used to create the program along with the memory model, default calling convention, ABI and other parameters. Please note that while some combinations of the parameters are meaningless, IDA doesn't check them for validity. It is up to the user to specify a correct combination.

IDA tries to determine the correct values automatically.

The include directories are a list of directories that look for the standard C headers. This parameter is used during parsing C header files (the Parse C header file... command; action `LoadHeaderFile`). The directories must be separated by ';' in MS Windows and ':' in Linux. The predefined macros field has the same format and is used similarly. Please note that IDA doesn't define any compiler-specific macros by default.

### Parser options

You can select between different parsers using the parser settings located at the bottom of the **Compiler options** dialog.

![Compiler - Parser options](/files/70D640DmlvJmqegwyWhP)

IDA provides three parser options:

* **legacy** - old internal IDA parser (will be removed in future versions)
* **old\_clang** - previous parser based on clang
* **clang** - new parser introduced in IDA 9.2, (based on LLVM)

### Parser Configuration

The **old\_clang** and new **clang** parser can be fine-tuned using the *Parser specific options* dialog.

![Parser specific options](/files/B0iYvxthcFMuRN1jyqq6)


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