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13207 :: --passL:"-static" and pcre64.dll

• Fiend (orginal) [2025-07-14T19:10:31+02:00] view original

  I'm trying to make an installer that is a single executable file. I thought I was almost done, but I encountered a problem.

  Here is my build script:

  
  windres app.rc -O coff -o app.res
  
  nim c --passL:"-static" --threads:on --opt:size -d:release installer.nim
  Run

  Here is dumpbin

  
  D:\projects\ahoge\installer>dumpbin /dependents installer.exe
  Microsoft (R) COFF/PE Dumper Version 14.35.32217.1
  Copyright (C) Microsoft Corporation.  All rights reserved.
  
  
  Dump of file installer.exe
  
  File Type: EXECUTABLE IMAGE
    
    Image has the following dependencies:
      
      KERNEL32.dll
      msvcrt.dll
  
  ...
  Run

  So I thought it only depended on KERNEL32.dll, and msvcrt.dll. But when I try to test it on a different machine, or with cleared PATH, I get this:

  
  D:\projects\ahoge\installer>.\installer.exe
  could not load: pcre64.dll
  Run

  Here are my imports in installer.nim

  
  import net, strutils, os, json, strformat
  import threadpool, browsers, terminal, sequtils
  import tables
  Run

  My "Hello World" test worked fine on all machines I tried. However, not having a single executable is a dealbreaker for me in this scenario.

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• Fiend (orginal) [2025-07-14T19:48:17+02:00] view original

  If I copy pcre64.dll next to the executable it seems to work.

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• Fiend (orginal) [2025-07-14T20:55:44+02:00] view original

  I realized pcre64 is actually the 're' module. I had used 're' in another file but didn't include it in my example - my apologies. After replacing my regex code, everything works as a single file now. What's strange is that Total Commander doesn't clearly display dependencies, which makes things quite confusing.

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• SpotlightKid (orginal) [2025-07-15T12:33:12+02:00] view original

  pcre64.dll is probably loaded dynamically, and (at least on Unix) you need special tools to detect that in a binary.

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• didlybom (orginal) [2025-07-15T15:22:45+02:00] view original

  I believe there is some pure nim reflex library that does not depend on PCRE. Perhaps that would solve your problem.

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• janAkali (orginal) [2025-07-15T16:17:34+02:00] view original

  pure nim regex library that does not depend on PCRE

  There is tinyre: small, static, fast for small inputs.

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