# Using `codon`

The `codon` program can directly `run` Codon source in JIT mode:

```bash
codon run myprogram.codon
```

The default compilation and run mode is _debug_ (`-debug`).
Compile and run with optimizations with the `-release` option:

```bash
codon run -release myprogram.codon
```

`codon` can also `build` executables:

```bash
# generate 'myprogram' executable
codon build -exe myprogram.codon

# generate 'foo' executable
codon build -o foo myprogram.codon
```

`codon` can produce object files:

```bash
# generate 'myprogram.o' object file
codon build -obj myprogram.codon

# generate 'foo.o' object file
codon build -o foo.o myprogram.codon
```

`codon` can produce LLVM IR:

```bash
# generate 'myprogram.ll' object file
codon build -llvm myprogram.codon

# generate 'foo.ll' object file
codon build -o foo.ll myprogram.codon
```

## Compile-time definitions

`codon` allows for compile-time definitions via the `-D` flag.
For example, in the following code:

```python
print(Int[BIT_WIDTH]())
```

`BIT_WIDTH` can be specified on the command line as such:
`codon run -DBIT_WIDTH=10 myprogram.codon`.