buck2-rule-basics by facebook
Guide users through writing their first Buck2 rule to learn fundamental concepts including rules, actions, targets, configurations, analysis, and select(). Use this skill when users want to learn Buck2 basics hands-on or need help understanding rule writing.
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Updated Jan 11, 2026, 03:28 AM
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This skill provides specialized capabilities for facebook's codebase.
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- Developing new features in the facebook repository
- Refactoring existing code to follow facebook standards
- Understanding and working with facebook's codebase structure
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---
name: buck2-rule-basics
description: Guide users through writing their first Buck2 rule to learn fundamental concepts including rules, actions, targets, configurations, analysis, and select(). Use this skill when users want to learn Buck2 basics hands-on or need help understanding rule writing.
---
@nolint
# Buck2 Rule Basics - Interactive Tutorial
## Overview
This is an **interactive, step-by-step tutorial** that teaches Buck2
fundamentals through hands-on practice. You'll guide users through writing a
simple text processing rule that converts text to uppercase, explaining core
concepts as they encounter them.
## Reference Materials
This skill includes additional reference documentation that you can use to answer deeper questions:
- **`references/concepts.md`** - Deep dive into Buck2 core concepts including:
- The Buck2 build model (load, configuration, analysis, execution phases)
- Targets in depth (unconfigured vs configured, cells, dependencies)
- Artifacts (source vs build artifacts, bound vs unbound)
- Actions (properties, caching, inputs/outputs)
- Providers (built-in and custom, provider propagation)
- Configurations (platforms, select() resolution, multi-platform builds)
- Analysis phase details
- Build graph structure and queries (uquery, cquery, aquery)
- **`references/advanced_patterns.md`** - Production-ready patterns including:
- Custom providers (library with transitive headers)
- Transitive dependencies (collection patterns, transitive sets/tsets)
- Toolchain dependencies (defining and using toolchains)
- Multiple outputs (output directories, sub-targets)
- Command line building (complex commands, conditional arguments)
- Configuration-dependent rules
- Testing rules (test runners, test data)
**When to use these references:**
- User asks "how does X work in Buck2?" → Check `concepts.md`
- User asks "what's the best way to do Y?" → Check `advanced_patterns.md`
- User wants to go beyond the tutorial → Direct them to these files
- User encounters advanced concepts → Read relevant sections to explain
Always read from these files when users ask questions that go beyond the basic tutorial content.
## Critical: Interactive Teaching Approach
**DO NOT dump all content at once!** This is an interactive tutorial. Follow
these rules:
### 1. Always Start by Assessing Current State
When the skill launches, FIRST check what the user has already done:
- Check if tutorial directory exists and what files are present
- Read existing files to understand their progress
- Determine which step they're on (or if starting fresh)
- Ask the user if they want to start from scratch or continue
### 2. Present One Step at a Time
- Introduce ONE concept/step
- Implement the code for that step
- Test it together
- Explain what happened
- **Show file changes**: After each step, summarize what files were created/modified
- **Remind about editor**: Tell users they can open the files in their editor to see the changes
- STOP and wait for user confirmation to continue
### 3. Use AskUserQuestion Between Major Steps
After completing each major step (1-8), ask the user:
- Do they understand the concept?
- Are they ready to move to the next step?
- Do they want to explore more about the current topic?
### 4. Be Adaptive
- If user seems confused, provide more examples
- If they're advanced, offer to skip basic explanations
- If they want to experiment, encourage it and help debug
- If they ask questions, answer them before moving forward
### 5. Track Progress Visually
Use TodoWrite to show:
- Which steps are completed ✓
- Current step (in progress)
- Upcoming steps
- This helps users see the journey
## Important: Use System Buck2 Command
This tutorial uses the **system `buck2` command**, NOT `./buck2.py`.
- Use: `buck2 build`, `buck2 test`, `buck2 cquery`, etc.
- Do NOT use: `./buck2.py` (that's for Buck2 development/self-bootstrap)
This ensures the tutorial works for all users with Buck2 installed.
## Tutorial Structure
The tutorial has 8 progressive steps:
### Step 0: Setup
Create a new directory for the tutorial and navigate into it:
**Run this:**
```bash
mkdir 'buck2-tutorial'
cd buck2-tutorial
```
All following steps will be done in this directory.
**Step 1: Create Minimal Rule Stub** - Returns empty DefaultInfo() **Step 2: Add
Source File Attribute** - Accept input files **Step 3: Declare Output
Artifact** - Promise to produce output (will error) **Step 4: Create an
Action** - Actually produce the output **Step 5: Understanding Targets** -
Unconfigured vs Configured **Step 6: Add Configuration Support** - Use select()
for platform-specific behavior **Step 7: Add Dependencies** - Make rules compose
**Step 8: Rules vs Macros** - Understand the difference
## Step-by-Step Implementation Guide
### Initial Setup (Always Do First)
```python
# 1. Determine working directory
# 2. Check if user has existing tutorial files
# 3. Create todo list showing all 8 steps
# 4. Ask user if they want to start fresh or continue
```
**Create todo list:**
```python
TodoWrite with 8 items (all pending initially)
```
**Check existing state:**
```python
- Does `uppercase.bzl` exist?
- Does `BUCK` exist?
- Does `input.txt` exist?
- If yes, read them to determine current step
```
**Ask user:**
```python
AskUserQuestion:
- "Start from scratch (will backup existing files)"
- "Continue from where I left off"
- "Review a specific step"
```
---
### Step 1: Create the Minimal Rule Stub
**Goal:** Get the simplest possible Buck2 rule working.
**What to do:**
1. Create `uppercase.bzl` with minimal implementation
2. Create `BUCK` file with target definition
3. Build it with `buck2 build`
4. Observe success (with warning about no outputs)
**Code to create:**
`uppercase.bzl`:
```starlark
# uppercase.bzl
def _uppercase_impl(ctx: AnalysisContext) -> list[Provider]:
"""Rule implementation function - called during analysis phase."""
return [DefaultInfo()]
uppercase = rule(
impl = _uppercase_impl,
attrs = {},
)
```
`BUCK`:
```starlark
load(":uppercase.bzl", "uppercase")
uppercase(name = "hello")
```
**Testing:**
```bash
buck2 build :hello
# Expected: SUCCESS with warning "target does not have any outputs"
```
**Key concepts to explain AFTER successful build:**
- **Rule**: Defined with `rule()` function
- **Implementation function**: Takes `AnalysisContext`, returns `Provider` list
- **Analysis phase**: This runs during planning, not execution
- **DefaultInfo provider**: Minimum provider every rule must return
**Before moving on:**
```python
AskUserQuestion:
question: "Ready to move to Step 2 where we'll accept input files?"
options:
- "Yes, let's continue"
- "Explain these concepts more"
- "Let me experiment first"
```
---
### Step 2: Add Source File Attribute
**Goal:** Make the rule accept an input file.
**What to do:**
1. Update `uppercase.bzl` to add `src` attribute
2. Update `BUCK` to pass a source file
3. Create `input.txt` test file
4. Build again
**Update `uppercase.bzl`:**
```starlark
def _uppercase_impl(ctx: AnalysisContext) -> list[Provider]:
# Access the source file attribute
src = ctx.attrs.src # This is an Artifact
return [DefaultInfo()]
uppercase = rule(
impl = _uppercase_impl,
attrs = {
"src": attrs.source(), # Declares this rule accepts a source file
},
)
```
**Update `BUCK`:**
```starlark
load(":uppercase.bzl", "uppercase")
uppercase(
name = "hello",
src = "input.txt",
)
```
**Create `input.txt`:**
```
hello world
```
**Testing:**
```bash
buck2 build :hello
# Expected: SUCCESS (still no outputs, but accepts input now)
```
**Key concepts to explain:**
- **Attributes**: Defined in `attrs={}`, accessed via `ctx.attrs`
- **attrs.source()**: Declares an attribute accepting a source file
- **Artifact**: Represents a file (input or output)
**Before moving on:**
```python
AskUserQuestion:
question: "Ready for Step 3 where we'll declare an output file?"
options:
- "Yes, continue"
- "I have questions about attributes"
```
---
### Step 3: Declare Output Artifact
**Goal:** Declare that we'll produce an output (will cause expected error).
**What to do:**
1. Update implementation to declare output
2. Return it in DefaultInfo
3. Build and **expect failure**
4. Explain why it fails (declared but not produced)
**Update `uppercase.bzl` implementation:**
```starlark
def _uppercase_impl(ctx: AnalysisContext) -> list[Provider]:
src = ctx.attrs.src
# Declare an output artifact
output = ctx.actions.declare_output("result.txt")
# Return it as the default output
return [DefaultInfo(default_output = output)]
```
**Testing:**
```bash
buck2 build :hello
# Expected: ERROR - "Artifact must be bound by now"
```
**Explain the error:** This error is **expected and good**! We declared an
output but haven't created an action to produce it. Buck2 is telling us: "You
promised an output, but didn't say how to make it!"
**Key concepts to explain:**
- **ctx.actions.declare_output()**: Declares an artifact that will be produced
- **default_output**: The main output users get when building
- **Declaration vs Production**: We declared it exists, but haven't created it
yet
**Before moving on:**
```python
AskUserQuestion:
question: "This error is expected! Ready for Step 4 where we'll fix it by creating an action?"
options:
- "Yes, let's create the action"
- "Why did we get this error exactly?"
```
---
### Step 4: Create an Action
**Goal:** Actually produce the output file by running a command.
**What to do:**
1. Add shell script to transform input → output
2. Register action with `ctx.actions.run()`
3. Build and see it succeed
4. Check the output file content
**Update `uppercase.bzl` implementation:**
```starlark
def _uppercase_impl(ctx: AnalysisContext) -> list[Provider]:
src = ctx.attrs.src
output = ctx.actions.declare_output("result.txt")
# Create a shell script that will run
# Use Python to uppercase the file and write to output
script = """
python3 -c "import sys; print(open(sys.argv[1]).read().upper(), end='')" "$1" > "$2"
"""
# Register the action with Buck2
ctx.actions.run(
cmd_args([
"/bin/bash",
"-c",
script,
"--",
src, # Input artifact
output.as_output(), # Output artifact
]),
category = "uppercase", # Shows in buck2 output
)
return [DefaultInfo(default_output = output)]
```
**Testing:**
```bash
buck2 build :hello --show-full-output
# Expected: SUCCESS with output path shown
# Check the content
cat <output-path>
# Expected: HELLO WORLD
```
**Key concepts to explain:**
- **Action**: A command Buck2 will execute (bash script + Python)
- **cmd_args()**: Builds command line, handles artifacts properly
- **artifact.as_output()**: Marks artifact as output (Buck2 creates parent dirs)
- **ctx.actions.run()**: Registers action - doesn't execute yet, just declares
- **Shell redirection**: Use `>` in shell scripts (Buck2 doesn't support
redirect_stdout)
- **Lazy execution**: Buck2 decides when/if to run based on what's needed
**Before moving on:**
```python
AskUserQuestion:
question: "Great! Your rule now works. Ready to learn about targets and configurations?"
options:
- "Yes, let's learn about targets"
- "Let me try modifying the rule first"
```
---
### Step 5: Understanding Targets
**Goal:** Understand target names, unconfigured vs configured targets.
**What to do:**
1. List available targets with `buck2 targets`
2. Understand the anatomy of target names
3. Query the target in unconfigured mode (`uquery`)
4. Query the target in configured mode (`cquery`)
5. Compare the differences
**Run commands:**
```bash
# List all targets in the current package
buck2 targets :
# Expected output shows targets like:
# fbcode//buck2/buck2-tutorial:hello
# fbcode//buck2/buck2-tutorial:goodbye
```
**Explain target name anatomy:**
A full Buck2 target name has three parts:
```
cell//package/path:target_name
└─┬┘ └─────┬──────┘ └────┬────┘
│ │ └─ Target name (from 'name' attribute)
│ └─────────────── Package path (directory containing BUCK file)
└──────────────────────── Cell name (repository root)
```
**Examples with explanations:**
- `fbcode//buck2/buck2-tutorial:hello`
- **Full target name** with all three parts explicitly specified
- Always valid and unambiguous from anywhere
- Use this when referring to targets from a different cell/repository
- `//buck2/buck2-tutorial:hello`
- **Cell name omitted** - defaults to the current repository's cell
- Since we're working in the fbcode repository, `//` is shorthand for `fbcode//`
- Valid when referring to any target in the same repository/cell
- This is the most common form you'll see in BUCK files
- `:hello`
- **Cell and package path omitted** - only the target name
- Only valid when you're in the same directory/package
- Shortest form for referring to targets in the current BUCK file
- When you run `buck2 build :hello` from the `buck2-tutorial` directory, Buck2 knows you mean `fbcode//buck2/buck2-tutorial:hello`
**Now query the targets:**
```bash
# Unconfigured - shows raw attributes
buck2 uquery :hello --output-attribute=src
# Configured - shows with platform config applied
buck2 cquery :hello --output-attribute=src
```
**Key concepts to explain:**
**Unconfigured Target** (`//path:name`):
- Raw definition from BUCK file
- `select()` expressions not yet resolved
- No platform-specific settings applied
**Configured Target** (`//path:name (cfg:...)`):
- Same target with specific configuration
- `select()` resolved based on platform (linux/windows/mac)
- Platform settings applied (os, cpu, compiler, etc.)
**Show the difference:**
- Unconfigured: `fbcode//buck2/buck2-tutorial:hello`
- Configured: `fbcode//buck2/buck2-tutorial:hello (cfg:dev-linux-x86_64-...)`
Notice the configuration suffix `(cfg:...)` is added when Buck2 applies platform-specific settings.
**Before moving on:**
```python
AskUserQuestion:
question: "Ready to use select() to make your rule platform-aware?"
options:
- "Yes, show me select()"
- "Tell me more about configurations"
```
---
### Step 6: Add Configuration Support with select()
**Goal:** Make the rule behave differently on different platforms.
**What to do:**
1. Add `output_name` attribute to the rule
2. Use `select()` in TARGETS to choose different names per platform
3. Query to see select() before and after resolution
4. Build and verify the platform-specific name is used
**Update rule in `uppercase.bzl`:**
```starlark
def _uppercase_impl(ctx: AnalysisContext) -> list[Provider]:
src = ctx.attrs.src
# Output filename can vary by platform
output_name = ctx.attrs.output_name
output = ctx.actions.declare_output(output_name)
script = """
python3 -c "import sys; print(open(sys.argv[1]).read().upper(), end='')" "$1" > "$2"
"""
ctx.actions.run(
cmd_args([
"/bin/bash",
"-c",
script,
"--",
src,
output.as_output(),
]),
category = "uppercase",
)
return [DefaultInfo(default_output = output)]
uppercase = rule(
impl = _uppercase_impl,
attrs = {
"src": attrs.source(),
"output_name": attrs.string(default = "result.txt"),
},
)
```
**Update `BUCK` to use select():**
```starlark
load(":uppercase.bzl", "uppercase")
uppercase(
name = "hello",
src = "input.txt",
output_name = select({
"DEFAULT": "result.txt",
"ovr_config//os:windows": "result_windows.txt",
"ovr_config//os:linux": "result_linux.txt",
"ovr_config//os:macos": "result_macos.txt",
}),
)
```
**Testing:**
```bash
# See the raw select() expression
buck2 uquery :hello --output-attribute=output_name
# See the resolved value for your platform
buck2 cquery :hello --output-attribute=output_name
# Build with resolved configuration
buck2 build :hello --show-full-output
# Notice the output filename matches your OS!
```
**Key concepts to explain:**
- **select()**: Choose values based on configuration
- **Configuration keys**: Match against platform constraints (os, cpu, etc.)
- **DEFAULT**: Fallback if no other branch matches
- **Resolution**: During configuration phase, Buck2 picks one branch
**Before moving on:**
```python
AskUserQuestion:
question: "Ready to learn about dependencies between targets?"
options:
- "Yes, show me dependencies"
- "Let me try more select() examples"
```
---
### Step 7: Add Dependencies
**Goal:** Make rules that depend on other rules.
**What to do:**
1. Add `deps` attribute to the rule
2. Create a second target that depends on the first
3. Access dependency outputs in the rule implementation
4. Build and verify dependency graph
**Update rule in `uppercase.bzl`:**
```starlark
def _uppercase_impl(ctx: AnalysisContext) -> list[Provider]:
src = ctx.attrs.src
output_name = ctx.attrs.output_name
output = ctx.actions.declare_output(output_name)
# Collect outputs from dependencies
dep_files = []
for dep in ctx.attrs.deps:
dep_output = dep[DefaultInfo].default_outputs
dep_files.extend(dep_output)
# Build a script that concatenates dep outputs with src, then uppercases
# This demonstrates actually USING the dependency outputs!
# Script expects: output_path dep_file1 dep_file2 ... src_file
# Simple Python script to concatenate files with newlines and uppercase
script = """
python3 -c "
import sys
contents = []
for path in sys.argv[2:]: # Skip output path, read all input files
with open(path) as f:
contents.append(f.read())
with open(sys.argv[1], 'w') as out:
out.write('\\n'.join(contents).upper())
" "$@"
"""
# Build the command: bash -c script -- output dep1 dep2 ... src
cmd = cmd_args([
"/bin/bash",
"-c",
script,
"--",
output.as_output(),
])
# Add all dependency outputs as inputs
for dep_file in dep_files:
cmd.add(dep_file)
# Add our source file last
cmd.add(src)
ctx.actions.run(cmd, category = "uppercase")
return [DefaultInfo(default_output = output)]
uppercase = rule(
impl = _uppercase_impl,
attrs = {
"src": attrs.source(),
"output_name": attrs.string(default = "result.txt"),
"deps": attrs.list(attrs.dep(), default = []),
},
)
```
**Add to `BUCK`:**
```starlark
# Create input2.txt first
# (You'll need to create this file)
uppercase(
name = "goodbye",
src = "input2.txt",
output_name = "result2.txt",
deps = [":hello"], # Depends on the first target
)
```
**Create `input2.txt`:**
```
goodbye world
```
**Testing:**
```bash
# Build goodbye - will also build hello automatically
buck2 build :goodbye --show-full-output
# Check the content - it should contain BOTH files uppercased with newline between!
cat <output-path-for-goodbye>
# Expected:
# HELLO WORLD
# GOODBYE WORLD
# (concatenated hello's output + goodbye's input, separated by newline, all uppercased)
# See the dependency graph
buck2 cquery "deps(:goodbye)"
```
**Key concepts to explain:**
- **Dependencies**: Other targets this target needs
- **attrs.dep()**: Declares an attribute accepting another target
- **Providers**: Access dependency info via `dep[ProviderType]`
- **Using dep outputs**: We concatenate dep outputs with our src, showing real usage
- **Automatic ordering**: Buck2 builds deps first, ensuring outputs are ready
- **cmd.add()**: Dynamically add arguments to the command (for variable number of deps)
**Before moving on:**
```python
AskUserQuestion:
question: "Final step! Ready to learn the difference between rules and macros?"
options:
- "Yes, what's the difference?"
- "Let me practice with more dependencies first"
```
---
### Step 8: Rules vs Macros
**Goal:** Understand when to use rules vs macros.
**What to do:**
1. Explain that what they created is a RULE
2. Create a MACRO that wraps the rule
3. Use the macro in TARGETS
4. Build and compare
**Add macro to `uppercase.bzl`:**
```starlark
# This is a MACRO - just a function that wraps the rule
def uppercase_macro(name, src, prefix = "UPPER", **kwargs):
"""
A convenience macro that adds a prefix to the output filename.
Macros run during the loading phase, before analysis.
"""
uppercase(
name = name,
src = src,
output_name = prefix + "_" + src, # Add prefix
**kwargs
)
```
**Add to `BUCK`:**
```starlark
uppercase_macro(
name = "hello_macro",
src = "input.txt",
prefix = "PREFIXED",
)
```
**Testing:**
```bash
buck2 build :hello_macro --show-full-output
# Output filename will be: PREFIXED_input.txt
```
**Key concepts to explain:**
**Rules:**
- Core Buck2 primitives declared with `rule()`
- Run during analysis phase
- Create actions that produce artifacts
- Can be queried with `buck2 cquery`/`uquery`
- The fundamental building block
**Macros:**
- Just Starlark functions that call rules
- Run during loading phase (before analysis)
- Provide convenient interfaces with defaults
- The macro itself isn't visible to queries (only underlying rule)
- Syntactic sugar for users
**When to use macros:**
- Provide convenient interfaces
- Set common defaults
- Generate multiple targets from one call
- Abstract complexity for end users
**Final wrap-up:**
```python
AskUserQuestion:
question: "Congratulations! You've completed the tutorial. What would you like to do?"
options:
- "Review a specific concept"
- "Try building something custom"
- "Clean up tutorial files"
- "See next steps for learning more"
```
---
## Conversation Flow Example
Here's how a typical interactive session should flow:
**User:** "I want to learn Buck2"
**Claude:** "Great! I'll guide you through writing your first Buck2 rule. We'll
build a simple text converter that uppercases files. I'll guide you
step-by-step - there are 8 steps total, and we'll test after each one.
Let me check if you have any existing tutorial files..."
[Checks for files]
"Looks like you're starting fresh! I'll create a todo list to track our
progress."
[Creates todo list with 8 steps]
"Ready to start with Step 1: Creating a minimal rule?"
[Waits for confirmation]
**User:** "Yes"
**Claude:** "Perfect! Step 1 is about creating the simplest possible Buck2
rule - one that does nothing but is valid.
I'll create two files:
- `uppercase.bzl` - The rule definition
- `BUCK` - How to use the rule
[Creates files and builds]
"Success! The build worked (with a warning about no outputs, which is expected).
Let me explain what just happened:
- A **rule** is defined with the `rule()` function
- The **implementation function** runs during the analysis phase... [explains
concepts]
Ready to move to Step 2 where we'll accept input files?"
[And continues this pattern through all 8 steps]
---
## Tips for Teaching
1. **Celebrate small wins**: "Great!", "Perfect!", "It worked!"
2. **Normalize errors**: "This error is expected!", "Let's see what Buck2 is
telling us"
3. **Check understanding**: Regularly ask if concepts make sense
4. **Offer choices**: Let users explore or move forward
5. **Show don't tell**: Build and run, then explain
6. **Connect concepts**: "Remember in Step 2 when we learned about artifacts?
Here's where that matters..."
7. **Show file changes after each step**: After creating or modifying files, briefly list what changed:
- Example: "I just created `uppercase.bzl` with the rule definition and updated `BUCK` to use it."
- Example: "I modified `uppercase.bzl` to add the `src` attribute."
8. **Remind users about the editor**: Tell users they can open the files in their editor to see the complete code:
- Example: "You can open `uppercase.bzl` in your editor to see the full implementation."
- Example: "Feel free to open these files in your editor to review the changes."
## Next Steps to Suggest After Completion
1. **Read the reference materials**: This skill includes detailed documentation:
- `references/concepts.md` - Deep dive into Buck2 core concepts (build model, targets, artifacts, actions, providers, configurations, build graph)
- `references/advanced_patterns.md` - Production-ready patterns (custom providers, transitive sets, toolchains, multiple outputs, testing rules)
2. **Explore Buck2's prelude**: See real production rules in `fbcode/buck2/prelude/`
3. **Try more complex rules**: Multiple outputs, custom providers, transitive dependencies
4. **Learn BXL**: Buck Extension Language for build introspection
5. **Build something real**: Apply what you learned to your project
**Pro tip:** After completing the tutorial, ask questions like "how do providers work in detail?" or "what are transitive sets?" and I'll reference the appropriate documentation to give you deeper explanations.
## Handling Special Cases
**User is stuck:** Offer to review previous concepts or try simpler examples
**User wants to skip ahead:** Allow it, but ensure prerequisites are met
**User found a bug:** Help debug and explain what went wrong
**User wants to experiment:** Encourage it! Help them try variations
**User is confused:** Go back a step, provide more examples, or explain
differently
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