Subject: [PATCH v2] meson: Fix ccache issues when using precompiled headers with gcc

From: Andres Freund <[email-masked]>
Date: Wed, 15 Jul 2026 15:27:16 -0400

Unfortunately the combination of gcc, precompiled headers, ccache and meson
currently is not safe without further options. The dependencies emitted by gcc
are insufficient to trigger rebuilds when headers "below" the precompiled
headers are changed. Whether that's a ccache, gcc or meson bug is
debatable. Luckily gcc's -fpch-deps option fixes the issue.

This problem occasionally leads to build failures, e.g. if only c.h,
postgres.h or pg_config_manual.h change. That's e.g. the case when creating a
new major version branch.

Discussion: https://postgr.es/m/CAN55FZ0tqR6Xz%3DiVFLc1BBoLOEHU775ARhcGYwggHA3XLA%3DoQg%40mail.gmail.com
Discussion: https://postgr.es/m/[email-masked]
Discussion: https://postgr.es/m/phsrssp75npoyalqsolcd7fmnmlbzbmquc2p7w7mqjlw7432jk@bzskz3luyjvb
Discussion: https://github.com/ccache/ccache/issues/1686
Backpatch-through: 16, where meson support was added
---
 meson.build | 6 ++++++
 1 file changed, 6 insertions(+)

diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
index 61b5681851e..f4cde249242 100644
--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -2185,6 +2185,12 @@ common_functional_flags = [
   # Disable optimizations that assume no overflow; needed for gcc 4.3+
   '-fwrapv',
   '-fexcess-precision=standard',
+  # Without -fpch-deps gcc emits dependencies that are insufficient for ccache
+  # to trigger a rebuild when the precompiled header changes. We could make
+  # this depend on using gcc and precompiled headers being enabled, but that's
+  # probably not worth it.  See also
+  # https://github.com/ccache/ccache/issues/1686
+  '-fpch-deps',
 ]
 
 cflags += cc.get_supported_arguments(common_functional_flags)
-- 
2.54.0.450.g9ac3f193c0

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