Add ability to specify "compiler mode" options as part of config.{c,cxx}

Such options are (normally) not overridden by buildfiles and are passed
last (after cc.coptions and {c,cxx}.coptions) in the resulting command
lines. They are also cross-hinted between config.c and config.cxx. For
example:

$ b config.cxx="g++ -m64"

15 files changed, 402 insertions, 235 deletions

diff --git a/libbuild2/c/init.cxx b/libbuild2/c/init.cxx
index bec20b5..893d285 100644
--- a/libbuild2/c/init.cxx
+++ b/libbuild2/c/init.cxx
@@ -159,7 +159,7 @@ namespace build2
 
         // Note: some overridable, some not.
         //
-        v.insert<path>    ("config.c",          true),
+        v.insert<strings> ("config.c",          true),
         v.insert<string>  ("config.c.id",       true),
         v.insert<string>  ("config.c.version",  true),
         v.insert<string>  ("config.c.target",   true),
@@ -172,6 +172,7 @@ namespace build2
         nullptr          /* config.c.translatable_headers */,
 
         v.insert<process_path> ("c.path"),
+        v.insert<strings>      ("c.mode"),
         v.insert<dir_paths>    ("c.sys_lib_dirs"),
         v.insert<dir_paths>    ("c.sys_inc_dirs"),
 
@@ -335,6 +336,7 @@ namespace build2
         cm.x_info->version.major,
         cm.x_info->version.minor,
         cast<process_path>   (rs[cm.x_path]),
+        cast<strings>        (rs[cm.x_mode]),
         cast<target_triplet> (rs[cm.x_target]),
 
         cm.tstd,
diff --git a/libbuild2/cc/common.hxx b/libbuild2/cc/common.hxx
index 68546f6..0548d6f 100644
--- a/libbuild2/cc/common.hxx
+++ b/libbuild2/cc/common.hxx
@@ -56,6 +56,7 @@ namespace build2
       const variable* config_x_translatable_headers;
 
       const variable& x_path;         // Compiler process path.
+      const variable& x_mode;         // Compiler mode options.
       const variable& x_sys_lib_dirs; // System library search directories.
       const variable& x_sys_inc_dirs; // System header search directories.
 
@@ -147,6 +148,7 @@ namespace build2
       uint64_t cmaj;                // x.version.major
       uint64_t cmin;                // x.version.minor
       const process_path& cpath;    // x.path
+      const strings& cmode;         // x.mode (options)
 
       const target_triplet& ctgt;   // x.target
       const string& tsys;           // x.target.system
@@ -204,6 +206,7 @@ namespace build2
             compiler_class cl,
             uint64_t mj, uint64_t mi,
             const process_path& path,
+            const strings& mode,
             const target_triplet& tgt,
             const strings& std,
             bool fm,
@@ -223,7 +226,7 @@ namespace build2
             x_uninstall (uninstall),
             ctype (ct), cvariant (cv), cclass (cl),
             cmaj (mj), cmin (mi),
-            cpath (path),
+            cpath (path), cmode (mode),
             ctgt (tgt), tsys (ctgt.system), tclass (ctgt.class_),
             tstd (std),
             modules (fm),
diff --git a/libbuild2/cc/compile-rule.cxx b/libbuild2/cc/compile-rule.cxx
index c29769f..c0f876c 100644
--- a/libbuild2/cc/compile-rule.cxx
+++ b/libbuild2/cc/compile-rule.cxx
@@ -884,6 +884,8 @@ namespace build2
               cs.append ("-fPIC");
           }
 
+          append_options (cs, cmode);
+
           if (dd.expect (cs.string ()) != nullptr)
             l4 ([&]{trace << "options mismatch forcing update of " << t;});
         }
@@ -2972,6 +2974,8 @@ namespace build2
 
               args.push_back ("/nologo");
 
+              append_options (args, cmode);
+
               // See perform_update() for details on overriding the default
               // exceptions and runtime.
               //
@@ -3018,13 +3022,16 @@ namespace build2
 
               if (ctype == compiler_type::clang && tsys == "win32-msvc")
               {
-                if (!find_options ({"-nostdlib", "-nostartfiles"}, args))
+                initializer_list<const char*> os {"-nostdlib", "-nostartfiles"};
+                if (!find_options (os, cmode) && !find_options (os, args))
                 {
                   args.push_back ("-D_MT");
                   args.push_back ("-D_DLL");
                 }
               }
 
+              append_options (args, cmode);
+
               // Setup the dynamic module mapper if needed.
               //
               // Note that it's plausible in the future we will use it even if
@@ -4089,7 +4096,7 @@ namespace build2
           append_options (args, tstd,
                           tstd.size () - (modules && clang ? 1 : 0));
 
-          append_headers (env, args, header_args, a, t, md, dd);
+          append_header_options (env, args, header_args, a, t, md, dd);
 
           switch (cclass)
           {
@@ -4097,6 +4104,8 @@ namespace build2
             {
               args.push_back ("/nologo");
 
+              append_options (args, cmode);
+
               if (x_lang == lang::cxx && !find_option_prefix ("/EH", args))
                 args.push_back ("/EHsc");
 
@@ -4122,13 +4131,16 @@ namespace build2
 
               if (ctype == compiler_type::clang && tsys == "win32-msvc")
               {
-                if (!find_options ({"-nostdlib", "-nostartfiles"}, args))
+                initializer_list<const char*> os {"-nostdlib", "-nostartfiles"};
+                if (!find_options (os, cmode) && !find_options (os, args))
                 {
                   args.push_back ("-D_MT");
                   args.push_back ("-D_DLL");
                 }
               }
 
+              append_options (args, cmode);
+
               args.push_back ("-E");
               append_lang_options (args, md);
 
@@ -4659,8 +4671,8 @@ namespace build2
       // handle this: after match all our prerequisite BMIs will have their
       // prerequisite BMIs known, recursively. The only bit that is missing is
       // the re-export flag of some sorts. As well as deciding where to handle
-      // it: here or in append_modules(). After some meditation it became
-      // clear handling it here will be simpler: we need to weed out
+      // it: here or in append_module_options(). After some meditation it
+      // became clear handling it here will be simpler: we need to weed out
       // duplicates for which we can re-use the imports vector. And we may
       // also need to save this "flattened" list of modules in depdb.
       //
@@ -4678,8 +4690,8 @@ namespace build2
       //    (with all the re-exported by us at the back), we will go over them
       //    and copy all of their re-exported bmi{}s (using the position we
       //    saved on step #1). The end result will be a recursively-explored
-      //    list of imported bmi{}s that append_modules() can simply convert
-      //    to the list of options.
+      //    list of imported bmi{}s that append_module_options() can simply
+      //    convert to the list of options.
       //
       //    One issue with this approach is that these copied targets will be
       //    executed which means we need to adjust their dependent counts
@@ -5363,16 +5375,16 @@ namespace build2
     //
     // Note that this function is called for both full preprocessing and
     // compilation proper and in the latter case it is followed by a call
-    // to append_modules().
+    // to append_module_options().
     //
     void compile_rule::
-    append_headers (environment&,
-                    cstrings& args,
-                    small_vector<string, 2>& stor,
-                    action,
-                    const file&,
-                    const match_data& md,
-                    const path& dd) const
+    append_header_options (environment&,
+                           cstrings& args,
+                           small_vector<string, 2>& stor,
+                           action,
+                           const file&,
+                           const match_data& md,
+                           const path& dd) const
     {
       switch (ctype)
       {
@@ -5404,16 +5416,17 @@ namespace build2
     // Append module-related options.
     //
     // Note that this function is only called for the compilation proper and
-    // after a call to append_headers() (so watch out for duplicate options).
+    // after a call to append_header_options() (so watch out for duplicate
+    // options).
     //
     void compile_rule::
-    append_modules (environment& env,
-                    cstrings& args,
-                    small_vector<string, 2>& stor,
-                    action a,
-                    const file& t,
-                    const match_data& md,
-                    const path& dd) const
+    append_module_options (environment& env,
+                           cstrings& args,
+                           small_vector<string, 2>& stor,
+                           action a,
+                           const file& t,
+                           const match_data& md,
+                           const path& dd) const
     {
       unit_type ut (md.type);
       const module_positions& ms (md.modules);
@@ -5428,7 +5441,7 @@ namespace build2
           //
           // Note that it is also used to specify the output BMI file.
           //
-          if (md.headers == 0                && // Done in append_headers()?
+          if (md.headers == 0                && // In append_header_options()?
               (ms.start != 0                 ||
                ut == unit_type::module_iface ||
                ut == unit_type::module_header))
@@ -5686,6 +5699,8 @@ namespace build2
 
         args.push_back ("/nologo");
 
+        append_options (args, cmode);
+
         // While we want to keep the low-level build as "pure" as possible,
         // the two misguided defaults, exceptions and runtime, just have to be
         // fixed. Otherwise the default build is pretty much unusable. But we
@@ -5722,8 +5737,8 @@ namespace build2
 
         msvc_sanitize_cl (args);
 
-        append_headers (env, args, header_args, a, t, md, md.dd);
-        append_modules (env, args, module_args, a, t, md, md.dd);
+        append_header_options (env, args, header_args, a, t, md, md.dd);
+        append_module_options (env, args, module_args, a, t, md, md.dd);
 
         // The presence of /Zi or /ZI causes the compiler to write debug info
         // to the .pdb file. By default it is a shared file called vcNN.pdb
@@ -5803,7 +5818,8 @@ namespace build2
               // Clang's MSVC.cpp will not link the default runtime if either
               // -nostdlib or -nostartfiles is specified. Let's do the same.
               //
-              if (!find_options ({"-nostdlib", "-nostartfiles"}, args))
+              initializer_list<const char*> os {"-nostdlib", "-nostartfiles"};
+              if (!find_options (os, cmode) && !find_options (os, args))
               {
                 args.push_back ("-D_MT");
                 args.push_back ("-D_DLL");
@@ -5846,8 +5862,10 @@ namespace build2
           }
         }
 
-        append_headers (env, args, header_args, a, t, md, md.dd);
-        append_modules (env, args, module_args, a, t, md, md.dd);
+        append_options (args, cmode);
+
+        append_header_options (env, args, header_args, a, t, md, md.dd);
+        append_module_options (env, args, module_args, a, t, md, md.dd);
 
         // Note: the order of the following options is relied upon below.
         //
diff --git a/libbuild2/cc/compile-rule.hxx b/libbuild2/cc/compile-rule.hxx
index 4c74016..1b9d9cc 100644
--- a/libbuild2/cc/compile-rule.hxx
+++ b/libbuild2/cc/compile-rule.hxx
@@ -160,14 +160,14 @@ namespace build2
       make_header_sidebuild (action, const scope&, linfo, const file&) const;
 
       void
-      append_headers (environment&, cstrings&, small_vector<string, 2>&,
-                      action, const file&,
-                      const match_data&, const path&) const;
+      append_header_options (environment&, cstrings&, small_vector<string, 2>&,
+                             action, const file&,
+                             const match_data&, const path&) const;
 
       void
-      append_modules (environment&, cstrings&, small_vector<string, 2>&,
-                      action, const file&,
-                      const match_data&, const path&) const;
+      append_module_options (environment&, cstrings&, small_vector<string, 2>&,
+                             action, const file&,
+                             const match_data&, const path&) const;
 
       // Compiler-specific language selection option. Return the number of
       // options (arguments, really) appended.
diff --git a/libbuild2/cc/gcc.cxx b/libbuild2/cc/gcc.cxx
index 9eb8925..cf0ccdc 100644
--- a/libbuild2/cc/gcc.cxx
+++ b/libbuild2/cc/gcc.cxx
@@ -31,13 +31,11 @@ namespace build2
     {
       dir_paths r;
 
-      cstrings args;
-      string std; // Storage.
-
-      args.push_back (xc.recall_string ());
+      cstrings args {xc.recall_string ()};
       append_options (args, rs, c_coptions);
       append_options (args, rs, x_coptions);
       append_options (args, tstd);
+      append_options (args, rs, x_mode);
 
       // Compile as.
       //
@@ -182,15 +180,13 @@ namespace build2
       //
       dir_paths r;
 
-      cstrings args;
-      string std; // Storage.
-
-      args.push_back (xc.recall_string ());
+      cstrings args {xc.recall_string ()};
       append_options (args, rs, c_coptions);
       append_options (args, rs, x_coptions);
       append_options (args, tstd);
       append_options (args, rs, c_loptions);
       append_options (args, rs, x_loptions);
+      append_options (args, rs, x_mode);
       args.push_back ("-print-search-dirs");
       args.push_back (nullptr);
 
diff --git a/libbuild2/cc/guess.cxx b/libbuild2/cc/guess.cxx
index 6ee13a0..f40bb88 100644
--- a/libbuild2/cc/guess.cxx
+++ b/libbuild2/cc/guess.cxx
@@ -155,6 +155,7 @@ namespace build2
     static string
     stdlib (lang xl,
             const process_path& xp,
+            const strings& x_mo,
             const strings* c_po, const strings* x_po,
             const strings* c_co, const strings* x_co,
             const char* src)
@@ -164,6 +165,7 @@ namespace build2
       if (x_po != nullptr) append_options (args, *x_po);
       if (c_co != nullptr) append_options (args, *c_co);
       if (x_co != nullptr) append_options (args, *x_co);
+      append_options (args, x_mo);
       args.push_back ("-x");
       switch (xl)
       {
@@ -784,6 +786,7 @@ namespace build2
     guess (const char* xm,
            lang,
            const path& xc,
+           const strings& x_mo,
            const optional<compiler_id>& xi,
            pre_guess_result& pre,
            sha256& cs)
@@ -945,6 +948,36 @@ namespace build2
           run_search_fail (xc);
       }
 
+      // Run the compiler with the specified option (-v, --version, etc; can
+      // also be NULL) calling the specified function on each trimmed output
+      // line (see build2::run() for details).
+      //
+      // Note that we suppress all the compiler errors because we may be
+      // trying an unsupported option (but still consider the exit code).
+      //
+      //
+      cstrings args {xp.recall_string ()};
+      append_options (args, x_mo);
+      args.push_back (nullptr); // Placeholder for the option.
+      args.push_back (nullptr);
+
+      auto run = [&cs, &xp, &args] (const char* o,
+                                    auto&& f,
+                                    const char* const* env = nullptr,
+                                    bool checksum = false) -> guess_result
+      {
+        args[args.size () - 2] = o;
+
+        return build2::run<guess_result> (
+          3                          /* verbosity */,
+          process_env (xp, env),
+          args.data (),
+          forward<decltype(f)> (f),
+          false                      /* error */,
+          false                      /* ignore_exit */,
+          checksum ? &cs : nullptr);
+      };
+
       // Start with -v. This will cover gcc and clang (including clang-cl).
       //
       // While icc also writes what may seem like something we can use to
@@ -1056,11 +1089,8 @@ namespace build2
         // One notable consequence of this is that if the locale changes
         // (e.g., via LC_ALL), then the compiler signature will most likely
         // change as well because of the translated text.
-
-        // Suppress all the compiler errors because we may be trying an
-        // unsupported option (but still consider the exit code).
         //
-        r = run<guess_result> (3, xp, "-v", f, false, false, &cs);
+        r = run ("-v", f, nullptr /* env */, true /* checksum */);
 
         if (r.empty ())
         {
@@ -1120,7 +1150,7 @@ namespace build2
           return guess_result ();
         };
 
-        r = run<guess_result> (3, xp, "--version", f, false);
+        r = run ("--version", f);
 
         if (r.empty ())
         {
@@ -1171,9 +1201,11 @@ namespace build2
         // going to unset these variables for our test (interestingly, only CL
         // seem to cause the problem but let's unset both, for good measure).
         //
+        // This is also the reason why we don't pass the mode options.
+        //
         const char* env[] = {"CL=", "_CL_=", nullptr};
 
-        r = run<guess_result> (3, process_env (xp, env), f, false);
+        r = build2::run<guess_result> (3, process_env (xp, env), f, false);
 
         if (r.empty ())
         {
@@ -1426,6 +1458,7 @@ namespace build2
                 const path& xc,
                 const string* xv,
                 const string* xt,
+                const strings&,
                 const strings*, const strings*,
                 const strings*, const strings*,
                 const strings*, const strings*,
@@ -1649,6 +1682,7 @@ namespace build2
                const path& xc,
                const string* xv,
                const string* xt,
+               const strings& x_mo,
                const strings* c_po, const strings* x_po,
                const strings* c_co, const strings* x_co,
                const strings*, const strings*,
@@ -1747,9 +1781,11 @@ namespace build2
 
       if (xt == nullptr)
       {
-        cstrings args {xp.recall_string (), "-print-multiarch"};
+        cstrings args {xp.recall_string ()};
         if (c_co != nullptr) append_options (args, *c_co);
         if (x_co != nullptr) append_options (args, *x_co);
+        append_options (args, x_mo);
+        args.push_back ("-print-multiarch"); // Note: position relied upon.
         args.push_back (nullptr);
 
         // The output of both -print-multiarch and -dumpmachine is a single
@@ -1764,7 +1800,7 @@ namespace build2
           l5 ([&]{trace << xc << " doesn's support -print-multiarch, "
                         << "falling back to -dumpmachine";});
 
-          args[1] = "-dumpmachine";
+          args[args.size () - 2] = "-dumpmachine";
           t = run<string> (3, xp, args.data (), f, false);
         }
 
@@ -1797,9 +1833,10 @@ namespace build2
       // documentation says that you should usually specify -lgcc.
       //
       string rt  ("libgcc");
-      string csl (tt.system == "mingw32"
-                  ? "msvc"
-                  : stdlib (xl, xp, c_po, x_po, c_co, x_co, c_stdlib_src));
+      string csl (
+        tt.system == "mingw32"
+        ? "msvc"
+        : stdlib (xl, xp, x_mo, c_po, x_po, c_co, x_co, c_stdlib_src));
       string xsl;
       switch (xl)
       {
@@ -1813,7 +1850,7 @@ namespace build2
             "#include <bits/c++config.h> \n"
             "stdlib:=\"libstdc++\"       \n";
 
-          xsl = stdlib (xl, xp, c_po, x_po, c_co, x_co, src);
+          xsl = stdlib (xl, xp, x_mo, c_po, x_po, c_co, x_co, src);
           break;
         }
       }
@@ -1847,6 +1884,7 @@ namespace build2
     static clang_msvc_info
     guess_clang_msvc (lang xl,
                       const process_path& xp,
+                      const strings& x_mo,
                       const strings* c_co, const strings* x_co,
                       bool cl)
     {
@@ -1855,6 +1893,7 @@ namespace build2
       cstrings args {xp.recall_string ()};
       if (c_co != nullptr) append_options (args, *c_co);
       if (x_co != nullptr) append_options (args, *x_co);
+      append_options (args, x_mo);
 
       if (cl)
       {
@@ -2060,6 +2099,7 @@ namespace build2
                  const path& xc,
                  const string* xv,
                  const string* xt,
+                 const strings& x_mo,
                  const strings* c_po, const strings* x_po,
                  const strings* c_co, const strings* x_co,
                  const strings* c_lo, const strings* x_lo,
@@ -2222,9 +2262,10 @@ namespace build2
       if (xt == nullptr)
       {
         cstrings args {xp.recall_string ()};
-        args.push_back (cl ? "/clang:-dumpmachine" : "-dumpmachine");
         if (c_co != nullptr) append_options (args, *c_co);
         if (x_co != nullptr) append_options (args, *x_co);
+        append_options (args, x_mo);
+        args.push_back (cl ? "/clang:-dumpmachine" : "-dumpmachine");
         args.push_back (nullptr);
 
         // The output of -dumpmachine is a single line containing just the
@@ -2266,7 +2307,7 @@ namespace build2
         // (plus a couple of other useful bits like the VC installation
         // directory and Platform SDK).
         //
-        clang_msvc_info mi (guess_clang_msvc (xl, xp, c_co, x_co, cl));
+        clang_msvc_info mi (guess_clang_msvc (xl, xp, x_mo, c_co, x_co, cl));
 
         // Keep the CPU and replace the rest.
         //
@@ -2352,8 +2393,9 @@ namespace build2
         };
 
         const string* o;
-        if ((o = find_rtlib (x_lo)) != nullptr ||
-            (o = find_rtlib (c_lo)) != nullptr)
+        if ((o = find_rtlib (&x_mo)) != nullptr ||
+            (o = find_rtlib (x_lo))  != nullptr ||
+            (o = find_rtlib (c_lo))  != nullptr)
         {
           rt = string (*o, 8);
         }
@@ -2363,9 +2405,10 @@ namespace build2
         else /* Mac OS, etc. */              rt = "compiler-rt";
       }
 
-      string csl (tt.system == "win32-msvc" || tt.system == "mingw32"
-                  ? "msvc"
-                  : stdlib (xl, xp, c_po, x_po, c_co, x_co, c_stdlib_src));
+      string csl (
+        tt.system == "win32-msvc" || tt.system == "mingw32"
+        ? "msvc"
+        : stdlib (xl, xp, x_mo, c_po, x_po, c_co, x_co, c_stdlib_src));
 
       string xsl;
       switch (xl)
@@ -2394,7 +2437,7 @@ namespace build2
 
           xsl = tt.system == "win32-msvc"
             ? "msvcp"
-            : stdlib (xl, xp, c_po, x_po, c_co, x_co, src);
+            : stdlib (xl, xp, x_mo, c_po, x_po, c_co, x_co, src);
           break;
         }
       }
@@ -2424,11 +2467,15 @@ namespace build2
                const path& xc,
                const string* xv,
                const string* xt,
+               const strings& x_mo,
                const strings* c_po, const strings* x_po,
                const strings* c_co, const strings* x_co,
                const strings*, const strings*,
                guess_result&& gr, sha256&)
     {
+      //@@ TODO: this should be reviewed/revised if/when we get access
+      //         to more recent ICC versions.
+
       const process_path& xp (gr.path);
 
       // Extract the version. If the version has the fourth component, then
@@ -2470,6 +2517,8 @@ namespace build2
 
         // The -V output is sent to STDERR.
         //
+        // @@ TODO: running without the mode options.
+        //
         s = run<string> (3, xp, "-V", f, false);
 
         if (s.empty ())
@@ -2575,6 +2624,8 @@ namespace build2
       // "Intel(R)" "64"
       // "Intel(R)" "MIC"      (-dumpmachine says: x86_64-k1om-linux)
       //
+      // @@ TODO: why can't we combine it with the previous -V run?
+      //
       string t, ot;
 
       if (xt == nullptr)
@@ -2585,9 +2636,11 @@ namespace build2
             dr << info << "use config." << xm << ".target to override";
           });
 
-        cstrings args {xp.recall_string (), "-V"};
+        cstrings args {xp.recall_string ()};
         if (c_co != nullptr) append_options (args, *c_co);
         if (x_co != nullptr) append_options (args, *x_co);
+        append_options (args, x_mo);
+        args.push_back ("-V");
         args.push_back (nullptr);
 
         // The -V output is sent to STDERR.
@@ -2637,6 +2690,8 @@ namespace build2
         // in the future. So instead we are going to use -dumpmachine and
         // substitute the CPU.
         //
+        // @@ TODO: running without the mode options.
+        //
         {
           auto f = [] (string& l, bool) {return move (l);};
           t = run<string> (3, xp, "-dumpmachine", f);
@@ -2677,9 +2732,10 @@ namespace build2
       // Linux/GCC.
       //
       string rt  (tt.system == "win32-msvc" ? "msvc" : "libgcc");
-      string csl (tt.system == "win32-msvc"
-                  ? "msvc"
-                  : stdlib (xl, xp, c_po, x_po, c_co, x_co, c_stdlib_src));
+      string csl (
+        tt.system == "win32-msvc"
+        ? "msvc"
+        : stdlib (xl, xp, x_mo, c_po, x_po, c_co, x_co, c_stdlib_src));
       string xsl;
       switch (xl)
       {
@@ -2722,6 +2778,7 @@ namespace build2
            const string* xis,
            const string* xv,
            const string* xt,
+           const strings& x_mo,
            const strings* c_po, const strings* x_po,
            const strings* c_co, const strings* x_co,
            const strings* c_lo, const strings* x_lo)
@@ -2734,6 +2791,7 @@ namespace build2
         cs.append (static_cast<size_t> (xl));
         cs.append (xc.string ());
         if (xis != nullptr) cs.append (*xis);
+        append_options (cs, x_mo);
         if (c_po != nullptr) append_options (cs, *c_po);
         if (x_po != nullptr) append_options (cs, *x_po);
         if (c_co != nullptr) append_options (cs, *c_co);
@@ -2773,7 +2831,7 @@ namespace build2
 
       if (pre.type != invalid_compiler_type)
       {
-        gr = guess (xm, xl, xc, xi, pre, cs);
+        gr = guess (xm, xl, xc, x_mo, xi, pre, cs);
 
         if (gr.empty ())
         {
@@ -2789,7 +2847,7 @@ namespace build2
       }
 
       if (gr.empty ())
-        gr = guess (xm, xl, xc, xi, pre, cs);
+        gr = guess (xm, xl, xc, x_mo, xi, pre, cs);
 
       if (gr.empty ())
         fail << "unable to guess " << xl << " compiler type of " << xc <<
@@ -2797,6 +2855,7 @@ namespace build2
 
       compiler_info (*gf) (
         const char*, lang, const path&, const string*, const string*,
+        const strings&,
         const strings*, const strings*,
         const strings*, const strings*,
         const strings*, const strings*,
@@ -2815,7 +2874,7 @@ namespace build2
       }
 
       compiler_info r (gf (xm, xl, xc, xv, xt,
-                           c_po, x_po, c_co, x_co, c_lo, x_lo,
+                           x_mo, c_po, x_po, c_co, x_co, c_lo, x_lo,
                            move (gr), cs));
 
       // By default use the signature line to generate the checksum.
@@ -2893,8 +2952,11 @@ namespace build2
       return (cache[key] = move (r));
     }
 
-    path
-    guess_default (lang xl, const string& cid, const string& pat)
+    strings
+    guess_default (lang xl,
+                   const string& cid,
+                   const string& pat,
+                   const strings& mode)
     {
       compiler_id id (cid);
       const char* s (nullptr);
@@ -2937,7 +2999,12 @@ namespace build2
         }
       }
 
-      return path (apply_pattern (s, pat));
+      strings r;
+      r.reserve (mode.size () + 1);
+      r.push_back (apply_pattern (s, pat));
+      r.insert (r.end (), mode.begin (), mode.end ());
+
+      return r;
     }
   }
 }
diff --git a/libbuild2/cc/guess.hxx b/libbuild2/cc/guess.hxx
index d9172dc..d93aaf9 100644
--- a/libbuild2/cc/guess.hxx
+++ b/libbuild2/cc/guess.hxx
@@ -239,23 +239,27 @@ namespace build2
     // that most of it will be the same, at least for C and C++.
     //
     const compiler_info&
-    guess (const char* xm,    // Module (for variable names in diagnostics).
-           lang xl,           // Language.
-           const path& xc,    // Compiler path.
-           const string* xi,  // Compiler id (optional).
-           const string* xv,  // Compiler version (optional).
-           const string* xt,  // Compiler target (optional).
+    guess (const char* xm,        // Module (for var names in diagnostics).
+           lang xl,               // Language.
+           const path& xc,        // Compiler path.
+           const string* xi,      // Compiler id (optional).
+           const string* xv,      // Compiler version (optional).
+           const string* xt,      // Compiler target (optional).
+           const strings& x_mode, // Compiler mode options.
            const strings* c_poptions, const strings* x_poptions,
            const strings* c_coptions, const strings* x_coptions,
            const strings* c_loptions, const strings* x_loptions);
 
-    // Given a language, compiler id, and optionally an (empty) pattern,
-    // return an appropriate default compiler path.
+    // Given a language, compiler id, optional (empty) pattern, and mode
+    // return an appropriate default config.x value (compiler path and mode)
     //
     // For example, for (lang::cxx, gcc, *-4.9) we will get g++-4.9.
     //
-    path
-    guess_default (lang, const string& cid, const string& pattern);
+    strings
+    guess_default (lang,
+                   const string& cid,
+                   const string& pattern,
+                   const strings& mode);
   }
 }
 
diff --git a/libbuild2/cc/init.cxx b/libbuild2/cc/init.cxx
index f45a1bf..ac5823b 100644
--- a/libbuild2/cc/init.cxx
+++ b/libbuild2/cc/init.cxx
@@ -105,6 +105,7 @@ namespace build2
       v.insert<string>         ("config.cc.id");
       v.insert<string>         ("config.cc.hinter"); // Hinting module.
       v.insert<string>         ("config.cc.pattern");
+      v.insert<strings>        ("config.cc.mode");
       v.insert<target_triplet> ("config.cc.target");
 
       // Compiler runtime and C standard library.
@@ -209,6 +210,15 @@ namespace build2
           cast_empty<string> (h["config.cc.pattern"]);
       }
 
+      // config.cc.mode
+      //
+      {
+        // This value could be hinted.
+        //
+        rs.assign<strings> ("cc.mode") =
+          cast_empty<strings> (h["config.cc.mode"]);
+      }
+
       // cc.runtime
       // cc.stdlib
       //
diff --git a/libbuild2/cc/link-rule.cxx b/libbuild2/cc/link-rule.cxx
index f10bd42..16a4ce7 100644
--- a/libbuild2/cc/link-rule.cxx
+++ b/libbuild2/cc/link-rule.cxx
@@ -2237,12 +2237,11 @@ namespace build2
       }
       else
       {
-        if (tsys == "win32-msvc")
-        {
-          // We are using link.exe directly so don't pass the compiler
-          // options.
-        }
-        else
+        // Are we using the compiler or the linker (e.g., link.exe) directly?
+        //
+        bool ldc (tsys != "win32-msvc");
+
+        if (ldc)
         {
           append_options (args, t, c_coptions);
           append_options (args, t, x_coptions);
@@ -2364,6 +2363,9 @@ namespace build2
               sargs.push_back ("-Wl,-rpath-link," + p.string ());
           }
         }
+
+        if (ldc)
+          append_options (args, cmode);
       }
 
       // All the options should now be in. Hash them and compare with the db.
@@ -2560,8 +2562,10 @@ namespace build2
             // See the runtime selection code in the compile rule for details
             // on what's going on here.
             //
-            if (!find_options ({"-nostdlib", "-nostartfiles"}, t, c_coptions) &&
-                !find_options ({"-nostdlib", "-nostartfiles"}, t, x_coptions))
+            initializer_list<const char*> os {"-nostdlib", "-nostartfiles"};
+            if (!find_options (os, cmode)         &&
+                !find_options (os, t, c_coptions) &&
+                !find_options (os, t, x_coptions))
             {
               args.push_back ("/DEFAULTLIB:msvcrt");
               args.push_back ("/DEFAULTLIB:oldnames");
diff --git a/libbuild2/cc/module.cxx b/libbuild2/cc/module.cxx
index 641da5e..5f8652e 100644
--- a/libbuild2/cc/module.cxx
+++ b/libbuild2/cc/module.cxx
@@ -51,89 +51,114 @@ namespace build2
 
       // config.x
       //
-
-      // Normally we will have a persistent configuration and computing the
-      // default value every time will be a waste. So try without a default
-      // first.
-      //
-      auto p (config::omitted (rs, config_x));
-
-      if (!p.first)
+      strings mode;
       {
-        // If there is a config.x value for one of the modules that can hint
-        // us the toolchain, load it's .guess module. This makes sure that the
-        // order in which we load the modules is unimportant and that the user
-        // can specify the toolchain using any of the config.x values.
+        // Normally we will have a persistent configuration and computing the
+        // default value every time will be a waste. So try without a default
+        // first.
         //
-        if (!cc_loaded)
+        auto p (config::omitted (rs, config_x));
+
+        if (!p.first)
         {
-          for (const char* const* pm (x_hinters); *pm != nullptr; ++pm)
+          // If there is a config.x value for one of the modules that can hint
+          // us the toolchain, load it's .guess module. This makes sure that
+          // the order in which we load the modules is unimportant and that
+          // the user can specify the toolchain using any of the config.x
+          // values.
+          //
+          if (!cc_loaded)
           {
-            string m (*pm);
+            for (const char* const* pm (x_hinters); *pm != nullptr; ++pm)
+            {
+              string m (*pm);
 
-            // Must be the same as in module's init().
-            //
-            const variable& v (vp.insert<path> ("config." + m, true));
+              // Must be the same as in module's init().
+              //
+              const variable& v (vp.insert<strings> ("config." + m, true));
 
-            if (rs[v].defined ())
-            {
-              load_module (rs, rs, m + ".guess", loc);
-              cc_loaded = true;
-              break;
+              if (rs[v].defined ())
+              {
+                load_module (rs, rs, m + ".guess", loc);
+                cc_loaded = true;
+                break;
+              }
             }
           }
+
+          // If cc.core.config is already loaded then use its toolchain id,
+          // (optional) pattern, and mode to guess an appropriate default
+          // (e.g., for {gcc, *-4.9 -m64} we will get g++-4.9 -m64).
+          //
+          strings d;
+
+          if (cc_loaded)
+            d = guess_default (x_lang,
+                               cast<string>  (rs["cc.id"]),
+                               cast<string>  (rs["cc.pattern"]),
+                               cast<strings> (rs["cc.mode"]));
+          else
+          {
+            // Note that we don't have the default mode: it doesn't feel
+            // correct to default to, say, -m64 simply because that's how
+            // build2 was built.
+            //
+            d.push_back (x_default);
+
+            if (d.front ().empty ())
+              fail << "not built with default " << x_lang << " compiler" <<
+                info << "use " << config_x << " to specify";
+          }
+
+          // If this value was hinted, save it as commented out so that if the
+          // user changes the source of the pattern/mode, this one will get
+          // updated as well.
+          //
+          p = config::required (rs,
+                                config_x,
+                                move (d),
+                                false,
+                                cc_loaded ? config::save_commented : 0);
         }
 
-        // If cc.core.config is already loaded then use its toolchain id and
-        // (optional) pattern to guess an appropriate default (e.g., for {gcc,
-        // *-4.9} we will get g++-4.9).
+        // Split the value into the compiler path and mode.
         //
-        path d;
+        const strings& v (cast<strings> (*p.first));
 
-        if (cc_loaded)
-          d = guess_default (x_lang,
-                             cast<string> (rs["cc.id"]),
-                             cast<string> (rs["cc.pattern"]));
-        else
-        {
-          d = path (x_default);
+        path xc;
+        try { xc = path (v.front ()); } catch (const invalid_path&) {}
 
-          if (d.empty ())
-            fail << "not built with default " << x_lang << " compiler" <<
-              info << "use config." << x << " to specify";
-        }
+        if (xc.empty ())
+          fail << "invalid path '" << v.front () << "' in " << config_x;
 
-        // If this value was hinted, save it as commented out so that if the
-        // user changes the source of the pattern, this one will get updated
-        // as well.
+        mode.assign (++v.begin (), v.end ());
+
+        // Figure out which compiler we are dealing with, its target, etc.
+        //
+        // Note that we could allow guess() to modify mode to support
+        // imaginary options (such as /MACHINE for cl.exe). Though it's not
+        // clear what cc.mode would contain (original or modified).
         //
-        p = config::required (rs,
-                              config_x,
-                              d,
-                              false,
-                              cc_loaded ? config::save_commented : 0);
+        x_info = &build2::cc::guess (
+          x, x_lang, move (xc),
+          cast_null<string> (config::omitted (rs, config_x_id).first),
+          cast_null<string> (config::omitted (rs, config_x_version).first),
+          cast_null<string> (config::omitted (rs, config_x_target).first),
+          mode,
+          cast_null<strings> (rs[config_c_poptions]),
+          cast_null<strings> (rs[config_x_poptions]),
+          cast_null<strings> (rs[config_c_coptions]),
+          cast_null<strings> (rs[config_x_coptions]),
+          cast_null<strings> (rs[config_c_loptions]),
+          cast_null<strings> (rs[config_x_loptions]));
+
+        new_ = p.second;
       }
 
-      // Figure out which compiler we are dealing with, its target, etc.
-      //
-      x_info = &build2::cc::guess (
-        x,
-        x_lang,
-        cast<path> (*p.first),
-        cast_null<string> (config::omitted (rs, config_x_id).first),
-        cast_null<string> (config::omitted (rs, config_x_version).first),
-        cast_null<string> (config::omitted (rs, config_x_target).first),
-        cast_null<strings> (rs[config_c_poptions]),
-        cast_null<strings> (rs[config_x_poptions]),
-        cast_null<strings> (rs[config_c_coptions]),
-        cast_null<strings> (rs[config_x_coptions]),
-        cast_null<strings> (rs[config_c_loptions]),
-        cast_null<strings> (rs[config_x_loptions]));
-
       const compiler_info& xi (*x_info);
 
-      // Split/canonicalize the target. First see if the user asked us to
-      // use config.sub.
+      // Split/canonicalize the target. First see if the user asked us to use
+      // config.sub.
       //
       target_triplet tt;
       {
@@ -167,6 +192,9 @@ namespace build2
 
       // Assign values to variables that describe the compiler.
       //
+      rs.assign (x_path) = process_path (xi.path, false /* init */);
+      const strings& xm (cast<strings> (rs.assign (x_mode) = move (mode)));
+
       rs.assign (x_id) = xi.id.string ();
       rs.assign (x_id_type) = to_string (xi.id.type);
       rs.assign (x_id_variant) = xi.id.variant;
@@ -187,6 +215,9 @@ namespace build2
       assign_version (&x_variant_version,
                       xi.variant_version ? &*xi.variant_version : nullptr);
 
+      rs.assign (x_signature) = xi.signature;
+      rs.assign (x_checksum) = xi.checksum;
+
       // Also enter as x.target.{cpu,vendor,system,version,class} for
       // convenience of access.
       //
@@ -203,8 +234,6 @@ namespace build2
       if (!x_stdlib.alias (c_stdlib))
         rs.assign (x_stdlib) = xi.x_stdlib;
 
-      new_ = p.second;
-
       // Load cc.core.guess.
       //
       if (!cc_loaded)
@@ -222,6 +251,9 @@ namespace build2
         if (!xi.pattern.empty ())
           h.assign ("config.cc.pattern") = xi.pattern;
 
+        if (!xm.empty ())
+          h.assign ("config.cc.mode") = xm;
+
         h.assign (c_runtime) = xi.runtime;
         h.assign (c_stdlib) = xi.c_stdlib;
 
@@ -262,6 +294,9 @@ namespace build2
         // g++-7 vs gcc kind of mistakes. So now we warn since even if
         // intentional, it is still probably a bad idea.
         //
+        // Note also that it feels right to allow different modes (think
+        // -fexceptions for C or -fno-rtti for C++).
+        //
         check (cast<string> (rs["cc.pattern"]),
                cast<string> (rs[x_pattern]),
                "toolchain pattern",
@@ -299,6 +334,37 @@ namespace build2
       const compiler_info& xi (*x_info);
       const target_triplet& tt (cast<target_triplet> (rs[x_target]));
 
+      // config.x.{p,c,l}options
+      // config.x.libs
+      //
+      // These are optional. We also merge them into the corresponding
+      // x.* variables.
+      //
+      // The merging part gets a bit tricky if this module has already
+      // been loaded in one of the outer scopes. By doing the straight
+      // append we would just be repeating the same options over and
+      // over. So what we are going to do is only append to a value if
+      // it came from this scope. Then the usage for merging becomes:
+      //
+      // x.coptions = <overridable options> # Note: '='.
+      // using x
+      // x.coptions += <overriding options> # Note: '+='.
+      //
+      rs.assign (x_poptions) += cast_null<strings> (
+        config::optional (rs, config_x_poptions));
+
+      rs.assign (x_coptions) += cast_null<strings> (
+        config::optional (rs, config_x_coptions));
+
+      rs.assign (x_loptions) += cast_null<strings> (
+        config::optional (rs, config_x_loptions));
+
+      rs.assign (x_aoptions) += cast_null<strings> (
+        config::optional (rs, config_x_aoptions));
+
+      rs.assign (x_libs) += cast_null<strings> (
+        config::optional (rs, config_x_libs));
+
       // config.x.std overrides x.std
       //
       {
@@ -318,6 +384,22 @@ namespace build2
         tstd = translate_std (xi, rs, v);
       }
 
+      // config.x.translatable_header
+      //
+      // It's still fuzzy whether specifying (or maybe tweaking) this list in
+      // the configuration will be a common thing to do so for now we use
+      // omitted. It's also probably too early to think whether we should have
+      // the cc.* version and what the semantics should be.
+      //
+      if (x_translatable_headers != nullptr)
+      {
+        lookup l (config::omitted (rs, *config_x_translatable_headers).first);
+
+        // @@ MODHDR: if(modules) ?
+        //
+        rs.assign (x_translatable_headers) += cast_null<strings> (l);
+      }
+
       // Extract system header/library search paths from the compiler and
       // determine if we need any additional search paths.
       //
@@ -443,12 +525,27 @@ namespace build2
       //
       if (verb >= (new_ ? 2 : 3))
       {
+        const strings& mode (cast<strings> (rs[x_mode]));
+
         diag_record dr (text);
 
         {
           dr << x << ' ' << project (rs) << '@' << rs << '\n'
-             << "  " << left << setw (11) << x << xi.path << '\n'
-             << "  id         " << xi.id << '\n'
+             << "  " << left << setw (11) << x << xi.path << '\n';
+        }
+
+        if (!mode.empty ())
+        {
+          dr << "  mode      "; // One space short.
+
+          for (const string& o: mode)
+            dr << ' ' << o;
+
+          dr << '\n';
+        }
+
+        {
+          dr << "  id         " << xi.id << '\n'
              << "  version    " << xi.version.string << '\n'
              << "  major      " << xi.version.major << '\n'
              << "  minor      " << xi.version.minor << '\n'
@@ -525,60 +622,9 @@ namespace build2
         }
       }
 
-      rs.assign (x_path) = process_path (xi.path, false /* init */);
       rs.assign (x_sys_lib_dirs) = move (lib_dirs);
       rs.assign (x_sys_inc_dirs) = move (inc_dirs);
 
-      rs.assign (x_signature) = xi.signature;
-      rs.assign (x_checksum) = xi.checksum;
-
-      // config.x.{p,c,l}options
-      // config.x.libs
-      //
-      // These are optional. We also merge them into the corresponding
-      // x.* variables.
-      //
-      // The merging part gets a bit tricky if this module has already
-      // been loaded in one of the outer scopes. By doing the straight
-      // append we would just be repeating the same options over and
-      // over. So what we are going to do is only append to a value if
-      // it came from this scope. Then the usage for merging becomes:
-      //
-      // x.coptions = <overridable options> # Note: '='.
-      // using x
-      // x.coptions += <overriding options> # Note: '+='.
-      //
-      rs.assign (x_poptions) += cast_null<strings> (
-        config::optional (rs, config_x_poptions));
-
-      rs.assign (x_coptions) += cast_null<strings> (
-        config::optional (rs, config_x_coptions));
-
-      rs.assign (x_loptions) += cast_null<strings> (
-        config::optional (rs, config_x_loptions));
-
-      rs.assign (x_aoptions) += cast_null<strings> (
-        config::optional (rs, config_x_aoptions));
-
-      rs.assign (x_libs) += cast_null<strings> (
-        config::optional (rs, config_x_libs));
-
-      // config.x.translatable_header
-      //
-      // It's still fuzzy whether specifying (or maybe tweaking) this list in
-      // the configuration will be a common thing to do so for now we use
-      // omitted. It's also probably too early to think whether we should have
-      // the cc.* version and what the semantics should be.
-      //
-      if (x_translatable_headers != nullptr)
-      {
-        lookup l (config::omitted (rs, *config_x_translatable_headers).first);
-
-        // @@ MODHDR: if(modules) ?
-        //
-        rs.assign (x_translatable_headers) += cast_null<strings> (l);
-      }
-
       // Load cc.core.config.
       //
       if (!cast_false<bool> (rs["cc.core.config.loaded"]))
diff --git a/libbuild2/cc/msvc.cxx b/libbuild2/cc/msvc.cxx
index e7251ac..a85e7a0 100644
--- a/libbuild2/cc/msvc.cxx
+++ b/libbuild2/cc/msvc.cxx
@@ -220,7 +220,8 @@ namespace build2
     msvc_header_search_paths (const process_path&, scope&) const
     {
       // The compiler doesn't seem to have any built-in paths and all of them
-      // come from the INCLUDE environment variable.
+      // either come from the INCLUDE environment variable or are specified
+      // explicitly on the command line.
 
       // @@ VC: how are we going to do this? E.g., cl-14 does this internally.
       //    cl.exe /Be prints INCLUDE.
@@ -239,7 +240,8 @@ namespace build2
     msvc_library_search_paths (const process_path&, scope&) const
     {
       // The linker doesn't seem to have any built-in paths and all of them
-      // come from the LIB environment variable.
+      // either come from the LIB environment variable or are specified
+      // explicitly on the command line.
 
       // @@ VC: how are we going to do this? E.g., cl-14 does this internally.
       //    cl.exe /Be prints LIB.
diff --git a/libbuild2/cxx/init.cxx b/libbuild2/cxx/init.cxx
index 9bf54eb..6237d99 100644
--- a/libbuild2/cxx/init.cxx
+++ b/libbuild2/cxx/init.cxx
@@ -391,7 +391,7 @@ namespace build2
 
         // Note: some overridable, some not.
         //
-        v.insert<path>    ("config.cxx",          true),
+        v.insert<strings> ("config.cxx",          true),
         v.insert<string>  ("config.cxx.id",       true),
         v.insert<string>  ("config.cxx.version",  true),
         v.insert<string>  ("config.cxx.target",   true),
@@ -414,6 +414,7 @@ namespace build2
         &v.insert<strings> ("config.cxx.translatable_headers", true),
 
         v.insert<process_path> ("cxx.path"),
+        v.insert<strings>      ("cxx.mode"),
         v.insert<dir_paths>    ("cxx.sys_lib_dirs"),
         v.insert<dir_paths>    ("cxx.sys_inc_dirs"),
 
@@ -612,6 +613,7 @@ namespace build2
         cm.x_info->version.major,
         cm.x_info->version.minor,
         cast<process_path>   (rs[cm.x_path]),
+        cast<strings>        (rs[cm.x_mode]),
         cast<target_triplet> (rs[cm.x_target]),
 
         cm.tstd,
diff --git a/libbuild2/utility.cxx b/libbuild2/utility.cxx
index af4768c..78d2df2 100644
--- a/libbuild2/utility.cxx
+++ b/libbuild2/utility.cxx
@@ -386,13 +386,17 @@ namespace build2
   }
 
   bool
-  find_options (initializer_list<const char*> os, const lookup& l, bool ic)
+  find_options (const initializer_list<const char*>& os,
+                const lookup& l,
+                bool ic)
   {
     return l && find_options (os, cast<strings> (l), ic);
   }
 
   bool
-  find_options (initializer_list<const char*> os, const strings& strs, bool ic)
+  find_options (const initializer_list<const char*>& os,
+                const strings& strs,
+                bool ic)
   {
     for (const string& s: strs)
       for (const char* o: os)
@@ -403,7 +407,7 @@ namespace build2
   }
 
   bool
-  find_options (initializer_list<const char*> os,
+  find_options (const initializer_list<const char*>& os,
                 const cstrings& cstrs,
                 bool ic)
   {
@@ -447,7 +451,7 @@ namespace build2
   }
 
   const string*
-  find_option_prefixes (initializer_list<const char*> ps,
+  find_option_prefixes (const initializer_list<const char*>& ps,
                         const lookup& l,
                         bool ic)
   {
@@ -455,7 +459,7 @@ namespace build2
   }
 
   const string*
-  find_option_prefixes (initializer_list<const char*> ps,
+  find_option_prefixes (const initializer_list<const char*>& ps,
                         const strings& strs,
                         bool ic)
   {
@@ -470,7 +474,7 @@ namespace build2
   }
 
   const char*
-  find_option_prefixes (initializer_list<const char*> ps,
+  find_option_prefixes (const initializer_list<const char*>& ps,
                         const cstrings& cstrs,
                         bool ic)
   {
diff --git a/libbuild2/utility.hxx b/libbuild2/utility.hxx
index beacd2f..0422786 100644
--- a/libbuild2/utility.hxx
+++ b/libbuild2/utility.hxx
@@ -607,23 +607,32 @@ namespace build2
   //
   template <typename T>
   bool
-  find_options (initializer_list<const char*>,
+  find_options (const initializer_list<const char*>&,
                 T&,
                 const variable&,
                 bool = false);
 
   template <typename T>
   bool
-  find_options (initializer_list<const char*>, T&, const char*, bool = false);
+  find_options (const initializer_list<const char*>&,
+                T&,
+                const char*,
+                bool = false);
 
   LIBBUILD2_SYMEXPORT bool
-  find_options (initializer_list<const char*>, const lookup&, bool = false);
+  find_options (const initializer_list<const char*>&,
+                const lookup&,
+                bool = false);
 
   LIBBUILD2_SYMEXPORT bool
-  find_options (initializer_list<const char*>, const strings&, bool = false);
+  find_options (const initializer_list<const char*>&,
+                const strings&,
+                bool = false);
 
   LIBBUILD2_SYMEXPORT bool
-  find_options (initializer_list<const char*>, const cstrings&, bool = false);
+  find_options (const initializer_list<const char*>&,
+                const cstrings&,
+                bool = false);
 
   // As above but look for an option that has the specified prefix. Return the
   // pointer to option or NULL if not found (thus can be used as bool).
@@ -651,29 +660,29 @@ namespace build2
   //
   template <typename T>
   const string*
-  find_option_prefixes (initializer_list<const char*>,
+  find_option_prefixes (const initializer_list<const char*>&,
                         T&,
                         const variable&,
                         bool = false);
 
   template <typename T>
   const string*
-  find_option_prefixes (initializer_list<const char*>,
+  find_option_prefixes (const initializer_list<const char*>&,
                         T&,
                         const char*,
                         bool = false);
 
   LIBBUILD2_SYMEXPORT const string*
-  find_option_prefixes (initializer_list<const char*>,
+  find_option_prefixes (const initializer_list<const char*>&,
                         const lookup&, bool = false);
 
   LIBBUILD2_SYMEXPORT const string*
-  find_option_prefixes (initializer_list<const char*>,
+  find_option_prefixes (const initializer_list<const char*>&,
                         const strings&,
                         bool = false);
 
   LIBBUILD2_SYMEXPORT const char*
-  find_option_prefixes (initializer_list<const char*>,
+  find_option_prefixes (const initializer_list<const char*>&,
                         const cstrings&,
                         bool = false);
 
diff --git a/libbuild2/utility.ixx b/libbuild2/utility.ixx
index dcfd128..2846756 100644
--- a/libbuild2/utility.ixx
+++ b/libbuild2/utility.ixx
@@ -101,7 +101,7 @@ namespace build2
 
   template <typename T>
   inline bool
-  find_options (initializer_list<const char*> os,
+  find_options (const initializer_list<const char*>& os,
                 T& s,
                 const variable& var,
                 bool ic)
@@ -111,7 +111,7 @@ namespace build2
 
   template <typename T>
   inline bool
-  find_options (initializer_list<const char*> os,
+  find_options (const initializer_list<const char*>& os,
                 T& s,
                 const char* var,
                 bool ic)
@@ -135,7 +135,7 @@ namespace build2
 
   template <typename T>
   inline const string*
-  find_option_prefixes (initializer_list<const char*> ps,
+  find_option_prefixes (const initializer_list<const char*>& ps,
                         T& s,
                         const variable& var,
                         bool ic)
@@ -145,7 +145,7 @@ namespace build2
 
   template <typename T>
   inline const string*
-  find_option_prefixes (initializer_list<const char*> ps,
+  find_option_prefixes (const initializer_list<const char*>& ps,
                         T& s,
                         const char* var,
                         bool ic)