Name Resolution

lbuild manages repositories, modules and options in a tree structure and serializes identification into unique string using : as hierarchy delimiters. Any identifier provided via the command line, configuration, repository or module files use the same resolver, which allows using partially-qualified identifiers. In addition, globbing for multiple identifiers using fnmatch semantics is supported.

The following rules for resolving identifiers apply:

1. A fully-qualified identifier specifies all parts: repo:module:option.
2. A partially-qualified identifier adds fnmatch wildcarts: *:m.dule:opt*.
3. * wildcarts for entire hierarchies can be ommitted: ::option
4. A special wildcart is :**, which globs for everything below the current hierarchy level: repo:** selects all in repo, repo:module:** all in repo:module, etc.
5. Wildcarts are resolved in reverse hierarchical order. Therefore, ::option may be unique within the context of :module, but not within the entire project.
6. For accessing direct children, you may specify their name without any delimiters: option within the context of :module will resolve to :module:option.

Partial identifiers were introduced to reduce verbosity and aid refactoring, it is therefore recommended to:

1. Omit the repository name for accessing modules and options within the same repository.
2. Accessing a module's options with their name directly.