Fabrik

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Bazel Integration ​

Bazel integration guide for Fabrik. This assumes you've already completed the getting started guide.

How It Works ​

Fabrik provides zero-configuration remote caching for Bazel via the Bazel Remote Caching protocol (gRPC). When the Fabrik daemon starts, it automatically:

  1. Generates a bazelrc file with the correct cache configuration
  2. Exports the BAZELRC environment variable pointing to this file
  3. Bazel automatically picks up the configuration - no manual setup required

IMPORTANT

Bazel Version Requirement: Zero-configuration via BAZELRC environment variable requires Bazel 9.0.0+ (currently in release candidate). The BAZELRC environment variable support was added in Bazel commit f5b64aee9af and is available in:

  • Bazel 9.0.0rc1 and later ✅
  • Bazel 9.0.0 (stable - coming soon) ✅

For Bazel 7.x users: Use the alternative methods below (shell alias, fabrik exec, or manual flags) until you upgrade to Bazel 9.0.0+.

Quick Start (Zero Configuration) ​

Requirements: Bazel 9.0.0rc1 or later

Just use Bazel normally - Fabrik handles everything automatically:

bash
cd ~/my-bazel-project
# Fabrik daemon starts automatically via shell activation
bazel build //...
bazel test //...

That's it! No configuration files to edit, no flags to pass.

TIP

Check your Bazel version with bazel --version. If you're using Bazel 7.x, see the alternative methods below.

TIP

When you cd into a project with fabrik.toml, the daemon automatically starts and exports BAZELRC pointing to an auto-generated configuration file. Bazel reads this environment variable and loads the cache settings.

NOTE

The bazelrc file is stored in ~/.local/state/fabrik/daemons/{config-hash}/bazelrc and is updated automatically when the daemon starts. You never need to touch it.

How It Works Internally ​

When Fabrik's shell integration activates:

  1. Daemon starts (if not already running for this project)
  2. Generates bazelrc in ~/.local/state/fabrik/daemons/{hash}/bazelrc
  3. Exports BAZELRC environment variable:
    bash
    export BAZELRC=/Users/you/.local/state/fabrik/daemons/a3f5d9c2/bazelrc
  4. Bazel loads configuration from this file automatically

Alternative Methods (Manual Control) ​

Using Shell Alias ​

Create a shell alias to automatically use Fabrik's cache:

bash
# Add to ~/.bashrc or ~/.zshrc
alias bazel='command bazel --remote_cache="$FABRIK_GRPC_URL"'

# Then just use bazel normally
cd ~/my-bazel-project
bazel build //...
bazel test //...

Using fabrik exec ​

bash
cd ~/my-bazel-project
fabrik exec -- bazel build --remote_cache="$FABRIK_GRPC_URL" //...

Passing Flag Manually ​

bash
cd ~/my-bazel-project
# Daemon starts automatically, exports FABRIK_GRPC_URL
bazel build --remote_cache="$FABRIK_GRPC_URL" //...