The mod
command, introduced in Bazel 6.3.0, provides a range of tools to help
the user understand their external dependency graph when Bzlmod is enabled. It
lets you visualize the dependency graph, find out why a certain module or a
version of a module is present in the graph, view the repo definitions backing
modules, inspect usages of module extensions and repos they generate, among
other functions.
Syntax
bazel mod <subcommand> [<options>] [<arg> [<arg>...]]
The available subcommands and their respective required arguments are:
graph
: Displays the full dependency graph of the project, starting from the root module. If one or more modules are specified in--from
, these modules are shown directly under the root, and the graph is only expanded starting from them (see example).deps <arg>...
: Displays the resolved direct dependencies of each of the specified modules, similarly tograph
.all_paths <arg>...
: Displays all existing paths from the root to the specified<arg>...
. If one or more modules are specified in--from
, these modules are shown directly under the root, and the graph contains any existing path from the--from
modules to the argument modules (see example).path <arg>...
: Has the same semantics asall_paths
, but only display a single path from one of the--from
modules to one of the argument modules.explain <arg>...
: Shows all the places where the specified modules appear in the dependency graph, along with the modules that directly depend on them. The output of theexplain
command is essentially a pruned version of theall_paths
command, containing 1) the root module; 2) the root module's direct dependencies that lead to the argument modules; 3) the argument modules' direct dependents; and 4) the argument modules themselves (see example).show_repo <arg>...
: Displays the definition of the specified repos (see example).show_extension <extension>...
: Displays information about each of the specified extensions: a list of the generated repos along with the modules that import them usinguse_repo
, and a list of the usages of that extension in each of the modules where it is used, containing the specified tags and theuse_repo
calls (see example).
<arg>
refers to one or more modules or repos. It can be one of:
The literal string
<root>
: The root module representing your current project.<name>@<version>
: The module<name>
at version<version>
. For a module with a non-registry override, use an underscore (_
) as the<version>
.<name>
: All present versions of the module<name>
.@<repo_name>
: The repo with the given apparent name in the context of the--base_module
.@@<repo_name>
: The repo with the given canonical name.
In a context requiring specifying modules, <arg>
s referring to repos that
correspond to modules (as opposed to extension-generated repos) can also be
used. Conversely, in a context requiring specifying repos, <arg>
s referring to
modules can stand in for the corresponding repos.
<extension>
must be of the form <arg><label_to_bzl_file>%<extension_name>
.
The <label_to_bzl_file>
part must be a repo-relative label (for example,
//pkg/path:file.bzl
).
The following options only affect the subcommands that print graphs (graph
,
deps
, all_paths
, path
, and explain
):
--from <arg>[,<arg>[,...]]
default:<root>
: The module(s) from which the graph is expanded ingraph
,all_paths
,path
, andexplain
. Check the subcommands' descriptions for more details.--verbose
default: "false": Include in the output graph extra information about the version resolution of each module. If the module version changed during resolution, show either which version replaced it or what was the original version, the reason it was replaced, and which modules requested the new version if the reason was Minimal Version Selection.--include_unused
default: "false": Include in the output graph the modules which were originally present in the dependency graph, but became unused after module resolution.--extension_info <mode>
: Include information about the module extension usages as part of the output graph (see example).<mode>
can be one of:hidden
(default): Don't show anything about extensions.usages
: Show extensions under each module where they are used. They are printed in the form of$<extension>
.repos
: In addition tousages
, show the repo imported usinguse_repo
under each extension usage.all
: In addition tousages
andrepos
, also show extension-generated repos that are not imported by any module. These extra repos are shown under the first occurrence of their generating extension in the output, and are connected with a dotted edge.
--extension_filter <extension>[,<extension>[,...]]
: If specified, the output graph only includes modules that use the specified extensions, and the paths that lead to those modules. Specifying an empty extension list (as in--extension_filter=
) is equivalent to specifying all extensions used by any module in the dependency graph.--depth <N>
: The depth of the output graph. A depth of 1 only displays the root and its direct dependencies. Defaults to 1 forexplain
, 2 fordeps
and infinity for the others.--cycles
default: "false": Include cycle edges in the output graph.--include_builtin
default: "false": Include built-in modules (such as@bazel_tools
) in the output graph. This flag is disabled by default, as built-in modules are implicitly depended on by every other module, which greatly clutters the output.--charset <charset>
default: utf8: Specify the charset to use for text output. Valid values are"utf8"
and"ascii"
. The only significant difference is in the special characters used to draw the graph in the"text"
output format, which don't exist in the"ascii"
charset. Therefore, the"ascii"
charset is present to also support the usage on legacy platforms which cannot use Unicode.--output <mode>
: Include information about the module extension usages as part of the output graph.<mode
> can be one of:text
(default): A human-readable representation of the output graph (flattened as a tree).json
: Outputs the graph in the form of a JSON object (flattened as a tree).graph
: Outputs the graph in the Graphviz dot representation.
bazel mod graph --output graph | dot -Tsvg > /tmp/graph.svg
Other options include:
--base_module <arg>
default:<root>
: Specify a module relative to which apparent repo names in arguments are interpreted. Note that this argument itself can be in the form of@<repo_name>
; this is always interpreted relative to the root module.--extension_usages <arg>[,<arg>[,...]]
: Filtersshow_extension
to only display extension usages from the specified modules.
Examples
Some possible usages of the mod
command on a real Bazel project are showcased
below to give you a general idea on how you can use it to inspect your project's
external dependencies.
MODULE.bazel
file:
module(
name = "my_project",
version = "1.0",
)
bazel_dep(name = "bazel_skylib", version = "1.1.1", repo_name = "skylib1")
bazel_dep(name = "bazel_skylib", version = "1.2.0", repo_name = "skylib2")
multiple_version_override(module_name = "bazel_skylib", versions = ["1.1.1", "1.2.0"])
bazel_dep(name = "stardoc", version = "0.5.0")
bazel_dep(name = "rules_java", version = "5.0.0")
toolchains = use_extension("@rules_java//java:extensions.bzl", "toolchains")
use_repo(toolchains, my_jdk="remotejdk17_linux")
Display the whole dependency graph of your project.
bazel mod graph
<root> (my_project@1.0) ├───bazel_skylib@1.1.1 │ └───platforms@0.0.4 ├───bazel_skylib@1.2.0 │ └───platforms@0.0.4 ... ├───rules_java@5.0.0 │ ├───platforms@0.0.4 ... │ ├───rules_cc@0.0.1 │ │ ├───bazel_skylib@1.1.1 ... │ │ └───platforms@0.0.4 ... │ └───rules_proto@4.0.0 │ ├───bazel_skylib@1.1.1 ... │ └───rules_cc@0.0.1 ... └───stardoc@0.5.0 ├───bazel_skylib@1.1.1 ... └───rules_java@5.0.0 ...
Display the whole dependency graph (including unused modules and with extra information about version resolution).
bazel mod graph --include_unused --verbose
<root> (my_project@1.0) ├───bazel_skylib@1.1.1 │ └───platforms@0.0.4 ├───bazel_skylib@1.2.0 │ └───platforms@0.0.4 ... ├───rules_java@5.0.0 │ ├───platforms@0.0.4 ... │ ├───rules_cc@0.0.1 │ │ ├───bazel_skylib@1.0.3 ... (to 1.1.1, cause multiple_version_override) │ │ ├───bazel_skylib@1.1.1 ... (was 1.0.3, cause multiple_version_override) │ │ └───platforms@0.0.4 ... │ └───rules_proto@4.0.0 │ ├───bazel_skylib@1.0.3 ... (to 1.1.1, cause multiple_version_override) │ ├───bazel_skylib@1.1.1 ... (was 1.0.3, cause multiple_version_override) │ └───rules_cc@0.0.1 ... └───stardoc@0.5.0 ├───bazel_skylib@1.1.1 ... (was 1.0.3, cause multiple_version_override) ├───rules_java@5.0.0 ... (was 4.0.0, cause <root>, bazel_tools@_) ├───bazel_skylib@1.0.3 (to 1.1.1, cause multiple_version_override) │ └───platforms@0.0.4 ... └───rules_java@4.0.0 (to 5.0.0, cause <root>, bazel_tools@_) ├───bazel_skylib@1.0.3 ... (to 1.1.1, cause multiple_version_override) └───bazel_skylib@1.1.1 ... (was 1.0.3, cause multiple_version_override)
Display the dependency graph expanded from some specific modules.
bazel mod graph --from rules_java --include_unused
<root> (my_project@1.0) ├───rules_java@5.0.0 │ ├───platforms@0.0.4 │ ├───rules_cc@0.0.1 │ │ ├───bazel_skylib@1.0.3 ... (unused) │ │ ├───bazel_skylib@1.1.1 ... │ │ └───platforms@0.0.4 ... │ └───rules_proto@4.0.0 │ ├───bazel_skylib@1.0.3 ... (unused) │ ├───bazel_skylib@1.1.1 ... │ └───rules_cc@0.0.1 ... └╌╌rules_java@4.0.0 (unused) ├───bazel_skylib@1.0.3 (unused) │ └───platforms@0.0.4 ... └───bazel_skylib@1.1.1 └───platforms@0.0.4 ...
Display all paths between two of your modules.
bazel mod all_paths bazel_skylib@1.1.1 --from rules_proto
<root> (my_project@1.0) └╌╌rules_proto@4.0.0 ├───bazel_skylib@1.1.1 └───rules_cc@0.0.1 └───bazel_skylib@1.1.1 ...
See why and how your project depends on some module(s).
bazel mod explain @skylib1 --verbose --include_unused
<root> (my_project@1.0) ├───bazel_skylib@1.1.1 ├───rules_java@5.0.0 │ ├───rules_cc@0.0.1 │ │ └───bazel_skylib@1.1.1 ... (was 1.0.3, cause multiple_version_override) │ └───rules_proto@4.0.0 │ ├───bazel_skylib@1.1.1 ... (was 1.0.3, cause multiple_version_override) │ └───rules_cc@0.0.1 ... └───stardoc@0.5.0 ├───bazel_skylib@1.1.1 ... (was 1.0.3, cause multiple_version_override) ├╌╌rules_cc@0.0.1 │ └───bazel_skylib@1.1.1 ... (was 1.0.3, cause multiple_version_override) └╌╌rules_proto@4.0.0 ├───bazel_skylib@1.1.1 ... (was 1.0.3, cause multiple_version_override) └───rules_cc@0.0.1 ...
See the underlying rule of some your modules' repos.
bazel mod show_repo rules_cc stardoc
## rules_cc@0.0.1: # <builtin> http_archive( name = "rules_cc~", urls = ["https://bcr.bazel.build/test-mirror/github.com/bazelbuild/rules_cc/releases/download/0.0.1/rules_cc-0.0.1.tar.gz", "https://github.com/bazelbuild/rules_cc/releases/download/0.0.1/rules_cc-0.0.1.tar.gz"], integrity = "sha256-Tcy/0iwN7xZMj0dFi9UODHFI89kgAs20WcKpamhJgkE=", strip_prefix = "", remote_patches = {"https://bcr.bazel.build/modules/rules_cc/0.0.1/patches/add_module_extension.patch": "sha256-g3+zmGs0YT2HKOVevZpN0Jet89Ylw90Cp9XsIAY8QqU="}, remote_patch_strip = 1, ) # Rule http_archive defined at (most recent call last): # /home/user/.cache/bazel/_bazel_user/6e893e0f5a92cc4cf5909a6e4b2770f9/external/bazel_tools/tools/build_defs/repo/http.bzl:355:31 in <toplevel> ## stardoc: # <builtin> http_archive( name = "stardoc~", urls = ["https://bcr.bazel.build/test-mirror/github.com/bazelbuild/stardoc/releases/download/0.5.0/stardoc-0.5.0.tar.gz", "https://github.com/bazelbuild/stardoc/releases/download/0.5.0/stardoc-0.5.0.tar.gz"], integrity = "sha256-yXlNzIAmow/2fPfPkeviRcopSyCwcYRdEsGSr+JDrXI=", strip_prefix = "", remote_patches = {}, remote_patch_strip = 0, ) # Rule http_archive defined at (most recent call last): # /home/user/.cache/bazel/_bazel_user/6e893e0f5a92cc4cf5909a6e4b2770f9/external/bazel_tools/tools/build_defs/repo/http.bzl:355:31 in <toplevel>
See what module extensions are used in your dependency graph.
bazel mod graph --extension_info=usages --extension_filter=all
<root> (my_project@1.0) ├───$@@rules_java.5.0.0//java:extensions.bzl%toolchains ├───rules_java@5.0.0 # │ ├───$@@rules_java.5.0.0//java:extensions.bzl%toolchains │ ├───rules_cc@0.0.1 # │ │ └───$@@rules_cc.0.0.1//bzlmod:extensions.bzl%cc_configure │ └───rules_proto@4.0.0 │ └───rules_cc@0.0.1 ... └───stardoc@0.5.0 └───rules_java@5.0.0 ...
See what repositories are generated and imported from some specific extension as part of the dependency graph.
bazel mod show_extension @@rules_java~5.0.0//java:extensions.bzl%toolchains
<root> (my_project@1.0) ├───$@@rules_java.5.0.0//java:extensions.bzl%toolchains │ ├───remotejdk17_linux │ ├╌╌remotejdk11_linux │ ├╌╌remotejdk11_linux_aarch64 │ ├╌╌remotejdk11_linux_ppc64le │ ├╌╌remotejdk11_linux_s390x ...(some lines omitted)... ├───rules_java@5.0.0 # │ └───$@@rules_java.5.0.0//java:extensions.bzl%toolchains ... │ ├───local_jdk │ ├───remote_java_tools │ ├───remote_java_tools_darwin │ ├───remote_java_tools_linux │ ├───remote_java_tools_windows │ ├───remotejdk11_linux_aarch64_toolchain_config_repo │ ├───remotejdk11_linux_ppc64le_toolchain_config_repo ...(some lines omitted)... └───stardoc@0.5.0 └───rules_java@5.0.0 ...
See the list of generated repositories of an extension and how that extension is used in each module.
bazel mod graph --extension_info=all --extension_filter=@rules_java//java:extensions.bzl%toolchains
## @@rules_java.5.0.0//java:extensions.bzl%toolchains: Fetched repositories: - local_jdk (imported by bazel_tools@_, rules_java@5.0.0) - remote_java_tools (imported by bazel_tools@_, rules_java@5.0.0) - remote_java_tools_darwin (imported by bazel_tools@_, rules_java@5.0.0) - remote_java_tools_linux (imported by bazel_tools@_, rules_java@5.0.0) - remote_java_tools_windows (imported by bazel_tools@_, rules_java@5.0.0) - remotejdk11_linux_aarch64_toolchain_config_repo (imported by rules_java@5.0.0) - remotejdk11_linux_ppc64le_toolchain_config_repo (imported by rules_java@5.0.0) ...(some lines omitted)... - remotejdk17_linux (imported by <root>) - remotejdk11_linux - remotejdk11_linux_aarch64 - remotejdk11_linux_ppc64le - remotejdk11_linux_s390x - remotejdk11_macos ...(some lines omitted)... # Usage in <root> at <root>/MODULE.bazel:14:27 with the specified attributes: use_repo( toolchains, my_jdk="remotejdk17_linux", ) # Usage in bazel_tools@_ at bazel_tools@_/MODULE.bazel:23:32 with the specified attributes: use_repo( toolchains, "local_jdk", "remote_java_tools", "remote_java_tools_linux", "remote_java_tools_windows", "remote_java_tools_darwin", ) # Usage in rules_java@5.0.0 at rules_java@5.0.0/MODULE.bazel:30:27 with the specified attributes: use_repo( toolchains, "remote_java_tools", "remote_java_tools_linux", "remote_java_tools_windows", "remote_java_tools_darwin", "local_jdk", "remotejdk11_linux_toolchain_config_repo", "remotejdk11_macos_toolchain_config_repo", "remotejdk11_macos_aarch64_toolchain_config_repo", ...(some lines omitted)... )
See the underlying rule of some extension-generated repositories.
bazel mod show_repo --base_module=rules_java @remote_java_tools
## @remote_java_tools: # <builtin> http_archive( name = "rules_java~~toolchains~remote_java_tools", urls = ["https://mirror.bazel.build/bazel_java_tools/releases/java/v11.5/java_tools-v11.5.zip", "https://github.com/bazelbuild/java_tools/releases/download/java_v11.5/java_tools-v11.5.zip"], sha256 = "b763ee80e5754e593fd6d5be6d7343f905bc8b73d661d36d842b024ca11b6793", ) # Rule http_archive defined at (most recent call last): # /home/user/.cache/bazel/_bazel_user/6e893e0f5a92cc4cf5909a6e4b2770f9/external/bazel_tools/tools/build_defs/repo/http.bzl:355:31 in <toplevel>