smlsharp has the following execution modes.

interactive mode

When smlsharp is invoked without any parameter, it executes the interactive session.

compile and link mode

When smlsharp is invoked with a single source file as shown below:

$ smlsharp $\mathrm{⟨}$file$\mathrm{⟩}$.sml
$

it compiles the source file $\mathrm{⟨}$file$\mathrm{⟩}$.sml, links the resulting object file and creates an executable program (with the name a.out by default).

compile mode

When smlsharp is invoked with -c switch as shown below:

$ smlsharp -c $\mathrm{⟨}$file1$\mathrm{⟩}$.sml $\mathrm{\cdots }$ $\mathrm{⟨}$fileN$\mathrm{⟩}$.sml
$

it compiles the given files $\mathrm{⟨}$file1$\mathrm{⟩}$.sml $\mathrm{\cdots }$ $\mathrm{⟨}$fileN$\mathrm{⟩}$.sml into object files $\mathrm{⟨}$file1$\mathrm{⟩}$.o $\mathrm{\cdots }$ $\mathrm{⟨}$fileN$\mathrm{⟩}$.o.

link mode

When smlsharp is invoked with a single interface files as shown below:

$ smlsharp $\mathrm{⟨}$file$\mathrm{⟩}$.smi
$

it assumes that $\mathrm{⟨}$file$\mathrm{⟩}$.smi is a top-level interface file, links all the object files corresponding to the interface files referenced from $\mathrm{⟨}$file$\mathrm{⟩}$.smi, and generates an executable file.

SML# also recognizes various command-line switches.

$ smlsharp --help

will print a help message describing available switches.