| program | ::= | include_cocci * changeset + |
| include_cocci | ::= | #include string |
| | | using string | |
| | | using pathToIsoFile | |
| | | virtual id (, id) * | |
| changeset | ::= | metavariables transformation |
| | | script_metavariables script_code |
script_code is any code in the chosen scripting language. Parsing of the semantic patch does not check the validity of this code; any errors are first detected when the code is executed. Furthermore, @ should not be used in this code. Spatch scans the script code for the next @ and considers that to be the beginning of the next rule, even if @ occurs within e.g., a comment.
virtual keyword is used to declare virtual rules. Virtual rules may be subsequently used as a dependency for the rules in the SmPL file. Whether a virtual rule is defined or not is controlled by the -D option on the command line.