2 files changed, 17 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/mesonbuild/compilers/c.py b/mesonbuild/compilers/c.py
index a6ae4af..9b24e85 100644
--- a/mesonbuild/compilers/c.py
+++ b/mesonbuild/compilers/c.py
@@ -1543,6 +1543,9 @@ class VisualStudioCCompiler(CCompiler):
         # false without compiling anything
         return name in ['dllimport', 'dllexport']
 
+    def get_argument_syntax(self):
+        return 'msvc'
+
 
 class ArmCCompiler(ArmCompiler, CCompiler):
     def __init__(self, exelist, version, compiler_type, is_cross, exe_wrapper=None, **kwargs):
diff --git a/mesonbuild/compilers/compilers.py b/mesonbuild/compilers/compilers.py
index 8adacef..a038abf 100644
--- a/mesonbuild/compilers/compilers.py
+++ b/mesonbuild/compilers/compilers.py
@@ -1214,6 +1214,17 @@ class Compiler:
         m = 'Language {} does not support position-independent executable'
         raise EnvironmentException(m.format(self.get_display_language()))
 
+    def get_argument_syntax(self):
+        """Returns the argument family type.
+
+        Compilers fall into families if they try to emulate the command line
+        interface of another compiler. For example, clang is in the GCC family
+        since it accepts most of the same arguments as GCC. ICL (ICC on
+        windows) is in the MSVC family since it accepts most of the same
+        arguments as MSVC.
+        """
+        return 'other'
+
 
 @enum.unique
 class CompilerType(enum.Enum):
@@ -1449,6 +1460,9 @@ class GnuLikeCompiler(abc.ABC):
         # For other targets, discard the .def file.
         return []
 
+    def get_argument_syntax(self):
+        return 'gcc'
+
 
 class GnuCompiler(GnuLikeCompiler):
     """