Configure Visual Studio's Default CMake Generator
When working with CMake projects in Visual Studio, it's important to understand how to configure the default CMake generator. This article will provide a detailed context on how to do just that, with a focus on the CMakePresets.json file, which is used to specify CMake settings, rather than CMakeSettings.json.
Understanding CMakePresets.json
CMakePresets.json is a JSON-formatted file that is used to specify CMake settings for a project. This file is typically located in the root directory of the project and is used to configure the default CMake generator for Visual Studio.
Unlike CMakeSettings.json, CMakePresets.json does not explicitly specify a generator. Instead, it relies on the presence of a valid CMake generator on the system. This means that if you have multiple CMake generators installed, you can use CMakePresets.json to specify which one should be used as the default for your project.
Configuring the Default CMake Generator
To configure the default CMake generator for your project, you will need to create or modify the CMakePresets.json file in the root directory of your project. Here is an example of what this file might look like:
{
"version": 3,
"cmakeMinimumRequired": "3.18",
"configurePresets": [
{
"name": "default",
"generator": "Ninja",
"binaryDir": "${sourceDir}/build",
"installDir": "${sourceDir}/install"
}
]
}
In this example, the "generator" field is set to "Ninja", which specifies that the Ninja generator should be used as the default for the project. You can replace this with the name of any valid CMake generator on your system.
The "binaryDir" and "installDir" fields specify the directories where the build outputs and installed files will be placed, respectively. These fields are optional, but it is recommended that you specify them to keep your build outputs organized.
Key Concepts
Here are some key concepts to keep in mind when working with CMakePresets.json and configuring the default CMake generator for your project:
CMakePresets.jsondoes not explicitly specify a generator. Instead, it relies on the presence of a valid CMake generator on the system.- The
"generator"field inCMakePresets.jsonspecifies the default CMake generator for the project. - The
"binaryDir"and"installDir"fields inCMakePresets.jsonspecify the directories where the build outputs and installed files will be placed, respectively.
References
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