- 1 year ago
Why is CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE pre-set with single-config generators on Windows?
In CMake, the CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE
variable is often pre-set with a default value when using single-configuration generators on Windows. This behavior is because single-configuration generators, such as Visual Studio, only support building one configuration at a time (e.g., Debug or Release).
The default value of CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE
is typically set to "Debug" for these generators. This allows developers to quickly build and test their code in a debuggable configuration without explicitly setting the build type each time. However, it's important to note that this default value can be modified as needed.
The CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE
variable can be manually set to other values like "Release" or "RelWithDebInfo" to build different configurations. This gives developers flexibility when building their projects.
For multi-configuration generators, such as Makefile or Ninja, the CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE
variable does not have a predefined value. Developers are required to explicitly set the build type during the build configuration step.
In summary, the pre-setting of CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE
with a default value for single-configuration generators on Windows is a convenience feature to simplify the build process. Developers can always modify the value or provide their own desired configuration explicitly.