VSCode cannot find CMake generator

[tnakaicode]

Brief Issue Summary

I update VSCode 1.40.0. And, CMake cannot find CMake generator.
In previous VSCode version, I can use CMake/Build.

CMake Tools Log

Unable to determine what CMake generator to use. Please install or configure a preferred generator, or update settings.json, your Kit configuration or PATH variable. Error: No usable generator found.

Platform and Versions

• Operating System: Windows 10
• CMake Version: 3.14.0
• VSCode Version: 1.40.0
• CMake Tools Extension Version: 1.2.1
• Compiler/Toolchain: mingw-w64 gcc, g++

[mischelebuha]

The same problem with "settings.json" and "cmake-kits.json...

[chilippso]

I had the same issue after upgrading VSCode to version 1.40.0.

Previously I had set my PATH environment via settings.json cmake.environment. After the update it seems CMake-Tools were unable to find my toolset (generator: Unix Makefiles).

I fixed this issue with setting environmentVariables in cmake-kits.json for my toolchain.

[bobbrow]

Can you share any of your settings? I'm not able to reproduce this problem.

settings.json

{
    "cmake.mingwSearchDirs": [
        "C:\\mingw-w64\\mingw64\\bin"
    ],
    "cmake.generator": "MinGW Makefiles"
}

cmake-tools-kits.json

  ...
  {
    "name": "GCC 7.2.0",
    "compilers": {
      "C": "C:\\mingw-w64\\mingw64\\bin\\gcc.exe",
      "CXX": "C:\\mingw-w64\\mingw64\\bin\\g++.exe"
    },
    "preferredGenerator": {
      "name": "MinGW Makefiles"
    },
    "environmentVariables": {
      "CMT_MINGW_PATH": "C:\\mingw-w64\\mingw64\\bin"
    }
  },
  ...

[bobbrow]

1.2.2 was released today. Please give that a try and let us know if you continue to have issues.

[tnakaicode]

I solved! Thank you.

VSCode: v1.40.1
CMake Tolls: v1.2.2

[renebarto]

I'm running 1.41.1 and I still have problems. Maybe this is specifically due to using a toolchain file, but I still get the same error:

[main] Unable to determine what CMake generator to use. Please install or configure a preferred generator, or update settings.json, your Kit configuration or PATH variable. Error: No usable generator found.

[bobbrow]

@renebarto, can you open a new issue with details about your project and configuration?

Thank you!

[Foadsf]

I had MSYS2-MinGW installed and the way I solved it:

1. I assume you have the below MSYS2 packages installed with pacman -S:

• mingw64/mingw-w64-x86_64-gcc
• mingw64/mingw-w64-x86_64-make
• mingw64/mingw-w64-x86_64-cmake

2. You need to open the settings.json by Ctrl + Shift + P and serach-select Preference: Open settings (JSON)
3. and then add the lines below:

    "cmake.cmakePath": "C:\\msys64\\mingw64\\bin\\cmake.exe",
    "cmake.mingwSearchDirs": [
      "C:\\msys64\\mingw64\\bin"
   ],
   "cmake.generator": "MinGW Makefiles"

4. and then open the CMake: Edit User-Local CMake Kits which opens the cmake-tools-kits.json file where you need to have:

  {
    "name": "Mingw64 GCC 9.3.0",
    "compilers": {
      "C": "C:\\msys64\\mingw64\\bin\\gcc.exe",
      "CXX": "C:\\msys64\\mingw64\\bin\\g++.exe"
    },
    "preferredGenerator": {
      "name": "MinGW Makefiles",
      "platform": "x64"
    },
    "environmentVariables": {
      "PATH": "C:/msys64/mingw64/bin/"
    }
  }

[bobbrow]

@Foadsf, you may not want to nuke your %PATH% by overwriting it with just the MinGW path. We created "CMT_MINGW_PATH" which will be added to the %PATH% when the environment is created.

[Foadsf]

@bobbrow so is it ok if I just change

"PATH": "C:/msys64/mingw64/bin/"

to

"CMT_MINGW_PATH": "C:/msys64/mingw64/bin/"

[bobbrow]

Yes, that should work.

[Wastus]

CMT_MINGW_PATH and its behavior should be documented somewhere (probably here: https://github.com/microsoft/vscode-cmake-tools/blob/main/docs/kits.md#general-options under environmentVariables).
I'm not sure if I'm misusing this to add the path to my ninja generator. The name does not sound like it should be used as a general purpose "add this path to the path variable"-function.

It works using CMT_MINGW_PATH but I've opted to use the following instead for now:

"cmakeSettings": {
   "CMAKE_MAKE_PROGRAM": "${workspaceFolder}/../Tools/ninja/ninja.exe"
}