What's targets in tasks.json and how to use it? I have the following in tasks.json:

        {
            "type": "cmake",
            "label": "CMake: build Console",
            "command": "build",
            "targets": [
                "Console"
            ],
            "options": {
                "cwd": "${workspaceRoot}/build"
            },          
            "group": {
                "kind": "build",
                "isDefault": false
            },
            "problemMatcher": [],
            "detail": "CMake build Console"
        },

build task started....
/usr/bin/cmake --build /usr/src/DataStructuresAlgorithms/build --config Debug --target Console --
ninja: error: unknown target 'Console'
build finished with error(s).

I have "CMake Tools" extension installed but I don't see "build target" at the bottom bar at all:

What's targets in tasks.json and how to use it? I have the following in tasks.json:

        {
            "type": "cmake",
            "label": "CMake: build Console",
            "command": "build",
            "targets": [
                "Console"
            ],
            "options": {
                "cwd": "${workspaceRoot}/build"
            },          
            "group": {
                "kind": "build",
                "isDefault": false
            },
            "problemMatcher": [],
            "detail": "CMake build Console"
        },

build task started....
/usr/bin/cmake --build /usr/src/DataStructuresAlgorithms/build --config Debug --target Console --
ninja: error: unknown target 'Console'
build finished with error(s).

I have "CMake Tools" extension installed but I don't see "build target" at the bottom bar at all:

• visual-studio-code
• cmake
• build
• vscode-tasks

• 2 1. tasks.json is a poor build system, better switch to pure CMake, vscode has extension. 2. I am using VSCode CMake extension and at bottom bar it has build target selector from: all, install, `project name_ (executable), linked libraries project names. Answer: seems to be a non-gui json connector to the same CMake thing. Read: github/microsoft/vscode-cmake-tools/blob/main/docs/tasks.md – int main Commented 2 days ago

1 Answer 1

That is a reference to CMake targets to be later triggered with VSCode Integration with External Tools via Tasks configured by CMake Tools (extension) Task Provider. Seems that CMakeLists.txt is required to reference existing targets.

Documentation

• CMake Targets

Targets represent executables, libraries, and utilities built by CMake. Every add_library, add_executable, and add_custom_target command creates a target.

• CMake Tools VSCode extension adds ability to configure tasks.json for building with CMake (build generator) tool. Documentation: https://github/microsoft/vscode-cmake-tools/blob/main/docs/tasks.md

Observation

I am using CMake Tools VSCode extension and at the bottom bar it has "build target" selector from: all, install, project name (executable), linked libraries names. Which is seems to be a GUI analog of tasks.json.