microsoft / microsoft/vscode-cmake-tools

Make missing CMake easier to diagnose

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#3,630 1 comment 0 reactions 0 assignees View on GitHub

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enhancement Feature: UI
Dominant language
TypeScript
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Forks
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Avg merge
2d 16h
Merged PRs (30d)
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Description

### Brief Issue Summary

When cmake.exe is not on path, the error message makes it hard to figure out initially.
Running the "Delete Cache and Reconfigure" command actually shows the root cause - the pop-up on the bottom says "make sure it is installed". I think there should be this pop-up without having to run the "Delete Cache" command, instead of "spawn cmake ENOENT".

### CMake Tools Diagnostics

_No response_

### Debug Log

_No response_

### Additional Information

_No response_

Contributor guide

Open the contributing guide

First steps

  1. Read the whole issue, then the project's contributing guide.
  2. Comment on the issue to say you are picking it up — it saves two people doing the same work.
  3. Fork the repository and make your change on a branch.
  4. Open a pull request that references the issue number.

Research direction

Start by reproducing a missing cmake.exe on PATH through the normal configure flow. Compare its error handling with the "Delete Cache and Reconfigure" command, which already shows the clearer installation message. Done means the normal flow displays an actionable popup instead of "spawn cmake ENOENT".

Written by the indexing model from the issue text.

Assessment

Tech stack
cmake, typescript
Domain
build-system, developer-experience, tooling
Issue type
Bug
Difficulty
3/5
Estimated time
1-2 days
Activity status
Stale
Clarity
Mostly clear
Newbie friendliness
35/100

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