The Nina generator does not generate all needed dependencies?

Development
1

This buildPreset works with Unix Makefiles, but not with Ninja:

{
  "version": 6,
  "cmakeMinimumRequired": {
    "major": 3,
    "minor": 25,
    "patch": 0
  },
  "configurePresets": [
    {
      "name": "dev",
      "displayName": "developer Ninja build on unix with Coverage",
      "description": "NOTE: coverage must be the first to overwrite Release build! CK",
      "inherits": ["coverage-Darwin", "ci-Darwin", "doxygen"],
      "generator": "Ninja",
      "installDir": "${sourceDir}/stagedir",
      "cacheVariables": {
        "CMAKE_PREFIX_PATH": {
          "type": "path",
          "value": "${sourceDir}/stagedir"
        }
      }
    }
  ],
  "buildPresets": [
    {
      "name": "dev",
      "configurePreset": "dev",
      "configuration": "Coverage",
      "targets": ["all", "format-fix", "spell-fix", "test", "coverage", "install"]
    }
  ],
  "testPresets": [
    {
      "name": "dev",
      "configurePreset": "dev",
      "configuration": "Coverage",
      "output": {
        "outputOnFailure": true
      }
    }
  ],
  "workflowPresets": [
    {
      "name": "dev",
      "steps": [
        {
          "type": "configure",
          "name": "dev"
        },
        {
          "type": "build",
          "name": "dev"
        },
        {
          "type": "test",
          "name": "dev"
        }
      ]
    }
  ]
}

bash-5.2$ cmake --workflow --preset dev
Executing workflow step 1 of 3: configure preset "dev"

Preset CMake variables:

  BUILD_MCSS_DOCS:BOOL="TRUE"
  BUILD_SHARED_LIBS="ON"
  BUILD_TESTING="ON"
  CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE="Coverage"
  CMAKE_CXX_EXTENSIONS="OFF"
  CMAKE_CXX_FLAGS="-fstack-protector-strong -Wall -Wextra -Wpedantic -Wconversion -Wsign-conversion -Wcast-qual -Wformat=2 -Wundef -Werror=float-equal -Wshadow -Wcast-align -Wunused -Wnull-dereference -Wdouble-promotion -Wimplicit-fallthrough -Wextra-semi -Woverloaded-virtual -Wnon-virtual-dtor -Wold-style-cast"
  CMAKE_CXX_FLAGS_COVERAGE="-Og -g --coverage"
  CMAKE_CXX_STANDARD="20"
  CMAKE_CXX_STANDARD_REQUIRED="ON"
  CMAKE_EXE_LINKER_FLAGS_COVERAGE="--coverage"
  CMAKE_EXPORT_COMPILE_COMMANDS="ON"
  CMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX:PATH="/Users/clausklein/Workspace/cpp/cmake-init-shared-static/stagedir"
  CMAKE_PREFIX_PATH:STRING="/Users/clausklein/Workspace/cpp/cmake-init-shared-static/stagedir"
  CMAKE_SHARED_LINKER_FLAGS_COVERAGE="--coverage"
  ENABLE_COVERAGE="ON"
  shared_DEVELOPER_MODE="ON"

-- The CXX compiler identification is Clang 17.0.6
-- Detecting CXX compiler ABI info
-- Detecting CXX compiler ABI info - done
-- Check for working CXX compiler: /usr/local/opt/llvm/bin/clang++ - skipped
-- Detecting CXX compile features
-- Detecting CXX compile features - done
-- Performing Test COMPILER_HAS_HIDDEN_VISIBILITY
-- Performing Test COMPILER_HAS_HIDDEN_VISIBILITY - Success
-- Performing Test COMPILER_HAS_HIDDEN_INLINE_VISIBILITY
-- Performing Test COMPILER_HAS_HIDDEN_INLINE_VISIBILITY - Success
-- Performing Test COMPILER_HAS_DEPRECATED_ATTR
-- Performing Test COMPILER_HAS_DEPRECATED_ATTR - Success
-- Found Python3: /usr/local/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/3.12/bin/python3.12 (found suitable version "3.12.2", minimum required is "3.6") found components: Interpreter
-- Configuring done (4.1s)
-- Generating done (0.0s)
-- Build files have been written to: /Users/clausklein/Workspace/cpp/cmake-init-shared-static/build/coverage

Executing workflow step 2 of 3: build preset "dev"

[0/10] Running tests...
Test project /Users/clausklein/Workspace/cpp/cmake-init-shared-static/build/coverage
    Start 1: shared_test
Could not find executable /Users/clausklein/Workspace/cpp/cmake-init-shared-static/build/coverage/test/shared_test
Looked in the following places:
/Users/clausklein/Workspace/cpp/cmake-init-shared-static/build/coverage/test/shared_test

. . .

Unable to find executable: /Users/clausklein/Workspace/cpp/cmake-init-shared-static/build/coverage/test/shared_test
1/1 Test #1: shared_test ......................***Not Run   0.00 sec

0% tests passed, 1 tests failed out of 1

Total Test time (real) =   0.00 sec

The following tests FAILED:
	  1 - shared_test (Not Run)
Errors while running CTest
Output from these tests are in: /Users/clausklein/Workspace/cpp/cmake-init-shared-static/build/coverage/Testing/Temporary/LastTest.log
Use "--rerun-failed --output-on-failure" to re-run the failed cases verbosely.
[0/10] Building CXX object test/CMakeFiles/shared_test.dir/source/shared_test.cpp.o
FAILED: CMakeFiles/test.util 
cd /Users/clausklein/Workspace/cpp/cmake-init-shared-static/build/coverage && /usr/local/Cellar/cmake/3.29.1/bin/ctest --force-new-ctest-process
[2/10] Fixing spelling errors
Used config files:
    1: .codespellrc
[4/10] Generating coverage report
FAILED: CMakeFiles/coverage /Users/clausklein/Workspace/cpp/cmake-init-shared-static/build/coverage/CMakeFiles/coverage 
cd /Users/clausklein/Workspace/cpp/cmake-init-shared-static/build/coverage && lcov -c -q -o /Users/clausklein/Workspace/cpp/cmake-init-shared-static/build/coverage/coverage.info -d /Users/clausklein/Workspace/cpp/cmake-init-shared-static/build/coverage --include "/Users/clausklein/Workspace/cpp/cmake-init-shared-static/*" && genhtml --legend -f -q /Users/clausklein/Workspace/cpp/cmake-init-shared-static/build/coverage/coverage.info -p /Users/clausklein/Workspace/cpp/cmake-init-shared-static -o /Users/clausklein/Workspace/cpp/cmake-init-shared-static/build/coverage/coverage_html
geninfo: ERROR: no .gcda files found in /Users/clausklein/Workspace/cpp/cmake-init-shared-static/build/coverage
	(use "geninfo --ignore-errors empty ..." to bypass this error)
[6/10] Building CXX object test/CMakeFiles/shared_test.dir/source/shared_test.cpp.o
ninja: build stopped: subcommand failed.
make: *** [coverage] Error 1
bash-5.2$
2

this works:
gmake -C build/coverage/ clean all test install -j 12
but this not:
ninja -C build/coverage/ clean all test install -j 12

3

How does the ninja build fail? Is there an associated error message?

4

Same result as with build preset.

test must depend from all
install must depend from all

It seems, that this is set for the generated makefiles.

5

Can you please provide a full example that demonstrates the problem? Stripping down the existing project may also find a chunk of logic that is associated with the behavior.

6

The cmake tutorial step 5 for example:

bash-5.2$ cmake  -B build-mk -S . -D CMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX=/tmp/test
-- The C compiler identification is Clang 17.0.6
-- The CXX compiler identification is Clang 17.0.6
-- Detecting C compiler ABI info
-- Detecting C compiler ABI info - done
-- Check for working C compiler: /usr/local/opt/llvm/bin/clang - skipped
-- Detecting C compile features
-- Detecting C compile features - done
-- Detecting CXX compiler ABI info
-- Detecting CXX compiler ABI info - done
-- Check for working CXX compiler: /usr/local/opt/llvm/bin/clang++ - skipped
-- Detecting CXX compile features
-- Detecting CXX compile features - done
-- Configuring done (2.1s)
-- Generating done (0.0s)
-- Build files have been written to: /Users/clausklein/Downloads/cmake/Help/guide/tutorial/Step5/build-mk
bash-5.2$ make -C build-mk all test install
[ 16%] Building CXX object MathFunctions/CMakeFiles/SqrtLibrary.dir/mysqrt.cxx.o
[ 33%] Linking CXX static library libSqrtLibrary.a
[ 33%] Built target SqrtLibrary
[ 50%] Building CXX object MathFunctions/CMakeFiles/MathFunctions.dir/MathFunctions.cxx.o
[ 66%] Linking CXX static library libMathFunctions.a
[ 66%] Built target MathFunctions
[ 83%] Building CXX object CMakeFiles/Tutorial.dir/tutorial.cxx.o
[100%] Linking CXX executable Tutorial
[100%] Built target Tutorial
Running tests...
Test project /Users/clausklein/Downloads/cmake/Help/guide/tutorial/Step5/build-mk
      Start  1: Runs
 1/10 Test  #1: Runs .............................   Passed    0.24 sec
      Start  2: Usage
 2/10 Test  #2: Usage ............................   Passed    0.00 sec
      Start  3: StandardUse
 3/10 Test  #3: StandardUse ......................   Passed    0.00 sec
      Start  4: Comp4
 4/10 Test  #4: Comp4 ............................   Passed    0.00 sec
      Start  5: Comp9
 5/10 Test  #5: Comp9 ............................   Passed    0.00 sec
      Start  6: Comp5
 6/10 Test  #6: Comp5 ............................   Passed    0.00 sec
      Start  7: Comp7
 7/10 Test  #7: Comp7 ............................   Passed    0.00 sec
      Start  8: Comp25
 8/10 Test  #8: Comp25 ...........................   Passed    0.00 sec
      Start  9: Comp-25
 9/10 Test  #9: Comp-25 ..........................   Passed    0.00 sec
      Start 10: Comp0.0001
10/10 Test #10: Comp0.0001 .......................   Passed    0.00 sec

100% tests passed, 0 tests failed out of 10

Total Test time (real) =   0.28 sec
Install the project...
-- Install configuration: ""
-- Installing: /tmp/test/lib/libMathFunctions.a
-- Installing: /tmp/test/lib/libSqrtLibrary.a
-- Installing: /tmp/test/include/MathFunctions.h
-- Installing: /tmp/test/bin/Tutorial
-- Installing: /tmp/test/include/TutorialConfig.h
bash-5.2$
7 
bash-5.2$ cmake -G Ninja -B build -S . -D CMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX=/tmp/test
-- Configuring done (0.1s)
-- Generating done (0.0s)
-- Build files have been written to: /Users/clausklein/Downloads/cmake/Help/guide/tutorial/Step5/build
bash-5.2$ ninja -C build all test install
ninja: Entering directory `build'
[0/4] Running tests...
Test project /Users/clausklein/Downloads/cmake/Help/guide/tutorial/Step5/build
    Start 1: Runs
Could not find executable /Users/clausklein/Downloads/cmake/Help/guide/tutorial/Step5/build/Tutorial
Looked in the following places:
/Users/clausklein/Downloads/cmake/Help/guide/tutorial/Step5/build/Tutorial
/Users/clausklein/Downloads/cmake/Help/guide/tutorial/Step5/build/Tutorial
/Users/clausklein/Downloads/cmake/Help/guide/tutorial/Step5/build/Release/Tutorial
/Users/clausklein/Downloads/cmake/Help/guide/tutorial/Step5/build/Release/Tutorial
/Users/clausklein/Downloads/cmake/Help/guide/tutorial/Step5/build/Debug/Tutorial
/Users/clausklein/Downloads/cmake/Help/guide/tutorial/Step5/build/Debug/Tutorial
/Users/clausklein/Downloads/cmake/Help/guide/tutorial/Step5/build/MinSizeRel/Tutorial
/Users/clausklein/Downloads/cmake/Help/guide/tutorial/Step5/build/MinSizeRel/Tutorial
/Users/clausklein/Downloads/cmake/Help/guide/tutorial/Step5/build/RelWithDebInfo/Tutorial
/Users/clausklein/Downloads/cmake/Help/guide/tutorial/Step5/build/RelWithDebInfo/Tutorial
/Users/clausklein/Downloads/cmake/Help/guide/tutorial/Step5/build/Deployment/Tutorial
/Users/clausklein/Downloads/cmake/Help/guide/tutorial/Step5/build/Deployment/Tutorial
/Users/clausklein/Downloads/cmake/Help/guide/tutorial/Step5/build/Development/Tutorial
/Users/clausklein/Downloads/cmake/Help/guide/tutorial/Step5/build/Development/Tutorial
Users/clausklein/Downloads/cmake/Help/guide/tutorial/Step5/build/Tutorial
Users/clausklein/Downloads/cmake/Help/guide/tutorial/Step5/build/Tutorial
Users/clausklein/Downloads/cmake/Help/guide/tutorial/Step5/build/Release/Tutorial
Users/clausklein/Downloads/cmake/Help/guide/tutorial/Step5/build/Release/Tutorial
Users/clausklein/Downloads/cmake/Help/guide/tutorial/Step5/build/Debug/Tutorial
Users/clausklein/Downloads/cmake/Help/guide/tutorial/Step5/build/Debug/Tutorial
Users/clausklein/Downloads/cmake/Help/guide/tutorial/Step5/build/MinSizeRel/Tutorial
Users/clausklein/Downloads/cmake/Help/guide/tutorial/Step5/build/MinSizeRel/Tutorial
Users/clausklein/Downloads/cmake/Help/guide/tutorial/Step5/build/RelWithDebInfo/Tutorial
Users/clausklein/Downloads/cmake/Help/guide/tutorial/Step5/build/RelWithDebInfo/Tutorial
Users/clausklein/Downloads/cmake/Help/guide/tutorial/Step5/build/Deployment/Tutorial
Users/clausklein/Downloads/cmake/Help/guide/tutorial/Step5/build/Deployment/Tutorial
Users/clausklein/Downloads/cmake/Help/guide/tutorial/Step5/build/Development/Tutorial
Users/clausklein/Downloads/cmake/Help/guide/tutorial/Step5/build/Development/Tutorial
Unable to find executable: /Users/clausklein/Downloads/cmake/Help/guide/tutorial/Step5/build/Tutorial
1/2 Test #1: Runs .............................***Not Run   0.00 sec
    Start 2: Usage
Could not find executable /Users/clausklein/Downloads/cmake/Help/guide/tutorial/Step5/build/Tutorial
Looked in the following places:
/Users/clausklein/Downloads/cmake/Help/guide/tutorial/Step5/build/Tutorial
/Users/clausklein/Downloads/cmake/Help/guide/tutorial/Step5/build/Tutorial
/Users/clausklein/Downloads/cmake/Help/guide/tutorial/Step5/build/Release/Tutorial
/Users/clausklein/Downloads/cmake/Help/guide/tutorial/Step5/build/Release/Tutorial
/Users/clausklein/Downloads/cmake/Help/guide/tutorial/Step5/build/Debug/Tutorial
/Users/clausklein/Downloads/cmake/Help/guide/tutorial/Step5/build/Debug/Tutorial
/Users/clausklein/Downloads/cmake/Help/guide/tutorial/Step5/build/MinSizeRel/Tutorial
/Users/clausklein/Downloads/cmake/Help/guide/tutorial/Step5/build/MinSizeRel/Tutorial
/Users/clausklein/Downloads/cmake/Help/guide/tutorial/Step5/build/RelWithDebInfo/Tutorial
/Users/clausklein/Downloads/cmake/Help/guide/tutorial/Step5/build/RelWithDebInfo/Tutorial
/Users/clausklein/Downloads/cmake/Help/guide/tutorial/Step5/build/Deployment/Tutorial
/Users/clausklein/Downloads/cmake/Help/guide/tutorial/Step5/build/Deployment/Tutorial
/Users/clausklein/Downloads/cmake/Help/guide/tutorial/Step5/build/Development/Tutorial
/Users/clausklein/Downloads/cmake/Help/guide/tutorial/Step5/build/Development/Tutorial
Users/clausklein/Downloads/cmake/Help/guide/tutorial/Step5/build/Tutorial
Users/clausklein/Downloads/cmake/Help/guide/tutorial/Step5/build/Tutorial
Users/clausklein/Downloads/cmake/Help/guide/tutorial/Step5/build/Release/Tutorial
Users/clausklein/Downloads/cmake/Help/guide/tutorial/Step5/build/Release/Tutorial
Users/clausklein/Downloads/cmake/Help/guide/tutorial/Step5/build/Debug/Tutorial
Users/clausklein/Downloads/cmake/Help/guide/tutorial/Step5/build/Debug/Tutorial
Users/clausklein/Downloads/cmake/Help/guide/tutorial/Step5/build/MinSizeRel/Tutorial
Users/clausklein/Downloads/cmake/Help/guide/tutorial/Step5/build/MinSizeRel/Tutorial
Users/clausklein/Downloads/cmake/Help/guide/tutorial/Step5/build/RelWithDebInfo/Tutorial
Users/clausklein/Downloads/cmake/Help/guide/tutorial/Step5/build/RelWithDebInfo/Tutorial
Users/clausklein/Downloads/cmake/Help/guide/tutorial/Step5/build/Deployment/Tutorial
Users/clausklein/Downloads/cmake/Help/guide/tutorial/Step5/build/Deployment/Tutorial
Users/clausklein/Downloads/cmake/Help/guide/tutorial/Step5/build/Development/Tutorial
Users/clausklein/Downloads/cmake/Help/guide/tutorial/Step5/build/Development/Tutorial
Unable to find executable: /Users/clausklein/Downloads/cmake/Help/guide/tutorial/Step5/build/Tutorial
2/2 Test #2: Usage ............................***Not Run   0.00 sec

0% tests passed, 2 tests failed out of 2

Total Test time (real) =   0.01 sec

The following tests FAILED:
	  1 - Runs (Not Run)
	  2 - Usage (Not Run)
Errors while running CTest
Output from these tests are in: /Users/clausklein/Downloads/cmake/Help/guide/tutorial/Step5/build/Testing/Temporary/LastTest.log
Use "--rerun-failed --output-on-failure" to re-run the failed cases verbosely.
[0/4] Linking CXX static library MathFunctions/libMathFunctions.a
FAILED: CMakeFiles/test.util 
cd /Users/clausklein/Downloads/cmake/Help/guide/tutorial/Step5/build && /usr/local/bin/ctest --force-new-ctest-process
[2/4] Linking CXX static library MathFunctions/libMathFunctions.a
ninja: build stopped: subcommand failed.
bash-5.2$