Using local makefile for CLion instead of CMake

While this is one of the most voted feature requests, there is one plugin available, by Victor Kropp, that adds support to makefiles:

Makefile support plugin for IntelliJ IDEA

Install

You can install directly from the official repository:

Settings > Plugins > search for makefile > Search in repositories > Install > Restart

Use

There are at least three different ways to run:

  1. Right click on a makefile and select Run
  2. Have the makefile open in the editor, put the cursor over one target (anywhere on the line), hit alt + enter, then select make target
  3. Hit ctrl/cmd + shift + F10 on a target (although this one didn't work for me on a mac).

It opens a pane named Run target with the output.


Newest version has better support literally for any generated Makefiles, through the compiledb

Three steps:

  1. install compiledb

    pip install compiledb

  2. run a dry make

    compiledb -n make

    (do the autogen, configure if needed)

  3. there will be a compile_commands.json file generated open the project and you will see CLion will load info from the json file. If you your CLion still try to find CMakeLists.txt and cannot read compile_commands.json, try to remove the entire folder, re-download the source files, and redo step 1,2,3

Orignal post: Working with Makefiles in CLion using Compilation DB


Update: If you are using CLion 2020.2, then it already supports Makefiles. If you are using an older version, read on.

Even though currently only CMake is supported, you can instruct CMake to call make with your custom Makefile. Edit your CMakeLists.txt adding one of these two commands:

  • add_custom_target
  • add_custom_command

When you tell CLion to run your program, it will try to find an executable with the same name of the target in the directory pointed by PROJECT_BINARY_DIR. So as long as your make generates the file where CLion expects, there will be no problem.

Here is a working example:

Tell CLion to pass its $(PROJECT_BINARY_DIR) to make

This is the sample CMakeLists.txt:

cmake_minimum_required(VERSION 2.8.4)
project(mytest)

set(CMAKE_CXX_FLAGS "${CMAKE_CXX_FLAGS} -std=c++11")

add_custom_target(mytest COMMAND make -C ${mytest_SOURCE_DIR}
                         CLION_EXE_DIR=${PROJECT_BINARY_DIR})

Tell make to generate the executable in CLion's directory

This is the sample Makefile:

all:
    echo Compiling $(CLION_EXE_DIR)/$@ ...
    g++ mytest.cpp -o $(CLION_EXE_DIR)/mytest

That is all, you may also want to change your program's working directory so it executes as it is when you run make from inside your directory. For this edit: Run -> Edit Configurations ... -> mytest -> Working directory


To totally avoid using CMAKE, you can simply:

  1. Build your project as you normally with Make through the terminal.

  2. Change your CLion configurations, go to (in top bar) :
    Run -> Edit Configurations -> yourProjectFolder

  3. Change the Executable to the one generated with Make

  4. Change the Working directory to the folder holding your executable (if needed)

  5. Remove the Build task in the Before launch:Activate tool window box

And you're all set! You can now use the debug button after your manual build.

Tags:

Makefile

Clion

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