Technology1 min read

Chris Wellons

By · Published by Everything Blog

In short

This feature, introduced in version 3.27 of CMake (July 2023), enables users to start, stop, step, and query variables in real-time using a live CMake environment. Wellons quickly developed a prototype of a GUI application called dcmake, which he tested on macOS, Windows, and Linux. Prior to 2026, Wellons estimates it would have taken him a month to achieve the same level of functionality.

Key points

  • This feature, introduced in version 3.27 of CMake (July 2023), enables users to start, st…: This feature, introduced in version 3.27 of CMake (July 2023), enables users to start, stop, step, and query variables in real-time using a live CMake environment.
  • Wellons quickly developed a prototype of a GUI application called dcmake, which he tested…: Wellons quickly developed a prototype of a GUI application called dcmake, which he tested on macOS, Windows, and Linux.
  • Prior to 2026, Wellons estimates it would have taken him a month to achieve the same leve…: Prior to 2026, Wellons estimates it would have taken him a month to achieve the same level of functionality.

CMake has a --debugger

mode since 3.27 (July 2023),

allowing software to manipulate it interactively through the Debugger

Adaptor Protocol (DAP), an HTTP-like protocol passing JSON messages.

Debugger front-ends can start, stop, step, breakpoint, query variables,

etc. a live CMake. When I came across this mode, I immediately conceived a

project putting it to use. Thanks to recent leaps in software engineering

productivity, I had a working prototype in 30 minutes, and by the

end of that same day, a complete, multi-platform, native, GUI application.

I named it dcmake (“debugger for CMake”). I’ve tested it on macOS,

Windows, and Linux. Despite only being couple days old, it’s one of the

coolest things I’ve ever built. Prior to 2026, I estimate it would have

taken me a month to get the tool to this point.

Original source: nullprogram.com

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