[CMake] CMake could really use a debugger...

[Robert Dailey]

That's the thing that has the "Returning to" and "Entering" messages right?
If it is, that's somewhat helpful but not anywhere near what I'm asking for.
Think of how visual studio debugs C++ code. That's exactly the most optimal
debugging method I would like to see for CMake. Here's a couple of
abilities/features I expect:

   - The ability to view the values of variables dynamically. In other
   words, as I step through code and the variable's value changes, I want to
   see the values change in real-time, just like Visual Studio's Watch window.
   - I want to be able to pause at each line of CMake code as it is
   executing to evaluate the state of the application. I should be able to
   press a key (like F10) in whatever debugger I'm using to progress to the
   next line.

I'm guessing such a thing does not exist. In addition, if CMake.exe does not
provide a way to step through the code and view variable values dynamically,
no such tool can be made for it. CMake has to support the required hooks.

On Thu, Apr 2, 2009 at 11:42 AM, Bill Hoffman <bill.hoffman at kitware.com>wrote:

> Robert Dailey wrote:
>
>> I can't tell you how hard it is to hunt down strange behavior in CMake.
>> Often times I would save myself 30 minutes of time on each of the hard bug
>> fixes if I could just step through each line of logic as it was being
>> executed and view the values of variables in a "watch" window of some sort.
>>
>> Does anyone know if such a CMake debugger exists? If not, are there plans
>> to make one officially by the CMake team or some third party?
>>
>>
>>  Have you tried: cmake --trace
>
> -Bill
>
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