---
title: cmake_generate
description: Generate a project build system with managed CMake.
---

# `cmake_generate`

`cmake_generate` configures a CMake project with the managed CMake installation. Generation runs during `xx run`; pass the returned dependency to [`cmake_build`](cmake_build.md) or other tasks that need the generated build system.

## Arguments

| Argument | Required | Description |
| --- | --- | --- |
| `root` | No | Project-relative directory containing `CMakeLists.txt`. Defaults to `"."`. |
| `build_dir` | No | Project-relative build directory. Defaults to `"build"`. |
| `generator` | No | Generator passed with `-G`, such as `"Ninja"`. |
| `platform` | No | Generator platform passed with `-A`, such as `"x64"` for Visual Studio. |
| `toolset` | No | Generator toolset passed with `-T`. |
| `toolchain` | No | Project-relative toolchain file assigned to `CMAKE_TOOLCHAIN_FILE`. |
| `build_type` | No | Value assigned to `CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE`, such as `"Release"`. |
| `definitions` | No | String cache variables passed as `-D<name>=<value>`. Defaults to `{}`. |
| `flags` | No | Additional generation-safe diagnostic or cache-maintenance flags. Defaults to `[]`. |
| `deps` | No | Dependencies activated before generation, in list order. Defaults to `[]`. |

The managed CMake installation is automatic; do not add `cmake` to `deps`. The project root, build directory, and toolchain must remain inside the project after symbolic links are resolved. Missing build directories are created. A build directory cannot overlap another task's output.

xx hashes the generation options, selected CMake version, and activated virtual environment. Virtual-environment hashes exclude volatile `TMPDIR`, `TEMP`, and `TMP` values. Generation passes this digest to CMake as the internal `XX_CMAKE_GENERATION_HASH` cache entry and records successful requests in the build directory. A matching successful request skips explicit generation; the generated build system remains responsible for detecting changed CMake inputs and regenerating itself when built. Requests with `flags` always run so explicit diagnostics and cache maintenance preserve their per-invocation behavior.

`build_type` and `toolchain` are portable conveniences for their matching cache variables. Do not also set `CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE` or `CMAKE_TOOLCHAIN_FILE` in `definitions` when using those arguments.

`flags` accepts `--fresh`, `-W...`, `-U...`, logging, debug, tracing, and warning-control configure options that do not select another output file. Every item must be a self-contained argument, using `--option=value` when a value is needed. Mode-changing options and `-D`, `-S`, and `-B` are rejected; use the corresponding function arguments instead.

## Example

```starlark
load("@cmake@4.1.0", "cmake_build", "cmake_generate")
load("@ninja@1.13.1", "ninja")

configure = cmake_generate(
    generator="Ninja",
    build_type="Release",
    definitions={
        "BUILD_TESTING": "OFF",
    },
    deps=[ninja],
)
cmake_build(configure)
```

This is equivalent to running CMake with `-S .`, `-B build`, the selected generator, and the listed cache definitions.

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