[Bug] CMAKE_MAKE_PROGRAM is not updated when switching generator to Ninja (uses stale value)

[kodsingalur-star]

Brief Issue Summary

When switching the generator to Ninja and updating CMAKE_MAKE_PROGRAM accordingly, CMake Tools still invokes CMake with a stale make value.

This results in a broken configuration where Ninja is selected as the generator, but GNU Make is used as the make program.

Steps to Reproduce

1. Open the attached project in Visual Studio Code
2. Run CMake: Configure (build)
3. Delete the build directory (out)
4. Close and open VS Code
5. Edit CMakePresets.json:
   Change generator to "Ninja"
   Save the file
6. Edit CMakeUserPresets.json:
   Set:

"cacheVariables": {
  "CMAKE_MAKE_PROGRAM": "ninja"
}

Save the file
7) Run CMake: Configure

Actual Behavior

CMake is invoked with:

-DCMAKE_MAKE_PROGRAM=make
-G Ninja

This causes the configuration to fail because GNU Make is incorrectly used as the Ninja executable.

Workaround
Restart VS Code

Possible solution
A colleague of mine investigated the issue deeper:
CMakeProject.getCMakeDriverInstance sets drv.onCodeModelChanged.

vscode-cmake-tools/src/cmakeProject.ts

Line 1513 in 7138e9e

this.codeModelDriverSub = drv.onCodeModelChanged(cm => this._codeModelContent.set(cm));

But CMakeProject.reloadCMakeDriver does not.

vscode-cmake-tools/src/cmakeProject.ts

Line 1249 in 7138e9e

private async reloadCMakeDriver() {

One possible solution to this problem is to move the event binding

if (this.codeModelDriverSub) {
    this.codeModelDriverSub.dispose();
}
this.codeModelDriverSub = drv.onCodeModelChanged(cm => this._codeModelContent.set(cm));

from getCMakeDriverInstance into startNewCMakeDriver

CMake Tools Diagnostics

{
  "os": "linux",
  "vscodeVersion": "1.114.0",
  "cmtVersion": "1.22.28",
  "configurations": [
    {
      "folder": "/home/codasip.com/adam.bartos/codasip/workspaces/cmake",
      "cmakeVersion": "3.26.5",
      "configured": true,
      "generator": "Ninja",
      "usesPresets": true,
      "compilers": {}
    }
  ],
  "cpptoolsIntegration": {
    "isReady": false,
    "hasCodeModel": false,
    "activeBuildType": "",
    "buildTypesSeen": [],
    "requests": [],
    "responses": [],
    "partialMatches": [],
    "targetCount": 0,
    "executablesCount": 0,
    "librariesCount": 0,
    "targets": []
  },
  "settings": [
    {
      "communicationMode": "automatic",
      "useCMakePresets": "auto",
      "configureOnOpen": false
    }
  ]
}

Debug Log

[bookmarks] Loaded 0 bookmarks
[proc] Executing command: /usr/bin/cmake --version
[proc] Executing command: /usr/bin/cmake -E capabilities
[main] Safe constructing new CMakeProject instance
[variant] Constructing VariantManager
[main] Constructing new CMakeProject instance
[main] Starting CMake Tools second-phase init
[expand] expanded ${workspaceFolder}
[kit] Reading kits file /home/codasip.com/adam.bartos/.local/share/CMakeTools/cmake-tools-kits.json
[kit] Successfully loaded 1 kits from /home/codasip.com/adam.bartos/.local/share/CMakeTools/cmake-tools-kits.json
[kit] Not reading non-existent kits file: /home/codasip.com/adam.bartos/codasip/workspaces/cmake/.vscode/cmake-kits.json
[presetController] Reading presets file /home/codasip.com/adam.bartos/codasip/workspaces/cmake/CMakePresets.json
[presetController] Reading and validating the presets file "/home/codasip.com/adam.bartos/codasip/workspaces/cmake/CMakePresets.json"
[presetController] Successfully validated /home/codasip.com/adam.bartos/codasip/workspaces/cmake/CMakePresets.json against presets schema
[proc] Executing command: uname -s
[presetController] Expanding presets file /home/codasip.com/adam.bartos/codasip/workspaces/cmake/CMakePresets.json
[preset] Configure preset _build: No binaryDir specified, using default value "${sourceDir}/out/build/${presetName}"
[expand] expanded ${sourceDir}/out/build/${presetName}
[presetController] Successfully expanded presets file /home/codasip.com/adam.bartos/codasip/workspaces/cmake/CMakePresets.json
[presetController] Reading presets file /home/codasip.com/adam.bartos/codasip/workspaces/cmake/CMakeUserPresets.json
[presetController] Reading and validating the presets file "/home/codasip.com/adam.bartos/codasip/workspaces/cmake/CMakeUserPresets.json"
[presetController] Successfully validated /home/codasip.com/adam.bartos/codasip/workspaces/cmake/CMakeUserPresets.json against presets schema
[presetController] Expanding presets file /home/codasip.com/adam.bartos/codasip/workspaces/cmake/CMakeUserPresets.json
[presetController] Successfully expanded presets file /home/codasip.com/adam.bartos/codasip/workspaces/cmake/CMakeUserPresets.json
[main] Resolving the selected configure preset
[preset] Configure preset build: No binaryDir specified, using default value "${sourceDir}/out/build/${presetName}"
[expand] expanded ${sourceDir}/out/build/${presetName}
[main] Loading new configure preset into CMake driver
[main] Resolving the selected build preset
[main] Loading new build preset into CMake driver
[main] Resolving the selected test preset
[main] Resolving the selected test preset
[main] Loading new test preset into CMake driver
[main] Resolving the selected package preset
[main] Resolving the selected package preset
[main] Loading new package preset into CMake driver
[main] Resolving the selected workflow preset
[main] Resolving the selected workflow preset
[preset] Configure preset build: No binaryDir specified, using default value "${sourceDir}/out/build/${presetName}"
[expand] expanded ${sourceDir}/out/build/${presetName}
[main] Loading new workflow preset into CMake driver
[main] CMakeProject instance initialization complete.
[extension] Attempting to use cache to configure workspace file:///home/codasip.com/adam.bartos/codasip/workspaces/cmake
[main] Starting new CMake driver
[main] Starting CMake driver
[cmakefileapi-driver] Creating instance of CMakeFileApiDriver
[driver] Initializing base driver using preset
[driver] CMakeDriver configure preset set to build
[driver] CMakeDriver build preset set to __defaultBuildPreset__
[driver] CMakeDriver test preset set to __defaultTestPreset__
[driver] CMakeDriver package preset set to __defaultPackagePreset__
[driver] CMakeDriver workflow preset set to __defaultWorkflowPreset__
[main] Unable to configure with existing cache
[presetController] Reading presets file /home/codasip.com/adam.bartos/codasip/workspaces/cmake/CMakePresets.json
[presetController] Reading and validating the presets file "/home/codasip.com/adam.bartos/codasip/workspaces/cmake/CMakePresets.json"
[presetController] Successfully validated /home/codasip.com/adam.bartos/codasip/workspaces/cmake/CMakePresets.json against presets schema
[presetController] Expanding presets file /home/codasip.com/adam.bartos/codasip/workspaces/cmake/CMakePresets.json
[preset] Configure preset _build: No binaryDir specified, using default value "${sourceDir}/out/build/${presetName}"
[expand] expanded ${sourceDir}/out/build/${presetName}
[presetController] Successfully expanded presets file /home/codasip.com/adam.bartos/codasip/workspaces/cmake/CMakePresets.json
[presetController] Reading presets file /home/codasip.com/adam.bartos/codasip/workspaces/cmake/CMakeUserPresets.json
[presetController] Reading and validating the presets file "/home/codasip.com/adam.bartos/codasip/workspaces/cmake/CMakeUserPresets.json"
[presetController] Successfully validated /home/codasip.com/adam.bartos/codasip/workspaces/cmake/CMakeUserPresets.json against presets schema
[presetController] Expanding presets file /home/codasip.com/adam.bartos/codasip/workspaces/cmake/CMakeUserPresets.json
[presetController] Successfully expanded presets file /home/codasip.com/adam.bartos/codasip/workspaces/cmake/CMakeUserPresets.json
[main] Resolving the selected configure preset
[preset] Configure preset build: No binaryDir specified, using default value "${sourceDir}/out/build/${presetName}"
[expand] expanded ${sourceDir}/out/build/${presetName}
[main] Shutting down CMake driver
[main] Loading new configure preset into CMake driver
[driver] Switching to configure preset: build
[preset] Need clean: configure preset changed
[driver] CMakeDriver configure preset set to build
[main] Resolving the selected build preset
[main] Loading new build preset into CMake driver
[main] Resolving the selected test preset
[main] Resolving the selected test preset
[main] Loading new test preset into CMake driver
[main] Resolving the selected package preset
[main] Resolving the selected package preset
[main] Loading new package preset into CMake driver
[main] Resolving the selected workflow preset
[main] Resolving the selected workflow preset
[preset] Configure preset build: No binaryDir specified, using default value "${sourceDir}/out/build/${presetName}"
[expand] expanded ${sourceDir}/out/build/${presetName}
[main] Loading new workflow preset into CMake driver
[presetController] Reading presets file /home/codasip.com/adam.bartos/codasip/workspaces/cmake/CMakePresets.json
[presetController] Reading and validating the presets file "/home/codasip.com/adam.bartos/codasip/workspaces/cmake/CMakePresets.json"
[presetController] Successfully validated /home/codasip.com/adam.bartos/codasip/workspaces/cmake/CMakePresets.json against presets schema
[presetController] Expanding presets file /home/codasip.com/adam.bartos/codasip/workspaces/cmake/CMakePresets.json
[preset] Configure preset _build: No binaryDir specified, using default value "${sourceDir}/out/build/${presetName}"
[expand] expanded ${sourceDir}/out/build/${presetName}
[presetController] Successfully expanded presets file /home/codasip.com/adam.bartos/codasip/workspaces/cmake/CMakePresets.json
[presetController] Reading presets file /home/codasip.com/adam.bartos/codasip/workspaces/cmake/CMakeUserPresets.json
[presetController] Reading and validating the presets file "/home/codasip.com/adam.bartos/codasip/workspaces/cmake/CMakeUserPresets.json"
[presetController] Successfully validated /home/codasip.com/adam.bartos/codasip/workspaces/cmake/CMakeUserPresets.json against presets schema
[presetController] Expanding presets file /home/codasip.com/adam.bartos/codasip/workspaces/cmake/CMakeUserPresets.json
[presetController] Successfully expanded presets file /home/codasip.com/adam.bartos/codasip/workspaces/cmake/CMakeUserPresets.json
[main] Resolving the selected configure preset
[preset] Configure preset build: No binaryDir specified, using default value "${sourceDir}/out/build/${presetName}"
[expand] expanded ${sourceDir}/out/build/${presetName}
[main] Starting new CMake driver
[main] Starting CMake driver
[cmakefileapi-driver] Creating instance of CMakeFileApiDriver
[driver] Initializing base driver using preset
[driver] CMakeDriver configure preset set to build
[driver] CMakeDriver build preset set to __defaultBuildPreset__
[driver] CMakeDriver test preset set to __defaultTestPreset__
[driver] CMakeDriver package preset set to __defaultPackagePreset__
[driver] CMakeDriver workflow preset set to __defaultWorkflowPreset__
[main] Loading new configure preset into CMake driver
[main] Resolving the selected build preset
[main] Loading new build preset into CMake driver
[driver] Switching to build preset: __defaultBuildPreset__
[driver] CMakeDriver build preset set to __defaultBuildPreset__
[main] Resolving the selected test preset
[main] Resolving the selected test preset
[main] Loading new test preset into CMake driver
[driver] Switching to test preset: __defaultTestPreset__
[driver] CMakeDriver test preset set to __defaultTestPreset__
[main] Resolving the selected package preset
[main] Resolving the selected package preset
[main] Loading new package preset into CMake driver
[driver] Switching to package preset: __defaultPackagePreset__
[driver] CMakeDriver package preset set to __defaultPackagePreset__
[main] Resolving the selected workflow preset
[main] Resolving the selected workflow preset
[preset] Configure preset build: No binaryDir specified, using default value "${sourceDir}/out/build/${presetName}"
[expand] expanded ${sourceDir}/out/build/${presetName}
[main] Loading new workflow preset into CMake driver
[driver] Switching to workflow preset: __defaultWorkflowPreset__
[driver] CMakeDriver workflow preset set to __defaultWorkflowPreset__
[extension] [1607] cmake.configure started
[main] Configuring project: cmake 
[main] Saving open files before configure/build
[driver] Start configure 
[driver] Running pre-configure checks and steps
[cmakefileapi-driver] Configuring using preset
[cmakefileapi-driver] Invoking CMake /usr/bin/cmake with arguments ["-DCMAKE_MAKE_PROGRAM=make","-S","/home/codasip.com/adam.bartos/codasip/workspaces/cmake","-B","/home/codasip.com/adam.bartos/codasip/workspaces/cmake/out/build/build","-G","Ninja"]
[proc] Executing command: /usr/bin/cmake -DCMAKE_MAKE_PROGRAM=make -S /home/codasip.com/adam.bartos/codasip/workspaces/cmake -B /home/codasip.com/adam.bartos/codasip/workspaces/cmake/out/build/build -G Ninja
[cmake] -- The C compiler identification is GNU 8.5.0
[cmake] -- The CXX compiler identification is GNU 8.5.0
[cmake] -- Detecting C compiler ABI info
[cmake] CMake Error:
[cmake]   The detected version of Ninja (GNU Make 4.2.1
[cmake] 
[cmake]   Built for x86_64-redhat-linux-gnu
[cmake] 
[cmake]   Copyright (C) 1988-2016 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
[cmake] 
[cmake]   License GPLv3+: GNU GPL version 3 or later
[cmake]   <http://gnu.org/licenses/gpl.html>
[cmake] 
[cmake]   This is free software: you are free to change and redistribute it.
[cmake] 
[cmake]   There is NO WARRANTY, to the extent permitted by law.) is less than the
[cmake]   version of Ninja required by CMake (1.3).
[cmake] 
[cmake] 
[cmake] CMake Error at /usr/share/cmake/Modules/CMakeDetermineCompilerABI.cmake:57 (try_compile):
[cmake]   Failed to generate test project build system.
[cmake] Call Stack (most recent call first):
[cmake]   /usr/share/cmake/Modules/CMakeTestCCompiler.cmake:26 (CMAKE_DETERMINE_COMPILER_ABI)
[cmake]   CMakeLists.txt:2 (project)
[cmake] 
[cmake] 
[cmake] -- Configuring incomplete, errors occurred!
[proc] The command: /usr/bin/cmake -DCMAKE_MAKE_PROGRAM=make -S /home/codasip.com/adam.bartos/codasip/workspaces/cmake -B /home/codasip.com/adam.bartos/codasip/workspaces/cmake/out/build/build -G Ninja exited with code: 1
[extension] [1607] cmake.configure finished (returned 1)

Additional Information

cmake.zip

[yanghhhhhhh]

Hi, thank you for reporting this issue. We tried to check this issue on Visual Studio Code v1.114.0 + CMake Tools v1.22.28. But we can't reproduce this issue. Could you help to take a look at it? If we missed something, please let us know. Thanks.

Screencast.from.2026-04-07.15-31-22.webm

[kodsingalur-star]

Hi,
thanks for the quick response. I have no idea why it doesn't happen on your end.
But I believe I have found other symptoms of the same bug, so this might be something you will be able to reproduce:

1. open same project
2. configure
3. change generator to Ninja and CMAKE_MAKE_PROGRAM to ninja
4. add add_executable(main2 main.c) to CMakeLists.txt
5. check PROJECT OUTLINE - it is missing the second executable.

[yanghhhhhhh]

@kodsingalur-star Thank you for your reply. We were able to reproduce the issue after uninstalling the C/C++ extension. Please refer to this video. Could you try installing the C/C++ extension and recheck the issue? If we’ve missed anything, please let us know. Thank you.

Screencast.from.2026-04-08.17-31-47.webm

[kodsingalur-star]

I confirm that after installing the C/C++ extension it is working fine.

BTW, I found a way to break it even with an extension:

1. set both presets to ninja and configure
2. change workspace setting "cmake.generator" to "Ninja"
3. add executable to CMakeLists.txt and check PROJECT OUTLINE

[yanghhhhhhh]

Hi @kodsingalur-star , thanks for reporting issue here!
We can reproduce this issue on Visual Studio Code v1.114.0 + CMake Tools v1.22.28 release version.

1. If the C/C++ extension is not installed, we can reproduce the issue by following the steps 1 and steps 2.

Screencast.from.2026-04-08.17-31-47.webm

2. If the C/C++ extension is installed, we can reproduce the issue by following the steps 3.

Screencast.from.2026-04-09.09-24-32.webm

FYI: @gcampbell-msft