CDT/Developer/FAQ

General

Is it fun writing code for the CDT?

You betcha! And the Eclipse SDK is such a great environment to work in. We've pumped out quality code by the boat load without a lot of effort.

• Before you contribute, try reading Code like you won't be there tomorrow

Getting the source

How can I contribute to CDT?

See 'Getting started with CDT development', 'CDT/contributing', 'CDT/git'

• EGit/User_Guide contains the egit documentation and information on getting started with git.
• Git for Committers details using git in the Eclipse development process. This document describes how to use git to maintain your own development lines and use the tools to generate patches for upstream submission.

Release Engineering

Where can I get the latest builds?

We have a build machine, cdt.eclipse.org, that we use for our builds. You can access them from the builds section on its home page. You can also generate your own builds by checking out the CDT out of CVS and using the Export -> Deployable Feature menu item provided by the PDE.

Extending CDT

Besides these FAQ, you may also see Common code snippet

How can I programmatically create a new CDT project?

Check out those:

• ResourceHelper.createCDTProject(...) in plugin org.eclipse.cdt.core.tests
• ManagedBuildTestHelper.createProject(...) in org.eclipse.cdt.managedbuilder.core.tests
• BuildSystemTestHelper.createProject(...) in org.eclipse.cdt.managedbuilder.core.tests
• CProjectDescriptionSerializationTests in org.eclipse.cdt.managedbuilder.core.tests

They sport a few flavors of creating CDT projects.

How to substitute build variables in a string?

You could use CdtVariableManager which will resolve environment variables, build variables and eclipse variables:

	ICdtVariableManager varManager = CCorePlugin.getDefault().getCdtVariableManager();
	String resolvedValue = varManager.resolveValue(value, "", null, cfgDescription);

How can I programmatically set an option in the project settings?

Moved here: Code Snippets

How do I contribute Include/Library paths or Macros to a project configuration using LanguageSettingsProvider extension point?

1. Implement interface ILanguageSettingsProvider in your plugin. Most commonly:
   • If you need to parse build output - extend AbstractBuildCommandParser (or even GCCBuildCommandParser);
   • If you need to run external program, perhaps on some event, and parse its output - extend ToolchainBuiltinSpecsDetector (or AbstractBuiltinSpecsDetector);
   • If you need a simple one just to persist the entries (and optionally edit them) - use LanguageSettingsGenericProvider. Typically there is no need to extend it, just use this class. If you really really need to extend - copy its implementation and start with that;
   • for special logic that does not fit above - extend LanguageSettingsBaseProvider.
2. Add extension of org.eclipse.cdt.core.LanguageSettingsProvider extension point and specify your provider in "class" attribute.
3. In order to get providers created for new projects with New Project Wizard - use org.eclipse.cdt.managedbuilder.core.buildDefinitions extension point to associate the provider with your project type. Specify attribute "languageSettingsProviders" for element "configuration" or "toolchain". There is a brief description in the extension point schema which may be useful.
4. There is one more extension point org.eclipse.cdt.ui.LanguageSettingsProviderAssociation. You can define there a custom icon, allow or disallow editing in UI and provide a custom page for editing options in Options pane.

For more details see JavaDoc for ILanguageSettingsProvider and other classes. There is a number of providers implemented that way in CDT. Search plugin.xml files to find out how extensions of org.eclipse.cdt.core.LanguageSettingsProvider extension point are implemented.

How to add new make targets in the "Make Target" view?

Something like that could do the trick:

	IMakeTargetManager manager = MakeCorePlugin.getDefault().getTargetManager();
	String[] ids = manager.getTargetBuilders(project);
	IMakeTarget target = manager.createTarget(project, "name", ids[0]);
	target.setStopOnError(false);
	target.setRunAllBuilders(false);
	target.setUseDefaultBuildCmd(true);
	target.setBuildAttribute(IMakeCommonBuildInfo.BUILD_COMMAND, "make");
	target.setBuildAttribute(IMakeTarget.BUILD_LOCATION, "/build/location");
	target.setBuildAttribute(IMakeTarget.BUILD_ARGUMENTS, "args");
	target.setBuildAttribute(IMakeTarget.BUILD_TARGET, "target");
	manager.addTarget(container, target);

container here is a subfolder in the project where you wish to place the target.

I developed my own property page but my changes to configuration description are not being saved or being reversed. They are only saved if Cancel button is pressed? It's puzzling.

This happens because when user opens project properties CDT gets its own writeable configuration description to work with. If you get your own copy after that and save it it is going to be overwritten by that CDT configuration when user uses Apply or OK buttons. You need to apply your changes to that CDT configuration. You can get hold of it using call getResDesc() provided that your page extends AbstractCPropertyTab.

Writing to a Console in Eclipse

See solution based on MessageConsole

Am I headless?

See solution based on Platform & PlatformUI

Hints

Can I find a method declare when my mouse point to a method for the CDT?

If you have a method selected in the Editor, pressing F3 will take you to the declaration (i.e. the prototype) and Ctrl-F3 with take you to the definition (i.e. the body). Both options are also available from the Context menu.

More?

• Code Snippets Snippets of code that are useful for cdt development.
• CDT User FAQ answers many more questions in the section "Working on the CDT".
• Andras Varga's CDT Developers FAQ - unofficial but actually more solid FAQ.
• CDT Wiki page provides assorted collection of links.