This issue is a documentation request, rather than having to perform trial and error, users would like better docs on where these things can be used in our extension.
Originally posted by **HofiOne** October 12, 2023
Hi,
I'm trying to use [CMake kits](https://github.com/microsoft/vscode-cmake-tools/blob/0378fdc4a409c63cfb92824f39fe3c23c9d5e0d0/docs/kits.md#cmake-kits) related variables mentioned in [Configure CMake Tools settings](https://github.com/microsoft/vscode-cmake-tools/blob/0378fdc4a409c63cfb92824f39fe3c23c9d5e0d0/docs/cmake-settings.md#configure-cmake-tools-settings) in my tasks.json and settings.json, but seems they are not really defined (yet?) when referencing them.
As I understood, the simplest test case should work also, e.g. when I echo the content of the variables from a simple task
```
{
"label": "echo",
"type": "shell",
"command": "echo ${buildKit}, ${generator}, ${workspaceRoot}"
},
```
but using the above test task.json when invoking the `echo` task it prints only the value of the ${workspaceRoot} variable (that I guess comes from the globally defined VSCode variable, not from the CMake Tools defined set)
I also tried it in my `settings.json`
[Configure CMake Tools settings](https://github.com/microsoft/vscode-cmake-tools/blob/0378fdc4a409c63cfb92824f39fe3c23c9d5e0d0/docs/cmake-settings.md#configure-cmake-tools-settings) mentions that e.g. `cmake.configureArgs` supports substitution, but it seems not to be working either, e.g. having this
```
cmake.configureArgs": [
"-DCMAKE_C_COMPILER=${buildKitVendor}",
"-DCMAKE_CXX_COMPILER:FILEPATH=${command:cmake.buildKit}",
],
```
in my `settings.json`, and having this
```
{
"label": "CMakeConfigureTaskWorker",
"type": "process",
"command": "${env:SHELL}",
"args": [
"-c",
{
"value": "\"${config:cmake.cmakePath}\" --install-prefix \"${config:cmake.installPrefix}\" -S\"${workspaceFolder}\" -B\"${config:cmake.buildDirectory}\" -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE:STRING=${command:cmake.buildType} ${config:cmake.configureArgs} -G \"Unix Makefiles\" ",
"quoting": "strong"
}
],
```
in my tasks.json does not contain the proper value in the expanded `${config:cmake.configureArgs}`
Where can I reference the [Configure CMake Tools settings](https://github.com/microsoft/vscode-cmake-tools/blob/0378fdc4a409c63cfb92824f39fe3c23c9d5e0d0/docs/cmake-settings.md#configure-cmake-tools-settings) variables exactly?
TIA!
p.s.: I'm using v1.15.31 on macOS, and yes, I do have the Kits scanned and set up perfectly already via [Scan for kits](https://github.com/microsoft/vscode-cmake-tools/blob/0378fdc4a409c63cfb92824f39fe3c23c9d5e0d0/docs/kits.md#scan-for-kits)
This issue is a documentation request, rather than having to perform trial and error, users would like better docs on where these things can be used in our extension.
Discussed in https://github.com/microsoft/vscode-cmake-tools/discussions/3379