[SOLVED] Running msbuild via cmake inside powershell

Running msbuild via cmake inside powershell

I have a CMake project that generates a Visual Studio solution that builds with MSBuild.

The command I am using to build the project is:

cmake --build Debug -- -v:diag

using the -- option causes the -v:diag option to be passed to MSBuild.

When run from a command prompt, everything is fine.

However, when run from within a powershell prompt, it breaks:

PS C:\proj> cmake --build Debug --verbose -- -v:diag
Microsoft (R) Build Engine version 16.11.2+f32259642 for .NET Framework
Copyright (C) Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

MSBUILD : error MSB1016: Specify the verbosity level.
Switch: -v:

For switch syntax, type "MSBuild -help"

Seems powershell is doing something to parse the arguments around the colon :.

How can I cause powershell to pass the argument string as-is to cmake?

Solution

Unfortunately, you've hit a bug in PowerShell's parameter binder, present up to at least PowerShell 7.2.4:

-v:diag is unexpectedly passed as two arguments, -v: and diag, if preceded by -- in calls to external programs - see GitHub issue #17399.

As a workaround, quote the argument:

cmake --build Debug --verbose -- '-v:diag'