Manages CMake configurations for iPlug2 audio projects across various generators like Ninja, Xcode, and Visual Studio.
Install
mkdir -p .claude/skills/build-cmake && curl -L -o skill.zip "https://agentskills.codes/api/skills/download/2171" && unzip -o skill.zip -d .claude/skills/build-cmake && rm skill.zipInstalls to .claude/skills/build-cmake
Activation
This is the description your AI agent reads to decide when to run this skill — the better it matches your request, the more reliably it fires.
Build an iPlug2 plugin project using CMake with Ninja, Xcode, or Visual Studio generatorsKey capabilities
- →Configure build environment with Ninja, Xcode, or Visual Studio
- →Switch between Debug and Release build types
- →Define target formats including VST3, CLAP, and AAX
- →Toggle cross-platform compiler options for iOS and visionOS
- →Integrate IGraphics backends like Skia or Metal
How it works
Invokes the CMake executable with specified generators and project-specific flags to produce native build files or direct build artifacts.
Inputs & outputs
When to use build-cmake
- →Configure build environment for audio plugins
- →Build VST3 or AU targets
- →Generate project files for IDEs
- →Switch between Debug and Release builds
About this skill
Build iPlug2 Plugin with CMake
Use this skill when the user wants to build their plugin project using CMake.
Prerequisites
- CMake 3.14+
- Ninja (recommended) or Xcode/Visual Studio
- Plugin SDKs downloaded (VST3, CLAP, etc.) via
/setup-deps
Quick Start
cd [ProjectFolder]
mkdir -p build && cd build
cmake -G Ninja -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Release ..
cmake --build .
Generators
| Generator | Command | Platform | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ninja | -G Ninja | macOS, Windows | Fast, recommended |
| Xcode | -G Xcode | macOS, iOS, visionOS | Multi-config, good for debugging |
| Visual Studio | -G "Visual Studio 17 2022" -A x64 | Windows | Multi-config |
Build Commands
Configure (choose one):
cmake -G Ninja -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Release .. # Ninja
cmake -G Xcode .. # Xcode
cmake -G "Visual Studio 17 2022" -A x64 .. # VS 2022
Build all targets:
cmake --build . --config Release
Build specific target:
cmake --build . --config Release --target [PluginName]-vst3
Target Suffixes
| Format | Target Suffix |
|---|---|
| Standalone App | -app |
| VST2 | -vst2 |
| VST3 | -vst3 |
| CLAP | -clap |
| AAX | -aax |
| AUv2 | -au |
Common Options
# Debug build
-DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Debug
# Release build
-DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Release
# Universal binaries (macOS)
-DIPLUG2_UNIVERSAL=ON
# IGraphics backend
-DIGRAPHICS_BACKEND=SKIA -DIGRAPHICS_RENDERER=METAL
# Debug host for plugins
-DIPLUG2_DEBUG_HOST="/Applications/REAPER.app"
Platform-Specific
iOS Device:
cmake -G Xcode -DCMAKE_SYSTEM_NAME=iOS -DIPLUG2_IOS_PLATFORM=OS ..
iOS Simulator:
cmake -G Xcode -DCMAKE_SYSTEM_NAME=iOS -DIPLUG2_IOS_PLATFORM=SIMULATOR ..
visionOS:
cmake -G Xcode -DCMAKE_SYSTEM_NAME=iOS -DIPLUG2_IOS_PLATFORM=VISIONOS ..
Web (Emscripten):
emcmake cmake -G Ninja -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Release ..
cmake --build . --target [PluginName]-wam
Build Output
Output goes to build/out/:
[PluginName].app- Standalone[PluginName].vst3/- VST3[PluginName].clap/- CLAP[PluginName].component/- AUv2[PluginName].aaxplugin/- AAX
Workflow
-
Ask for build preferences:
- Generator (Ninja/Xcode/VS)
- Configuration (Debug/Release)
- Specific target or all
- IGraphics backend if relevant
-
Configure if needed (only once per build directory)
-
Build the requested target(s)
-
Report output location from
build/out/
Tips
- Ninja is fastest for iterative development
- Xcode generator required for Swift examples (IPlugSwiftUI, IPlugCocoaUI)
- Use
--targetto build specific formats and avoid SDK-related failures - Check Documentation/cmake.md for full reference
When not to use it
- →When building projects that do not use the iPlug2 framework
- →For small scripts not requiring a full project build system
Prerequisites
Limitations
- →Requires specific SDKs to be installed on the local host machine
- →Target generation is restricted to the supported iPlug2 formats
How it compares
Automates the translation of complex iPlug2 dependency requirements into specific compiler flags, bypassing manual configuration management.
Compared to similar skills
build-cmake side by side with the closest alternatives in the catalog.
| Skill | Installs | Updated | Safety | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| build-cmake (this skill) | 2 | 7mo | Review | Intermediate |
| dev | 2 | 6mo | Review | Advanced |
| upgrade-deps | 0 | 4mo | Review | Advanced |
| testing | 0 | 2mo | Review | Advanced |
Try saying
Example prompts that trigger this skill in your AI assistant.
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