Clion: setting up remote Makefile project

Question

Context

I have a remote server with C++ code and Makefile, and I want to use Clion's remote development + Makefile plugin to develop a Makefile project in remote.

I have mostly been following this guide from Jetbrains to set up remote development.

I have followed all the instructions:

1. install Makefile plugin
2. set up Remote Host in Build, Execution, Deployment | Toolchains ( there was no problem setting up the remote host )
3. create corresponding CMake profile in Build, Execution, Deployment | CMake and selected the created Remote Host in the Toolchain
4. set mapping to my newly created C++ Cmake project to the remote directory under Build, Execution, Deployment | Deployment | Mappings.

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Problems with setup

After following all the instructions, I have two issues:

1. My local project and remote repository are out of sync. My local contains dummy files created on project initialization: cmake-build-debug directory, CMakeLists.txt, and main.cpp, while my remote contains code and Makefile.

2. There is no configuration created for me to run and build. In the top-right corner where there is run, debug and build buttons, no pre-created configuration is shown:

Instead, there is Add Configuration button. When I click Add Configuration and navigate to create new Makefile configuration, there is no option for me to set up project in remote.

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Question

So my question is:

1. Do I need cmake-build-debug directory and CMakeLists.txt even if I am only going to use the Makefile plugin to build and run? If not, how should I sink my files with remote?
2. How can I create debug and run configuration with Makefile s.t. it will only build and run on the remote host I have set up?

Answer 1

Several things here:

1. Full remote mode in CLion works only with CMake projects for now.

2. Makefile plugin doesn't provide Makefiles project model support in CLion (and you can't work w/o a project model in CLion, the code won't be resolved), it's for syntax highlighting in such files mostly and for Makefiles run/debug configuration. To work with makefiles in CLion, you need a workaround through the compilation database. Please check here: https://www.jetbrains.com/help/clion/managing-makefile-projects.html. But again this works only for local projects.