# CMake Configuration Options

## Console Variant Options

### BUILD_CONSOLE_VARIANTS

**Default:** `ON`

Controls whether console variants of applications are built on Windows.

```bash
# Build both GUI and console variants (default)
cmake -S examples -B build

# Build only GUI variants
cmake -S examples -B build -DBUILD_CONSOLE_VARIANTS=OFF
```

**Effect:**
- `ON`: Creates both `blueprints-example` and `blueprints-example-console` targets
- `OFF`: Creates only `blueprints-example` (GUI variant)

### USE_CONSOLE_AS_STARTUP

**Default:** `ON`

Sets which variant is the default Visual Studio startup project (only applies when `BUILD_CONSOLE_VARIANTS=ON`).

```bash
# Console variant as startup (default)
cmake -S examples -B build -DUSE_CONSOLE_AS_STARTUP=ON

# GUI variant as startup
cmake -S examples -B build -DUSE_CONSOLE_AS_STARTUP=OFF
```

**Effect:**
- `ON`: Press F5 in Visual Studio → debugs console variant
- `OFF`: Press F5 in Visual Studio → debugs GUI variant

## Quick Examples

### For Development (Console Debugging)

```bash
# Default configuration - optimal for development
cmake -S examples -B build -G "Visual Studio 17 2022" -A x64

# Both variants built, console is default startup
# Open build\imgui-node-editor.sln and press F5 to debug
```

### For Production Build

```bash
# Build only GUI variants
cmake -S examples -B build -G "Visual Studio 17 2022" -A x64 \
  -DBUILD_CONSOLE_VARIANTS=OFF

# Only blueprints-example target is created
```

### Build Console Variant Only

```bash
# Configure with both variants
cmake -S examples -B build -G "Visual Studio 17 2022" -A x64

# Build only console variant
cmake --build build --config Debug --target blueprints-example-console

# Or use script
./scripts/build.sh Debug console
```

### Prefer GUI for Debugging

```bash
# Build both, but GUI is startup project
cmake -S examples -B build -G "Visual Studio 17 2022" -A x64 \
  -DUSE_CONSOLE_AS_STARTUP=OFF

# Open build\imgui-node-editor.sln
# Press F5 → debugs GUI variant
```

## All Options Summary

| Option | Default | Description | Platform |
|--------|---------|-------------|----------|
| `BUILD_CONSOLE_VARIANTS` | `ON` | Build console variants in addition to GUI | Windows only |
| `USE_CONSOLE_AS_STARTUP` | `ON` | Set console variant as VS startup project | Windows only |

## See Also

- [Console Variants User Guide](console-variants.md)
- [Console Variant Setup Details](CONSOLE_VARIANT_SETUP.md)
- [Quick Start Guide](../CONSOLE_VARIANT_QUICKSTART.md)