Build, test, and run MAGDA DAW. Use when compiling, running tests, or launching the app. Always use Makefile commands, never raw cmake/ninja.
Building MAGDA
Always use Makefile targets. Never use cmake or ninja directly.
Build Commands
Command
Purpose
make debug
Debug build (default)
make release
Release build
make configure
Force CMake reconfigure
make clean
Remove all build artifacts
make rebuild
Clean + debug build
Test Commands
Command
Purpose
make test
Build and run all tests
make test-build
Build tests only
make test-verbose
Run tests with verbose output
make test-list
List all available tests
make test-window
Plugin window tests only
make test-shutdown
Shutdown sequence tests only
make test-threading
Thread safety tests only
Run Commands
Command
Purpose
make run
Build and launch app (GUI)
make run-console
Build and run with stdout visible
make run-profile
Run with performance profiling
Code Quality
Command
Purpose
make format
clang-format all source files
make lint
clang-tidy on all sources
make lint-changed
clang-tidy on modified files only
make lint-file FILE=path
clang-tidy on a specific file
Build Directories
Debug: cmake-build-debug/
Release: cmake-build-release/
Key Notes
Debug build directory is cmake-build-debug, NOT build/
Test binary is at cmake-build-debug/tests/magda_tests
App bundle is at cmake-build-debug/magda/daw/magda_daw_app_artefacts/Debug/MAGDA.app
Pre-commit hooks run clang-format automatically; if commit fails due to formatting, re-stage and commit again
When to Build
Small cosmetic / non-logic changes (UI sizes, paddings, colors, icon swaps, layout tweaks, comment edits, gitignore, etc.): do NOT build automatically. The user prefers to build these themselves. Just make the change and stop.
Logic changes (new functions, control flow, state management, threading, audio code, refactors, anything that could compile-fail or introduce bugs): always build to verify it compiles and to catch errors early.
When unsure, ask the user whether they want you to build.
