cmake_utilities appears broken (BSP-778)

[dannybackx]

Board

N/A

Hardware Description

N/A

IDE Name

None

Operating System

Linux

Description

Can't get cmake_utilities to work to produce version macros for espressif/esp_lvgl_port .

Sketch

#include <build.h>
#include <esp_log.h>
#include <freertos/FreeRTOS.h>

extern "C" void app_main(void)
{
  ESP_LOGI("App", "Minimal (really) app");

  while(true) {
    vTaskDelay(pdMS_TO_TICKS(200));
  }
}

Other Steps to Reproduce

idf.py add-dependency cmake_utilities
idf.py add-dependency esp_lvgl_port
idf.py build

then edit managed_components/espressif__esp_lvgl_port/CMakeLists.txt to include

include(package_manager)
cu_pkg_define_version(${CMAKE_CURRENT_LIST_DIR})

just after the idf_component_register call.

Then rebuild.
Error message :

-- ESP_LVGL_PORT: 2.7.0
CMake Error at managed_components/espressif__cmake_utilities/package_manager.cmake:43 (target_compile_options):
  target_compile_options may only set INTERFACE properties on INTERFACE
  targets
Call Stack (most recent call first):
  managed_components/espressif__esp_lvgl_port/CMakeLists.txt:27 (cu_pkg_define_version)

See also #696

I have checked existing issues, README.md and ESP32 Forum

• I confirm I have checked existing issues, online documentation and Troubleshooting guide.

[github-actions]

Hi @dannybackx! Please be aware that (1) the following suggestions are generated by a bot and haven't been fact-checked by Espressif Systems, (2) burning eFuses and enabling security features are irreversible operations and can damage your ESP32 device. We hope that this message will help you until an Espressif Engineer looks at your issue.

---

The error comes from how cu_pkg_define_version (from package_manager.cmake) is being used with esp_lvgl_port’s CMake target, not from your sketch itself.

From the cmake_utilities docs and changelog we know:

• cmake_utilities is meant to be added as a component dependency and then its scripts included after idf_component_register in the component’s CMakeLists.txt. [CMake utilities]
• package_manager.cmake provides functions to manage component versions, including cu_pkg_define_version. [Cmake utilities]
• There was a specific bugfix for components whose names contain - (like esp-xxx) in package_manager.cmake. [cmake_utilities v0.2.1]

However, the available documentation does not show the implementation details of cu_pkg_define_version or how it interacts with the target type, and it does not describe the exact failure mode you’re seeing (target_compile_options may only set INTERFACE properties on INTERFACE targets). Because of that, I can’t definitively say whether this is:

• a bug in the current cmake_utilities version,
• an incompatibility with how esp_lvgl_port defines its target, or
• a misuse of cu_pkg_define_version in that specific CMakeLists.txt.

What is clear from the docs:

1. The recommended integration pattern is:

   idf_component_register( ... )
   
   # Only include what you need
   include(package_manager)
   
   # Then call the helper
   cu_pkg_define_version(${CMAKE_CURRENT_LIST_DIR})

   and this is exactly what you did. [CMake utilities]

2. cmake_utilities is intended to work with ESP-IDF ≥ 4.1 and has had several compatibility fixes (including for older IDF 4.3.x and for components with special names), so your usage pattern is in line with the intended design. [Cmake utilities]

Given the limited information in the public docs:

• Your reproduction steps look correct and follow the documented usage.
• The error strongly suggests that cu_pkg_define_version is calling target_compile_options on a non-INTERFACE target in a way CMake doesn’t accept for that target type, which is likely a bug or missing case in package_manager.cmake for this component.

Suggested next step to post back on GitHub

Based on the official docs and changelog, this appears to be an issue in cmake_utilities’s package_manager.cmake when used with esp_lvgl_port, rather than a misuse on your side. The best actionable feedback to the maintainers is:

• Your usage matches the documented pattern (add dependency, include(package_manager) after idf_component_register, then cu_pkg_define_version(${CMAKE_CURRENT_LIST_DIR})). [CMake utilities]
• The error arises inside package_manager.cmake when it calls target_compile_options, which suggests cu_pkg_define_version needs to handle the esp_lvgl_port target type more carefully.

Since the knowledge sources don’t provide a workaround or patch, the maintainers will need to adjust cu_pkg_define_version / package_manager.cmake to avoid calling target_compile_options in a way that CMake rejects for this target.