Using CMAKE_AUTORCC always rebuild rcc file and thus always links project - qt

Question

With cmake 3.5.0 (on windows) and CMAKE_AUTORCC and one rcc.qrc file in add_executable every build (using ninja) compiles the rcc file and links again even if there is nothing changed. Is that normal or is there something missing in my cmakelists.txt file?
cmake_minimum_required(VERSION 3.2)
project(auto_moc_uic_rcc)
set(CMAKE_INCLUDE_CURRENT_DIR ON)
set(CMAKE_AUTOMOC ON)
set(CMAKE_AUTOUIC ON)
set(CMAKE_AUTORCC ON)
find_package (Qt5Widgets REQUIRED)
add_executable(${PROJECT_NAME}
main.cpp
MainWindow
MainWindow.ui
rcc.qrc
)
target_link_libraries(${PROJECT_NAME} Qt5::Widgets)
If I remove CMAKE_AUTORCC and replace it with qt5_add_resources(RCC rcc.qrc) and add ${RCC} to the executable, the project only builds and links if there is actually something changed.
Output of cmake (from cmake_gui):
The C compiler identification is GNU 4.9.1
The CXX compiler identification is GNU 4.9.1
Check for working C compiler using: Ninja
Check for working C compiler using: Ninja -- works
Detecting C compiler ABI info
Detecting C compiler ABI info - done
Detecting C compile features
Detecting C compile features - done
Check for working CXX compiler using: Ninja
Check for working CXX compiler using: Ninja -- works
Detecting CXX compiler ABI info
Detecting CXX compiler ABI info - done
Detecting CXX compile features
Detecting CXX compile features - done
Configuring done
First run ninja -v:
[1/7] cmd.exe /C "cd /D E:\source\builds\qt\debug\Test\junk\auto_moc_uic_rcc\auto_moc_uic_rcc && E:\bin\cmake\bin\cmake.exe -E cmake_autogen E:/source/builds/qt/debug/Test/junk/auto_moc_uic_rcc/auto_moc_uic_rcc/CMakeFiles/auto_moc_uic_rcc_automoc.dir/ Debug"
Generating ui_MainWindow.h
Generating moc_MainWindow.cpp
[2/7] E:\Qt\mingw\bin\c++.exe -DQT_CORE_LIB -DQT_GUI_LIB -DQT_WIDGETS_LIB -I. -IE:/source/src/Test/junk/autouic/auto_moc_uic-rcc -isystem E:/Qt/qt/include -isystem E:/Qt/qt/include/QtWidgets -isystem E:/Qt/qt/include/QtGui -isystem E:/Qt/qt/include/QtCore -isystem E:/Qt/qt/mkspecs/win32-g++ -g -MMD -MT CMakeFiles/auto_moc_uic_rcc.dir/CMakeFiles/auto_moc_uic_rcc.dir/qrc_rcc.cpp.obj -MF CMakeFiles/auto_moc_uic_rcc.dir/CMakeFiles/auto_moc_uic_rcc.dir/qrc_rcc.cpp.obj.d -o CMakeFiles/auto_moc_uic_rcc.dir/CMakeFiles/auto_moc_uic_rcc.dir/qrc_rcc.cpp.obj -c CMakeFiles/auto_moc_uic_rcc.dir/qrc_rcc.cpp
[3/7] E:\Qt\mingw\bin\c++.exe -DQT_CORE_LIB -DQT_GUI_LIB -DQT_WIDGETS_LIB -I. -IE:/source/src/Test/junk/autouic/auto_moc_uic-rcc -isystem E:/Qt/qt/include -isystem E:/Qt/qt/include/QtWidgets -isystem E:/Qt/qt/include/QtGui -isystem E:/Qt/qt/include/QtCore -isystem E:/Qt/qt/mkspecs/win32-g++ -g -MMD -MT CMakeFiles/auto_moc_uic_rcc.dir/MainWindow.cpp.obj -MF CMakeFiles/auto_moc_uic_rcc.dir/MainWindow.cpp.obj.d -o CMakeFiles/auto_moc_uic_rcc.dir/MainWindow.cpp.obj -c E:/source/src/Test/junk/autouic/auto_moc_uic-rcc/MainWindow.cpp
[4/7] E:\Qt\mingw\bin\c++.exe -DQT_CORE_LIB -DQT_GUI_LIB -DQT_WIDGETS_LIB -I. -IE:/source/src/Test/junk/autouic/auto_moc_uic-rcc -isystem E:/Qt/qt/include -isystem E:/Qt/qt/include/QtWidgets -isystem E:/Qt/qt/include/QtGui -isystem E:/Qt/qt/include/QtCore -isystem E:/Qt/qt/mkspecs/win32-g++ -g -MMD -MT CMakeFiles/auto_moc_uic_rcc.dir/main.cpp.obj -MF CMakeFiles/auto_moc_uic_rcc.dir/main.cpp.obj.d -o CMakeFiles/auto_moc_uic_rcc.dir/main.cpp.obj -c E:/source/src/Test/junk/autouic/auto_moc_uic-rcc/main.cpp
[5/7] cmd.exe /c
[6/7] E:\Qt\mingw\bin\c++.exe -DQT_CORE_LIB -DQT_GUI_LIB -DQT_WIDGETS_LIB -I. -IE:/source/src/Test/junk/autouic/auto_moc_uic-rcc -isystem E:/Qt/qt/include -isystem E:/Qt/qt/include/QtWidgets -isystem E:/Qt/qt/include/QtGui -isystem E:/Qt/qt/include/QtCore -isystem E:/Qt/qt/mkspecs/win32-g++ -g -MMD -MT CMakeFiles/auto_moc_uic_rcc.dir/auto_moc_uic_rcc_automoc.cpp.obj -MF CMakeFiles/auto_moc_uic_rcc.dir/auto_moc_uic_rcc_automoc.cpp.obj.d -o CMakeFiles/auto_moc_uic_rcc.dir/auto_moc_uic_rcc_automoc.cpp.obj -c auto_moc_uic_rcc_automoc.cpp
[7/7] cmd.exe /C "cd . && E:\Qt\mingw\bin\c++.exe -g CMakeFiles/auto_moc_uic_rcc.dir/main.cpp.obj CMakeFiles/auto_moc_uic_rcc.dir/MainWindow.cpp.obj CMakeFiles/auto_moc_uic_rcc.dir/auto_moc_uic_rcc_automoc.cpp.obj CMakeFiles/auto_moc_uic_rcc.dir/CMakeFiles/auto_moc_uic_rcc.dir/qrc_rcc.cpp.obj -o auto_moc_uic_rcc.exe -Wl,--out-implib,libauto_moc_uic_rcc.dll.a -Wl,--major-image-version,0,--minor-image-version,0 E:/Qt/qt/lib/libQt5Widgetsd.a E:/Qt/qt/lib/libQt5Guid.a E:/Qt/qt/lib/libQt5Cored.a -lkernel32 -luser32 -lgdi32 -lwinspool -lshell32 -lole32 -loleaut32 -luuid -lcomdlg32 -ladvapi32 && cd ."
Second run ninja -v. Consecutive runs have the same output:
[1/3] cmd.exe /C "cd /D E:\source\builds\qt\debug\Test\junk\auto_moc_uic_rcc\auto_moc_uic_rcc && E:\bin\cmake\bin\cmake.exe -E cmake_autogen E:/source/builds/qt/debug/Test/junk/auto_moc_uic_rcc/auto_moc_uic_rcc/CMakeFiles/auto_moc_uic_rcc_automoc.dir/ Debug"
[2/3] E:\Qt\mingw\bin\c++.exe -DQT_CORE_LIB -DQT_GUI_LIB -DQT_WIDGETS_LIB -I. -IE:/source/src/Test/junk/autouic/auto_moc_uic-rcc -isystem E:/Qt/qt/include -isystem E:/Qt/qt/include/QtWidgets -isystem E:/Qt/qt/include/QtGui -isystem E:/Qt/qt/include/QtCore -isystem E:/Qt/qt/mkspecs/win32-g++ -g -MMD -MT CMakeFiles/auto_moc_uic_rcc.dir/CMakeFiles/auto_moc_uic_rcc.dir/qrc_rcc.cpp.obj -MF CMakeFiles/auto_moc_uic_rcc.dir/CMakeFiles/auto_moc_uic_rcc.dir/qrc_rcc.cpp.obj.d -o CMakeFiles/auto_moc_uic_rcc.dir/CMakeFiles/auto_moc_uic_rcc.dir/qrc_rcc.cpp.obj -c CMakeFiles/auto_moc_uic_rcc.dir/qrc_rcc.cpp
[3/3] cmd.exe /C "cd . && E:\Qt\mingw\bin\c++.exe -g CMakeFiles/auto_moc_uic_rcc.dir/main.cpp.obj CMakeFiles/auto_moc_uic_rcc.dir/MainWindow.cpp.obj CMakeFiles/auto_moc_uic_rcc.dir/auto_moc_uic_rcc_automoc.cpp.obj CMakeFiles/auto_moc_uic_rcc.dir/CMakeFiles/auto_moc_uic_rcc.dir/qrc_rcc.cpp.obj -o auto_moc_uic_rcc.exe -Wl,--out-implib,libauto_moc_uic_rcc.dll.a -Wl,--major-image-version,0,--minor-image-version,0 E:/Qt/qt/lib/libQt5Widgetsd.a E:/Qt/qt/lib/libQt5Guid.a E:/Qt/qt/lib/libQt5Cored.a -lkernel32 -luser32 -lgdi32 -lwinspool -lshell32 -lole32 -loleaut32 -luuid -lcomdlg32 -ladvapi32 && cd ."
Here is the output of ninja -v when I use qt5_add_resources(RCC rcc.qrc) instead of CMAKE_AUTORCC:
[1/8] cmd.exe /C "cd /D E:\source\builds\qt\debug\Test\junk\auto_moc_uic_rcc\auto_moc_uic && E:\bin\CMake\bin\cmake.exe -E cmake_autogen E:/source/builds/qt/debug/Test/junk/auto_moc_uic_rcc/auto_moc_uic/CMakeFiles/auto_moc_uic_automoc.dir/ """
Generating ui_MainWindow.h
Generating moc_MainWindow.cpp
[2/8] cmd.exe /C "cd /D E:\source\builds\qt\debug\Test\junk\auto_moc_uic_rcc\auto_moc_uic && E:\Qt\qt\bin\rcc.exe -name rcc -o E:/source/builds/qt/debug/Test/junk/auto_moc_uic_rcc/auto_moc_uic/qrc_rcc.cpp E:/source/src/Test/junk/autouic/auto_moc_uic/rcc.qrc"
[3/8] E:\Qt\mingw\bin\g++.exe -DQT_CORE_LIB -DQT_GUI_LIB -DQT_NO_DEBUG -DQT_WIDGETS_LIB -I. -IE:/source/src/Test/junk/autouic/auto_moc_uic -isystem E:/Qt/qt/include -isystem E:/Qt/qt/include/QtWidgets -isystem E:/Qt/qt/include/QtGui -isystem E:/Qt/qt/include/QtCore -isystem E:/Qt/qt/mkspecs/win32-g++ -MMD -MT CMakeFiles/auto_moc_uic.dir/MainWindow.cpp.obj -MF CMakeFiles/auto_moc_uic.dir/MainWindow.cpp.obj.d -o CMakeFiles/auto_moc_uic.dir/MainWindow.cpp.obj -c E:/source/src/Test/junk/autouic/auto_moc_uic/MainWindow.cpp
[4/8] E:\Qt\mingw\bin\g++.exe -DQT_CORE_LIB -DQT_GUI_LIB -DQT_NO_DEBUG -DQT_WIDGETS_LIB -I. -IE:/source/src/Test/junk/autouic/auto_moc_uic -isystem E:/Qt/qt/include -isystem E:/Qt/qt/include/QtWidgets -isystem E:/Qt/qt/include/QtGui -isystem E:/Qt/qt/include/QtCore -isystem E:/Qt/qt/mkspecs/win32-g++ -MMD -MT CMakeFiles/auto_moc_uic.dir/qrc_rcc.cpp.obj -MF CMakeFiles/auto_moc_uic.dir/qrc_rcc.cpp.obj.d -o CMakeFiles/auto_moc_uic.dir/qrc_rcc.cpp.obj -c qrc_rcc.cpp
[5/8] E:\Qt\mingw\bin\g++.exe -DQT_CORE_LIB -DQT_GUI_LIB -DQT_NO_DEBUG -DQT_WIDGETS_LIB -I. -IE:/source/src/Test/junk/autouic/auto_moc_uic -isystem E:/Qt/qt/include -isystem E:/Qt/qt/include/QtWidgets -isystem E:/Qt/qt/include/QtGui -isystem E:/Qt/qt/include/QtCore -isystem E:/Qt/qt/mkspecs/win32-g++ -MMD -MT CMakeFiles/auto_moc_uic.dir/main.cpp.obj -MF CMakeFiles/auto_moc_uic.dir/main.cpp.obj.d -o CMakeFiles/auto_moc_uic.dir/main.cpp.obj -c E:/source/src/Test/junk/autouic/auto_moc_uic/main.cpp
[6/8] cmd.exe /c
[7/8] E:\Qt\mingw\bin\g++.exe -DQT_CORE_LIB -DQT_GUI_LIB -DQT_NO_DEBUG -DQT_WIDGETS_LIB -I. -IE:/source/src/Test/junk/autouic/auto_moc_uic -isystem E:/Qt/qt/include -isystem E:/Qt/qt/include/QtWidgets -isystem E:/Qt/qt/include/QtGui -isystem E:/Qt/qt/include/QtCore -isystem E:/Qt/qt/mkspecs/win32-g++ -MMD -MT CMakeFiles/auto_moc_uic.dir/auto_moc_uic_automoc.cpp.obj -MF CMakeFiles/auto_moc_uic.dir/auto_moc_uic_automoc.cpp.obj.d -o CMakeFiles/auto_moc_uic.dir/auto_moc_uic_automoc.cpp.obj -c auto_moc_uic_automoc.cpp
[8/8] cmd.exe /C "cd . && E:\Qt\mingw\bin\g++.exe CMakeFiles/auto_moc_uic.dir/main.cpp.obj CMakeFiles/auto_moc_uic.dir/MainWindow.cpp.obj CMakeFiles/auto_moc_uic.dir/qrc_rcc.cpp.obj CMakeFiles/auto_moc_uic.dir/auto_moc_uic_automoc.cpp.obj -o auto_moc_uic.exe -Wl,--out-implib,libauto_moc_uic.dll.a -Wl,--major-image-version,0,--minor-image-version,0 E:/Qt/qt/lib/libQt5Widgets.a E:/Qt/qt/lib/libQt5Gui.a E:/Qt/qt/lib/libQt5Core.a -lkernel32 -luser32 -lgdi32 -lwinspool -lshell32 -lole32 -loleaut32 -luuid -lcomdlg32 -ladvapi32 && cd ."
And consecutive runs:
[1/1] cmd.exe /C "cd /D E:\source\builds\qt\debug\Test\junk\auto_moc_uic_rcc\auto_moc_uic && E:\bin\CMake\bin\cmake.exe -E cmake_autogen E:/source/builds/qt/debug/Test/junk/auto_moc_uic_rcc/auto_moc_uic/CMakeFiles/auto_moc_uic_automoc.dir/ """