Manual Reload vs. Auto‑Reload: Which Minimizes Build Inconsistencies?

The goal is to guarantee that every build in CLion uses the most recent CMake configuration. When a CMakeLists.txt file changes, the IDE does not automatically invalidate the CMakeCache.txt that stores the build configuration. This can lead to subtle build failures or incorrect artifacts.

CLion offers two documented ways to refresh the cache: the user can manually click “Reload CMake Project” or delete CMakeCache.txt, or the IDE can be configured to prompt for an automatic reload when it detects changes. The automatic option is not available in the current stable release and is debated because it may interfere with concurrent build processes.

The unresolved decision is whether to adopt an auto‑reload strategy to eliminate stale configuration or to continue relying on the manual approach, accepting workflow interruptions but avoiding potential race conditions.

What are the measurable impacts on build reliability when the cache is left stale? Should a future CLion release enable automatic reload, and under what conditions would that be safe? In what scenarios does manual reload provide a better balance between developer productivity and build correctness?