Improve docs about the compilation database

README.md

@@ -12,13 +12,15 @@ This is a C/C++ code analysis plugin for VSCode that shows bug reports detected
 
 1. [Install CodeChecker] version 6.18.2 or later, and optionally add it to the `PATH` environment variable.
 2. Install the CodeChecker extension from the [Visual Studio Marketplace], from [Open VSX], or download manually from [Downloads].
-3. Check the path to CodeChecker, and set your preferred command-line arguments - see [Configuring CodeChecker] for more information.
-4. Open your project, and run an analysis, or browse through the found reports!
+3. [Set up your build environment] to generate a `compile_commands.json` file.
+4. Check the path to CodeChecker, and set your preferred command-line arguments - see [Configuring CodeChecker] for more information.
+5. Open your project, and run an analysis, or browse through the found reports!
 
 [Install CodeChecker]: https://github.com/Ericsson/CodeChecker#install-guide
 [Visual Studio Marketplace]: https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=codechecker.vscode-codechecker
 [Open VSX]: https://open-vsx.org/extension/codechecker/codechecker
 [Downloads]: https://github.com/Ericsson/CodecheckerVSCodePlugin/releases
+[Set up your build environment]: #setting-up-your-build-environment
 [Configuring CodeChecker]: #configuring-codechecker
 
 ## Features
@@ -37,6 +39,19 @@ This is a C/C++ code analysis plugin for VSCode that shows bug reports detected
 
 ![Commands and tasks](media/codechecker-tasks.gif)
 
+## Setting up your build environment
+
+CodeChecker works by reading a generated [compilation database], often called `compile_commands.json`, and executing specific analyses based on that.
+
+`CMake` has built-in support for generating a compilation database. Set the environment variable `CMAKE_EXPORT_COMPILE_COMMANDS=ON`, and the compilation database should be inside your build folder.
+If you are using the `CMake Tools` extension for VS Code, you can add this flag to the extension settings under `Cmake > Build Environment`.
+
+`make` and other build systems have no built-in support for generating a compilation database, but CodeChecker can generate one based on the build command. To generate one, you can use the command `CodeChecker log -b "[full build command]" -o .codechecker/compile_commands.json`.
+
+To automate the process, the extension provides ways to run the `CodeChecker log` command automatically. First, in the Extension Settings set `CodeChecker > Executor > Log build command`, and then use either the VS Code Task, or the VS Code command `CodeChecker: Run CodeChecker Log` to execute the analysis. You can also run `CodeChecker: Preview CodeChecker log in terminal` to have more fine-grained control over the parameters passed to CodeChecker.
+
+[compilation database]: https://clang.llvm.org/docs/JSONCompilationDatabase.html
+
 ## Configuring CodeChecker
 
 The extension uses Codechecker version 6.18.2 or later. If your installation path is different, or CodeChecker is not in the the `PATH` environment variable, the path to it can be set manually under `Preferences > Settings > Extensions > CodeChecker > Executable path`.

package.json

@@ -138,7 +138,7 @@
         },
         "codechecker.executor.logBuildCommand": {
           "type": "string",
-          "description": "The build command passed to CodeChecker log.",
+          "description": "The build command passed to CodeChecker log. Some build systems do not need to be run via CodeChecker log - see the extension's docs for details.",
           "default": "make",
           "order": 6
         },

src/editor/initialize.ts

@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import { ExtensionContext, commands, window, workspace } from 'vscode';
+import { ExtensionContext, Uri, commands, window, workspace } from 'vscode';
 import { ExtensionApi } from '../backend';
 import { Editor } from './editor';
 import { NotificationType } from './notifications';
@@ -42,6 +42,13 @@ export class FolderInitializer {
             {
                 title: 'Locate',
                 command: 'codechecker.internal.locateCompilationDatabase'
+            },
+            {
+                title: 'More info',
+                command: 'vscode.open',
+                arguments: [ Uri.parse(
+                    'https://github.com/Ericsson/CodeCheckerVSCodePlugin#setting-up-your-build-environment'
+                ) ]
             }
         ];
         const disableDialogChoice = {