C++ Program through CLion cannot find environment variable

Question

I am trying to write a C++ program in CLion and use one self-defined environment variable. The OS is Ubuntu 16.04

Say the environment variable is the $test.

int main (int argc, char **argv){

    std::cout<<getenv("PATH");
    std::cout<<getenv("test");
}

I have set the environment variable in the setting->build...->CMAKE->Environment environment variable set

I am able to print it when build through CMAKE.

message($ENV{test}) 

this is test

But whenbuild and run the compiled code above, only $PATH was print out. It seems the program cannot find the $test variable.

Anyone know how to tackle this problem?

Typically IDEs allow separate environments for building and running your program. Set environment variable in your "Run configuration", not in CMake options. — yeputons, Feb 06 '17 at 07:22
@yeputons thanks! It works after set the environment variable in "run configuration" — Peter XU, Feb 06 '17 at 07:33
Related question about CMake environment variables: https://stackoverflow.com/a/38874446/1052261 — Gelldur, Jan 11 '20 at 13:18

score 0 · Answer 1 · answered Feb 06 '17 at 07:22

0

Well, I don't know CLion, but it sure looks like you set the environment variable for use in CMake only. When you run your program, it's simply not set.

answered Feb 06 '17 at 07:22

Rene

2,466
1
12
18

yes! just like @yeputons said, after set the environment variable in the run configuration, it works! Thanks a lot! – Peter XU Feb 06 '17 at 07:34

score 0 · Answer 2 · edited Sep 09 '18 at 20:34

0

I had the same problem and below steps resolved my issue. Set your variables in

Run->Edit Configurations, Application/Environment Variables

edited Sep 09 '18 at 20:34

Andre Miras

3,580
44
47

answered Sep 09 '18 at 18:13

shabnam parween

1

score 0 · Answer 3 · answered Jan 11 '20 at 13:17

If you want to read environment variable in C++ runtime e.g. using std::getenv.

You can add such variable in "Run Configurations" (IMPORTANT not CMake environment variables)

And then in your code:

std::filesystem::path getRootConfigPath()
{
    // std::getenv can return nullptr and this is why we CAN'T assign it directly to std::string
    const char* path = std::getenv("TEST_CONFIG_DIR");
    gcpp::exception::fail_if_true(
        path == nullptr, WHERE_IN_FILE, "No such environment variable: ${TEST_CONFIG_DIR}");

    gcpp::exception::fail_if_true(std::string_view{path}.empty(),
                                  WHERE_IN_FILE,
                                  "Missing ${TEST_CONFIG_DIR} environment variable");

    const std::filesystem::path testConfigDir{path};
    gcpp::exception::fail_if_false(std::filesystem::exists(testConfigDir) &&
                                       std::filesystem::is_directory(testConfigDir),
                                   WHERE_IN_FILE,
                                   "Invalid ${TEST_CONFIG_DIR} dir:" + testConfigDir.string());
    return testConfigDir;
}

Source of gcpp::exception::fail_if_true

Other way to do this in more friendly way when running unit tests is add this variable to template.

So whenever you click: