title: CMake + Visual Studio + External Projects + Release/Debug
body: <p>I am using CMake to build a cross-platform (e.g. Linux/Windows) application which uses also thirdparty libraries as external projects.</p>
  
  <p>I'm aware of the fact that MSVC is a multi-configuration environment, hence
  CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE is not used, instead it uses the CMAKE_CONFIGURATION_TYPES set to build every possible configuration.</p>
  
  <p>I'm also aware of the fact that instead of providing a configuration at configuration type (e.g. cmake -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE ..) I need to provide the configuration at build type (cmake --build . --config Release)</p>
  
  <p>See <a href="https://stackoverflow.com/questions/24460486/cmake-build-type-not-being-used-in-cmakelists-txt]">CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE not being used in CMakeLists.txt</a></p>
  
  <p>What I completely fail to understand is:</p>
  
  <p>I don't want multi-configuration builds. I want to build EITHER Debug OR Release. Can I achieve that with CMake + MSVC + ExternalProjects? If yes
  how?</p>
  
  <p>Thanks,</p>