[Bug] All file watcher being exhausted (250k+) on Kubuntu 25.04

[dom11990]

Brief Issue Summary

When the extension is enabled, it seems to try to watch every file in my home directory even though my workspace / project directory is about 5 directories deeper. When I disable this extension the problem disappears. I use https://github.com/mikesart/inotify-info to show me which app is watching which files.

CMake Tools Diagnostics

{
  "os": "linux",
  "vscodeVersion": "1.99.3",
  "cmtVersion": "1.20.53",
  "configurations": [
    {
      "folder": "/home/dom/EE/frontendmcu/frontend-mcu/firmware",
      "cmakeVersion": "3.31.6",
      "configured": false,
      "generator": "Ninja",
      "usesPresets": true,
      "compilers": {}
    }
  ],
  "cpptoolsIntegration": {
    "isReady": false,
    "hasCodeModel": false,
    "activeBuildType": "",
    "buildTypesSeen": [],
    "requests": [],
    "responses": [],
    "partialMatches": [],
    "targetCount": 0,
    "executablesCount": 0,
    "librariesCount": 0,
    "targets": []
  },
  "settings": [
    {
      "communicationMode": "automatic",
      "useCMakePresets": "auto",
      "configureOnOpen": true
    }
  ]
}

Debug Log

[main] Building folder: /home/dom/EE/frontendmcu/frontend-mcu/firmware/build/Debug 
[main] The folder containing the CMake cache is missing. The cache will be regenerated.
[main] Configuring project: firmware 
[proc] Executing command: /usr/bin/cmake -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Debug -DCMAKE_TOOLCHAIN_FILE=/home/dom/EE/frontendmcu/frontend-mcu/firmware/cmake/gcc-arm-none-eabi.cmake -S/home/dom/EE/frontendmcu/frontend-mcu/firmware -B/home/dom/EE/frontendmcu/frontend-mcu/firmware/build/Debug -G Ninja
[cmake] CMake Warning (dev) at CMakeLists.txt:32 (enable_language):
[cmake]   project() should be called prior to this enable_language() call.
[cmake] This warning is for project developers.  Use -Wno-dev to suppress it.
[cmake] 
[cmake] -- The C compiler identification is GNU 14.2.1
[cmake] -- The ASM compiler identification is GNU
[cmake] -- Found assembler: /usr/bin/arm-none-eabi-gcc
[cmake] -- The CXX compiler identification is GNU 14.2.1
[cmake] Build type: Debug
[cmake] -- Lib version header file generator: /home/dom/EE/frontendmcu/frontend-mcu/firmware/EE/lib/generate_version_header.sh
[cmake] -- Configuring done (0.2s)
[cmake] -- Generating done (0.0s)
[cmake] -- Build files have been written to: /home/dom/EE/frontendmcu/frontend-mcu/firmware/build/Debug
[build] Starting build
[proc] Executing command: /usr/bin/cmake --build /home/dom/EE/frontendmcu/frontend-mcu/firmware/build/Debug --
----- skipping all the files here for privacy and security reasons, they compile fine ----
[build] [71/72] Building CXX object CMakeFiles/frontend_mcu_firmware.dir/EE/src/threads/Controller.cpp.obj
[build] [72/72] Linking CXX executable frontend_mcu_firmware.elf
[driver] Build completed: 00:00:03.717
[build] Build finished with exit code 0

Additional Information

No response

[Amy-Li03]

Hi @dom11990 Thanks for reporting issue here!

I have installed inotify-info to /usr/local/bin by run make install, after that I run the command in terminal
sudo inotify-info | grep code

1. When enable the CMake Tools extension, use cmake: configure and cmake: build to trigger CMake Tools, I get the follow result:

2. When disable the CMake Tools extension, the result is as below:

The difference between these two condition is one PID is missing after disable CMake Tools extension, I also print the PID info in follow video, please confirm whether this is your issue? and please correct me if I have done something wrong.