Using Ninja generator fails with bad $-escape

[diegoferigo]

The full error is the following:

$ cmake --build .
ninja: error: build.ninja:477: bad $-escape (literal $ must be written as $$)

The error is generated by variables such as $(COLOR) which should be $$(COLOR) or ${COLOR}. This issue is just a reminder if any of you encounter this issue.

Follow the upstream issue at https://gitlab.kitware.com/cmake/cmake/issues/18062.

cc @drdanz do you have any further insight on this? I'm not expert on these CMake edges.

[traversaro]

CMake and ninja version?

[diegoferigo]

Ubuntu 18:04 default:

• CMake 3.10.2
• Ninja 1.8.2

[traversaro]

If YCM is bootstrapped, apparently the ninja build also fails with the following error:

FAILED: robotology/YCM/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/YCM-configure 
cd /home/straversaro/src/robotology-superbuild/build/robotology/YCM && /usr/bin/cmake --no-warn-unused-cli "-DCMAKE_PREFIX_PATH:PATH=/home/straversaro/src/robotology-superbuild/build/install;/home/straversaro/src/idjl-software/build/install" -C/home/straversaro/src/robotology-superbuild/build/robotology/YCM/CMakeFiles/YCMTmp/YCM-cache-Release.cmake -GNinja /home/straversaro/src/robotology-superbuild/robotology/YCM && /usr/bin/cmake -E touch /home/straversaro/src/robotology-superbuild/build/robotology/YCM/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/YCM-configure
Not searching for unused variables given on the command line.
loading initial cache file /home/straversaro/src/robotology-superbuild/build/robotology/YCM/CMakeFiles/YCMTmp/YCM-cache-Release.cmake
CMake Error: Error: generator : Ninja
Does not match the generator used previously: Unix Makefiles
Either remove the CMakeCache.txt file and CMakeFiles directory or choose a different binary directory.

[fbiazin]

FIY: I was able to compile with ninja when, after the error, I went to the directory where Gentoo put the related files and replaced all instances of $ with $$ on the file build.ninja

I don't know the proccess that generate this file, I just saw that it was used to write some parameters and replaced it. I also don't know anything about YCM.

The ebuild (file that controls building on Gentoo) was from 2018 and the directory of the file was /var/tmp/portage/games-engines/devilutionx-9999/work/devilutionx-9999_build then I used the command ebuilt with compile, install and qmerge to continue from where the error happened.

[traversaro]

If YCM is bootstrapped, apparently the ninja build also fails with the following error:

FAILED: robotology/YCM/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/YCM-configure 
cd /home/straversaro/src/robotology-superbuild/build/robotology/YCM && /usr/bin/cmake --no-warn-unused-cli "-DCMAKE_PREFIX_PATH:PATH=/home/straversaro/src/robotology-superbuild/build/install;/home/straversaro/src/idjl-software/build/install" -C/home/straversaro/src/robotology-superbuild/build/robotology/YCM/CMakeFiles/YCMTmp/YCM-cache-Release.cmake -GNinja /home/straversaro/src/robotology-superbuild/robotology/YCM && /usr/bin/cmake -E touch /home/straversaro/src/robotology-superbuild/build/robotology/YCM/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/YCM-configure
Not searching for unused variables given on the command line.
loading initial cache file /home/straversaro/src/robotology-superbuild/build/robotology/YCM/CMakeFiles/YCMTmp/YCM-cache-Release.cmake
CMake Error: Error: generator : Ninja
Does not match the generator used previously: Unix Makefiles
Either remove the CMakeCache.txt file and CMakeFiles directory or choose a different binary directory.

This problem was actually similar to #265, and that was fixed by #276 .

However, I am not sure this is related at all with the original issue reported by @diegoferigo .

However, @diegoferigo are you still experiencing this error? We currently have CI jobs that use Ninja with no problems, so unless there is a way to reproduce this error, I would not know how to tackle it.

[diegoferigo]

Nope, I'm not seeing this error since a while now (the first post is 2y+ old). I think we can close this issue and reopen it if the problem shows up again in the future.

[giotherobot]

This problem resurfaced while trying a fresh superbuild on my laptop and building with VSCode (which uses ninja as defauls instead of unix makefiles).

This seems related to enabling any of the YCM_EP_DEVEL_MODE_ flags, when none of these are are active the build finshes successfully.

[traversaro]

Related issue: ninja-build/ninja#1923 .

I replicated the issue locally by setting YCM_EP_DEVEL_MODE_ICUB:

CMake Error:
  Running

   '/home/traversaro/robotology-superbuild/.pixi/envs/default/bin/ninja' '-C' '/home/traversaro/robotology-superbuild/.build' '-t' 'recompact'

  failed with:

   ninja: error: build.ninja:1114: bad $-escape (literal $ must be written as $$)

This is the diff in the build.ninja when the YCM_EP_DEVEL_MODE_ICUB option is enabled:

(robotology-superbuild) traversaro@IITBMP014LW012:~/robotology-superbuild/.build$ diff build.ninja buildnotworking.ninja
221c221
< build update-all: phony ICUB-update ICUBcontrib-update YARP-update YCM-update ergocub-software-update gz-sim-yarp-plugins-update icub-models-update robots-configuration-update yarp-devices-ros-update
---
> build update-all: phony ICUBcontrib-update YARP-update YCM-update ergocub-software-update gz-sim-yarp-plugins-update icub-models-update robots-configuration-update yarp-devices-ros-update
275c275
< build ICUB: phony CMakeFiles/ICUB CMakeFiles/ICUB-complete src/ICUB/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/ICUB-done src/ICUB/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/ICUB-build src/ICUB/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/ICUB-configure src/ICUB/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/ICUB-download src/ICUB/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/ICUB-install src/ICUB/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/ICUB-mkdir src/ICUB/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/ICUB-patch_disconnected src/ICUB/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/ICUB-update_disconnected CMakeFiles/YARP-complete src/YARP/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/YARP-done CMakeFiles/YCM-complete src/YCM/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/YCM-done src/YARP/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/YARP-build src/YARP/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/YARP-configure src/YARP/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/YARP-download src/YARP/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/YARP-install src/YARP/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/YARP-mkdir src/YARP/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/YARP-patch_disconnected src/YARP/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/YARP-update_disconnected src/YCM/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/YCM-build src/YCM/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/YCM-configure src/YCM/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/YCM-download src/YCM/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/YCM-install src/YCM/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/YCM-mkdir src/YCM/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/YCM-patch_disconnected src/YCM/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/YCM-update_disconnected ICUB-download YARP YCM
---
> build ICUB: phony CMakeFiles/ICUB CMakeFiles/ICUB-complete src/ICUB/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/ICUB-done src/ICUB/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/ICUB-build src/ICUB/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/ICUB-configure src/ICUB/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/ICUB-download src/ICUB/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/ICUB-install src/ICUB/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/ICUB-mkdir src/ICUB/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/ICUB-patch_disconnected src/ICUB/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/ICUB-update_disconnected CMakeFiles/YARP-complete src/YARP/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/YARP-done CMakeFiles/YCM-complete src/YCM/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/YCM-done src/YARP/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/YARP-build src/YARP/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/YARP-configure src/YARP/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/YARP-download src/YARP/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/YARP-install src/YARP/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/YARP-mkdir src/YARP/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/YARP-patch_disconnected src/YARP/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/YARP-update_disconnected src/YCM/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/YCM-build src/YCM/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/YCM-configure src/YCM/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/YCM-download src/YCM/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/YCM-install src/YCM/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/YCM-mkdir src/YCM/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/YCM-patch_disconnected src/YCM/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/YCM-update_disconnected ICUB-configure ICUB-download YARP YCM
279c279
< # Utility command for ICUB-update
---
> # Utility command for ICUB-configure
281c281
< build ICUB-update: phony CMakeFiles/ICUB-update src/ICUB/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/ICUB-update src/ICUB/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/ICUB-download src/ICUB/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/ICUB-mkdir ICUB-download
---
> build ICUB-configure: phony CMakeFiles/ICUB-configure src/ICUB/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/ICUB-configure src/ICUB/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/ICUB-patch_disconnected CMakeFiles/YARP-complete src/YARP/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/YARP-done CMakeFiles/YCM-complete src/YCM/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/YCM-done src/ICUB/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/ICUB-update_disconnected src/YARP/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/YARP-build src/YARP/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/YARP-configure src/YARP/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/YARP-download src/YARP/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/YARP-install src/YARP/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/YARP-mkdir src/YARP/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/YARP-patch_disconnected src/YARP/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/YARP-update_disconnected src/YCM/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/YCM-build src/YCM/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/YCM-configure src/YCM/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/YCM-download src/YCM/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/YCM-install src/YCM/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/YCM-mkdir src/YCM/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/YCM-patch_disconnected src/YCM/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/YCM-update_disconnected src/ICUB/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/ICUB-download src/ICUB/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/ICUB-mkdir ICUB-download YARP YCM
290a291,356
> # Utility command for fetch-all
>
> build fetch-all: phony ICUB-fetch
>
>
> #############################################
> # Utility command for ICUB-fetch
>
> build ICUB-fetch: phony CMakeFiles/ICUB-fetch src/ICUB/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/ICUB-fetch src/ICUB/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/ICUB-download src/ICUB/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/ICUB-mkdir ICUB-download YARP YCM
>
>
> #############################################
> # Utility command for status-all
>
> build status-all: phony ICUB-status
>
>
> #############################################
> # Utility command for ICUB-status
>
> build ICUB-status: phony CMakeFiles/ICUB-status src/ICUB/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/ICUB-status src/ICUB/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/ICUB-download src/ICUB/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/ICUB-mkdir ICUB-download YARP YCM
>
>
> #############################################
> # Utility command for clean-all
>
> build clean-all: phony ICUB-clean
>
>
> #############################################
> # Utility command for ICUB-clean
>
> build ICUB-clean: phony CMakeFiles/ICUB-clean src/ICUB/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/ICUB-clean src/ICUB/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/ICUB-configure src/ICUB/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/ICUB-patch_disconnected CMakeFiles/YARP-complete src/YARP/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/YARP-done CMakeFiles/YCM-complete src/YCM/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/YCM-done src/ICUB/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/ICUB-update_disconnected src/YARP/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/YARP-build src/YARP/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/YARP-configure src/YARP/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/YARP-download src/YARP/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/YARP-install src/YARP/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/YARP-mkdir src/YARP/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/YARP-patch_disconnected src/YARP/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/YARP-update_disconnected src/YCM/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/YCM-build src/YCM/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/YCM-configure src/YCM/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/YCM-download src/YCM/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/YCM-install src/YCM/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/YCM-mkdir src/YCM/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/YCM-patch_disconnected src/YCM/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/YCM-update_disconnected src/ICUB/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/ICUB-download src/ICUB/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/ICUB-mkdir ICUB-configure YARP YCM
>
>
> #############################################
> # Utility command for ICUB-edit_cache
>
> build ICUB-edit_cache: phony CMakeFiles/ICUB-edit_cache src/ICUB/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/ICUB-edit_cache src/ICUB/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/ICUB-configure src/ICUB/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/ICUB-patch_disconnected CMakeFiles/YARP-complete src/YARP/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/YARP-done CMakeFiles/YCM-complete src/YCM/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/YCM-done src/ICUB/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/ICUB-update_disconnected src/YARP/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/YARP-build src/YARP/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/YARP-configure src/YARP/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/YARP-download src/YARP/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/YARP-install src/YARP/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/YARP-mkdir src/YARP/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/YARP-patch_disconnected src/YARP/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/YARP-update_disconnected src/YCM/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/YCM-build src/YCM/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/YCM-configure src/YCM/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/YCM-download src/YCM/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/YCM-install src/YCM/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/YCM-mkdir src/YCM/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/YCM-patch_disconnected src/YCM/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/YCM-update_disconnected src/ICUB/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/ICUB-download src/ICUB/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/ICUB-mkdir ICUB-configure YARP YCM
>
>
> #############################################
> # Utility command for print-directories-all
>
> build print-directories-all: phony ICUB-print-directories
>
>
> #############################################
> # Utility command for ICUB-print-directories
>
> build ICUB-print-directories: phony CMakeFiles/ICUB-print-directories src/ICUB/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/ICUB-print-directories YARP YCM
>
>
> #############################################
> # Utility command for ICUB-dependees
>
> build ICUB-dependees: phony CMakeFiles/ICUB-dependees src/ICUB/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/ICUB-dependees YARP YCM
>
>
> #############################################
> # Utility command for ICUB-dependees-update
>
> build ICUB-dependees-update: phony CMakeFiles/ICUB-dependees-update src/ICUB/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/ICUB-dependees-update YARP YARP-update YCM YCM-update
>
>
> #############################################
937c1003
< build CMakeFiles/ICUB | ${cmake_ninja_workdir}CMakeFiles/ICUB: phony CMakeFiles/ICUB-complete || ICUB-download YARP YARP-download YCM YCM-download
---
> build CMakeFiles/ICUB | ${cmake_ninja_workdir}CMakeFiles/ICUB: phony CMakeFiles/ICUB-complete || ICUB-configure ICUB-download YARP YARP-download YCM YCM-download
943c1009
< build CMakeFiles/ICUB-complete src/ICUB/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/ICUB-done | ${cmake_ninja_workdir}CMakeFiles/ICUB-complete ${cmake_ninja_workdir}src/ICUB/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/ICUB-done: CUSTOM_COMMAND src/ICUB/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/ICUB-install src/ICUB/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/ICUB-mkdir src/ICUB/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/ICUB-download src/ICUB/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/ICUB-update_disconnected src/ICUB/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/ICUB-patch_disconnected src/ICUB/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/ICUB-configure src/ICUB/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/ICUB-build src/ICUB/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/ICUB-install || ICUB-download YARP YARP-download YCM YCM-download
---
> build CMakeFiles/ICUB-complete src/ICUB/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/ICUB-done | ${cmake_ninja_workdir}CMakeFiles/ICUB-complete ${cmake_ninja_workdir}src/ICUB/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/ICUB-done: CUSTOM_COMMAND src/ICUB/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/ICUB-install src/ICUB/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/ICUB-mkdir src/ICUB/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/ICUB-download src/ICUB/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/ICUB-update_disconnected src/ICUB/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/ICUB-patch_disconnected src/ICUB/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/ICUB-configure src/ICUB/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/ICUB-build src/ICUB/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/ICUB-install || ICUB-configure ICUB-download YARP YARP-download YCM YCM-download
952c1018
< build src/ICUB/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/ICUB-build | ${cmake_ninja_workdir}src/ICUB/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/ICUB-build: CUSTOM_COMMAND src/ICUB/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/ICUB-configure || ICUB-download YARP YARP-download YCM YCM-download
---
> build src/ICUB/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/ICUB-build | ${cmake_ninja_workdir}src/ICUB/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/ICUB-build: CUSTOM_COMMAND src/ICUB/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/ICUB-configure || ICUB-configure ICUB-download YARP YARP-download YCM YCM-download
979c1045
< build src/ICUB/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/ICUB-install | ${cmake_ninja_workdir}src/ICUB/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/ICUB-install: CUSTOM_COMMAND src/ICUB/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/ICUB-build || ICUB-download YARP YARP-download YCM YCM-download
---
> build src/ICUB/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/ICUB-install | ${cmake_ninja_workdir}src/ICUB/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/ICUB-install: CUSTOM_COMMAND src/ICUB/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/ICUB-build || ICUB-configure ICUB-download YARP YARP-download YCM YCM-download
1013c1079
< # Phony custom command for CMakeFiles/ICUB-update
---
> # Phony custom command for CMakeFiles/ICUB-configure
1015c1081
< build CMakeFiles/ICUB-update | ${cmake_ninja_workdir}CMakeFiles/ICUB-update: phony src/ICUB/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/ICUB-update || ICUB-download
---
> build CMakeFiles/ICUB-configure | ${cmake_ninja_workdir}CMakeFiles/ICUB-configure: phony src/ICUB/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/ICUB-configure || ICUB-download YARP YARP-download YCM YCM-download
1019c1085
< # Custom command for src/ICUB/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/ICUB-update
---
> # Phony custom command for CMakeFiles/ICUB-download
1021,1023c1087
< build src/ICUB/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/ICUB-update | ${cmake_ninja_workdir}src/ICUB/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/ICUB-update: CUSTOM_COMMAND src/ICUB/CMakeFiles/YCMTmp/ICUB-gitupdate.cmake src/ICUB/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/ICUB-update-info.txt src/ICUB/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/ICUB-download || ICUB-download
<   COMMAND = cd /home/traversaro/robotology-superbuild/src/ICUB && /home/traversaro/robotology-superbuild/.pixi/envs/default/bin/cmake -Dcan_fetch=YES -DCMAKE_MESSAGE_LOG_LEVEL=VERBOSE -P /home/traversaro/robotology-superbuild/.build/src/ICUB/CMakeFiles/YCMTmp/ICUB-gitupdate.cmake
<   DESC = Performing update step for 'ICUB'
---
> build CMakeFiles/ICUB-download | ${cmake_ninja_workdir}CMakeFiles/ICUB-download: phony src/ICUB/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/ICUB-download
1027c1091
< # Phony custom command for CMakeFiles/ICUB-download
---
> # Phony custom command for CMakeFiles/ICUB-fetch
1029c1093,1185
< build CMakeFiles/ICUB-download | ${cmake_ninja_workdir}CMakeFiles/ICUB-download: phony src/ICUB/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/ICUB-download
---
> build CMakeFiles/ICUB-fetch | ${cmake_ninja_workdir}CMakeFiles/ICUB-fetch: phony src/ICUB/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/ICUB-fetch || ICUB-download YARP YARP-download YCM YCM-download
>
>
> #############################################
> # Custom command for src/ICUB/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/ICUB-fetch
>
> build src/ICUB/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/ICUB-fetch | ${cmake_ninja_workdir}src/ICUB/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/ICUB-fetch: CUSTOM_COMMAND src/ICUB/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/ICUB-download || ICUB-download YARP YARP-download YCM YCM-download
>   COMMAND = cd /home/traversaro/robotology-superbuild/src/ICUB && /usr/bin/git fetch --all --prune
>   DESC = Performing fetch step for 'ICUB'
>
>
> #############################################
> # Phony custom command for CMakeFiles/ICUB-status
>
> build CMakeFiles/ICUB-status | ${cmake_ninja_workdir}CMakeFiles/ICUB-status: phony src/ICUB/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/ICUB-status || ICUB-download YARP YARP-download YCM YCM-download
>
>
> #############################################
> # Custom command for src/ICUB/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/ICUB-status
>
> build src/ICUB/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/ICUB-status | ${cmake_ninja_workdir}src/ICUB/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/ICUB-status: CUSTOM_COMMAND src/ICUB/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/ICUB-download || ICUB-download YARP YARP-download YCM YCM-download
>   COMMAND = cd /home/traversaro/robotology-superbuild/src/ICUB && /home/traversaro/robotology-superbuild/.pixi/envs/default/bin/cmake -E cmake_echo_color --switch=$(COLOR) --cyan "Working directory: /home/traversaro/robotology-superbuild/src/ICUB" && /usr/bin/git status
>   DESC = Performing status step for 'ICUB'
>
>
> #############################################
> # Phony custom command for CMakeFiles/ICUB-clean
>
> build CMakeFiles/ICUB-clean | ${cmake_ninja_workdir}CMakeFiles/ICUB-clean: phony src/ICUB/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/ICUB-clean || ICUB-configure ICUB-download YARP YARP-download YCM YCM-download
>
>
> #############################################
> # Custom command for src/ICUB/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/ICUB-clean
>
> build src/ICUB/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/ICUB-clean | ${cmake_ninja_workdir}src/ICUB/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/ICUB-clean: CUSTOM_COMMAND src/ICUB/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/ICUB-configure || ICUB-configure ICUB-download YARP YARP-download YCM YCM-download
>   COMMAND = cd /home/traversaro/robotology-superbuild/.build/src/ICUB && /home/traversaro/robotology-superbuild/.pixi/envs/default/bin/cmake --build /home/traversaro/robotology-superbuild/.build/src/ICUB --config . --target clean
>   DESC = Performing clean step for 'ICUB'
>
>
> #############################################
> # Phony custom command for CMakeFiles/ICUB-edit_cache
>
> build CMakeFiles/ICUB-edit_cache | ${cmake_ninja_workdir}CMakeFiles/ICUB-edit_cache: phony src/ICUB/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/ICUB-edit_cache || ICUB-configure ICUB-download YARP YARP-download YCM YCM-download
>
>
> #############################################
> # Custom command for src/ICUB/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/ICUB-edit_cache
>
> build src/ICUB/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/ICUB-edit_cache | ${cmake_ninja_workdir}src/ICUB/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/ICUB-edit_cache: CUSTOM_COMMAND src/ICUB/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/ICUB-configure || ICUB-configure ICUB-download YARP YARP-download YCM YCM-download
>   COMMAND = cd /home/traversaro/robotology-superbuild/.build/src/ICUB && /home/traversaro/robotology-superbuild/.pixi/envs/default/bin/ccmake -H/home/traversaro/robotology-superbuild/src/ICUB -B/home/traversaro/robotology-superbuild/.build/src/ICUB
>   DESC = Running CMake cache editor for ICUB...
>
>
> #############################################
> # Phony custom command for CMakeFiles/ICUB-print-directories
>
> build CMakeFiles/ICUB-print-directories | ${cmake_ninja_workdir}CMakeFiles/ICUB-print-directories: phony src/ICUB/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/ICUB-print-directories || YARP YARP-download YCM YCM-download
>
>
> #############################################
> # Custom command for src/ICUB/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/ICUB-print-directories
>
> build src/ICUB/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/ICUB-print-directories | ${cmake_ninja_workdir}src/ICUB/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/ICUB-print-directories: CUSTOM_COMMAND || YARP YARP-download YCM YCM-download
>   COMMAND = cd /home/traversaro/robotology-superbuild/src/ICUB && /home/traversaro/robotology-superbuild/.pixi/envs/default/bin/cmake -E echo "" && /home/traversaro/robotology-superbuild/.pixi/envs/default/bin/cmake -E cmake_echo_color --switch=$(COLOR) --cyan "ICUB REPOSITORY directory: " && /home/traversaro/robotology-superbuild/.pixi/envs/default/bin/cmake -E echo "    /home/traversaro/robotology-superbuild/src/ICUB" && /home/traversaro/robotology-superbuild/.pixi/envs/default/bin/cmake -E echo && /home/traversaro/robotology-superbuild/.pixi/envs/default/bin/cmake -E cmake_echo_color --switch=$(COLOR) --cyan "ICUB SOURCE directory: " && /home/traversaro/robotology-superbuild/.pixi/envs/default/bin/cmake -E echo "    " && /home/traversaro/robotology-superbuild/.pixi/envs/default/bin/cmake -E echo "" && /home/traversaro/robotology-superbuild/.pixi/envs/default/bin/cmake -E cmake_echo_color --switch=$(COLOR) --cyan "ICUB BINARY directory: " && /home/traversaro/robotology-superbuild/.pixi/envs/default/bin/cmake -E echo "    /home/traversaro/robotology-superbuild/.build/src/ICUB" && /home/traversaro/robotology-superbuild/.pixi/envs/default/bin/cmake -E echo ""
>   DESC = Directories for ICUB
>
>
> #############################################
> # Phony custom command for CMakeFiles/ICUB-dependees
>
> build CMakeFiles/ICUB-dependees | ${cmake_ninja_workdir}CMakeFiles/ICUB-dependees: phony src/ICUB/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/ICUB-dependees || YARP YARP-download YCM YCM-download
>
>
> #############################################
> # Custom command for src/ICUB/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/ICUB-dependees
>
> build src/ICUB/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/ICUB-dependees | ${cmake_ninja_workdir}src/ICUB/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/ICUB-dependees: CUSTOM_COMMAND || YARP YARP-download YCM YCM-download
>   COMMAND = cd /home/traversaro/robotology-superbuild/.build/src/ICUB && /home/traversaro/robotology-superbuild/.pixi/envs/default/bin/cmake -E echo_append
>   DESC = Dependencies for 'ICUB' built.
>
>
> #############################################
> # Phony custom command for CMakeFiles/ICUB-dependees-update
>
> build CMakeFiles/ICUB-dependees-update | ${cmake_ninja_workdir}CMakeFiles/ICUB-dependees-update: phony src/ICUB/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/ICUB-dependees-update || YARP YARP-download YARP-update YCM YCM-download YCM-update
>
>
> #############################################
> # Custom command for src/ICUB/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/ICUB-dependees-update
>
> build src/ICUB/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/ICUB-dependees-update | ${cmake_ninja_workdir}src/ICUB/CMakeFiles/YCMStamp/ICUB-dependees-update: CUSTOM_COMMAND || YARP YARP-download YARP-update YCM YCM-download YCM-update
>   COMMAND = cd /home/traversaro/robotology-superbuild/.build && /home/traversaro/robotology-superbuild/.pixi/envs/default/bin/cmake -E echo_append
>   DESC = Dependencies for 'ICUB' updated.

[traversaro]

The problematic parts are the --switch=$(COLOR) arguments passed to CMake by ninja:

>   COMMAND = cd /home/traversaro/robotology-superbuild/src/ICUB && /home/traversaro/robotology-superbuild/.pixi/envs/default/bin/cmake -E cmake_echo_color --switch=$(COLOR) --cyan "Working directory: /home/traversaro/robotology-superbuild/src/ICUB" && /usr/bin/git status
>   COMMAND = cd /home/traversaro/robotology-superbuild/src/ICUB && /home/traversaro/robotology-superbuild/.pixi/envs/default/bin/cmake -E echo "" && /home/traversaro/robotology-superbuild/.pixi/envs/default/bin/cmake -E cmake_echo_color --switch=$(COLOR) --cyan "ICUB REPOSITORY directory: " && /home/traversaro/robotology-superbuild/.pixi/envs/default/bin/cmake -E echo "    /home/traversaro/robotology-superbuild/src/ICUB" && /home/traversaro/robotology-superbuild/.pixi/envs/default/bin/cmake -E echo && /home/traversaro/robotology-superbuild/.pixi/envs/default/bin/cmake -E cmake_echo_color --switch=$(COLOR) --cyan "ICUB SOURCE directory: " && /home/traversaro/robotology-superbuild/.pixi/envs/default/bin/cmake -E echo "    " && /home/traversaro/robotology-superbuild/.pixi/envs/default/bin/cmake -E echo "" && /home/traversaro/robotology-superbuild/.pixi/envs/default/bin/cmake -E cmake_echo_color --switch=$(COLOR) --cyan "ICUB BINARY directory: " && /home/traversaro/robotology-superbuild/.pixi/envs/default/bin/cmake -E echo "    /home/traversaro/robotology-superbuild/.build/src/ICUB" && /home/traversaro/robotology-superbuild/.pixi/envs/default/bin/cmake -E echo ""

[traversaro]

A fix for this is provided in robotology/ycm-cmake-modules#456 .