improve build.ps1 script

- handle \\ in paths
- update old hardcoded irrlicht path
- add some docs

Author: dav-og

CMakeLists.txt

@@ -281,8 +281,18 @@ endfunction()
 function(configure_test_environment)
 	# Set up DLL search paths for Windows testing
 	set(CHRONO_DLL_DIR "${Chrono_DIR}/../bin/Release")
-	set(IRRLICHT_DLL_DIR "C:/libs/irrlicht-1.8.4/bin/Win64-VisualStudio")
-	set(TEST_ENVIRONMENT "PATH=${CHRONO_DLL_DIR};${IRRLICHT_DLL_DIR};$ENV{PATH}" PARENT_SCOPE)
+	# Derive Irrlicht DLL dir from Irrlicht_ROOT provided by user config
+	set(IRRLICHT_DLL_DIR "")
+	if(DEFINED Irrlicht_ROOT AND EXISTS "${Irrlicht_ROOT}/bin/Win64-VisualStudio")
+		set(IRRLICHT_DLL_DIR "${Irrlicht_ROOT}/bin/Win64-VisualStudio")
+	elseif(DEFINED Irrlicht_ROOT AND EXISTS "${Irrlicht_ROOT}/bin")
+		set(IRRLICHT_DLL_DIR "${Irrlicht_ROOT}/bin")
+	endif()
+	if(IRRLICHT_DLL_DIR)
+		set(TEST_ENVIRONMENT "PATH=${CHRONO_DLL_DIR};${IRRLICHT_DLL_DIR};$ENV{PATH}" PARENT_SCOPE)
+	else()
+		set(TEST_ENVIRONMENT "PATH=${CHRONO_DLL_DIR};$ENV{PATH}" PARENT_SCOPE)
+	endif()
 endfunction()
 
 # ── Main HydroChrono Library ──

build.ps1

@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ function Load-Configuration {
 
     # Non-sensitive default values only
     $defaultConfig = @{
-        ScriptVersion = "2.1"
+        ScriptVersion = "2.2"
         DefaultBuildType = "Release"
         DefaultYamlRunner = "ON"
         RuntimeLibrary = "MultiThreaded`$<`$<CONFIG:Debug>:Debug>DLL"
@@ -362,7 +362,7 @@ function Initialize-BuildDirectory {
 function Configure-CMake {
     Write-Section "Configuring CMake"
 
-    $env:CMAKE_MODULE_PATH = $Config.CMakeModulePath
+    $env:CMAKE_MODULE_PATH = ($Config.CMakeModulePath -replace '\\','/')
 
     Write-Subsection "Build Configuration"
     Write-Info "Runtime library: MultiThreaded DLL (for Chrono compatibility)"
@@ -558,13 +558,19 @@ function Show-SuccessSummary {
 function Get-BuildArguments {
     param([string]$YamlRunner, [string]$BuildType)
 
+    $chronoDir  = ($Config.ChronoDir  -replace '\\','/')
+    $hdf5Dir    = ($Config.Hdf5Dir    -replace '\\','/')
+    $pythonRoot = ($Config.PythonRoot -replace '\\','/')
+    $eigenDir   = ($Config.EigenDir   -replace '\\','/')
+    $irrlicht   = ($Config.IrrlichtDir -replace '\\','/')
+    
     return @(
         "..",
-        "-DChrono_DIR=`"$($Config.ChronoDir)`"",
-        "-DHDF5_DIR=`"$($Config.Hdf5Dir)`"",
-        "-DPython3_ROOT_DIR=`"$($Config.PythonRoot)`"",
-        "-DEIGEN3_INCLUDE_DIR=`"$($Config.EigenDir)`"",
-        "-DIrrlicht_ROOT=`"$($Config.IrrlichtDir)`"",
+        "-DChrono_DIR=`"$chronoDir`"",
+        "-DHDF5_DIR=`"$hdf5Dir`"",
+        "-DPython3_ROOT_DIR=`"$pythonRoot`"",
+        "-DEIGEN3_INCLUDE_DIR=`"$eigenDir`"",
+        "-DIrrlicht_ROOT=`"$irrlicht`"",
         "-DHYDROCHRONO_ENABLE_YAML_RUNNER=`"$YamlRunner`"",
         "-DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=`"$BuildType`"",
         "-DCMAKE_MSVC_RUNTIME_LIBRARY=`"$($Config.RuntimeLibrary)`""

docs/_main_pages/developer_docs/build_instructions.md

@@ -15,8 +15,8 @@ This page provides instructions on how to build HydroChrono and its associated d
 Before attempting to build HydroChrono, ensure you have installed and built all of the required [prerequisites](/developer_docs/prerequisites). The exact versions listed in the prerequisites are essential for proper functionality.
 
 - CMake 3.16 or higher
-- A C++ compiler (Visual Studio 2019 or higher, or GCC through MinGW/MSYS2)
-- Project Chrono (built from source, tested with v9.0.0 and v9.0.1)
+- A C++ compiler (Visual Studio 2022 or higher, or GCC through MinGW/MSYS2)
+- Project Chrono (built from source, tested with latest version of main (30th Sep 2025))
 - HDF5 1.10.8 or higher
 - Python 3.8 or higher (with numpy and matplotlib)
 

docs/_main_pages/developer_docs/prerequisites.md

@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ For detailed instructions on how to install and build Chrono, please refer to th
 
 Below are the necessary dependencies and the recommended versions:
 
-- C++ Compiler (Visual Studio 2019 recommended)
+- C++ Compiler (Visual Studio 2022 recommended)
 - Eigen3 (3.4.0 recommended)
 - Irrlicht Engine (1.8.4)
 - CMake (3.18.2 or newer recommended)

tests/CMakeLists.txt

@@ -18,11 +18,11 @@ endif()
 # Note: Regression tests are now handled in tests/regression/CMakeLists.txt
 # and included directly from the main CMakeLists.txt
 
-# Set common test properties, including the PATH environment variable
-# This ensures that test executables can find required DLLs (Chrono, Irrlicht, etc.)
-set(CHRONO_DLL_DIR "${Chrono_DIR}/../bin/Release")
-set(IRRLICHT_DLL_DIR "C:/libs/irrlicht-1.8.4/bin/Win64-VisualStudio")
-set(TEST_ENVIRONMENT "PATH=${CHRONO_DLL_DIR};${IRRLICHT_DLL_DIR};$ENV{PATH}")
+# Expect TEST_ENVIRONMENT to be configured by top-level configure_test_environment().
+# Provide a minimal fallback to avoid failures if not defined.
+if(NOT DEFINED TEST_ENVIRONMENT)
+  set(TEST_ENVIRONMENT "PATH=$ENV{PATH}")
+endif()
 
 # Unit Tests
 # ==========