Bug 507463 - single quotes in directory name makes project fail to launch
Summary: single quotes in directory name makes project fail to launch
Status: CONFIRMED
Alias: None
Product: kdevelop
Classification: Applications
Component: All build tools (other bugs)
Version First Reported In: 6.2.250403
Platform: Arch Linux Linux
: NOR minor
Target Milestone: ---
Assignee: kdevelop-bugs-null
URL:
Keywords:
Depends on:
Blocks:
 
Reported: 2025-07-24 23:51 UTC by Caroline
Modified: 2025-07-25 08:11 UTC (History)
3 users (show)

See Also:
Latest Commit:
Version Fixed In:
Sentry Crash Report:


Attachments
makefile (47 bytes, text/plain)
2025-07-24 23:51 UTC, Caroline
Details
main c++ file (79 bytes, text/x-c++src)
2025-07-24 23:52 UTC, Caroline
Details

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Description Caroline 2025-07-24 23:51:20 UTC
Created attachment 183501 [details]
makefile

SUMMARY
I have a directory called "test'folder" and trying to use kdev to run a project from that directory fails

STEPS TO REPRODUCE
1. create a folder called "test'folder"
2. create a makerfile project in that directory and import it to kdevelop
3. 

OBSERVED RESULT
exits with the error "*** Failed to specify program to start:  ***"

EXPECTED RESULT
program runs without issue

SOFTWARE/OS VERSIONS
Windows: 
macOS: 
(available in the Info Center app, or by running `kinfo` in a terminal window)
Linux/KDE Plasma: 
KDE Plasma Version: 
KDE Frameworks Version: 
Qt Version: 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Comment 1 Caroline 2025-07-24 23:52:25 UTC
Created attachment 183502 [details]
main c++ file

didn't mean to submit already
Comment 2 Caroline 2025-07-24 23:59:26 UTC
guess I'll fill out the info here cause I accidentally submitted this report before I finished writing

STEPS TO REPRODUCE
1. create a folder called "test'folder"
2. create a makerfile project in that directory and import it to kdevelop
3. build project
4. press execute
5. add a compiled binary to test'folder
6. select the binary compiled by build
7. apply changes
8. program fails to run

OBSERVED RESULT
exits with the error "*** Failed to specify program to start:  ***"

EXPECTED RESULT
program runs without issue

SOFTWARE/OS VERSIONS
(available in the Info Center app, or by running `kinfo` in a terminal window)
Linux/KDE Plasma: Arch Linux
KDE Plasma Version: 6.4.3
KDE Frameworks Version: 6.16.0
Qt Version: 6.9.1
Comment 3 Igor Kushnir 2025-07-25 08:11:49 UTC
KDevelop splits the executable URL into arguments. I think it does that in order to detect potential quoting or meta character issues when a final, effective command line is formed (for running, debugging or profiling the program). Running your executable fails at https://invent.kde.org/kdevelop/kdevelop/-/blob/e57ce526f7d6ef936881b3fdc1e8540b6888d29c/plugins/execute/executeplugin.cpp#L162 because of a quoting error.

I am not sure a quote in the executable path can be properly supported for all possible uses of launch configurations. If making this work is important to you, feel free to fix and create a merge request. The fix will have to be thoroughly tested in different launch scenarios.