Configuring Unreal Engine Build System Targets

In this lesson, you will learn how to use Target.cs files to dictate exactly what kind of executable Unreal Engine should build for your project.

What is a Build Target?

When you compile your project, Unreal doesn’t just build one "thing." It builds a Target. Think of a Target as a recipe for a specific output. You might want to build an executable for players to run the game, an executable for you (the developer) to run the Editor, or a stripped-down version for a dedicated server.

These recipes are defined in your project’s Source folder using C# files ending in .Target.cs.

Defining Your Targets

Every standard C++ project typically comes with two primary target files: YourProject.Target.cs (for the game) and YourProjectEditor.Target.cs (for the Editor).

If you look inside YourProject.Target.cs, you will see a class inheriting from TargetRules. This is where you configure the build:

public class MyGameTarget : TargetRules
{
    public MyGameTarget(TargetInfo Target) : base(Target)
    {
        Type = TargetType.Game;
        DefaultBuildSettings = BuildSettingsVersion.V5;
        ExtraModuleNames.Add("MyGame");
    }
}

Why does this matter?

• Type: Setting Type = TargetType.Game tells the build system this is for a standalone distribution. Setting it to Editor includes all the tools you use while making the game, which makes the file size much larger.
• ExtraModuleNames: This tells the compiler which of your code modules to include. If you have a massive project, you can use these files to build specific modules while leaving others out, which speeds up your iteration time.
• Optimization: You can toggle settings like bBuildEditor, bUseUnityBuild, or bIsClientOnly here to strip away unnecessary code, ensuring your final player build is as lean as possible.

By modifying these C# files, you control the "personality" of your build, ensuring you aren't compiling thousands of lines of Editor code into your final game executable.

Key Takeaway: Build Target files act as the master configuration for your project's compilation, allowing you to tailor specific executable outputs for the Editor, standalone game, or dedicated servers.