diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 05e6001f9..bbb153e64 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -3,6 +3,8 @@ cmake_minimum_required(VERSION 3.5.0)
 include(CMakeParseArguments)
 include(CheckCCompilerFlag)
 include(CheckCXXCompilerFlag)
+# Generate compilation database compile_commands.json
+set(CMAKE_EXPORT_COMPILE_COMMANDS ON)
 
 # Default c++ standard used unless otherwise specified in target_compile_features.
 set(CMAKE_CXX_STANDARD 17 CACHE STRING "the C++ standard to use for this project")