diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index d573504d..412be16a 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -34,6 +34,8 @@ option( USE_SUPERBUILD       "use ccache" ON)
 
 set(CMAKE_MODULE_PATH "${CMAKE_MODULE_PATH}" "${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/cmake/cmake_modules")
 
+set(CMAKE_EXPORT_COMPILE_COMMANDS 1)
+
 if(APPLE)
   set(INSTALL_DIR_DEFAULT /Applications/Netgen.app)
 else(APPLE)