Availability: Docs
Title: Build Configurations Reference
Description: Reference guide for solution and project build configurations.
Crumbs: %ROOT%, Programming, Programming/Development
Prereq: GettingStarted/RecommendedSpecifications
Related: GettingStarted/DownloadingUnrealEngine
Related: Programming/Development/BuildingUnrealEngine
Related: Programming/Development/CompilingProjects
Related: Support/Builds
Version: 4.8

[TOC (start:2 end:3)]

## Build Configuration Descriptions

Unreal Engine 4 (UE4) uses a custom building method via the UnrealBuildTool. This tool handles all the complex aspects of compiling the engine. 

[INCLUDE:Programming/Development/CompilingProjects#winbuildconfig]

### Build Configuration for UE4 Solution

(#bookmark1)

When compiling a UE4 solution, you are compiling our engine's source code together with your project's source code. The following build configurations are available when building your project this way:

|             | Debug    | DebugGame | Development | Shipping | Test     |
| ----------- | -----    | --------- | ----------- | -------- | ----     |
| **[empty]** | ✓ | ✓  | ✓    | ✓ | ✓ |
| **Editor ** | ✓ | ✓  | ✓    |          |          |
| **Client ** | ✓ | ✓  | ✓    | ✓ | ✓ |
| **Server ** | ✓ | ✓  | ✓    | ✓ | ✓ |
													   
### Build Configuration for UE4 Project

When compiling a UE4 project, you are only compiling your project's source code. The following build configurations are available when building your project this way:

%Globals:osselect_linux%

[OBJECT:ToggleButtonContent]
	[PARAMLITERAL:category]
	OS
	[/PARAMLITERAL]
	[PARAMLITERAL:id]
	windows
	[/PARAMLITERAL]
	[PARAMLITERAL:active]
	active_button_content
	[/PARAMLITERAL]
	[PARAM:content]
	    |             | Debug | DebugGame | Development | Shipping | Test |
        | ----------- | ----- | --------- | ----------- | -------- | ---- |
        | **[empty]** |       | ✓  | ✓    | ✓ |      |
        | **Editor ** |       | ✓  | ✓    |          |      |
        | **Client ** |       |           |             |          |      |
        | **Server ** |       |           |             |          |      |
	[/PARAM]
[/OBJECT]
[OBJECT:ToggleButtonContent]
	[PARAMLITERAL:category]
	OS
	[/PARAMLITERAL]
	[PARAMLITERAL:id]
	mac
	[/PARAMLITERAL]
	[PARAMLITERAL:active]
	[/PARAMLITERAL]
	[PARAM:content]
	    |             | Debug | DebugGame | Development | Shipping | Test |
        | ----------- | ----- | --------- | ----------- | -------- | ---- |
        | **[empty]** |       | ✓  | ✓    | ✓ |      |
        | **Editor ** |       | ✓  | ✓    |          |      |
        | **Client ** |       |           |             |          |      |
        | **Server ** |       |           |             |          |      |
	[/PARAM]
[/OBJECT]
[OBJECT:ToggleButtonContent]
	[PARAMLITERAL:category]
	OS
	[/PARAMLITERAL]
	[PARAMLITERAL:id]
	linux
	[/PARAMLITERAL]
	[PARAMLITERAL:active]
	[/PARAMLITERAL]
	[PARAM:content]
	    [REGION:warning]
        We currently don't provide a binary installer of Unreal Engine for Linux.  
		Linux users should refer to the [Build Configuration for UE4 Solution](#bookmark1) section.  
        _Refer to our [](GettingStarted/DownloadingUnrealEngine) documentation to learn how to build Unreal Engine from source._
        [/REGION]
	[/PARAM]
[/OBJECT]