# Questions on Project tasks and External System API

**URL:** <https://platform.jetbrains.com/t/questions-on-project-tasks-and-external-system-api/2843>\
**Category:** IntelliJ Platform\
**Tags:** api, build\
**Created:** [October 2, 2025, 3:34pm UTC](https://platform.jetbrains.com/t/questions-on-project-tasks-and-external-system-api/2843 "2025-10-02T15:34:54Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![jansorg](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/platform.jetbrains.com/jansorg/32/52_2.png) [@jansorg](https://platform.jetbrains.com/u/jansorg)\
**Post date:** [October 2, 2025, 3:34pm UTC](https://platform.jetbrains.com/t/questions-on-project-tasks-and-external-system-api/2843/1 "2025-10-02T15:34:54Z")

</div>

I wanted to add support for the “Build Project” and “Build Module” actions, which are available in IntelliJ IDEA.

I found `ProjectTaskRunner`. A basic implementation is working so far.

- “Build Project” is unavailable in WebStorm, for example. What’s the recommendation for building in minor IDEs? A `BeforeRunTaskProvider` with run configurations?

I also wanted to show the build output in the Build tool window. That brought me to the External System API.

- Is the External System API used by the minor IDEs?  
I was able to install the Gradle plugin in WebStorm, but it’s not showing up anywhere.
- Is the External System API meant for JVM projects or is it generic enough for other build systems and languages?

Thank you!