diff --git a/src/plugins/compilationdatabaseprojectmanager/compilationdatabaseproject.cpp b/src/plugins/compilationdatabaseprojectmanager/compilationdatabaseproject.cpp
index 9ce006cc9f9..e70c70c7aed 100644
--- a/src/plugins/compilationdatabaseprojectmanager/compilationdatabaseproject.cpp
+++ b/src/plugins/compilationdatabaseprojectmanager/compilationdatabaseproject.cpp
@@ -33,10 +33,15 @@
 #include <cpptools/cppkitinfo.h>
 #include <cpptools/cppprojectupdater.h>
 #include <cpptools/projectinfo.h>
+#include <projectexplorer/buildinfo.h>
+#include <projectexplorer/buildsteplist.h>
+#include <projectexplorer/buildtargetinfo.h>
 #include <projectexplorer/gcctoolchain.h>
 #include <projectexplorer/headerpath.h>
 #include <projectexplorer/kitinformation.h>
 #include <projectexplorer/kitmanager.h>
+#include <projectexplorer/namedwidget.h>
+#include <projectexplorer/processstep.h>
 #include <projectexplorer/projectexplorerconstants.h>
 #include <projectexplorer/projectnodes.h>
 #include <projectexplorer/target.h>
@@ -560,5 +565,65 @@ CompilationDatabaseEditorFactory::CompilationDatabaseEditorFactory()
     setCodeFoldingSupported(true);
 }
 
+CompilationDatabaseBuildConfiguration::CompilationDatabaseBuildConfiguration(
+    ProjectExplorer::Target *target, Core::Id id)
+    : ProjectExplorer::BuildConfiguration(target, id)
+{
+    BuildTargetInfoList appTargetList;
+    BuildTargetInfo bti;
+    appTargetList.list.append(bti);
+    target->setApplicationTargets(appTargetList);
+}
+
+void CompilationDatabaseBuildConfiguration::initialize(const ProjectExplorer::BuildInfo &info)
+{
+    ProjectExplorer::BuildConfiguration::initialize(info);
+    BuildStepList *buildSteps = stepList(ProjectExplorer::Constants::BUILDSTEPS_BUILD);
+    buildSteps->appendStep(new ProjectExplorer::ProcessStep(buildSteps));
+}
+
+ProjectExplorer::NamedWidget *CompilationDatabaseBuildConfiguration::createConfigWidget()
+{
+    return new ProjectExplorer::NamedWidget();
+}
+
+ProjectExplorer::BuildConfiguration::BuildType CompilationDatabaseBuildConfiguration::buildType() const
+{
+    return ProjectExplorer::BuildConfiguration::Release;
+}
+
+CompilationDatabaseBuildConfigurationFactory::CompilationDatabaseBuildConfigurationFactory()
+{
+    registerBuildConfiguration<CompilationDatabaseBuildConfiguration>(
+        "CompilationDatabase.CompilationDatabaseBuildConfiguration");
+
+    setSupportedProjectType(Constants::COMPILATIONDATABASEPROJECT_ID);
+    setSupportedProjectMimeTypeName(Constants::COMPILATIONDATABASEMIMETYPE);
+}
+
+static QList<ProjectExplorer::BuildInfo> defaultBuildInfos(
+    const ProjectExplorer::BuildConfigurationFactory *factory, const QString &name)
+{
+    ProjectExplorer::BuildInfo info(factory);
+    info.typeName = name;
+    info.displayName = name;
+    info.buildType = BuildConfiguration::Release;
+    QList<ProjectExplorer::BuildInfo> buildInfos;
+    buildInfos << info;
+    return buildInfos;
+}
+
+QList<ProjectExplorer::BuildInfo> CompilationDatabaseBuildConfigurationFactory::availableBuilds(
+    const ProjectExplorer::Target * /*parent*/) const
+{
+    return defaultBuildInfos(this, tr("Release"));
+}
+
+QList<ProjectExplorer::BuildInfo> CompilationDatabaseBuildConfigurationFactory::availableSetups(
+    const ProjectExplorer::Kit * /*k*/, const QString & /*projectPath*/) const
+{
+    return defaultBuildInfos(this, tr("Release"));
+}
+
 } // namespace Internal
 } // namespace CompilationDatabaseProjectManager
diff --git a/src/plugins/compilationdatabaseprojectmanager/compilationdatabaseproject.h b/src/plugins/compilationdatabaseprojectmanager/compilationdatabaseproject.h
index 0d76833ad29..0351721774c 100644
--- a/src/plugins/compilationdatabaseprojectmanager/compilationdatabaseproject.h
+++ b/src/plugins/compilationdatabaseprojectmanager/compilationdatabaseproject.h
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@
 
 #pragma once
 
+#include <projectexplorer/buildconfiguration.h>
 #include <projectexplorer/project.h>
 #include <projectexplorer/treescanner.h>
 #include <texteditor/texteditor.h>
@@ -51,7 +52,7 @@ public:
     explicit CompilationDatabaseProject(const Utils::FileName &filename);
     ~CompilationDatabaseProject() override;
     bool needsConfiguration() const override { return false; }
-    bool needsBuildConfigurations() const override { return false; }
+    bool needsBuildConfigurations() const override { return true; }
 
 private:
     RestoreResult fromMap(const QVariantMap &map, QString *errorMessage) override;
@@ -77,5 +78,30 @@ public:
     CompilationDatabaseEditorFactory();
 };
 
+class CompilationDatabaseBuildConfiguration : public ProjectExplorer::BuildConfiguration
+{
+    Q_OBJECT
+public:
+    CompilationDatabaseBuildConfiguration(ProjectExplorer::Target *target, Core::Id id);
+    ProjectExplorer::NamedWidget *createConfigWidget() override;
+    BuildType buildType() const override;
+
+protected:
+    void initialize(const ProjectExplorer::BuildInfo &info) override;
+};
+
+class CompilationDatabaseBuildConfigurationFactory
+    : public ProjectExplorer::BuildConfigurationFactory
+{
+    Q_OBJECT
+public:
+    CompilationDatabaseBuildConfigurationFactory();
+
+    QList<ProjectExplorer::BuildInfo> availableBuilds(
+        const ProjectExplorer::Target *parent) const override;
+    QList<ProjectExplorer::BuildInfo> availableSetups(const ProjectExplorer::Kit *k,
+                                                      const QString &projectPath) const override;
+};
+
 } // namespace Internal
 } // namespace CompilationDatabaseProjectManager
diff --git a/src/plugins/compilationdatabaseprojectmanager/compilationdatabaseprojectmanagerplugin.h b/src/plugins/compilationdatabaseprojectmanager/compilationdatabaseprojectmanagerplugin.h
index e3b56392b19..001e32f5f6c 100644
--- a/src/plugins/compilationdatabaseprojectmanager/compilationdatabaseprojectmanagerplugin.h
+++ b/src/plugins/compilationdatabaseprojectmanager/compilationdatabaseprojectmanagerplugin.h
@@ -48,6 +48,7 @@ private:
     QList<QObject *> createTestObjects() const final;
 
     CompilationDatabaseEditorFactory factory;
+    CompilationDatabaseBuildConfigurationFactory buildConfigFactory;
     QAction *m_changeProjectRootDirectoryAction;
 };
 
diff --git a/src/plugins/projectexplorer/processstep.cpp b/src/plugins/projectexplorer/processstep.cpp
index fb21454bb14..aa50847678f 100644
--- a/src/plugins/projectexplorer/processstep.cpp
+++ b/src/plugins/projectexplorer/processstep.cpp
@@ -24,12 +24,12 @@
 ****************************************************************************/
 
 #include "processstep.h"
-#include "buildstep.h"
 #include "buildconfiguration.h"
+#include "buildstep.h"
+#include "kit.h"
 #include "processparameters.h"
 #include "projectexplorerconstants.h"
 #include "target.h"
-#include "kit.h"
 
 #include <coreplugin/variablechooser.h>
 
@@ -38,7 +38,6 @@
 #include <QFormLayout>
 
 namespace ProjectExplorer {
-namespace Internal {
 
 const char PROCESS_STEP_ID[] = "ProjectExplorer.ProcessStep";
 const char PROCESS_COMMAND_KEY[] = "ProjectExplorer.ProcessStep.Command";
@@ -137,5 +136,4 @@ ProcessStepFactory::ProcessStepFactory()
     setDisplayName(ProcessStep::tr("Custom Process Step", "item in combobox"));
 }
 
-} // Internal
 } // ProjectExplorer
diff --git a/src/plugins/projectexplorer/processstep.h b/src/plugins/projectexplorer/processstep.h
index f7916bf4a44..241d440ad2e 100644
--- a/src/plugins/projectexplorer/processstep.h
+++ b/src/plugins/projectexplorer/processstep.h
@@ -27,9 +27,9 @@
 
 #include "abstractprocessstep.h"
 #include "projectconfigurationaspects.h"
+#include "projectexplorer_export.h"
 
 namespace ProjectExplorer {
-namespace Internal {
 
 class ProcessStepFactory : public BuildStepFactory
 {
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ public:
     ProcessStepFactory();
 };
 
-class ProcessStep : public AbstractProcessStep
+class PROJECTEXPLORER_EXPORT ProcessStep : public AbstractProcessStep
 {
     Q_OBJECT
     friend class ProcessStepFactory;
@@ -56,5 +56,4 @@ private:
     ProjectExplorer::BaseStringAspect *m_workingDirectory;
 };
 
-} // namespace Internal
 } // namespace ProjectExplorer