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Modern CMake for C++

The CMake Language

Writing in the CMake language is trickier than one might expect. When you read a CMake listfile for the first time, you may be under the impression that the language in it is so simple that it can be just practiced without any theory. You may then attempt to introduce changes and experiment with the code without a thorough understanding of how it actually works. I wouldn’t blame you. We programmers are usually very busy, and build-related issues aren’t usually something that sounds exciting to invest lots of time in. In an effort to go fast, we tend to make gut-based changes hoping they just might do the trick. This approach to solving technical problems is called voodoo programming.

The CMake language appears trivial: after introducing our small extension, fix, hack, or one-liner, we suddenly realize that something isn’t working. Usually, the duration spent on debugging exceeds the time required for comprehending the topic itself. Luckily...

Technical requirements

You can find the code files that are present in this chapter on GitHub at https://github.com/PacktPublishing/Modern-CMake-for-Cpp-2E/tree/main/examples/ch02.

To build the examples provided in this book, always use the recommended commands:

cmake -B <build tree> -S <source tree>
cmake --build <build tree>

Be sure to replace the placeholders <build tree> and <source tree> with appropriate paths. As a reminder: build tree is the path to the target/output directory and source tree is the path at which your source code is located.

Using lists

To store a list, CMake concatenates all elements into a string, using a semicolon, ;, as a delimiter: a;list;of;5;elements. You can escape a semicolon in an element with a backslash, like so: a\;single\;element.

To create a list, we can use the set() command:

set(myList a list of five elements)

Because of how lists are stored, the following commands will have exactly the same effect:

set(myList "a;list;of;five;elements")
set(myList a list "of;five;elements")

CMake automatically unpacks lists in unquoted arguments. By passing an unquoted myList reference, we effectively send more arguments to the command:

message("the list is:" ${myList})

The message() command will receive six arguments: “the list is:", “a", “list", “of", “five", and “elements". This may have unintended consequences, as the output will be printed without any additional spaces...

Understanding control structures in CMake

The CMake language wouldn’t be complete without control structures! Like everything else, they are provided in the form of a command, and they come in three categories: conditional blocks, loops, and command definitions. Control structures are executed in scripts and during buildsystem generation for projects.

Conditional blocks

The only conditional block supported in CMake is the humble if() command. All conditional blocks have to be closed with an endif() command, and they may have any number of elseif() commands and one optional else() command in this order:

if(<condition>)
  <commands>
elseif(<condition>) # optional block, can be repeated
  <commands>
else()              # optional block
  <commands>
endif()

As in many other imperative languages, the if()-endif() block controls which sets of commands will be executed:

If the <condition> expression specified in the if...

Key benefits

Get to grips with CMake and take your C++ development skills to enterprise standards

Use hands-on exercises and self-assessment questions to lock-in your learning

Understand how to build in an array of quality checks and tests for robust code

Description

Modern CMake for C++ isn't just another reference book, or a repackaging of the documentation, but a blueprint to bridging the gap between learning C++ and being able to use it in a professional setting. It's an end-to-end guide to the automation of complex tasks, including building, testing, and packaging software. This second edition is significantly rewritten, restructured and refreshed with latest additions to CMake, such as support of C++20 Modules. In this book, you'll not only learn how to use the CMake language in CMake projects but also discover how to make those projects maintainable, elegant, and clean. As you progress, you'll dive into the structure of source directories, building targets, and packages, all while learning how to compile and link executables and libraries. You'll also gain a deeper understanding of how those processes work and how to optimize builds in CMake for the best results. You'll discover how to use external dependencies in your project – third-party libraries, testing frameworks, program analysis tools, and documentation generators. Finally, you'll gain profi ciency in exporting, installing, and packaging for internal and external purposes. By the end of this book, you'll be able to use CMake confi dently at a professional level.

Who is this book for?

The book is for build engineers and software developers with knowledge of C/C++ programming who are looking to learn CMake to automate the process of building small and large software solutions. If you’re just getting started with CMake, a long-time GNU Make user, or simply looking to brush up on the latest best practices, this book is for you.

What you will learn

Understand best practices to build ++ code

Gain practical knowledge of the CMake language

Guarantee code quality with tests and static and dynamic analysis

Discover how to manage, discover, download, and link dependencies with CMake

Build solutions that can be reused and maintained in the long term

Understand how to optimize build artifacts and the build process

Program modern CMake and manage your build processes

Acquire expertise in complex subjects such as CMake presets

What do you get with Print?

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Paperback book shipped to your preferred address

Download this book in EPUB and PDF formats

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Austin Bachurski Jun 03, 2024

Prior to going through this book, I had no idea that CMake is all but a programming language unto itself. This book goes over a ton of information with lots of examples on things like testing. How to use test frameworks with CMake. How to use analysis tools for both performance and safety using CMake. Generating documentation with CMake. I didn't even know CMake could do these things, but this book has an entire section for each of these topics. It's quite a lot to take in at once, but it's going to be a great reference to have on the shelf to come back to when I have questions. Highly recommended if you're finding CMake confusing.

Amazon Verified review

Felix Bytow Jun 21, 2024

Disclaimer: I received a free review copy.But I liked it so much, I actually ordered a physical copy as well.I'm using CMake for many years already to build my C and C++ projects.Over the years a lot of things changed. A lot of things became easier with CMake,but CMake also became more powerful.So I was thrilled, when I saw this book. Reading through it, I found it to be a rather complete manualto everything CMake has to offer. There was a lot of information about functionality,that I had either only heard about, or didn't even know exists.I think the book handles both pretty well:As a beginner, reading it from the start, will give a good introduction of what CMake is, what it does, how it integrates with other tools and what best practices are.For experienced users it can act as a reference, whenever you find yourself in a situation, where you are unsure how to do something.

Amazon Customer Jul 15, 2024

I enjoyed the read having recently picked up CMake. This book is well structured and comprehensive, giving practical examples of how to get started. Each chapter is broken down into bite size chunks that are easy to follow and grasp.

Neil Jul 03, 2024

Disclosure: I was provided an early review copy at no expense but these opinions are my own.I've used CMake for several years and know enough to generally make it do what I need it to do. That being said, there's always more to learn. This book is a fantastic resource for a number of reasons.1. It starts from an introductory level with very few assumptions of your current knowledge.2. There are a number of side-notes and tips for best practices that can help provide context for deeper understanding.3. It goes beyond introductory tutorials and explains deeper concepts before ending with a solid summary chapter project.By building on a foundation of basics piece by piece all the way to more complicated topics -- with chapters explaining concepts that I didn't know even after using CMake for years -- I anticipate that this book would be a solid roadmap for beginners to learn how to start effectively using CMake in their projects and for the proficient to at least learn something new.

Y. Arazi Sep 13, 2024

I recently read Modern CMake for C++, Second Edition and was thoroughly impressed. Despite considering myself highly technical and knowledgeable in CMake, I still learned a plethora of new information. The book covers a wide range of topics, from debugging a CMake project, understanding the grammar, targets, and package management like FetchContent, to using CMake in advanced IDEs.One of the standout aspects of this book is its guidance on properly setting up a project. It emphasizes good practices, what to focus on when building a project, the hierarchy, and various gotchas to avoid. The book even delves into the linking models of C and C++ and how to handle them correctly in CMake.This book is a must-read for every developer using CMake. By following the rules and best practices outlined, it will make your project healthier. Regardless of your experience level, you are bound to pick up new skills. The format and organization of this book are simply fabulous, making it highly recommended.

Modern CMake for C++: Effortlessly build cutting-edge C++ code and deliver high-quality solutions , Second Edition

What do you get with Print?

Modern CMake for C++

The CMake Language

Technical requirements

The basics of the CMake language syntax

Working with variables

Using lists

Understanding control structures in CMake

Conditional blocks

Exploring the frequently used commands

The message() command

Summary

Further reading

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Modern CMake for C++: Effortlessly build cutting-edge C++ code and deliver high-quality solutions , Second Edition

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