More Modern CMake: Glossary

Build systems describe exactly how to build targets.

Build system generators describe general relationships.

Modern CMake is simpler and reduces the chance of build problems.

Build a project.

Use out-of-source builds.

Build options and customization.

Debug a CMakeLists easily.

The cmake_minimum_version setting has deep implications

You need a project line.

You should prepare one or more targets to do anything interesting.

Libraries and executables are targets.

Targets have lots of useful properties.

Targets can be linked to other target.

You can control what parts of a target get inherited when linking.

You can make INTERFACE targets instead of making variables.

Local variables work in this directory or below.

Cached variables are stored between runs.

You can access environment variables, properties, and more.

You can glob to collect files from disk, but it might not always be a good idea.

Projects should be well organised.

Subproject CMakeLists are used for tests and more.

Setting a CMake version too low.

Avoid building inplace.

How to select a compiler.

How to work with spaces in paths.

There are several methods for debugging your CMake code.

CMake can help you debug and profile your source code.

A FindPackage.cmake file can factor out package discovery for a package you don’t own.

A PackageConfig.cmake helps others find your package.

ROOT has a CONFIG package you can use to integrate with CMake.

Functions and macros allow factorization.

CMake has an argument parsing function to help with making functions.