Cmake add source files to target. Mar 10, 2025 · target_sources (target_o PRIVATE file.

Cmake add source files to target I orignially intended to comment your answer, but my reputation is too low to do that. Mar 5, 2020 · Is there a simple way to tell target_resources() to add all files on directory and subdirectories where CMakeList. 13 relative paths, passed to target_sources, are interpreted relative to further invocations of add_executable (or add_library). Boost your CMake skills and rank 1 on Google with this SEO-friendly meta description! Makefiles uses the internal cmake -E cmake_depends to generate dependencies from the source files (header files in add_executable are skipped). 27. See Cmake: Use imported object And - see also the answer from @arrowd - there is the undocumented way of adding them directly to your target's source file list (actually meant to support object file outputs for add_custom_command() build steps like in your case). Syntax Apr 3, 2019 · I think the answer by @Kamil Cuk answers your question. CMake Error : Cannot find source file -> No SOURCES given to target os:linux gen:ninja gen:makefiles 7. BTW, that possibility to call add_library without source files is described in the documentation for add_library. scott’s very helpful Professional CMake, I tend to Apr 18, 2024 · I have some files that I want to copy to the binary folder (let’s say, data files required for the program to run). The solution you described above is probably still the cleanest. The <items> may use generator expressions. The OBJECT_DEPENDS source file property to add file-level dependencies to object files. One essential feature I need is to add automatically all fil Before CMake 3. Aug 5, 2021 · Introduction In previous blog posts in this series (Part 1 and Part 2), I looked at using CMake to configure a build for a cross compilation to target hardware such as the STM32F4 Series. E. Commands such as add_custom When target dependencies are specified using target_link_libraries(), CMake will read this property from all target dependencies to determine the sources of the consumer. h files in the subdirectory an When a generated file created as the OUTPUT of an add_custom_command() command is explicitly listed as a source file for any target in the same directory scope (which usually means the same CMakeLists. Jan 2, 2022 · For managing the folder structure of the generated Visual Studio project have a look at the source_group () command. g. CMake is frequently used in compiling open-source and commercial projects. 1 day ago · CMake, the de facto build system for C/C++ projects, provides powerful tools to automate this process. ) targets you can use. I was wondering if there was a way to copy these source files to the build directory (From the source directory) then to the ins Jul 18, 2020 · Since CMake 3. Apr 26, 2024 · I can make the preprocessing of the files into a set of custom rules/targets and then they are generated in parallel using the same make -j strategy, but the target that is actually built at this point has no source files - just dependencies on the preprocessing rules that generate the source list. While CMake can handle extremely complex projects, for most projects you will find this chapter’s contents will tell you all you need to know. 23's file sets feature. If I make Dec 22, 2020 · The line add_library(lib_third_party_ti_mmcsdlib "") isn't wrong by itself: While it creates a library target without adding source file to it, it is possible to add sources afterwards. It allows you to specify which source files should be included in the build process for that target. The DEPENDS option of add_custom_target() and add_custom_command() commands for adding file-level dependencies in custom rules. See the cmake-generator-expressions(7) manual for available expressions. CMake is driven by the CMakeLists. with target_sources command. It covers dependency handling, execution triggers, and re-builds based on changes. I am attempting to supply some "source" files with some executables. There is a difference between include and add_subdirectory, so it would depend on your use case which would be better. Learn how to use target_sources() to declare PUBLIC and PRIVATE header sets, and see practical examples of how this improves custom targets like code formatters and simplifies the install() process. txt" or ". The primary function of add_library () in CMake is to define a library target within your project. Jan 4, 2024 · I try to use add_subdirectory if I’m referencing a CMakeLists. Sep 26, 2024 · Without my asking anywhere CMake just added $ {CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR} to the include search dirs for my target. In our training courses, we have identified two shared Jul 27, 2016 · OBJECT IMPORTED . Feb 26, 2020 · I have different use-cases where I would like to declare a file-dependency at target-level, be it generated or in the sources, which influences the compile-process for all sources of this target. c and foo2. There are known issues with this the scanner. Jan 31, 2016 · This gives us these key advantages: It allows the CMake target to be defined early, which in turn enables calling the various other target_ commands in any of the subdirectories pulled in with add_subdirectory() after the target is defined. Mar 14, 2014 · Conditionally include a source file Asked 11 years, 8 months ago Modified 1 year, 5 months ago Viewed 14k times Targets Now you know how to compile a single file using three lines of CMake. Importing Targets ¶ Adding header include directories is straightforward with CMake. 20 you could use target_sources and it'd be the cleanest option. I'm asking this as it would require a lot of work to add all the cpp files manually into CMake, especially when working with multiply people. With the advent of CMake 3. Other targets created by add_library or add_executable() may reference the objects using an expression of the form $<TARGET_OBJECTS:objlib> as a source, where objlib is the object library name. Contents of INTERFACE_SOURCES may use "generator expressions" with the syntax $<>. txt files written for a software project. In the vast majority of cases, you will be faced with projects comprising dozens to hundreds of source files sprawling in a complex source tree. 20 release notes The target_sources() command now supports targets created by the add_custom_target() command. For example, the following command will create a target named “foo” that is a static library, with foo1. 0k views 5 links Dec 2023 Oct 29, 2021 · I have a fundamental decision to take on how to structure the CMake project layout of our (existing) project (1000+ source files). Using modern CMake helps you keep the complexity of the build system in check. cpp) As I have read here that this is discouraged by CMake I would like to know if I can list the source files explicitly for CMake using CMake, as I am not familiar with scripting languages like Python. PRIVATE and PUBLIC items will populate the SOURCES property of <target>, which are used when building the target itself. targets)? I am just writing something like an automated CMake script, so I have no prior knowledge of any target names (or variables) defined in normal projects. microsoft. I typically build on Windows with Visual Studio, so the copying should support multi-config generators. But I wanted to add that setting CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR doesn't work because this is a CMake set variable. cpp) I see advantages to both approaches, like having 1 place where all sources of a target are known in the first version. You should be able to countermand the -Weffc++ flag for foo. They are not compiled anyways unless used. Use the add_custom_command() command to generate a file with dependencies. CMake Error: CMake can not determine linker language for target: ZCNET_decode CMake Error: Cannot determine link language for target "ZCNET_decode". Dec 30, 2015 · Given I have defined an executable with its main source file in a CMakeList. Link dependencies of executables may be specified using the target_link_libraries() command. Just like adding arbitrary/path/foo. log" they won't be compiled. cmake file. CMake comes with a Visual Studio project generator: if you use that, and then load the project in Visual Studio, Visual Studio should be able to call cmake automatically every time you modify your cmake files, for example to add a new source file. I can then use the source list as an input to a 2nd cmake step which actually builds the target. h that if I have an executable APP target that says target_link_libraries(APP PRIVATE XYZ), that foo. Following is a simple example, all the files are assumed placed in the directory PROJECT_SOURCE_DIR. h") The headers will appear in the source list of all using libraries. It has comprehensive but daunting manual Add an IMPORTED executable target to reference an executable file located outside the project. ) that will be compiled and linked into a library (static or shared). For C++ Class, C/C++ Source, C/C++ Header, and C++ Module Interface Unit templates, CLion will prompt you to add the new file to CMake targets. In this blog post I will look at how to configure project source code, identify subsystems and use CMake to manage the build for each subsystem. Jan 20, 2012 · I have project which has not been divided into libraries, but the source is organized in a directory tree. Learn how to tell the compiler where to find those pesky C++ header files with simple commands! Feb 17, 2020 · Should I, and why should I add my headers to header only libraries? add_library(headeronly INTERFACE) target_include_directories(headeronly "include") target_sources(headeronly INTERFACE "include/header. Second, I don’t see any elegant way to actually prevent it adding the directory at all. I see that I have a library XYZ and if I say target_sources(XYZ PRIVATE foo. A deep dive into CMake 3. Also, the "source" directory according to CMake doesn't necessarily have anything to do with the directory of your source files. txt and use include when I’m pulling in a *. Mar 30, 2022 · Introduction CMake is a cross-platform software for building projects written in C, C++, Fortran, CUDA and so on. Aside: since 3. 20: <target> can be a custom target. The project is platform I am following the official cmake tutorial and am currently at Step 2: Step 2: Adding a Library — CMake 3. Choose the desired file type: Specify the name, type, and additional options for the new file. Includes step-by-step instructions and examples. Nov 18, 2022 · I need to generate extra files for an existing CMake target that is already defined with an add_executable(); I don't know how many files there are in advance, and in addition those files are not compiled/part of the executable itself. cpp PUBLIC foo. It allows you to specify which source files should be included in the build process for that target May 1, 2015 · Tell us what you have tried. com For sources, this is as simple as adding the generated files to the source list of a STATIC, SHARED, or OBJECT library. I do not know how to tell cmake to go down a directory, then add the source in that direc SOURCES ¶ This specifies the list of paths to source files for the target. Imagine a configuration-file for the compiler (added with target_compile_options()), or generated meta-information used for optimisations. This is simply the current directory CMake is processing (i. It compiles projects with compilers like GCC, Clang, Intel, MS Visual C++. Object Libraries ¶ add_library (<name> OBJECT <sources>) ¶ Add an Object Library to compile source files without archiving or linking their object files into a library. Linkers start with the object files compiled from the executable's own source files, and then resolve remaining symbol dependencies by searching linked libraries. My current best approach is with an add_custom_command in a POST_BUILD step: add_custom_command(TARGET mytarget POST_BUILD COMMAND ${CMAKE_COMMAND} -E copy_directory "${CMAKE Nov 29, 2011 · The point wasn't to copy your answer but rather to complete it. Because you call add_executable() from the top directory, CMake searches test. Why is there a need to do this in 3 separate steps? I come from a Visual Studio IDE background where if my co-programmer has Jan 4, 2025 · This post explains using add_custom_command and add_custom_target in CMake to automate tasks like file generation and external tool integration. While there are some libraries, which I will include via add_subdirectory and add_library the majority of our components are organized in many subdirectories and included as source files. CMake utilizes build-systems such as Ninja, Linux make, Visual Studio, and Xcode. I’m now using set_source_files_properties(. CMake provides the install command to specify how a project is to be installed. I specifically want not to have to specify all the files in the executable folder's CMakeLists but make each folder register the cpps it has. cpp) Can I add further source files to this executable after this line but in May 27, 2025 · In CMake, the target_sources () command is a powerful tool for managing source files associated with a specific target (e. This guide and the complete example source code can be found in the Help/guide/importing-exporting directory of the CMake source code tree. CMake must already know about each of these source directories, either by having added them through a call to add_subdirectory() or it being the top level source directory. c as source files. Then, the library is linked to. To do so, you will need targets. h does not imply -Iarbitrary/path, if you want -I flags passed, you need to use target_include_directories. See file glob documentation. . Real-world projects require more than compiling a few source files into executables and/or libraries. You’ve already seen a target: Oct 30, 2020 · Yes, target_sources just adds source file paths to the list of files for consuming targets. Subdirectories cannot inadvertently add sources to the wrong targets. Mar 10, 2025 · target_sources (target_o PRIVATE file. cpp file2. Didn't mean to offend you. First we can specify the directories of header files by include_directories(), then we need to specify the corresponding source files of the target executable by add_executable(), and be sure there's exactly one main() function in the source files. This command is invoked by a project in the CMakeLists file and tells CMake how to generate Mar 18, 2020 · So did you end up adding set_target_properties and target_sources to each of your subdirectories CMakeLists. The target has no output file and is always considered out of date even if the commands try to create a file with the name of the target. The target name may be referenced like any target built within the project, except that by default it is visible only in the directory in which it is created, and below. Nov 3, 2020 · How can I add several source files to ALL CMake add_executable() s (aka. Relative paths are treated as relative to the current source directory. In CMake, the target_sources () command is a powerful tool for managing source files associated with a specific target (e. cpp by doing Sep 12, 2019 · How to add source files from another directory in a cmake file? Asked 6 years, 1 month ago Modified 6 years, 1 month ago Viewed 7k times Installing Files ¶ Software is typically installed into a directory separate from the source and build trees. If a path starts with a generator expression, it is expected to evaluate to an absolute path Jul 8, 2010 · I am considering switching a cross platform project from separate build management systems in Visual C++, XCode and makefiles to CMake. Finally, we will demonstrate how to package a project with a configuration file to allow for easy integration into other CMake projects. txt file), CMake will automatically create a dependency to make sure the file is generated before building that target. DIRECTORY <dirs> The source file properties will be set in each of the <dirs> directories' scopes. Aug 1, 2014 · As a follow up to this question: Add Source in a subdirectory to a cmake project What is the best way (perhaps using the FILE directive?) to select all the . h relative to the top directory, not relative to the src/ one. For example, from the docs for Properties on Source Files - COMPILE_FLAGS: These flags will be added to the list of compile flags when this source file builds. As an aside, be aware of the pitfalls of file (GLOB) for defining source files. h is inside the APP group on Xcode. The INTERFACE, PUBLIC and PRIVATE keywords are required to specify the scope of the source file paths (<items>) that follow them. Jul 14, 2017 · file(GLOB CPP_FILES src/*. It would be great if ExternalProject_Add just behaved like add_subdirectory and exposed all targets. For example: Sep 1, 2014 · But won't that work only inside of Dir2? I want to use the cpp file in Dir1. Every add_library, add_executable, and add_custom_target command creates a target. Is there a recommended way to detail with many cpp files in a directory structure and adding them to targets? CMake generates build rules to compile the source files into object files and link them into an executable. 4 Documentation Here, a library is created in a child directory. Excerpt from CMake 3. So instead of a regular build dependency where changing a source file rebuilds only the corresponding object file, this causes the whole of cmake to reconfigure, which may have other side effects. For header-only generators, it's often necessary to use an intermediary target created via add_custom_target () to add the header file generation to the build stage (because INTERFACE libraries have no build step). txt 's and the missing link_directories() command. See full list on devblogs. where the current CMakeLists. e. Is there any other way of adding multiple files to an executable rather than adding them separately? I had another Also note that this isn't a "file-level dependency" between input and output: it's a dependency between the input and the cmake configure step. This allows it to be distributed in a clean form and isolates users from the details of the build process. I believe CMake uses the files' extensions to determine if they are actual source files, so if yours have extensions like ". So I figured posting a 2nd answer would be the most self-containing way. Then, in the parent directory, it is added as a subdirectory. PROPERTIES You should be able to just add them to your list of sources in whichever add_executable or add_library call is appropriate and they will appear in the IDE. 11 The target_sources() command learned to set the INTERFACE_SOURCES property on Imported Targets. In this blog, we’ll explore multiple methods to automatically copy resource files from the source directory to the binary directory, ranging from basic configure-time copying to advanced build-time synchronization. cpp and . Note: you usually don't need to do anything in particular if you add a new header, only if you add a new source file. txt on a directory with multiple files and sub-directories (with more files) that just adds everything contained there. I wanted to avoid having to include the source of external projects in my source tree. Added in version 3. txt is). What are the benefits of this? I can only think of one thing, which is, they Apr 6, 2023 · I’ve read over the documentation and a few threads on when and why use PRIVATE over PUBLIC when adding files to a target but I still don’t really get it. Learn how to add source files to your CMake project with this easy-to-follow guide. txt? May 26, 2024 · In the Project tree, right-click the folder you want to add a file into and select New from the context menu. The second version makes renaming directories much easier. txt file: ADD_EXECUTABLE(MyExampleApp main. But what happens if you have more than one file with dependencies? You need to be able to tell CMake about the structure of your project, and it will help you build it. 0, there has been a significant shift in Aug 23, 2017 · 164 Your attempts above are adding further flags to your file/target rather than overwriting as you seem to expect. , an executable or a library). The CMakeLists files determine everything from which options to present to users, to which source files to compile. txt file is? For example, placing a CMakeLists. I was reading some blogs and found out that one way of doing so is using "GLOB". As far as I know it wouldn't work without the two missing CMakeLists. But since Visual Studio has built-in support for CMake since 2015 (IMHO pretty decent one since 2019), I would recommend using that instead of generating solution and project files. May 27, 2025 · Purpose This target represents a collection of source files (C/C++, Fortran, etc. Reading through @craig. The following commands all set or add to the SOURCES target property and are the usual way to manipulate it: add_executable() add_library() add_custom_target() target_sources() Contents of SOURCES may use generator expressions. First of all, it is counter-intutive: this command does what target_include_directories does w/o advertising it anywhere but the documentation. tixm lfsxdju jbzaf jvgcrd lbcelef hbrh vtmc ttdnhxy didmwt lysvdamh wqblref sdmhvwiv mjkeiml gocfp atemaav