CMake

CMake

CMake is an open-source, cross-platform tool designed to build, test, and package software. It works by generating native makefiles and workspaces to automate the build process using a compiler-independent method.
CMake image
build compile crossplatform open-source

CMake: Build, Test, and Package Software

CMake is an open-source, cross-platform tool designed to build, test, and package software. It works by generating native makefiles and workspaces to automate the build process using a compiler-independent method.

What is CMake?

CMake is an open-source, cross-platform tool designed to build, test, and package software. It works by generating native makefiles and workspaces that can be used in the compiler environment of your choice.

Some key features and benefits of CMake include:

  • Compiler-independent build processes - CMake abstracts away compiler differences and allows you to use the same configuration on different platforms
  • Generate native build files - CMake creates standard build files like Makefiles on Linux/OSX and Visual Studio solutions on Windows
  • Support for multiple languages - CMake works with C, C++, Fortran, and more
  • Integrated testing support - CMake has built-in support for adding tests and enabling test automation
  • Cross-platform and supports major platforms like Linux, Windows, OS X, Android, and iOS
  • Open source under the permissive BSD license
  • Highly customizable and extensible via macros and scripts

Some common uses of CMake include building large C/C++ projects across platforms, managing compilation flags and linker options, adding testing frameworks like CTest and CDash, and creating portable build processes for IDEs like Eclipse, Visual Studio, and Xcode.

CMake Features

Features

  1. Cross-platform build system
  2. Generate native makefiles and workspaces
  3. Support multiple compilers and IDEs
  4. Modular architecture
  5. Customizable and extensible

Pricing

  • Open Source

Pros

Simplifies build process across platforms

Compiler-independent builds

Large user and developer community

Widely used and well-supported

Highly customizable

Cons

Steep learning curve

Complex syntax and concepts

Poor documentation

Limited IDE integration on some platforms

Build times can be slow for large projects


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