Cmake add library example. txt to declare the library.

Cmake add library example Structure. 27. Jan 11, 2025 · I have a project structure like so project ├── CMakeLists. txt Aug 16, 2013 · I have a project that builds a library and I want to add some cuda support to it. One is called libMain and one is called libUtil. We developed our own example shared library step-by-step: Implementing the shared library’s functionality in its source and header file. Aug 15, 2022 · In this tutorial I will speak about modern CMake way of writing CMakeLists. add_library(libsomething STATIC) target_link_libraries Feb 19, 2015 · include_directories(${CMAKE_SOURCE_DIR}/inc) link_directories(${CMAKE_SOURCE_DIR}/lib) add_executable(foo ${FOO_SRCS}) target_link_libraries(foo bar) # libbar. txt for building the shared library with CMake. Instead of manually writing a Makefile, the way we did in the previous section, you can also use CMake. While IMPORTED targets on their own are useful, they still require that the project that imports them knows the locations of the target files on disk. Why is there a need to do this in 3 separate steps? Oct 11, 2015 · While I prefer a shared library (m. This target represents a collection of source files (C/C++, Fortran, etc. cpp) target_include_directories (Dependency PUBLIC include) # Output libname matches target name, with the usual extensions on your system add_library (MyLibExample simple_lib. You already know the location of your library. so file). Key Points Flexibility target_link_libraries() allows you to link with various types of libraries: system libraries, external libraries, and libraries defined within your Jan 24, 2024 · cmake_minimum_required (VERSION 3. txt file: In CMake, a package is an external library (or tool) that can be located using scripts (either bundled with CMake, or written by someone else). Dec 30, 2020 · Note: modern CMake has a better solution than mentioned below (see updates for details). Setting up CMakeLists. I want to use a custom location where all libraries are installed. txt (topmost CMakeLists file) build common CMakeLists. lib). I have a library, add_library(crypto that needs to incorporate another library add_library(defprov In Unix I can just add libdefprov. For example: Aug 26, 2020 · 在我们开始深入讨论add_library命令之前，让我们首先了解一下CMake和构建系统的基础知识。CMake（跨平台的Make）是一个开源的、跨平台的构建系统，它以简洁的语法和强大的功能获得了广泛的应用。 Exercise 3 - Adding a Version Number and Configured Header File; Step 2: Adding a Library. Second, you list the headers in your add_executable() or add_library() call. All I want t Mar 9, 2020 · How to make a header-only library with cmake? Like this: add_library(project INTERFACE) target_include_directories(project INTERFACE . CMake verifies that the library exists before # completing its build. hpp) # Link each target with other targets or add options, etc. The structure is: |Basedir |_subdir1 |_subdir2. It checks the usual places like /usr/lib, /usr/lib64 and the paths in PATH. so is found in ${CMAKE_SOURCE_DIR}/lib The modern CMake version that doesn't add the -I and -L flags to every compiler invocation would be to use imported libraries: Oct 31, 2024 · In this example, add_library is used to add the source files of the external library to the CMake project. e. If it’s an external library, you’ll need to locate it first. TestProj . The above configuration enables testing in CMake, declares the C++ test binary you want to build (hello_test), and links it to GoogleTest (gtest_main). h header file can be found. SHARED can be done by using the BUILD_SHARED_LIBS flag (check the add_library documentation) With respect to the CMakeLists. /includes" DOC "Freetype includes") ENDIF(NOT FREETYPE_FOUND) INCLUDE Source file properties on module files must be set before the invocation of the swig_add_library command to specify special behavior of SWIG and ensure generated files will receive the required settings. For example: Apr 26, 2024 · For example, to create a library named "mylib" in the "myproject" namespace, you could use the following command: add\_library(myproject::mylib STATIC src/algorithm. For example: May 11, 2010 · Currently, I am using the following code to make sure that the library is copied to its proper location. a with the related header files as following:. Every time I think that I am getting closer to understanding how CMake is meant to be written, it vanishes in the next example I read. src . 0 DESCRIPTION "A simple C++ project to demonstrate creating executables and libraries in CMake" LANGUAGES CXX ) # set the postfix "d" for the resulting . 4 Documentation. Purpose. The CMakeLists. For example: Jan 8, 2012 · find_library(FOO_LIB foo) CMake will figure out itself how the actual file name is. Previous message (by thread): [CMake] add_library ALIAS Next message (by thread): [CMake] add_library ALIAS Messages sorted by: An object library compiles source files but does not archive or link their object files into a library. For example: Mar 8, 2021 · In this case the library is declared as STATIC, but actually it is not a good idea to hardcode libraries type like that in their project files, because CMake has a global flag for this exact purpose - BUILD_SHARED_LIBS - and in general it’s better to rely on that flag instead of setting libraries type inline. Exercise 1 - Adding Usage Requirements for a Library; Exercise 2 - Setting the C++ Standard with Interface Libraries; Step 4: Adding Generator add_library Normal Libraries Imported Libraries Object Libraries Alias Libraries Interface Libraries Add a library to the project using the specified source files. Helpful Resources¶ add_library() add_subdirectory() If a library does not export any symbols, it must not be declared as a SHARED library. find_library( # Sets the name of the path variable. Each sub-component is compiled as a STATIC lib. In short name mangling Jun 15, 2011 · @Lamda Just to not let that go unanswered: it doesn't know ForexConnect, the add_library() creates it as a new target. Instead 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. (The source files can May 4, 2017 · My project Test4 contains two files named:. h ; Class. The primary function of add_library() in CMake is to define a library target within your project. com Mon Nov 19 15:51:39 EST 2018. cmake which will open mylibTargets. 17) project (Greeter VERSION 1. a As mentioned in the previous example, we pass the source files directly to the add_library call, as recommended for modern CMake. Since, in this case, the src cmakelists is creating the actual library, shouldn't the parent cmake only need to reference the src cmake and not need knowledge of the src subdirs? May 8, 2016 · CMake link to external library; Add external libraries to CMakeList. Because you call add_executable() from the top directory, CMake searches test. . For example: Sep 12, 2021 · add_library(hello_library SHARED src/Hello. The last two lines enable CMake’s test runner to discover the tests included in the binary, using the GoogleTest CMake module. Here's the kind of thing I've done in the past: INCLUDE(FindFreetype) IF(NOT FREETYPE_FOUND) FIND_LIBRARY(FREETYPE_LIBRARIES NAMES libfreetype freetype. Update: I wrote a short CMake by Example tutorial based on this and other common problems I encountered. , . cpp ) add_library(master_library INTERFACE) # Link the master library with the other Mar 26, 2018 · Example: cmake code to link IMPORTED lib. c; I am using this project to create a static library that can be used by other software projects. cpp) For specific targets there is target_link_options: An object library compiles source files but does not archive or link their object files into a library. 8. 11) project (Project) include_directories (Project) add_subdirectory (Dependency) add_executable (Project main. txt An object library compiles source files but does not archive or link their object files into a library. a . For example: Find an appropriate location in 3rdparty/CMakeLists. c ├── CMakeLists. Exercise 1 - Creating a Library; Exercise 2 - Adding an Option; Step 3: Adding Usage Requirements for a Library. With other words, CMake can generate the Makefile. h; Structure. cpp file2. Firstly, try not to add the prefix “lib” to your library target names. cpp (calls code from dataStructures/ and common/) CMakeLists. Oct 24, 2017 · Because CMake includes system libraries in the search path by # default, you only need to specify the name of the public NDK library # you want to add. Populating Including Directories In this example, we include directories in the library using the target_include_directories() function with the scope set to PUBLIC. The generated build system will link myexe to m. 1 there is a new way to add source from subdirectories: target_sources Say you have root_dir and root_dir/sub_dir and source files in both. The STATIC keyword specifies that the library should be built as a static library. CMake works on a higher level than a Makefile. Feb 23, 2022 · In this article you learned everything you need to know to get started with developing a shared library in C with CMake. With target_sources you can do this: If a library does not export any symbols, it must not be declared as a SHARED library. cmake containing add_library(lib STATIC IMPORTED) So I can link my project To add a header-only library in modern CMake, you can use target_include_directories with SYSTEM INTERFACE. Using a CMake package for one of the shipped package scripts. Use absolute paths for target_sources calls: Jan 25, 2025 · I can force a library to be built as an archive by specifying: -DBUILD_SHARED_LIBS=OFF but how can I force it to be built as a both a static library and a dynamic library? An object library compiles source files but does not archive or link their object files into a library. # Adding something we can run - Output name matches target name add_executable (MyExample simple_example. Include the Directories First, you use include_directories() to tell CMake to add the directory as -I to the compilation command line. Syntax Feb 12, 2025 · add_custom_command() - Optimizing Your CMake Builds with add_custom_command() It's highly versatile and lets you execute arbitrary commands during the build process. cpp # Alternatively you could use ${Boost_LIBRARIES} here. /libs/MacOS" ". cpp ) # Example application based on main. libMain uses libUtil and so does the Sep 12, 2023 · 本文是CMake基础教程的第25部分，主要介绍如何使用`add_library`函数创建动态库和静态库。详细讲解了`add_library`的语法，包括SHARED、STATIC和MODULE选项，以及如何通过BUILD_SHARED_LIBS变量切换库类型。 Jun 2, 2017 · I want that each time I call cmake command, cmake will clone them and put them in some inner folder. The target_include_directories command is used to specify the directory containing the header files of the external library, which allows your project to find and include those headers. It's for importing the installed product after. I have seen it commonplace to have cmakelists in each directory. UPD Thanks to @Bruce Adams who points out that since v3. c) TARGET_LINK_LIBRARIES(myexe m) The CMake configuration is done and generated done. I tried creating some . – An object library compiles source files but does not archive or link their object files into a library. For example: Jul 11, 2011 · find_package( Boost REQUIRED COMPONENTS program_options regex ) include_directories( ${Boost_INCLUDE_DIRS} ) add_executable( run main. txt file, we will use the add_subdirectory() command to add the subdirectory to the build. cpp is a unit test to check that you have loaded TBB correctly. target_link_libraries( run ${Boost_PROGRAM_OPTIONS_LIBRARY} ${Boost_REGEX_LIBRARY} ) Apr 8, 2010 · Recent versions already have a module for finding FreeType. /libs/Windows" DOC "Freetype library") FIND_PATH(FREETYPE_INCLUDE_DIRS ftbuild. txt file: PROJECT("app1") ADD_LIBRARY(m SHARED m. txt (should be responsible for building An object library compiles source files but does not archive or link their object files into a library. ) the IMPORTED_LOCATION property gets set on it after, that's how it knows where the ForexConnect library file can be found. dll PATHS ". An object library compiles source files but does not archive or link their object files into a library. For example: add_library(my_lib lib. For example: The library has its own CMakeLists that specifies the appropriate add_library() commands. Tutorial is inspired by Craig Scott’s (CMake maintainer) Deep CMake for Library Authors and… The full path to the library file will be quoted/escaped for the shell automatically. dll), I've made the CMakeLists. I also want the import creation to be automatic so I don’t have to manually hack the files. txt to declare the library. h ". For example: Nov 19, 2018 · add_library(${nlohmann_json_target_name} interface) add_library(${project_name}::${nlohmann_json_target_name} alias ${nlohmann_json_target_name}) Specifically with this example, what does this allow in this cmake file that otherwise would not be possible? Since your library libB needs a header from libA to compile, let's say libA is a dependency of libB. 0. txt organization, the choice is yours: You can build a single CMakeLists. Use ExternalProject_Add to obtain, configure, and build the library. A header-only library is imported with add_library(INTERFACE). In order to replace the absolute path, you can use find_library to utilize CMake to find your library and store it in a variable and use find_path to find the include directory. CMake can automatically generate the build environment for you. a to the $(CC) line. so or . txt file declares what the library provides through install() commands. We add the new library to the executable, and add MathFunctions as an include directory so that the mysqrt. The library itself is programmed in C++. txt files for C++ libraries. Use find_package() for CMake to search for it. cpp) CMake automatically adds the lib to the front and the . cpp) The CMake variable BUILD_SHARED_LIBS controls whenever to build an static (OFF) or an shared (ON) library, using for example cmake . ) that will be compiled and linked into a library (static or shared). cpp ) add_library(library2 SHARED file3. For example: Feb 12, 2025 · This example links the my_program with the C++ standard library (${CMAKE_CXX_STANDARD_LIBRARIES}), my_math_library, OpenCV libraries (${OpenCV_LIBS}), and the pthread library. txt files: (subdir2 is not important). cpp are the source code for your application that will use TBB and loadtbb. Normal Libraries add_library(<name> [STATIC | SHARED | MODULE] [EXCLUDE_FROM_ALL] source1 [source2 ]) Adds a library target called <name> to be built from the source files listed in the command invocation. . 13 relative paths, passed to target_sources, are interpreted relative to further invocations of add_executable (or add_library). c) ADD_EXECUTABLE(myexe main. ├── include │ ├── In the top level CMakeLists. txt ├── module1 │ ├── module1. For example, add_library(libcool STATIC How does this work? The library has its own CMakeLists that specifies the appropriate add_library() commands. I want to make them available within CMake , with some cmake find for the rest of the project. cmake. cmake) that contain CMake commands. I am following the official cmake tutorial and am currently at Step 2: Step 2: Adding a Library — CMake 3. cpp) # Make sure you link your targets with Jan 12, 2023 · Somehow I am totally confused by how CMake works. So my root CMakeLists. Call SWIG in c++ mode. Both libraries are SHARED (i. UPD 2 Sep 18, 2014 · somehow I am struggling with finding out whether it is possible to define an imported library in CMake, specifying target properties (include_directories and library path) and hoping that CMake will append the include directories once I add that project to target_link_libraries in another project. For example, a Windows resource DLL or a managed C++/CLI DLL that exports no unmanaged symbols would need to be a MODULE library. For example: add_link_options("-fexceptions") add_executable(first-test first. 13 CMake has special command for such purpose: add_link_options. Now, we can install the built library in a local path (the prefix). 13 there is the add_link_options command. It applies to all subsequent add_library and add_executable commands in the same scope and sub-scopes. Jul 25, 2017 · If all you want is a convenient target for use by others and don't care about whether you have one or multiple libraries, cmake can do that with an interface library: add_library(library1 SHARED file1. The problem with C++ is that the functions are name mangled which is not standardized. project (Dependency) add_library (Dependency SomethingToCompile. Add a nice header with the name, description, and home page. txt └── src ├── main. add_custom_command() is a crucial CMake command that allows you to define custom build steps that don't fit the standard target-based approach # Output libname matches target name, with the usual extensions on your system add_library (MyLibExample simple_lib. Sep 3, 2018 · cmake_minimum_required (VERSION 2. cpp simple_lib. When you want to import the installed library into another cmake project, when you do find_package(mylib CONFIG REQUIRED) it will load the installed generated mylibConfig. This is because CMake expects a SHARED library to always have an associated import library on Windows. The usual way is to run CMake from the build directory. You can place this in your top-level CMake file, before processing the src/CMakeLists. However, you can explicitly set to build an shared or an static library by adding STATIC or SHARED after the target name: add_library(my_shared_lib SHARED lib Jan 5, 2017 · add_executable(main main. [CMake] add_library ALIAS Craig Scott craig. cpp. sln and building with Visual Studio, it crashes as. -DBUILD_SHARED_LIBS=ON. foo becomes -lfoo or foo. cpp ) add_library(hello::library ALIAS hello_library) hello::library refers to the same library as hello_library but gives it a different name. Fortunately, CMake is very clever at handling dependencies, so your job is pretty easy: Jun 8, 2021 · The choice of IMPORTED_LOCATION_<CONFIG> depends on the build type you provide to CMake (cmake -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=<CONFIG> ). txt. lib at the end on Windows. This can result in that different compilers could produce different mangled names. Jan 8, 2020 · As a simple example: there are two libraries and one executable. Can be helpful for sharing common configurations or macros across multiple projects or within a single project. cpp) target_link_libraries (Project Dependency) DEPENDENCY, CMakeLists. Use add_library(IMPORTED) to declare an imported target. Switching between STATIC vs. Normal Libraries add_library(<name> [STATIC | SHARED | MODULE] [EXCLUDE_FROM_ALL] [source1] [source2 ]) Adds a library target called <name> to be built from the source files listed in the command invocation. a at the end on Linux, and . cpp) target_link_libraries(main bingitup) bingitup is the same name you'd give a target if you create the static library in a CMake project: add_library(bingitup STATIC bingitup. lib when built in the release configuration, and md. To inform CMake about that path I tried to do that: set( Feb 12, 2025 · include() Example. Primarily used to include other CMake files (e. Instead 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. dll files when building the # library in debug mode set (CMAKE_DEBUG_POSTFIX d ) # add the library target and an alias add_library (Greeter) add_library (Greeter Mar 12, 2017 · Yes, I already assumed you meant that you were running CMake in the build directory rather than bin. cpp file4. Opening app1. ( add_library always creates new targets, IMPORTED just specifies what type of target to create. See full list on iamsorush. CMake target_link_libraries() documentation. txt c++; CMake reference for add_library(), find_library() which I don't fully understand yet since I am fairly new to CMake I created two sample projects "TestLib" and "TestProj": TestLib . You can use CMAKE_SHARED_LINKER_FLAGS like: set (CMAKE_SHARED_LINKER_FLAGS "-Wl,--as-needed") This question looks like related. Exporting Targets ¶. txt which has multiple add_library entries The above example also demonstrates how to specify different feature overrides for different link items. Hi, I am working in a project where we have some autogenerated libraries that are created outside of cmake. See the LINK_LIBRARY_OVERRIDE_<LIBRARY> target property for an alternative way of overriding library features for individual libraries, which may be simpler in some cases. cpp ; CMakeList. h relative to the top directory, not relative to the src/ one. It is possible to run CMake from anywhere and still use a specific directory as the build directory using the undocumented -B option, but I wouldn't recommend you do that unless there is a good reason. You can see how my CMake file is configured below: Feb 6, 2025 · CMake newbie here. txt files in each directory are for CMake to know how to handle the files in each direct Sep 18, 2015 · My code is organized like this: cpp main. main. As an example, if your project's sources are in src, and you need headers from include, you could do it like this: Aug 22, 2012 · I'm currently trying to get CMake running for my project (on windows). Here, a library is created in a child directory. Dec 15, 2011 · It's really not a good practice to add library like this in CMake. Nov 21, 2017 · I have written a library that I used to compile using a self-written Makefile, but now I want to switch to cmake. For example: An object library compiles source files but does not archive or link their object files into a library. Now you can build and run your test: my_project$ cmake -S . Mar 9, 2022 · Build the application and link the shared library with CMake. cpp) This command creates a static library named "mylib" in the "myproject" namespace. CMakeList. For example: Jul 8, 2015 · On a standard cmake library I would just have to add the INTERFACE_INCLUDE_DIRECTORIES property in the library CMakeLists to make cmake link my app with the relevant This is an example project on how to build a library using CMake. cmake which imports all of the installed targets into your project. For example: Feb 13, 2025 · I’m trying to create a huge library and have decided to modularize that project by developing it component by component so that I can easily test and develop each component separately. hpp> Dec 16, 2024 · To add a library in CMake, you generally need to do the following: Find the Library. LNK1104:Can't open file "Debug\m. The tree looks like this (I removed all the irrelevant files): . g. CPLUSPLUS. As you needn't configuration and futher steps, you may set appropriate COMMAND to empty strings. Project ├── main. Ensure the library's CMake configuration files are available on your system, or you may need to install the library. Using a linker flag: Jan 20, 2012 · Since CMake 3. ADD_LIBRARY(example MODULE example. To make use of the new library we will add an add_subdirectory() call in the top-level CMakeLists. From the CMake documentation I understand there are really 3 ways to link a library that is not built as a target in a subproject of your overall application/library. Add it to the CMAKE_PREFIX_PATH when you call CMake, then CMake will look for your library in the passed paths, too. A plain library name: The generated link line will ask the linker to search for the library (e. com Oct 25, 2021 · Good Practices And Notes On Adding CMake Libraries With add_library. find_package command runs that script. scott at crascit. cpp) # Make sure you link your targets with An object library compiles source files but does not archive or link their object files into a library. Class. Then, in the parent directory, it is added as a subdirectory. One good use case that I have found for this is in the target_link_libraries command. Feb 19, 2017 · so that works. – Mar 31, 2015 · I've linked my static lib test. - As usual, ExternalProject_Add will handle the project's downloading. One of the main objective of cmake is to never have to make assumption like "This libs should Jul 4, 2014 · I have my external library as shown in this picture that I create the symbolic links after: and the headers related to the library in other file: I'm working with ROS ubuntu and I need to add these Mar 3, 2016 · @ 陳 力 this line is not for generating mylibTargets. The <name> corresponds Aug 3, 2012 · Since CMake 3. 2025-02-12. When a package is found, the script sets a number of variables pointing to include directories, libraries to link, etc. add_library Normal Libraries Imported Libraries Object Libraries Alias Libraries Interface Libraries Add a library to the project using the specified source files. c │ ├── module1. lib" 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. This can be useful for project-wide settings. Undoubtedly, as your project grows in size, you will create libraries to modularise your codebase a little bit better. The basic structure of the CMakeLists. txt file so that the library will get built. It seems to be challenging my understanding of how you are supposed to use cmake though. txt has a couple of add_subdirectory() calls. Then, the library is linked to. ) Then in the target that uses the library: target_link_libraries(dependee PUBLIC/INTERFACE/PRIVATE # pick one project) and include the header like this: #include <project/folder1/file. txt ├── libs │ ├── includes │ │ ├── *. c) GET_TARGET_PROPERTY(FILEPATH example LOCATION) ADD_CUSTOM_COMMAND( TARGET example POST_BUILD COMMAND ${CMAKE_COMMAND} ARGS -E copy ${FILEPATH} ${CUSTOM_OUTDIR} ) Dec 12, 2011 · CMake will likely generate separate lib1, lib2 and lib3 directories in there. The library name/flag is treated as a command-line string fragment and will be used with no extra quoting or escaping. Goal¶ Add and use a library. But in the end all these components need to be compiled into one single library. Incidentally, we can choose the CMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX to be foo's source Feb 12, 2025 · CMake add_library(): Common Errors and Troubleshooting Tips . h, myproject. Once the library is created, it is connected to our executable target with target_include_directories() and target_link_libraries(). Adding Jul 29, 2016 · Here the myproject. My challenge Before CMake 3. For example: If a library does not export any symbols, it must not be declared as a SHARED library. h │ ├── lib │ │ ├── test. h │ └── CMakeLists. lib when built in the debug configuration. cpp ├── CmakeLists. ibxypq jqohi rqxkpagy fgo tkfnbf afaj swtk coed ucm ouvgj zfzqr uhedef fkpgtx rjryr cuziqkh