CMake Tutorial

Target

Target is what you want to build(library and executable) or have already built(third-party library).
Target can be imagined as objects. It has compile definitions, compile options, compile features, include directories and library dependencies.

Commands

command_name(space separated list of strings)

• add_executable(<name> <option> <sources>...)
  Add an executable target called <name> to be built from the source files listed.
  <option> specify the platform your target for.
  you can add sources file for this target by target_sources().
  You can import target or alias target by this command.more info

• add_library(<name> <type> <sources>...)
  Add a library target called <name> to be built from the source files listed in the command invocation.
  If no <type> is given the default is STATIC.
  more about <type>

• target_sources(<target> <sources>...)
  Specifies sources to use when building a target and/or its dependents.
  The named <target> must have been created by a command such as add_executable() or add_library() or add_custom_target() and must not be an ALIAS target.

• find_package(name [REQUIRED])
  Find a package.
  name specify the name of library.
  REQUIRED represents this package is a necessary dependency.

• target_include_directories(<target> <directories>...)
  Specifies include directories to use when compiling a given target.

• target_compile_definitioons(<target> <definitions>...)
  Specifies compile definitions to use when compiling a given <target>.

• target_compile_options(<target> <options>...)
  These <options> are used when compiling the given <target>.
  In fact, this command adds options to the COMPILE_OPTIONS or INTERFACE_COMPILE_OPTIONS target properties.
  more info

• target_compile_features(<target> <feature>...)
  Specifies compiler features required when compiling a given target.

• target_link_directories(<target> <directories>...)
  Specifies the paths in which the linker should search for libraries when linking a given target.
  Each <directories> can be an absolute or relative path, with the latter being interpreted as relative to the current source directory. These items will be added to the link command.

• target_link_libraries(<target>... <item>...)
  Specify libraries or flags to use when linking a given target and/or its dependents.
  The named <target> must have been created by a command such as add_executable() or add_library() and must not be an ALIAS target.
  The <item> can be:

  • A library target name
  • A full path to a library file
  • A plain library name
  • A link flag

  (more info about <item>)

• target_link_options(<target> <options>...)
  Add options to the link step for an executable or library target.

• add_subdirectory(<directory>)
  Adds a subdirectory to the build.
  The <directory> specifies the directory in which the source CMakeLists.txt and code files are located.

Usage

mkdir build
cd build
cmake ..
make

You can use cmake to generate Makefile, Ninja or some other build system.

Reference

Effective Modern CMake
Effective CMake
CMake Reference Documentation