To include third party tools with CMake, you first need to locate the third party tool that you want to include in your project. Once you have identified the tool, you can either download the source code or an already built binary of the tool.
Next, you need to specify the location of the third party tool in your CMakeLists.txt file. This can be done using the find_package() command or by specifying the location of the tool's include directories and library directories using the include_directories() and link_directories() commands.
After specifying the location of the third party tool, you need to link the tool's libraries to your project using the target_link_libraries() command. This will ensure that your project can access the functionality provided by the third party tool.
Finally, you can add any additional build instructions or configuration options for the third party tool in your CMakeLists.txt file to ensure that it is properly integrated into your project.
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How to link third party libraries in CMake?
To link third party libraries in CMake, you will need to use the target_link_libraries() function in your CMakeLists.txt file. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to do it:
- Find the library you want to link to your project and make sure it's installed on your system or available in a specific directory.
- In your CMakeLists.txt file, locate the add_executable() or add_library() function that defines your project target.
- Use the target_link_libraries() function to specify the library you want to link. For example, if you want to link the Boost library, you would write:
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target_link_libraries(your_target_name Boost::boost)
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In this example, your_target_name is the name of the target you defined with add_executable() or add_library().
- If the library you want to link requires additional flags or options, you can specify them as additional arguments to target_link_libraries(). For example, if you want to link a library with a specific version or location, you can write:
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target_link_libraries(your_target_name PUBLIC /path/to/library/liblibrary.so)
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- If the library you want to link is not a CMake target, you can use the full path to the library file:
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target_link_libraries(your_target_name PUBLIC /path/to/library/liblibrary.so)
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- Save your CMakeLists.txt file and run CMake to regenerate the build system for your project.
By following these steps, you can link third party libraries in CMake and integrate them into your project build process.
How to enforce compatibility checks with third party libraries in CMake?
There are a few ways you can enforce compatibility checks with third party libraries in CMake:
- Use the find_package command in CMake to locate and import the third party library. You can specify a version range in the find_package command to ensure that the library version is compatible with your project.
- Use the target_link_libraries command to link your project with the third party library. You can specify the library version in the target_link_libraries command to enforce compatibility.
- Use the check_library_exists command to verify if the required functions or symbols are available in the third party library. This can help ensure that the library is compatible with your project.
- You can also use CMake's target_compile_definitions command to define preprocessor macros based on the library version, and use conditional compilation to handle compatibility issues.
By using these methods, you can enforce compatibility checks with third party libraries in CMake and ensure that your project is using compatible versions of the required libraries.
What is the difference between find_package() and add_subdirectory() for including third party tools in CMake?
find_package() and add_subdirectory() are both CMake commands used for including third-party tools or libraries, but they have different purposes and usage.
- find_package():
- find_package() is used to locate and import external CMake configuration files or packages that provide targets for use in the current project. These packages are usually installed in system directories or custom locations specified by the user.
- It is typically used to find and include pre-built third-party libraries or tools that provide CMake support files.
- When find_package() is used, CMake searches for the package configuration file in specified locations and then includes the targets provided by that package into the current CMake project.
- Examples of packages that can be included using find_package() include Boost, Qt, OpenCV, etc.
- add_subdirectory():
- add_subdirectory() is used to include another directory containing a CMakeLists.txt file as a subdirectory of the current CMake project.
- It is typically used to build and include third-party libraries or tools whose CMake configuration is provided by a CMakeLists.txt file within the library's source code directory.
- When add_subdirectory() is used, CMake will execute the CMakeLists.txt file in the specified directory, generating targets defined in that directory.
- This is useful for including libraries or tools that are part of the overall project source code repository or for including libraries that need to be built alongside the main project.
In general, find_package() is more commonly used for including external, pre-built libraries that have their own dedicated CMake support files, while add_subdirectory() is used for including libraries or tools that are part of the main project's source code repository or require building alongside the project.
