Minimal CMake: Learn the best bits of CMake to create and share your own libraries and applications

Design, build, and share cross-platform software effortlessly, and enhance your development workflow with this hands-on guide

Key Features

• Unlock efficient cross-platform builds with streamlined CMake setups
• Learn CMake's most powerful features for streamlined software development from a seasoned game and engine developer
• Create and distribute an application with step-by-step instructions, practical examples, and working code
• Purchase of the print or Kindle book includes a free PDF eBook

Book Description

Minimal CMake guides you through creating a CMake project one step at a time. The book utilizes the author's unique expertise in game and engine development to craft compelling examples of how CMake can be used to build complex software. The chapters introduce concepts gradually, each one building on the last. Throughout the course of the book, you will progress from a simple console application all the way through to a full windowed app.

The book will help you build a strong foundation in CMake that will translate to future projects. You'll learn how to integrate existing software libraries to enhance your app's functionality, how to build reusable libraries to share with others, and how to manage developing for multiple platforms simultaneously, including macOS, Windows, and Linux. You'll also find out how CMake facilitates testing and how to package your application ready for distribution.

The book aims to not overwhelm you with everything there is to know about CMake. Instead, it focuses on the most relevant and important parts that will help you become productive quickly.

By the end of this book, you will be a confident CMake user and will have gained the skills and experience to build and share your own libraries and applications.

What you will learn

• Set up projects for seamless cross-platform development
• Integrate external libraries to enhance your project's functionality
• Create and share reusable libraries
• Manage complex software dependencies for improved maintainability
• Package and distribute applications efficiently
• Utilize top tools to streamline your CMake workflow
• Explore resources for continuous learning

Who this book is for

If you are a programmer skilled in C, C++, Swift, Objective-C, or C#, and keen on cross-platform development and open-source software, this book is for you. A solid grasp of CMake helps you to effectively utilize and create open-source libraries and applications. No prior knowledge of CMake is necessary, though familiarity with an imperative programming language (especially C and C++) is beneficial. While a basic understanding of the terminal is advantageous, comprehensive setup instructions will guide you across Windows, macOS, and Linux (Ubuntu).

Table of Contents

1. Getting Started
2. Hello, CMake!
3. Using FetchContent with External Dependencies
4. Creating Libraries for FetchContent
5. Streamlining CMake Configuration
6. Installing Dependencies and ExternalProject_Add
7. Adding Install Support for Your Libraries
8. Using Super Builds to Simplify Onboarding
9. Writing Tests for the Project
10. Packaging the Project for Sharing
11. Supporting Tools and Next Steps

Tom Hulton-Harrop is a software developer with over 10 years of experience in game and engine development. Tom started his career in 2011 at Electronic Arts working on the Need for Speed series of racing games. In 2014, he joined Fireproof Games where he worked on The Room Three and a little-known VR game called Omega Agent. After a stint at a small start-up called Glowmade, Tom joined Amazon as part of the Lumberyard Game Engine team (later becoming Open 3D Engine). During this time, Tom became interested in open source development and started sharing multiple hobby projects on GitHub. It was this experience that led Tom to CMake, where he slowly came to appreciate the power and simplicity of the tool. Tom now works at a start-up called Amutri, helping deliver 3D experiences to engineering, manufacturing, and lighting customers.