Introduction to CMake Generators

CMake generators are responsible for writing input files for native build systems. They determine the build system to be used for a project and are platform-specific. The cmake command-line tool lists available generators on the current platform, and the -G option is used to specify the generator for a new build tree.

What are CMake Generators?

CMake generators are a crucial part of the CMake build system. They are used to generate build files for various platforms and build systems. Each generator is designed to work with a specific build system, such as Makefiles, Ninja, or Visual Studio.

Types of CMake Generators

There are several types of CMake generators, including:

• Command-Line Build Tool Generators: These generators support command-line build tools and require a command-line prompt with an environment configured for the chosen compiler and build tool.
• Makefile Generators: These generators produce Makefiles for various platforms, including Borland Makefiles, MSYS Makefiles, and Unix Makefiles.
• Ninja Generators: These generators produce build files for the Ninja build system.
• IDE Build Tool Generators: These generators support Integrated Development Environment (IDE) project files and can be used to generate projects for IDEs like Visual Studio.
• Visual Studio Generators: These generators produce project files for various versions of Visual Studio.
• Other Generators: These generators support other build systems, such as Green Hills MULTI and Xcode.

Extra Generators

Extra generators are used to produce project files for auxiliary IDE tools. They are deprecated since version 3.27 and will be removed from a future version of CMake. Some examples of extra generators include:

• CodeBlocks
• CodeLite
• Eclipse CDT4
• Kate
• Sublime Text 2

How to Use CMake Generators

To use a CMake generator, you need to specify the generator when creating a new build tree using the cmake command-line tool. The available generators can be listed using the --help option. For example:

cmake -G "generator_name" path/to/source

Replace "generator_name" with the name of the generator you want to use.

Conclusion

CMake generators are an essential part of the CMake build system. They provide a way to generate build files for various platforms and build systems, making it easy to manage complex build processes. By understanding the different types of CMake generators and how to use them, you can efficiently manage your build processes and improve your productivity.

For more information on CMake and its generators, visit the official CMake documentation.

To learn more about build systems and how to use them effectively, check out our article on build automation.

If you have any questions or need further assistance, don't hesitate to contact us.

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