How to Add a Library to CMake : Step-by-Step Guide

CMake is a powerful build system generator widely used in modern software development. One of its key features is the ability to seamlessly integrate external libraries into your project. Whether you're using a system-installed library or a custom-built one, properly adding a library to CMake ensures smooth compilation and linking of your application.

To add a library in CMake, you generally need to do the following:

1. Find the Library

   If it’s an external library, you’ll need to locate it first. Use find_package() for CMake to search for it. Ensure the library's CMake configuration files are available on your system, or you may need to install the library.

2. Include the Directories

   You’ll need to specify the library’s header files for inclusion in your project.

3. Link the Library

   After locating the library and including the directories, you can link it to your target.

Here’s a basic example for adding the Boost library:

cmake_minimum_required(VERSION 3.10)
project(MyProject)

# Find Boost
find_package(Boost REQUIRED)

# Include Boost directories
include_directories(${Boost_INCLUDE_DIRS})

# Add an executable
add_executable(MyExecutable main.cpp)

# Link Boost libraries
target_link_libraries(MyExecutable PRIVATE Boost::boost)

In this example:

• We specify the required Boost components (e.g., filesystem).
• We directly link the Boost libraries to the executable using the imported targets provided by Boost (e.g., Boost::filesystem).
• There's no need to manually include directories or set include paths because the imported targets handle that internally.

Conclusion

By following these steps, you can effectively add external libraries to your CMake project. Utilizing modern CMake practices, such as target-specific commands and imported targets, simplifies the build process and enhances maintainability. Always refer to the library's documentation for any specific integration instructions and ensure the library is correctly installed on your system. Proper integration allows you to leverage the full capabilities of external libraries, leading to more powerful and efficient applications.