CMAKE-GENERATORS(7) CMake CMAKE-GENERATORS(7)NAMEcmake-generators - CMake Generators Reference
INTRODUCTION
A CMake Generator is responsible for writing the input files for a
native build system. Exactly one of the CMake Generators must be
selected for a build tree to determine what native build system is to
be used. Optionally one of the Extra Generators may be selected as a
variant of some of the Command-Line Build Tool Generators to produce
project files for an auxiliary IDE.
CMake Generators are platform-specific so each may be available only on
certain platforms. The cmake(1) command-line tool --help output lists
available generators on the current platform. Use its -G option to
specify the generator for a new build tree. The cmake-gui(1) offers
interactive selection of a generator when creating a new build tree.
CMAKE GENERATORS
Command-Line Build Tool Generators
These generators support command-line build tools. In order to use
them, one must launch CMake from a command-line prompt whose environ‐
ment is already configured for the chosen compiler and build tool.
Makefile Generators
Borland Makefiles
Generates Borland makefiles.
MSYS Makefiles
Generates makefiles for use with MSYS make under the MSYS shell.
Use this generator in a MSYS shell prompt and using make as the build
tool. The generated makefiles use /bin/sh as the shell to launch build
rules. They are not compatible with a Windows command prompt.
To build under a Windows command prompt, use the MinGW Makefiles gener‐
ator.
MinGW Makefiles
Generates makefiles for use with mingw32-make under a Windows command
prompt.
Use this generator under a Windows command prompt with MinGW in the
PATH and using mingw32-make as the build tool. The generated makefiles
use cmd.exe as the shell to launch build rules. They are not compati‐
ble with MSYS or a unix shell.
To build under the MSYS shell, use the MSYS Makefiles generator.
NMake Makefiles
Generates NMake makefiles.
NMake Makefiles JOM
Generates JOM makefiles.
Unix Makefiles
Generates standard UNIX makefiles.
A hierarchy of UNIX makefiles is generated into the build tree. Any
standard UNIX-style make program can build the project through the
default make target. A "make install" target is also provided.
Watcom WMake
Generates Watcom WMake makefiles.
Ninja Generator
Ninja
Generates build.ninja files.
A build.ninja file is generated into the build tree. Recent versions
of the ninja program can build the project through the "all" target.
An "install" target is also provided.
IDE Build Tool Generators
These generators support Integrated Development Environment (IDE)
project files. Since the IDEs configure their own environment one may
launch CMake from any environment.
Visual Studio Generators
Visual Studio 6
Deprected. Generates Visual Studio 6 project files.
NOTE:
This generator is deprecated and will be removed in a future version
of CMake. It will still be possible to build with VS 6 tools using
the NMake Makefiles generator.
Visual Studio 7
Deprected. Generates Visual Studio .NET 2002 project files.
NOTE:
This generator is deprecated and will be removed in a future version
of CMake. It will still be possible to build with VS 7.0 tools
using the NMake Makefiles generator.
Visual Studio 7 .NET 2003
Generates Visual Studio .NET 2003 project files.
Visual Studio 8 2005
Generates Visual Studio 8 2005 project files.
The CMAKE_GENERATOR_PLATFORM variable may be set to specify a target
platform name.
For compatibility with CMake versions prior to 3.1, one may specify a
target platform name optionally at the end of this generator name:
Visual Studio 8 2005 Win64
Specify target platform x64.
Visual Studio 8 2005 <WinCE-SDK>
Specify target platform matching a Windows CE SDK name.
Visual Studio 9 2008
Generates Visual Studio 9 2008 project files.
The CMAKE_GENERATOR_PLATFORM variable may be set to specify a target
platform name.
For compatibility with CMake versions prior to 3.1, one may specify a
target platform name optionally at the end of this generator name:
Visual Studio 9 2008 Win64
Specify target platform x64.
Visual Studio 9 2008 IA64
Specify target platform Itanium.
Visual Studio 9 2008 <WinCE-SDK>
Specify target platform matching a Windows CE SDK name.
Visual Studio 10 2010
Generates Visual Studio 10 (VS 2010) project files.
The CMAKE_GENERATOR_PLATFORM variable may be set to specify a target
platform name.
For compatibility with CMake versions prior to 3.1, one may specify a
target platform name optionally at the end of this generator name:
Visual Studio 10 2010 Win64
Specify target platform x64.
Visual Studio 10 2010 IA64
Specify target platform Itanium.
For compatibility with CMake versions prior to 3.0, one may specify
this generator using the name Visual Studio 10 without the year compo‐
nent.
Visual Studio 11 2012
Generates Visual Studio 11 (VS 2012) project files.
The CMAKE_GENERATOR_PLATFORM variable may be set to specify a target
platform name.
For compatibility with CMake versions prior to 3.1, one may specify a
target platform name optionally at the end of this generator name:
Visual Studio 11 2012 Win64
Specify target platform x64.
Visual Studio 11 2012 ARM
Specify target platform ARM.
Visual Studio 11 2012 <WinCE-SDK>
Specify target platform matching a Windows CE SDK name.
For compatibility with CMake versions prior to 3.0, one may specify
this generator using the name "Visual Studio 11" without the year com‐
ponent.
Visual Studio 12 2013
Generates Visual Studio 12 (VS 2013) project files.
The CMAKE_GENERATOR_PLATFORM variable may be set to specify a target
platform name.
For compatibility with CMake versions prior to 3.1, one may specify a
target platform name optionally at the end of this generator name:
Visual Studio 12 2013 Win64
Specify target platform x64.
Visual Studio 12 2013 ARM
Specify target platform ARM.
For compatibility with CMake versions prior to 3.0, one may specify
this generator using the name "Visual Studio 12" without the year com‐
ponent.
Visual Studio 14 2015
Generates Visual Studio 14 (VS 2015) project files.
The CMAKE_GENERATOR_PLATFORM variable may be set to specify a target
platform name.
For compatibility with CMake versions prior to 3.1, one may specify a
target platform name optionally at the end of this generator name:
Visual Studio 14 2015 Win64
Specify target platform x64.
Visual Studio 14 2015 ARM
Specify target platform ARM.
Other Generators
Green Hills MULTI
Generates Green Hills MULTI project files (experimental,
work-in-progress).
Customizations are available through the following cache variables:
· GHS_BSP_NAME
· GHS_CUSTOMIZATION
· GHS_GPJ_MACROS
· GHS_OS_DIR
NOTE:
This generator is deemed experimental as of CMake 3.4.2 and is still
a work in progress. Future versions of CMake may make breaking
changes as the generator matures.
Xcode
Generate Xcode project files.
EXTRA GENERATORS
Some of the CMake Generators listed in the cmake(1) command-line tool
--help output may have variants that specify an extra generator for an
auxiliary IDE tool. Such generator names have the form <extra-genera‐
tor> - <main-generator>. The following extra generators are known to
CMake.
CodeBlocks
Generates CodeBlocks project files.
Project files for CodeBlocks will be created in the top directory and
in every subdirectory which features a CMakeLists.txt file containing a
PROJECT() call. Additionally a hierarchy of makefiles is generated
into the build tree. The appropriate make program can build the
project through the default make target. A "make install" target is
also provided.
This "extra" generator may be specified as:
CodeBlocks - MinGW Makefiles
Generate with MinGW Makefiles.
CodeBlocks - NMake Makefiles
Generate with NMake Makefiles.
CodeBlocks - Ninja
Generate with Ninja.
CodeBlocks - Unix Makefiles
Generate with Unix Makefiles.
CodeLite
Generates CodeLite project files.
Project files for CodeLite will be created in the top directory and in
every subdirectory which features a CMakeLists.txt file containing a
PROJECT() call. The appropriate make program can build the project
through the default make target. A "make install" target is also pro‐
vided.
This "extra" generator may be specified as:
CodeLite - MinGW Makefiles
Generate with MinGW Makefiles.
CodeLite - NMake Makefiles
Generate with NMake Makefiles.
CodeLite - Ninja
Generate with Ninja.
CodeLite - Unix Makefiles
Generate with Unix Makefiles.
Eclipse CDT4
Generates Eclipse CDT 4.0 project files.
Project files for Eclipse will be created in the top directory. In out
of source builds, a linked resource to the top level source directory
will be created. Additionally a hierarchy of makefiles is generated
into the build tree. The appropriate make program can build the
project through the default make target. A "make install" target is
also provided.
This "extra" generator may be specified as:
Eclipse CDT4 - MinGW Makefiles
Generate with MinGW Makefiles.
Eclipse CDT4 - NMake Makefiles
Generate with NMake Makefiles.
Eclipse CDT4 - Ninja
Generate with Ninja.
Eclipse CDT4 - Unix Makefiles
Generate with Unix Makefiles.
KDevelop3
Generates KDevelop 3 project files.
Project files for KDevelop 3 will be created in the top directory and
in every subdirectory which features a CMakeLists.txt file containing a
PROJECT() call. If you change the settings using KDevelop cmake will
try its best to keep your changes when regenerating the project files.
Additionally a hierarchy of UNIX makefiles is generated into the build
tree. Any standard UNIX-style make program can build the project
through the default make target. A "make install" target is also pro‐
vided.
This "extra" generator may be specified as:
KDevelop3 - Unix Makefiles
Generate with Unix Makefiles.
KDevelop3
Generate with Unix Makefiles.
For historical reasons this extra generator may be specified
directly as the main generator and it will be used as the extra
generator with Unix Makefiles automatically.
Kate
Generates Kate project files.
A project file for Kate will be created in the top directory in the top
level build directory. To use it in kate, the Project plugin must be
enabled. The project file is loaded in kate simply by opening the Pro‐
jectName.kateproject file in the editor. If the kate Build-plugin is
enabled, all targets generated by CMake are available for building.
This "extra" generator may be specified as:
Kate - MinGW Makefiles
Generate with MinGW Makefiles.
Kate - NMake Makefiles
Generate with NMake Makefiles.
Kate - Ninja
Generate with Ninja.
Kate - Unix Makefiles
Generate with Unix Makefiles.
Sublime Text 2
Generates Sublime Text 2 project files.
Project files for Sublime Text 2 will be created in the top directory
and in every subdirectory which features a CMakeLists.txt file contain‐
ing a PROJECT() call. Additionally Makefiles (or build.ninja files)
are generated into the build tree. The appropriate make program can
build the project through the default make target. A "make install"
target is also provided.
This "extra" generator may be specified as:
Sublime Text 2 - MinGW Makefiles
Generate with MinGW Makefiles.
Sublime Text 2 - NMake Makefiles
Generate with NMake Makefiles.
Sublime Text 2 - Ninja
Generate with Ninja.
Sublime Text 2 - Unix Makefiles
Generate with Unix Makefiles.
COPYRIGHT
2000-2015 Kitware, Inc.
3.4.2 February 17, 2016 CMAKE-GENERATORS(7)
