Provided by: cmake_3.10.2-1ubuntu2.18.04.2_amd64 
NAME
cmake - CMake Command-Line Reference
SYNOPSIS
cmake [<options>] (<path-to-source> | <path-to-existing-build>)
cmake [(-D <var>=<value>)...] -P <cmake-script-file>
cmake --build <dir> [<options>...] [-- <build-tool-options>...]
cmake -E <command> [<options>...]
cmake --find-package <options>...
DESCRIPTION
The “cmake” executable is the CMake command-line interface. It may be used to configure projects in
scripts. Project configuration settings may be specified on the command line with the -D option.
CMake is a cross-platform build system generator. Projects specify their build process with
platform-independent CMake listfiles included in each directory of a source tree with the name
CMakeLists.txt. Users build a project by using CMake to generate a build system for a native tool on
their platform.
OPTIONS
-C <initial-cache>
Pre-load a script to populate the cache.
When cmake is first run in an empty build tree, it creates a CMakeCache.txt file and populates it
with customizable settings for the project. This option may be used to specify a file from which
to load cache entries before the first pass through the project’s cmake listfiles. The loaded
entries take priority over the project’s default values. The given file should be a CMake script
containing SET commands that use the CACHE option, not a cache-format file.
-D <var>:<type>=<value>, -D <var>=<value>
Create a cmake cache entry.
When cmake is first run in an empty build tree, it creates a CMakeCache.txt file and populates it
with customizable settings for the project. This option may be used to specify a setting that
takes priority over the project’s default value. The option may be repeated for as many cache
entries as desired.
If the :<type> portion is given it must be one of the types specified by the set() command
documentation for its CACHE signature. If the :<type> portion is omitted the entry will be
created with no type if it does not exist with a type already. If a command in the project sets
the type to PATH or FILEPATH then the <value> will be converted to an absolute path.
This option may also be given as a single argument: -D<var>:<type>=<value> or -D<var>=<value>.
-U <globbing_expr>
Remove matching entries from CMake cache.
This option may be used to remove one or more variables from the CMakeCache.txt file, globbing
expressions using * and ? are supported. The option may be repeated for as many cache entries as
desired.
Use with care, you can make your CMakeCache.txt non-working.
-G <generator-name>
Specify a build system generator.
CMake may support multiple native build systems on certain platforms. A generator is responsible
for generating a particular build system. Possible generator names are specified in the
cmake-generators(7) manual.
-T <toolset-spec>
Toolset specification for the generator, if supported.
Some CMake generators support a toolset specification to tell the native build system how to
choose a compiler. See the CMAKE_GENERATOR_TOOLSET variable for details.
-A <platform-name>
Specify platform name if supported by generator.
Some CMake generators support a platform name to be given to the native build system to choose a
compiler or SDK. See the CMAKE_GENERATOR_PLATFORM variable for details.
-Wno-dev
Suppress developer warnings.
Suppress warnings that are meant for the author of the CMakeLists.txt files. By default this will
also turn off deprecation warnings.
-Wdev Enable developer warnings.
Enable warnings that are meant for the author of the CMakeLists.txt files. By default this will
also turn on deprecation warnings.
-Werror=dev
Make developer warnings errors.
Make warnings that are meant for the author of the CMakeLists.txt files errors. By default this
will also turn on deprecated warnings as errors.
-Wno-error=dev
Make developer warnings not errors.
Make warnings that are meant for the author of the CMakeLists.txt files not errors. By default
this will also turn off deprecated warnings as errors.
-Wdeprecated
Enable deprecated functionality warnings.
Enable warnings for usage of deprecated functionality, that are meant for the author of the
CMakeLists.txt files.
-Wno-deprecated
Suppress deprecated functionality warnings.
Suppress warnings for usage of deprecated functionality, that are meant for the author of the
CMakeLists.txt files.
-Werror=deprecated
Make deprecated macro and function warnings errors.
Make warnings for usage of deprecated macros and functions, that are meant for the author of the
CMakeLists.txt files, errors.
-Wno-error=deprecated
Make deprecated macro and function warnings not errors.
Make warnings for usage of deprecated macros and functions, that are meant for the author of the
CMakeLists.txt files, not errors.
-E <command> [<options>...]
See Command-Line Tool Mode.
-L[A][H]
List non-advanced cached variables.
List cache variables will run CMake and list all the variables from the CMake cache that are not
marked as INTERNAL or ADVANCED. This will effectively display current CMake settings, which can
then be changed with -D option. Changing some of the variables may result in more variables being
created. If A is specified, then it will display also advanced variables. If H is specified, it
will also display help for each variable.
--build <dir>
See Build Tool Mode.
-N View mode only.
Only load the cache. Do not actually run configure and generate steps.
-P <file>
Process script mode.
Process the given cmake file as a script written in the CMake language. No configure or generate
step is performed and the cache is not modified. If variables are defined using -D, this must be
done before the -P argument.
--find-package
See Find-Package Tool Mode.
--graphviz=[file]
Generate graphviz of dependencies, see CMakeGraphVizOptions for more.
Generate a graphviz input file that will contain all the library and executable dependencies in
the project. See the documentation for CMakeGraphVizOptions for more details.
--system-information [file]
Dump information about this system.
Dump a wide range of information about the current system. If run from the top of a binary tree
for a CMake project it will dump additional information such as the cache, log files etc.
--debug-trycompile
Do not delete the try_compile build tree. Only useful on one try_compile at a time.
Do not delete the files and directories created for try_compile calls. This is useful in
debugging failed try_compiles. It may however change the results of the try-compiles as old junk
from a previous try-compile may cause a different test to either pass or fail incorrectly. This
option is best used for one try-compile at a time, and only when debugging.
--debug-output
Put cmake in a debug mode.
Print extra information during the cmake run like stack traces with message(send_error ) calls.
--trace
Put cmake in trace mode.
Print a trace of all calls made and from where.
--trace-expand
Put cmake in trace mode.
Like --trace, but with variables expanded.
--trace-source=<file>
Put cmake in trace mode, but output only lines of a specified file.
Multiple options are allowed.
--warn-uninitialized
Warn about uninitialized values.
Print a warning when an uninitialized variable is used.
--warn-unused-vars
Warn about unused variables.
Find variables that are declared or set, but not used.
--no-warn-unused-cli
Don’t warn about command line options.
Don’t find variables that are declared on the command line, but not used.
--check-system-vars
Find problems with variable usage in system files.
Normally, unused and uninitialized variables are searched for only in CMAKE_SOURCE_DIR and
CMAKE_BINARY_DIR. This flag tells CMake to warn about other files as well.
--help,-help,-usage,-h,-H,/?
Print usage information and exit.
Usage describes the basic command line interface and its options.
--version,-version,/V [<f>]
Show program name/version banner and exit.
If a file is specified, the version is written into it. The help is printed to a named <f>ile if
given.
--help-full [<f>]
Print all help manuals and exit.
All manuals are printed in a human-readable text format. The help is printed to a named <f>ile if
given.
--help-manual <man> [<f>]
Print one help manual and exit.
The specified manual is printed in a human-readable text format. The help is printed to a named
<f>ile if given.
--help-manual-list [<f>]
List help manuals available and exit.
The list contains all manuals for which help may be obtained by using the --help-manual option
followed by a manual name. The help is printed to a named <f>ile if given.
--help-command <cmd> [<f>]
Print help for one command and exit.
The cmake-commands(7) manual entry for <cmd> is printed in a human-readable text format. The help
is printed to a named <f>ile if given.
--help-command-list [<f>]
List commands with help available and exit.
The list contains all commands for which help may be obtained by using the --help-command option
followed by a command name. The help is printed to a named <f>ile if given.
--help-commands [<f>]
Print cmake-commands manual and exit.
The cmake-commands(7) manual is printed in a human-readable text format. The help is printed to a
named <f>ile if given.
--help-module <mod> [<f>]
Print help for one module and exit.
The cmake-modules(7) manual entry for <mod> is printed in a human-readable text format. The help
is printed to a named <f>ile if given.
--help-module-list [<f>]
List modules with help available and exit.
The list contains all modules for which help may be obtained by using the --help-module option
followed by a module name. The help is printed to a named <f>ile if given.
--help-modules [<f>]
Print cmake-modules manual and exit.
The cmake-modules(7) manual is printed in a human-readable text format. The help is printed to a
named <f>ile if given.
--help-policy <cmp> [<f>]
Print help for one policy and exit.
The cmake-policies(7) manual entry for <cmp> is printed in a human-readable text format. The help
is printed to a named <f>ile if given.
--help-policy-list [<f>]
List policies with help available and exit.
The list contains all policies for which help may be obtained by using the --help-policy option
followed by a policy name. The help is printed to a named <f>ile if given.
--help-policies [<f>]
Print cmake-policies manual and exit.
The cmake-policies(7) manual is printed in a human-readable text format. The help is printed to a
named <f>ile if given.
--help-property <prop> [<f>]
Print help for one property and exit.
The cmake-properties(7) manual entries for <prop> are printed in a human-readable text format.
The help is printed to a named <f>ile if given.
--help-property-list [<f>]
List properties with help available and exit.
The list contains all properties for which help may be obtained by using the --help-property
option followed by a property name. The help is printed to a named <f>ile if given.
--help-properties [<f>]
Print cmake-properties manual and exit.
The cmake-properties(7) manual is printed in a human-readable text format. The help is printed to
a named <f>ile if given.
--help-variable <var> [<f>]
Print help for one variable and exit.
The cmake-variables(7) manual entry for <var> is printed in a human-readable text format. The
help is printed to a named <f>ile if given.
--help-variable-list [<f>]
List variables with help available and exit.
The list contains all variables for which help may be obtained by using the --help-variable option
followed by a variable name. The help is printed to a named <f>ile if given.
--help-variables [<f>]
Print cmake-variables manual and exit.
The cmake-variables(7) manual is printed in a human-readable text format. The help is printed to
a named <f>ile if given.
BUILD TOOL MODE
CMake provides a command-line signature to build an already-generated project binary tree:
cmake --build <dir> [<options>...] [-- <build-tool-options>...]
This abstracts a native build tool’s command-line interface with the following options:
--build <dir>
Project binary directory to be built. This is required and must be first.
--target <tgt>
Build <tgt> instead of default targets. May only be specified once.
--config <cfg>
For multi-configuration tools, choose configuration <cfg>.
--clean-first
Build target clean first, then build. (To clean only, use --target clean.)
--use-stderr
Ignored. Behavior is default in CMake >= 3.0.
-- Pass remaining options to the native tool.
Run cmake --build with no options for quick help.
COMMAND-LINE TOOL MODE
CMake provides builtin command-line tools through the signature:
cmake -E <command> [<options>...]
Run cmake -E or cmake -E help for a summary of commands. Available commands are:
capabilities
Report cmake capabilities in JSON format. The output is a JSON object with the following keys:
version
A JSON object with version information. Keys are:
string The full version string as displayed by cmake --version.
major The major version number in integer form.
minor The minor version number in integer form.
patch The patch level in integer form.
suffix The cmake version suffix string.
isDirty
A bool that is set if the cmake build is from a dirty tree.
generators
A list available generators. Each generator is a JSON object with the following keys:
name A string containing the name of the generator.
toolsetSupport
true if the generator supports toolsets and false otherwise.
platformSupport
true if the generator supports platforms and false otherwise.
extraGenerators
A list of strings with all the extra generators compatible with the generator.
serverMode
true if cmake supports server-mode and false otherwise.
chdir <dir> <cmd> [<arg>...]
Change the current working directory and run a command.
compare_files <file1> <file2>
Check if <file1> is same as <file2>. If files are the same, then returns 0, if not it returns 1.
copy <file>... <destination>
Copy files to <destination> (either file or directory). If multiple files are specified, the
<destination> must be directory and it must exist. Wildcards are not supported.
copy_directory <dir>... <destination>
Copy directories to <destination> directory. If <destination> directory does not exist it will be
created.
copy_if_different <file>... <destination>
Copy files to <destination> (either file or directory) if they have changed. If multiple files
are specified, the <destination> must be directory and it must exist.
echo [<string>...]
Displays arguments as text.
echo_append [<string>...]
Displays arguments as text but no new line.
env [--unset=NAME]... [NAME=VALUE]... COMMAND [ARG]...
Run command in a modified environment.
environment
Display the current environment variables.
make_directory <dir>...
Create <dir> directories. If necessary, create parent directories too. If a directory already
exists it will be silently ignored.
md5sum <file>...
Create MD5 checksum of files in md5sum compatible format:
351abe79cd3800b38cdfb25d45015a15 file1.txt
052f86c15bbde68af55c7f7b340ab639 file2.txt
sha1sum <file>...
Create SHA1 checksum of files in sha1sum compatible format:
4bb7932a29e6f73c97bb9272f2bdc393122f86e0 file1.txt
1df4c8f318665f9a5f2ed38f55adadb7ef9f559c file2.txt
sha224sum <file>...
Create SHA224 checksum of files in sha224sum compatible format:
b9b9346bc8437bbda630b0b7ddfc5ea9ca157546dbbf4c613192f930 file1.txt
6dfbe55f4d2edc5fe5c9197bca51ceaaf824e48eba0cc453088aee24 file2.txt
sha256sum <file>...
Create SHA256 checksum of files in sha256sum compatible format:
76713b23615d31680afeb0e9efe94d47d3d4229191198bb46d7485f9cb191acc file1.txt
15b682ead6c12dedb1baf91231e1e89cfc7974b3787c1e2e01b986bffadae0ea file2.txt
sha384sum <file>...
Create SHA384 checksum of files in sha384sum compatible format:
acc049fedc091a22f5f2ce39a43b9057fd93c910e9afd76a6411a28a8f2b8a12c73d7129e292f94fc0329c309df49434 file1.txt
668ddeb108710d271ee21c0f3acbd6a7517e2b78f9181c6a2ff3b8943af92b0195dcb7cce48aa3e17893173c0a39e23d file2.txt
sha512sum <file>...
Create SHA512 checksum of files in sha512sum compatible format:
2a78d7a6c5328cfb1467c63beac8ff21794213901eaadafd48e7800289afbc08e5fb3e86aa31116c945ee3d7bf2a6194489ec6101051083d1108defc8e1dba89 file1.txt
7a0b54896fe5e70cca6dd643ad6f672614b189bf26f8153061c4d219474b05dad08c4e729af9f4b009f1a1a280cb625454bf587c690f4617c27e3aebdf3b7a2d file2.txt
remove [-f] <file>...
Remove the file(s). If any of the listed files already do not exist, the command returns a
non-zero exit code, but no message is logged. The -f option changes the behavior to return a zero
exit code (i.e. success) in such situations instead.
remove_directory <dir>
Remove a directory and its contents. If a directory does not exist it will be silently ignored.
rename <oldname> <newname>
Rename a file or directory (on one volume).
server Launch cmake-server(7) mode.
sleep <number>...
Sleep for given number of seconds.
tar [cxt][vf][zjJ] file.tar [<options>...] [--] [<file>...]
Create or extract a tar or zip archive. Options are:
-- Stop interpreting options and treat all remaining arguments as file names even if they
start in -.
--files-from=<file>
Read file names from the given file, one per line. Blank lines are ignored. Lines may not
start in - except for --add-file=<name> to add files whose names start in -.
--mtime=<date>
Specify modification time recorded in tarball entries.
--format=<format>
Specify the format of the archive to be created. Supported formats are: 7zip, gnutar, pax,
paxr (restricted pax, default), and zip.
time <command> [<args>...]
Run command and return elapsed time.
touch <file>
Touch a file.
touch_nocreate <file>
Touch a file if it exists but do not create it. If a file does not exist it will be silently
ignored.
UNIX-specific Command-Line Tools
The following cmake -E commands are available only on UNIX:
create_symlink <old> <new>
Create a symbolic link <new> naming <old>.
NOTE:
Path to where <new> symbolic link will be created has to exist beforehand.
Windows-specific Command-Line Tools
The following cmake -E commands are available only on Windows:
delete_regv <key>
Delete Windows registry value.
env_vs8_wince <sdkname>
Displays a batch file which sets the environment for the provided Windows CE SDK installed in
VS2005.
env_vs9_wince <sdkname>
Displays a batch file which sets the environment for the provided Windows CE SDK installed in
VS2008.
write_regv <key> <value>
Write Windows registry value.
FIND-PACKAGE TOOL MODE
CMake provides a helper for Makefile-based projects with the signature:
cmake --find-package <options>...
This runs in a pkg-config like mode.
Search a package using find_package() and print the resulting flags to stdout. This can be used to use
cmake instead of pkg-config to find installed libraries in plain Makefile-based projects or in
autoconf-based projects (via share/aclocal/cmake.m4).
NOTE:
This mode is not well-supported due to some technical limitations. It is kept for compatibility but
should not be used in new projects.
SEE ALSO
The following resources are available to get help using CMake:
Home Page
https://cmake.org
The primary starting point for learning about CMake.
Frequently Asked Questions
https://cmake.org/Wiki/CMake_FAQ
A Wiki is provided containing answers to frequently asked questions.
Online Documentation
https://cmake.org/documentation
Links to available documentation may be found on this web page.
Mailing List
https://cmake.org/mailing-lists
For help and discussion about using cmake, a mailing list is provided at cmake@cmake.org. The
list is member-post-only but one may sign up on the CMake web page. Please first read the full
documentation at https://cmake.org before posting questions to the list.
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