.. cmake-manual-description: CMake Command-Line Reference

cmake(1)
********

Synopsis
========

.. parsed-literal::

 `Generate a Project Buildsystem`_
  cmake [<options>] <path-to-source>
  cmake [<options>] <path-to-existing-build>
  cmake [<options>] -S <path-to-source> -B <path-to-build>

 `Build a Project`_
  cmake --build <dir> [<options>] [-- <build-tool-options>]

 `Install a Project`_
  cmake --install <dir> [<options>]

 `Open a Project`_
  cmake --open <dir>

 `Run a Script`_
  cmake [{-D <var>=<value>}...] -P <cmake-script-file>

 `Run a Command-Line Tool`_
  cmake -E <command> [<options>]

 `Run the Find-Package Tool`_
  cmake --find-package [<options>]

 `View Help`_
  cmake --help[-<topic>]

Description
===========

The **cmake** executable is the command-line interface of the cross-platform
buildsystem generator CMake.  The above `Synopsis`_ lists various actions
the tool can perform as described in sections below.

To build a software project with CMake, `Generate a Project Buildsystem`_.
Optionally use **cmake** to `Build a Project`_, `Install a Project`_ or just
run the corresponding build tool (e.g. ``make``) directly.  **cmake** can also
be used to `View Help`_.

The other actions are meant for use by software developers writing
scripts in the :manual:`CMake language <cmake-language(7)>` to support
their builds.

For graphical user interfaces that may be used in place of **cmake**,
see :manual:`ccmake <ccmake(1)>` and :manual:`cmake-gui <cmake-gui(1)>`.
For command-line interfaces to the CMake testing and packaging facilities,
see :manual:`ctest <ctest(1)>` and :manual:`cpack <cpack(1)>`.

For more information on CMake at large, `see also`_ the links at the end
of this manual.


Introduction to CMake Buildsystems
==================================

A *buildsystem* describes how to build a project's executables and libraries
from its source code using a *build tool* to automate the process.  For
example, a buildsystem may be a ``Makefile`` for use with a command-line
``make`` tool or a project file for an Integrated Development Environment
(IDE).  In order to avoid maintaining multiple such buildsystems, a project
may specify its buildsystem abstractly using files written in the
:manual:`CMake language <cmake-language(7)>`.  From these files CMake
generates a preferred buildsystem locally for each user through a backend
called a *generator*.

To generate a buildsystem with CMake, the following must be selected:

Source Tree
  The top-level directory containing source files provided by the project.
  The project specifies its buildsystem using files as described in the
  :manual:`cmake-language(7)` manual, starting with a top-level file named
  ``CMakeLists.txt``.  These files specify build targets and their
  dependencies as described in the :manual:`cmake-buildsystem(7)` manual.

Build Tree
  The top-level directory in which buildsystem files and build output
  artifacts (e.g. executables and libraries) are to be stored.
  CMake will write a ``CMakeCache.txt`` file to identify the directory
  as a build tree and store persistent information such as buildsystem
  configuration options.

  To maintain a pristine source tree, perform an *out-of-source* build
  by using a separate dedicated build tree.  An *in-source* build in
  which the build tree is placed in the same directory as the source
  tree is also supported, but discouraged.

Generator
  This chooses the kind of buildsystem to generate.  See the
  :manual:`cmake-generators(7)` manual for documentation of all generators.
  Run ``cmake --help`` to see a list of generators available locally.
  Optionally use the ``-G`` option below to specify a generator, or simply
  accept the default CMake chooses for the current platform.

  When using one of the :ref:`Command-Line Build Tool Generators`
  CMake expects that the environment needed by the compiler toolchain
  is already configured in the shell.  When using one of the
  :ref:`IDE Build Tool Generators`, no particular environment is needed.


Generate a Project Buildsystem
==============================

Run CMake with one of the following command signatures to specify the
source and build trees and generate a buildsystem:

``cmake [<options>] <path-to-source>``
  Uses the current working directory as the build tree, and
  ``<path-to-source>`` as the source tree.  The specified path may
  be absolute or relative to the current working directory.
  The source tree must contain a ``CMakeLists.txt`` file and must
  *not* contain a ``CMakeCache.txt`` file because the latter
  identifies an existing build tree.  For example:

  .. code-block:: console

    $ mkdir build ; cd build
    $ cmake ../src

``cmake [<options>] <path-to-existing-build>``
  Uses ``<path-to-existing-build>`` as the build tree, and loads the
  path to the source tree from its ``CMakeCache.txt`` file, which must
  have already been generated by a previous run of CMake.  The specified
  path may be absolute or relative to the current working directory.
  For example:

  .. code-block:: console

    $ cd build
    $ cmake .

``cmake [<options>] -S <path-to-source> -B <path-to-build>``
  Uses ``<path-to-build>`` as the build tree and ``<path-to-source>``
  as the source tree.  The specified paths may be absolute or relative
  to the current working directory.  The source tree must contain a
  ``CMakeLists.txt`` file.  The build tree will be created automatically
  if it does not already exist.  For example:

  .. code-block:: console

    $ cmake -S src -B build

In all cases the ``<options>`` may be zero or more of the `Options`_ below.

After generating a buildsystem one may use the corresponding native
build tool to build the project.  For example, after using the
:generator:`Unix Makefiles` generator one may run ``make`` directly:

  .. code-block:: console

    $ make
    $ make install

Alternatively, one may use **cmake** to `Build a Project`_ by
automatically choosing and invoking the appropriate native build tool.

.. _`CMake Options`:

Options
-------

.. include:: OPTIONS_BUILD.txt

``-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 :prop_cache:`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.

``-N``
 View mode only.

 Only load the cache.  Do not actually run configure and generate
 steps.

``--graphviz=[file]``
 Generate graphviz of dependencies, see :module:`CMakeGraphVizOptions` for more.

 Generate a graphviz input file that will contain all the library and
 executable dependencies in the project.  See the documentation for
 :module:`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.

``--log-level=<ERROR|WARNING|NOTICE|STATUS|VERBOSE|DEBUG|TRACE>``
 Set the log level.

 The :command:`message` command will only output messages of the specified
 log level or higher.  The default log level is ``STATUS``.

 To make a log level persist between CMake runs, set
 :variable:`CMAKE_MESSAGE_LOG_LEVEL` as a cache variable instead.
 If both the command line option and the variable are given, the command line
 option takes precedence.

 For backward compatibility reasons, ``--loglevel`` is also accepted as a
 synonym for this option.

``--log-context``
 Enable the :command:`message` command outputting context attached to each
 message.

 This option turns on showing context for the current CMake run only.
 To make showing the context persistent for all subsequent CMake runs, set
 :variable:`CMAKE_MESSAGE_CONTEXT_SHOW` as a cache variable instead.
 When this command line option is given, :variable:`CMAKE_MESSAGE_CONTEXT_SHOW`
 is ignored.

``--debug-trycompile``
 Do not delete the :command:`try_compile` build tree.
 Only useful on one :command:`try_compile` at a time.

 Do not delete the files and directories created for :command:`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
 :command:`message(SEND_ERROR)` calls.

``--debug-find``
 Put cmake find commands in a debug mode.

 Print extra find call information during the cmake run to standard
 error. Output is designed for human consumption and not for parsing.
 See also the :variable:`CMAKE_FIND_DEBUG_MODE` variable for debugging
 a more local part of the project.

``--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-format=<format>``
 Put cmake in trace mode and sets the trace output format.

 ``<format>`` can be one of the following values.

   ``human``
     Prints each trace line in a human-readable format. This is the
     default format.

   ``json-v1``
     Prints each line as a separate JSON document. Each document is
     separated by a newline ( ``\n`` ). It is guaranteed that no
     newline characters will be present inside a JSON document.

     JSON trace format:

     .. code-block:: json

       {
         "file": "/full/path/to/the/CMake/file.txt",
         "line": 0,
         "cmd": "add_executable",
         "args": ["foo", "bar"],
         "time": 1579512535.9687231,
         "frame": 2
       }

     The members are:

     ``file``
       The full path to the CMake source file where the function
       was called.

     ``line``
       The line in ``file`` of the function call.

     ``defer``
       Optional member that is present when the function call was deferred
       by :command:`cmake_language(DEFER)`.  If present, its value is a
       string containing the deferred call ``<id>``.

     ``cmd``
       The name of the function that was called.

     ``args``
       A string list of all function parameters.

     ``time``
       Timestamp (seconds since epoch) of the function call.

     ``frame``
       Stack frame depth of the function that was called.

     Additionally, the first JSON document outputted contains the
     ``version`` key for the current major and minor version of the

     JSON trace format:

     .. code-block:: json

       {
         "version": {
           "major": 1,
           "minor": 1
         }
       }

     The members are:

     ``version``
       Indicates the version of the JSON format. The version has a
       major and minor components following semantic version conventions.

``--trace-source=<file>``
 Put cmake in trace mode, but output only lines of a specified file.

 Multiple options are allowed.

``--trace-redirect=<file>``
 Put cmake in trace mode and redirect trace output to a file instead of stderr.

``--warn-uninitialized``
 Warn about uninitialized values.

 Print a warning when an uninitialized variable is used.

``--warn-unused-vars``
 Does nothing.  In CMake versions 3.2 and below this enabled warnings about
 unused variables.  In CMake versions 3.3 through 3.18 the option was broken.
 In CMake 3.19 and above the option has been removed.

``--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 :variable:`CMAKE_SOURCE_DIR` and :variable:`CMAKE_BINARY_DIR`.
 This flag tells CMake to warn about other files as well.

``--profiling-output=<path>``
 Used in conjunction with ``--profiling-format`` to output to a given path.

``--profiling-format=<file>``
 Enable the output of profiling data of CMake script in the given format.

 This can aid performance analysis of CMake scripts executed. Third party
 applications should be used to process the output into human readable format.

 Currently supported values are:
 ``google-trace`` Outputs in Google Trace Format, which can be parsed by the
 about:tracing tab of Google Chrome or using a plugin for a tool like Trace
 Compass.

.. _`Build Tool Mode`:

Build a Project
===============

CMake provides a command-line signature to build an already-generated
project binary tree:

.. code-block:: shell

  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.

``--parallel [<jobs>], -j [<jobs>]``
  The maximum number of concurrent processes to use when building.
  If ``<jobs>`` is omitted the native build tool's default number is used.

  The :envvar:`CMAKE_BUILD_PARALLEL_LEVEL` environment variable, if set,
  specifies a default parallel level when this option is not given.

  Some native build tools always build in parallel.  The use of ``<jobs>``
  value of ``1`` can be used to limit to a single job.

``--target <tgt>..., -t <tgt>...``
  Build ``<tgt>`` instead of the default target.  Multiple targets may be
  given, separated by spaces.

``--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.

``--verbose, -v``
  Enable verbose output - if supported - including the build commands to be
  executed.

  This option can be omitted if :envvar:`VERBOSE` environment variable or
  :variable:`CMAKE_VERBOSE_MAKEFILE` cached variable is set.


``--``
  Pass remaining options to the native tool.

Run ``cmake --build`` with no options for quick help.

Install a Project
=================

CMake provides a command-line signature to install an already-generated
project binary tree:

.. code-block:: shell

  cmake --install <dir> [<options>]

This may be used after building a project to run installation without
using the generated build system or the native build tool.
The options are:

``--install <dir>``
  Project binary directory to install. This is required and must be first.

``--config <cfg>``
  For multi-configuration generators, choose configuration ``<cfg>``.

``--component <comp>``
  Component-based install. Only install component ``<comp>``.

``--default-directory-permissions <permissions>``
  Default directory install permissions. Permissions in format ``<u=rwx,g=rx,o=rx>``.

``--prefix <prefix>``
  Override the installation prefix, :variable:`CMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX`.

``--strip``
  Strip before installing.

``-v, --verbose``
  Enable verbose output.

  This option can be omitted if :envvar:`VERBOSE` environment variable is set.

Run ``cmake --install`` with no options for quick help.

Open a Project
==============

.. code-block:: shell

  cmake --open <dir>

Open the generated project in the associated application.  This is only
supported by some generators.


.. _`Script Processing Mode`:

Run a Script
============

.. code-block:: shell

  cmake [{-D <var>=<value>}...] -P <cmake-script-file> [-- <unparsed-options>...]

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.

Any options after ``--`` are not parsed by CMake, but they are still included
in the set of :variable:`CMAKE_ARGV<n> <CMAKE_ARGV0>` variables passed to the
script (including the ``--`` itself).


Run a Command-Line Tool
=======================

CMake provides builtin command-line tools through the signature

.. code-block:: shell

  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.

  ``fileApi``
    Optional member that is present when the :manual:`cmake-file-api(7)`
    is available.  The value is a JSON object with one member:

    ``requests``
      A JSON array containing zero or more supported file-api requests.
      Each request is a JSON object with members:

      ``kind``
        Specifies one of the supported :ref:`file-api object kinds`.

      ``version``
        A JSON array whose elements are each a JSON object containing
        ``major`` and ``minor`` members specifying non-negative integer
        version components.

  ``serverMode``
    ``true`` if cmake supports server-mode and ``false`` otherwise.

``cat <files>...``
  Concatenate files and print on the standard output.

``chdir <dir> <cmd> [<arg>...]``
  Change the current working directory and run a command.

``compare_files [--ignore-eol] <file1> <file2>``
  Check if ``<file1>`` is same as ``<file2>``. If files are the same,
  then returns ``0``, if not it returns ``1``.  In case of invalid
  arguments, it returns 2. The ``--ignore-eol`` option
  implies line-wise comparison and ignores LF/CRLF differences.

``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`` does follow symlinks. That means it does not copy symlinks,
  but the files or directories it point to.

``copy_directory <dir>... <destination>``
  Copy content of ``<dir>...`` directories to ``<destination>`` directory.
  If ``<destination>`` directory does not exist it will be created.
  ``copy_directory`` does follow symlinks.

``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.
  ``copy_if_different`` does follow symlinks.

``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.

``create_hardlink <old> <new>``
  Create a hard link ``<new>`` naming ``<old>``.

  .. note::
    Path to where ``<new>`` hard link will be created has to exist beforehand.
    ``<old>`` has to exist beforehand.

``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.

``false``
  Do nothing, with an exit code of 1.

``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>...``
  .. deprecated:: 3.17

  Remove the file(s). The planned behaviour was that 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`` does not follow symlinks. That means it remove only symlinks
  and not files it point to.

  The implementation was buggy and always returned 0. It cannot be fixed without
  breaking backwards compatibility. Use ``rm`` instead.

``remove_directory <dir>...``
  .. deprecated:: 3.17

  Remove ``<dir>`` directories and their contents. If a directory does
  not exist it will be silently ignored.  If ``<dir>`` is a symlink to
  a directory, just the symlink will be removed.
  Use ``rm`` instead.

``rename <oldname> <newname>``
  Rename a file or directory (on one volume). If file with the ``<newname>`` name
  already exists, then it will be silently replaced.

``rm [-rRf] <file> <dir>...``
  Remove the files ``<file>`` or directories ``dir``.
  Use ``-r`` or ``-R`` to remove directories and their contents recursively.
  If any of the listed files/directories 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.

``server``
  Launch :manual:`cmake-server(7)` mode.

``sleep <number>...``
  Sleep for given number of seconds.

``tar [cxt][vf][zjJ] file.tar [<options>] [--] [<pathname>...]``
  Create or extract a tar or zip archive.  Options are:

  ``c``
    Create a new archive containing the specified files.
    If used, the ``<pathname>...`` argument is mandatory.
  ``x``
    Extract to disk from the archive.
    The ``<pathname>...`` argument could be used to extract only selected files
    or directories.
    When extracting selected files or directories, you must provide their exact
    names including the path, as printed by list (``-t``).
  ``t``
    List archive contents.
    The ``<pathname>...`` argument could be used to list only selected files
    or directories.
  ``v``
    Produce verbose output.
  ``z``
    Compress the resulting archive with gzip.
  ``j``
    Compress the resulting archive with bzip2.
  ``J``
    Compress the resulting archive with XZ.
  ``--zstd``
    Compress the resulting archive with Zstandard.
  ``--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 ``-``.
  ``--format=<format>``
    Specify the format of the archive to be created.
    Supported formats are: ``7zip``, ``gnutar``, ``pax``,
    ``paxr`` (restricted pax, default), and ``zip``.
  ``--mtime=<date>``
    Specify modification time recorded in tarball entries.
  ``--``
    Stop interpreting options and treat all remaining arguments
    as file names, even if they start with ``-``.


``time <command> [<args>...]``
  Run command and display elapsed time.

``touch <file>...``
  Creates ``<file>`` if file do not exist.
  If ``<file>`` exists, it is changing ``<file>`` access and modification times.

``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.

``true``
  Do nothing, with an exit code of 0.

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.


Run the Find-Package Tool
=========================

CMake provides a pkg-config like helper for Makefile-based projects:

.. code-block:: shell

  cmake --find-package [<options>]

It searches a package using :command:`find_package()` and prints the
resulting flags to stdout.  This can be used 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.


View Help
=========

To print selected pages from the CMake documentation, use

.. code-block:: shell

  cmake --help[-<topic>]

with one of the following options:

.. include:: OPTIONS_HELP.txt


See Also
========

.. include:: LINKS.txt
