[Synopsis-devel] CMake

[David Genest]

Stefan,

On Fri, May 16, 2008 at 10:21 AM, Stefan Seefeld <seefeld at sympatico.ca>
wrote:

>
> As far as I understand, CMake is itself a wrapper that delegates to
> platform-specific build tools. Am I correct ?
> How would it manage a Windows build ? What tools would it use there ?
>

I want to delve more into CMake, but yes, it is a kind of driver for the
platform's build system (be it make-gcc, msdev on windows, cygwin, borland,
eclipse, etc). You write once the auto-tools like scripts and all platforms
are supported. This is where the power lies. There is no need to maintain
autoconf files because CMake takes care of it.

I still believe it to be possible to adapt the current GNU-make based
> system to build using a VC++ toolchain (something I have done for other
> projects in the past successfully).
>

I know also that this is feasable, but the changes must occur inside make
scripts which are friendlyer to UNIX environments. The maintaining of the
different build types must occur inside make files and autoconf files. With
the use of CMake, the maintenance is carried over to the CMakeLists.txt, for
all platforms.

I'm somewhat reluctant towards CMake, as it doesn't actually replace
> 'make', but rather, abstract it. Thus, our hybrid build system would
> become even more complex than it already is. But I'm open to be proven
> wrong. :-)
>

The abstraction gives you more power on other platforms. CMake can manage
tool discovery. IN fact, it replaces the automake + libtool + autoconf
combination. I think in the end that it is a simplifying change.

Let me try and prove it to you... I have been told by a few people that
CMake eliminates all the complexities involved in the autotools suite. I am
very interested in learning CMake. One of the added benefits is that it can
generate project files automatically, for the IDE loving developpers out
there (that includes me :-).

I will try porting the synopsis build system and give you feedback on my
progress.

D.
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