How to Use File Glob In A Different Directory In Cmake?

In CMake, you can use file glob to automatically add all files in a directory to your project. However, by default, file glob only works with files in the current directory. If you want to use file glob in a different directory, you can use the GLOB_RECURSE command along with the full path to the directory you want to search.

For example, if you want to include all .cpp files in a directory called "src" in your project, you can use the following command:

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file(GLOB_RECURSE SOURCE_FILES "${CMAKE_SOURCE_DIR}/src/*.cpp")

This will search for all .cpp files in the "src" directory, regardless of the directory where the CMakeLists.txt file is located. Keep in mind that using file glob with GLOB_RECURSE can have limitations and drawbacks, so consider using a more explicit approach if possible.

How to handle conflicts when using file glob in CMake?

When using file glob in CMake, conflicts may arise when files are added, removed, or renamed in the source directory. To handle these conflicts, consider the following best practices:

1. Use explicitly defined file lists: Instead of using file globbing to automatically generate a list of files, consider explicitly defining the list of files that should be included in the build. This will make it easier to manage conflicts and ensure that the correct files are included.
2. Update file glob patterns: If conflicts arise due to changes in the source directory, update the file glob patterns to ensure that the correct files are included. Use specific patterns to target only the files that are needed for the build.
3. Use version control: Version control systems like Git can help track changes to files in the source directory and make it easier to identify conflicts. By keeping track of changes, you can quickly resolve conflicts and ensure that the correct files are included in the build.
4. Use file(WRITE) to generate a list of files: Instead of using file globbing, consider using the file(WRITE) command to generate a list of files that should be included in the build. This will give you more control over which files are included and help avoid conflicts.
5. Use file(GLOB_RECURSE) for recursive file globbing: If you need to recursively search for files in subdirectories, consider using the file(GLOB_RECURSE) command instead of file globbing. This will help ensure that all relevant files are included in the build.

By following these best practices, you can effectively handle conflicts when using file glob in CMake and ensure that the correct files are included in the build.

What is the alternative to file glob for including files in CMake?

The alternative to file glob for including files in CMake is to list the files explicitly using the set() command and then include them in the project using the add_executable() or add_library() command. This allows for more control and flexibility in specifying which files should be included in the project.

How to resolve dependencies between files included with file glob in CMake?

To resolve dependencies between files included with file glob in CMake, you can use the target_sources command to explicitly list the dependencies in the correct order. Here's an example:

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# Group all source files with file glob
file(GLOB SOURCE_FILES "*.cpp")

# Create a library target
add_library(mylibrary ${SOURCE_FILES})

# Define the dependencies
target_sources(mylibrary
    PUBLIC
    "file1.cpp"
    "file2.cpp"
    "file3.cpp"
    # Add other files as needed
)

In this example, we first use file(GLOB ...) to gather all source files into the SOURCE_FILES variable. Then we create a library target named mylibrary using the add_library command and pass the SOURCE_FILES variable as the sources for the library.

Finally, we use the target_sources command to explicitly list the dependencies in the correct order. By setting the PUBLIC keyword, we make sure that these dependencies are also visible to any targets that link against mylibrary.

By explicitly listing the dependencies in this way, you can ensure that CMake processes them in the correct order, resolving any dependencies between the files included with file glob.