How to Set Include Order For Cmake?

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To set include order for CMake, you can use the include_directories() function in your CMakeLists file. This function allows you to specify the order in which directories should be searched for header files during compilation. By listing directories in the desired order, you can ensure that the correct header files are included in your project. This can help prevent issues such as conflicting definitions or missing header files.


What is the syntax for setting include order in cmake?

In CMake, you can set the include directories order by using the include_directories command with the desired directories listed in the order you want them to be included. Here is the syntax for setting include order in CMake:

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include_directories(directory1 directory2 ...)


For example, if you want to include directories include/foo and include/bar in a specific order, you can do it like this:

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include_directories(include/foo include/bar)



How to organize include files within include directories in cmake for better project structure?

To organize include files within include directories in CMake for better project structure, you can follow these steps:

  1. Create a directory structure for your include files: Start by creating subdirectories within your project directory to organize your include files according to their purpose or functionality. For example, you could create directories for headers related to different modules, libraries, or components of your project.
  2. Set include directories in CMakeLists.txt: In your project's CMakeLists.txt file, use the include_directories() function to specify the directories where your header files are located. You can use relative paths to refer to the directories you created in the previous step.
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include_directories(${CMAKE_SOURCE_DIR}/include/module1)
include_directories(${CMAKE_SOURCE_DIR}/include/module2)


  1. Use target_include_directories() for a more structured approach: CMake provides the target_include_directories() function to set include directories on a per-target basis. This approach allows you to specify include directories for specific targets within your project.
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target_include_directories(target_name PUBLIC ${CMAKE_SOURCE_DIR}/include/module1)
target_include_directories(target_name PRIVATE ${CMAKE_SOURCE_DIR}/include/module2)


  1. Consider using CMake's file() and glob() functions for more dynamic organization: If you have a large number of header files or if they are spread across multiple directories, you can use CMake's file() and glob() functions to dynamically collect and organize include files.
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file(GLOB_RECURSE HEADER_FILES ${CMAKE_SOURCE_DIR}/include/*.h)
target_sources(target_name PRIVATE ${HEADER_FILES})


By following these steps, you can organize include files within include directories in CMake to improve the structure and maintainability of your project.


How to add specific include directories to the system include order in cmake?

To add specific include directories to the system include order in CMake, you can use the include_directories() function in your CMakeLists.txt file.


Here is an example of how you can add include directories to the system include order in CMake:

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# Add the directories to the system include order
include_directories(/path/to/include/directory1)
include_directories(/path/to/include/directory2)


Alternatively, you can also use the target_include_directories() function to add include directories to a specific target in CMake.

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# Add the directories to the system include order for a specific target
target_include_directories(your_target_name PUBLIC /path/to/include/directory1)
target_include_directories(your_target_name PUBLIC /path/to/include/directory2)


Remember to replace /path/to/include/directory1 and /path/to/include/directory2 with the actual paths to your include directories.


What is the default include order in cmake?

In CMake, the default include order is as follows:

  1. CMakeLists.txt file in the current directory
  2. CMake provided scripts in the Modules directory
  3. CMake provided scripts in the CMake installation directory
  4. User-provided scripts in the CMAKE_MODULE_PATH directory
  5. System and environment-specific scripts


This default include order can be modified by setting the CMAKE_MODULE_PATH variable to specify additional directories to search for CMake modules.


How to maintain include order consistency across multiple cmake projects?

You can maintain include order consistency across multiple CMake projects by following these best practices:

  1. Use consistent file organization: Make sure that all CMake projects follow a consistent file organization structure, with headers and source files separated into their respective directories.
  2. Use target-specific includes: Use target-specific include directories for each target in your CMake projects. This can help ensure that each target has the correct include order and prevents conflicts between different targets.
  3. Use target-specific include directories: Use target-specific include directories for each target in your CMake projects. This can help ensure that each target has the correct include order and prevents conflicts between different targets.
  4. Use target-specific compile options: Use target-specific compile options to specify include directories for each target in your CMake projects. This can help ensure that each target has the correct include order and prevents conflicts between different targets.
  5. Use CMake macros: Create CMake macros or functions to manage include order consistency across multiple projects. These macros can be shared across projects to ensure that the same include order rules are followed.
  6. Use version control: Use a version control system like Git to track changes to include directories and ensure that they are consistent across all projects. This can help prevent conflicts and maintain include order consistency over time.


By following these best practices, you can maintain include order consistency across multiple CMake projects and ensure that your codebase remains organized and easy to manage.

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