How to Use CMake to Get Binaries from Source Code

Last Updated: November 26, 2021

CMake is useful in compiling source code for get binaries. Compiling a library from the source code guarantees that the resulting library is perfectly tailored for your CPU/OS, a luxury pre-compiled binaries don't always provide. It is also important that binaries you get target x64 platform.

In this guide you learn how to install CMake, process source code, build a solution, get binaries, and test them.

It is supposed your platform is Windows 10, and IDE Visual Studio 2019 or 2022. Check the Desktop development with C++ workload box as you download it, also click Language pack" and check "English" box.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:
Installing CMake

1
Highlight what you expect to do. For example see picture above.
2
Create folder GL. Open Windows's File Explorer > Navigate to disk (directory) C.
- If folder GL already exists it's okay.
- If it doesn't, right click in empty area > select New > Folder > type GL > hit ↵ Enter.
3
Download CMake. Right-click on following address and select Open Link in New Window https://cmake.org/download/. Scroll down the page and find "Latest Release (3.22.0)", (or latest). In second "Platform" list, find "Windows x64 ZIP" and click the beside entry cmake-3.22.0-windows-x86_64.zip (or latest) > in opening wizard select Save file.
4
Copy and unzip the zip folder.
- If the downloaded folder doesn't contain line with stripes (unzipped folder) click it > right click > Copy.
- If downloaded folder's icon contains vertical line with stripes (zipped folder), click folder > right click > in drop-down menu select Extract all.
  - When unzipping (extracting files) is finished, click unzip folder cmake-3.22.0-windows-x86_64.zip (or latest) > right click > Copy.
- Go to drive (directory) C: > GL > right click > Paste.
- When copying is finished open folder and click folder bin > inside you should see CMake's logo next to file name cmake-gui > double click this file. If wizard "Windows protect your PC" appears, click More information > Run anyway. Now on your screen you have CMake GUI.
- Each time you need CMake, navigate to C:\ > GL > click unzip folder cmake-3.22.0-windows-x86_64.zip, (or latest) > right click > Copy. > bin > double click file cmake-gui (the one with CMake's logo).

Part 2

Part 2 of 3:
Processing Source Code

1
Download source code. As an example we use GLFW. Right-click on following address and select Open Link in New Window https://www.glfw.org/download.html. Select "Source package". In opened wizard select Save File.
2
Unzip and copy folder.
- In downloading window click zip folder glfw-3.3.5 (or latest) > click it, if you get no stripped (unzipped) icon, it's okay. If not, right click > select Extract all.
- Copy unzip folder and paste in C:\GL.
- Now in directory C:\GL, you have unzip folder glfw-3.3.5 (or latest). Click on its name > delete name > type: GLFW > hit ↵ Enter.
3
Where is the source code. Copy (attention: do not copy any space)C:/GL/GLFW and paste in CMake GUI first text field.
4
Where to build the binaries. Copy (attention: do not copy any space)C:/GL/GLFW/build an paste in second text field.
5
Configure and generate. In CMake GUI, click Configure > in wizard Create Directory click Yes > select Visual Studio 16 2019 or 17 2022 > click Finish.
- When, in CMake GUI, you read: "Configuring done", click Generate. You should read: "Generating done".
6
Build your solution.
- Navigate to C: > GL > GLFW > build. Double click "GLFW.sln", or "GLFW", or "ALL_BUILD.vcxproj". An instance of Visual Studio appears. Wait until in main menu Build entry appears. Click it > "Build Solution".
- Wait till you read the last line in "Output" window: ========== Build: 32 succeeded, 0 failed, 0 up-to-date, 2 skipped" ==========
  - Number of "succeeded" changes in glfw versions. Today (25-11-2021) is 32.
- Copy C:\GL/GLFW/build/src/Debug and paste in File Explorer Address Bar. Hit ↵ Enter. You should see file glfw3.lib.

Part 3

Part 3 of 3:
Testing Binaries

1
Create folder GLP. Navigate to disk (directory) C.
- If folder GLP already exists it's okay.
- If it doesn't, right click in empty area > select New > Folder > type GLP > hit ↵ Enter.
2
Create empty project. If Visual Studio is open, in main menu click File > New > Project… .
- If is not open, open it > click "Create a new project".
- In Create a new project wizard, select Empty Project> click Next.
- In Configure your new project wizard,
  - In Project name text box type: GLFWsrc.
  - Copy C:\GLP and paste in Location text box .
  - Check box Place solution and project in the same directory.
  - Click Create.
3
Add your source file to the Project. In Solution Explorer wizard, right click the Source Files folder (the last one) > click Add > New Item…
- In the Add New Item - GLFWsrc window, click C++ File (.cpp) (the first one) from the middle of the window. In the Name text box, type Main.cpp.
- The Location should be C:\GLP\GLFWsrc. If it's not, copy C:\GLP\GLFWsrc and paste.
- Click the Add button. The file will open in the text editor but leave it blank for now.
4
Configure project's Properties. In Solution Explorer wizard, right click Project's name that is GLFWsrc > select Properties. In GLFWsrc Property Pages wizard,
- 1. "Platform". In main menu, Platform entry, select x64 > click Configuration Manager....
  - In Active solution platform: select x64.
  - In Platform entry, x64 is automatically selected.
  - Click Close.
- 2. "Include". Click C/C++ > General > In beside menu select the first one, Additional Include Directories > click the down arrow at the end of the field > click Edit....
  - Copy C:/GL/GLFW/include click first icon in Additional Include Directories wizard and paste.
  - Click OK on Additional Include Directories wizard.
- 3. "Library". Double click Linker > click General > Additional Library Directories > click the down arrow at the end of the field > click Edit....
  - Copy C:/GL/GLFW/build/src/Debug click first icon in Additional Library Directories wizard, and paste.
  - Click OK on Additional Library Directories wizard.
- 4. "Dependencies". In Linker drop-down menu select Input > in beside menu select the first one, Additional Dependencies > click the down arrow at the end of the field > Edit... > copy opengl32.lib; glfw3.lib and paste in Additional Dependencies wizard's upper-most text box.
  - Click OK on Additional Dependencies wizard.
- 5. "System". In Linker drop-down menu select System > in beside menu select the first one, SubSystem > click the down arrow at the end of the field > select Console (/SUBSYSTEM:CONSOLE).
- Click Apply and OK on GLFWsrc Property Pages wizard.
5
Test code. Right-click on following address and select Open Link in New Window https://www.glfw.org/docs/3.0/quick.html#quick_example > copy code > go to Visual studio and paste it in Main.cpp code area. Hit Ctrl+F5. If everything gone well two windows appear: one black and other with a rotating colored triangle in black background. Good job.
6
Correct any errors. In "Error List" if you see error about
- file with extension .h go to Part 3, step 3, sub-steps (1) and (2) and follow instructions.
- file with extension .lib go Part 3, step 3, sub-step (3), and follow instructions. Also to sub-step (4).
- "entry point must be defined" go to Part 3, step 3, sub-step (5), Set "SubSystem" to "CONSOLE", and follow instructions.
- For other errors, if you can't correct them, close Visual Studio > delete project folder GLFWsrc which lives in C:\GLP\ > open Visual Studio > repeat set up from Part 2.