CMake Mastery 2025: From Fundamentals to Expert Practices

Name: CMake Mastery 2025: From Fundamentals to Expert Practices
Rating: 2.9 (3 reviews)

Essential CMake Techniques for Professionals and Students | Continuous Learning Approach

Created bySubrata Kumar Swain

Last updated 5/2026

English

What you'll learn

CMake for a cross platform developer to use in daily basis. Makes your development work much easier and faster by following our cheat sheet and chat media.
We together will prepare a cheat sheet as we progress in this course and use Best Practices.
Set up a custom GitHub Workflow to build your project in the simplest way, supporting multiple platforms and compilers.
Understand static, dynamic, import and interface libraries in depth, with practical debugging techniques.
Finally, how to work in a project without remembering everting about CMake
How to remember the concepts those are there in CMake.(Believe me, this is really amazing!)
This course will be updated as I find something really helpful for others!

Course content

10 sections • 116 lectures • 7h 19m total length

Our Mission4:42
WhoIsThisCourseFor1:16
Prerequisite0:10
[MUST WATCH] Tips0:43
Environment Setup0:16
Note: VSCode setup and useful plugins to install are explained in the Lecture as and when required!
[WINDOWS] WSL Installation1:05
WSL Installation Live Demo: Experience the seamless integration of Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) with a live installation demo. Learn how to run the same code written on macOS effortlessly on Linux (WSL), demonstrating the true cross-platform capabilities of CMake."
VSCode Installation Guide0:02
Download the attached PDF for quick VS Code setup instructions.
Git Installation Guide0:02
Download the attached PDF for quick Git setup instructions.

Agenda1:29
ToolsToInstall1:56
What Is CMake2:02
Why CMake2:48
What CMake Expects From Us?3:47
Writing CMakeLists.txt3:02
[DEMO-MAC]: Writing CMakeLists.txt6:54
CMake Installation-uninstallation11:54
Possible OUTPUT of a C/C++ program5:02
First CMake Program (Executable Generation)2:57
[LIVE] Writing Executable Generation Code In VSCode3:31
[Demo]-Build Our Program(Executables)4:08
[Demo]-Another Way-Build Our Program(Executables)4:29
[Demo]-Experimenting More(CMakeCache)4:12
Solve Basic Concepts In CMake

Git Tag usages(Download source of current lecture)1:19
How to download/clone our source code
Install Tools In Windows_VSCode_VS20222:15
CMake Guide-Follow previous lecture: `CMake Installation-uninstallation`
VSCode & VS2022 Installation in Windows.
Get The Source Code(non git user)3:21
Download source code from Git. Use tags in Git.
Use CMake Latest Version 3.30
Demo on Windows-CMake_V3.25(Exe)4:09
Build the project in Windows with CMake Ver 3.25. Understand why CMAKE_MINIMUM_VERSION_REQUIRED()
Demo on Linux_CMake_V3.28(WSL-Ubuntu24.04)5:53
Installation of g++, CMake using `apt get`.
Installation on the fly and demo the executable generation on Linux(WSL-Ubuntu 24.04)
Getting the CMake version 3.28. We will update the version to 3.30 later in this course. I'll demo how to.
Demo using CMake 3.30
Next Plan Detail0:14
What is planned for next with the timeline!
Demo [WIN] Upgrade CMake from 3.25 to 3.305:21
Uninstall CMake 3.25 and Install 3.30 in Windows
Demonostrate the same code using CMake 3.30.
[LINUX]Upgrade CMake from 3.28 to 3.304:21
Uninstall previously installed CMake V3.28 & Install 3.30
Run the CMake & test our existing code
Understand why we use cmake_minimum_required(VERSION)
Dealing with binary(exe) - Multiple sources to build.
Building multiple sources to single executable0:15
Building multiple sources to a single executable. Use regular expressions kind of trick to detect all source and header files to build.
What we have covered till now0:12
Solve Basic Concepts In CMake-II

StaticLibraryGeneration5:17
StaticLibraryUsage6:43
Betterway-StaticLibraryGenAndUse-I3:17
Master library generation and use CMake by organizing headers in include and sources in source directory, applying header guards or pragma once, and configuring include paths to avoid missing files.
Still Betterway-StaticLibraryGenAndUse-II4:21
Recap: What We Learned?0:08
Tip-1:ConfigureInDiffrentWay1:18
Tip-2-target_include_directories2:13
TIP-3:WhatIsOptional1:45
[Demo]-Win-StaticLibGen4:11
Demo-Linux-StaticLibGen5:45
CreationOfDynamicLib3:58
Theory: How to generate a Dynamic Library or Shared Object.
[MAC]DemoDynamicLib6:25
- Why the flag is in uppercase?
- Dynamic Lib Demo on MAC
What’s Next Plan?0:12
[Linux]DemoDynamicLib3:46
[WIN]Demo-ProblemInWndowsDLLGeneration6:10
- DLL linking issue in win
- Need of Import Library
Soln-WndowsDLL-ImportLibGen-I2:11
- Generation of Import Library using cmd line.
- Successful build and link of DLL in Windows OS.
TIPS-DynamicLib3:11
Remove .lib=>No effect on executable
Remove .dll=>Afects executable
Soln-WndowsDLL-ImportLibGen-II4:55
Introducing set() command
Use set() to set the CMAKE_WINDOWS_EXPORT_ALL_SYMBOLS to generate the import library.
TIPS-II-SetVsCmdline-DynamicLib1:52
Interface Library Intro6:09
Learn how interface library in CMake defines usage requirements for dependents without compiling or producing artifacts, guiding include directories, compile definitions, and link libraries for module five.
What is next plan?0:12
Creation Of Interface Library6:14
Using Interface Library6:23
Source Code0:02
Better Way4:40
BetterWay-Continue4:51
Source Code0:02
What is Next Plan?0:16
What is planned for the next release with timeline
Target Scopes - I10:17
PUBLIC, PRIVATE, INTERFACE-Concepts
Target Scopes - II2:55
You answer this exercise, then watch the video.
Target Scopes(Demo-1)5:34
Target Scopes(Demo-2)6:44
Source Code - Target Scopes0:01
TargetScope(Demo-3)5:25
Moving the header to a different location
Don't modify the `#include`, make changes in CMake.
TargetScope(Demo-4)5:53
TargetScope(Demo-5)7:11
Creation of library libB
Source Code upto libB0:02
Source Code to experiment.
TargetScope(Understand The Design)7:32
Understand the components' relationship and decide the CMakeList accordingly
TargetScope(Demo-6)-Implement libC an Interface Library5:10
Implementation of libC.
Decision on the target scope to use.
TargetScope(Demo-7)-Usecase-25:29
Implement Usecase-2
Revisit Root CMake(Demo-8)3:26
Revisit Root CMake and make it more readable
Understand how CMake helps in managing dependencies.
TargetScope-Behind The Scene(target_include_directories_internals-I)4:24
Understand What happens when we use target_link_libraries() and target_include_derectories()
target_include_directories_internals-II6:32
19-target_link_libraries_internals7:43
20-MotivationTowardsFunction1:47
Course Roadmap: Upcoming CMake Projects and Topics1:09
Before Implementing Final Module-Mod51:21
Mod-5 Implementation-I15:08
Mod-5-Implementation-II(FixUsingNameSpace)2:23
Mod5-Implementation-III(Review and Make it better)7:16
Demo-Linux-UsingWSL(Project#1)2:13
Demo-Windows(Project#1)3:46
Build succeeded, but the executable won’t work. To make it work, copy the DLL to the location of the exe.
Demo-Windows(Project#1) - Automate target destination5:54
Automate the creation of DLL and exe in the same directory.
Demo-VerifyInLinux(Project#1)1:19
Demo-FixTestDynamicLibRTError(Windows)3:12
Demo-Fix TestDynamicLib.exe Runtime Error in Windows.
Demo-dllexport(Withoutout using CMAKE_WINDOWS_EXPORT_ALL_SYMBOLS)8:41
Demo-FixCrossPlatformIssue5:00
Project#1 Completion10:31
Demo the project#1 code on a cross-platform.

Why To Learn User Defined Function2:59
Use Case of Writing User-Defined Functions.
Function-I(Beginning)4:53
30-01-Function-II(OneAndMultiArgs)3:23
Function-III(HiddenArgs)7:59
Function-IV(ARGV-More)3:37
As discussed - Write function demoHiddenArgsV2 to print Element 1: Element 2: ..
Source Code of Function(Part-1)0:02
Function-V(VariablesInFunction)4:54
Function-VI(Assignment-AutoIncr)2:21
Function-VII(RobustWayParsing-1)3:14

Requirements

Basic knowledge of C or C++
Should be able to write error free code.
Basic knowledge of library creation.

Description

Unlock the power of CMake with this comprehensive course designed for working professionals and engineering students. Begin with installing required tools on macOS, Windows, and Linux. Learn to build executables and libraries and grasp intermediate techniques in CMake. As you progress, expect regular updates introducing advanced topics like generator expressions, linking external libraries, writing Functions and macros, optimising CMake files, using CTest, CPack, VCPkg manager, Ninja generator, custom commands, and auto-generating config.cmake, writing own FindModule, dynamic library linking issues in Windows, automating build process for different pipelines and more. Gain practical knowledge through hands-on projects, including porting your existing Visual Studio legacy projects to modern CMake builds. Elevate your CMake expertise with us. Your journey to mastering CMake starts here! With each phase, you'll gain deeper insights and more control over your build environment, ensuring you can confidently handle any project. Join us and transform your CMake skills from foundational to advanced. Whether you're looking to enhance your career or excel in your studies, this course will provide you with the skills and knowledge you need to succeed. Get ready to take your CMake proficiency to the next level with step-by-step guidance, real-world applications, and expert instruction designed to make you a CMake master."

Who this course is for:

C++ developer who needs to work in a project that uses CMake as build system generator.
Developer wants to add CMake as a new skill in their resume as now a days most of the companies are using CMake.
Students doing R&D in C/C++ and using cross platform practices

CMake Mastery 2025: From Fundamentals to Expert Practices

What you'll learn

Explore related topics

Course content

Introduction8 lectures • 8min

Phase 1: Start Our Journey Towards CMake14 lectures • 58min

Project Plan2 lectures • 7min

Pre-Implementation & Demo Creation Of Executable13 lectures • 27min

Project Implementation58 lectures • 4hr 10min

Github Action(Setup For Project#1)8 lectures • 37min

Plan For Upcoming Projects1 lecture • 1min

User Defined Functions and Macros9 lectures • 33min

Misc Lectures1 lecture • 5min

Out Of Box2 lectures • 12min

Requirements

Description

Who this course is for: