Modern CMake for C++ Course Syllabus

Overview: This course provides a comprehensive, hands-on introduction to modern CMake for C++ development, guiding you from foundational concepts to advanced build system design. Over eight modules, each designed to take approximately one week, you'll gain practical experience in structuring cross-platform projects, managing dependencies, configuring build generators, and implementing automated testing and packaging. With a focus on target-based CMake practices and real-world workflows, this course prepares you to build robust, maintainable C++ projects. Estimated total time commitment: 40-50 hours.

Module 1: Introduction to Modern CMake

Estimated time: 6 hours

• CMake philosophy and design principles
• Evolution and improvements in CMake 3+
• Basic structure of CMakeLists.txt
• Converting Makefile projects to CMake

Module 2: Targets & Properties

Estimated time: 6 hours

• Difference between add_library and add_executable
• Using target_include_directories for header paths
• Setting target-specific compile features with target_compile_features
• Understanding target scope and property inheritance

Module 3: Dependency Management

Estimated time: 7 hours

• Using find_package to locate system libraries
• Integrating remote dependencies with FetchContent
• Managing dependencies with add_subdirectory
• Differentiating interface, public, and private usage requirements

Module 4: Build Configuration & Generators

Estimated time: 7 hours

• Configuring CMake presets for different environments
• Setting build types (Debug, Release, etc.)
• Generating projects for Ninja and Make
• Creating Visual Studio and Xcode project files

Module 5: Custom Commands & Code Generation

Estimated time: 7 hours

• Using add_custom_command for build-time scripts
• Defining add_custom_target for custom build steps
• Generating source files at build time (e.g., with Python)
• Distinguishing host tools from cross-compilation contexts

Module 6: Testing & Packaging

Estimated time: 6 hours

• Enabling testing with enable_testing
• Adding test cases using add_test
• Integrating with CTest for test execution
• Creating distributable packages with CPack (ZIP, TGZ)

Module 7: Advanced Features & Toolchain Files

Estimated time: 7 hours

• Using generator expressions for conditional logic
• Working with imported targets
• Writing custom toolchain files
• Cross-compiling for ARM using toolchain configurations

Module 8: Capstone Project – Multi-Module C++ App

Estimated time: 8 hours

• Structuring a large-scale C++ application with multiple modules
• Isolating third-party dependencies
• Implementing reproducible builds with presets and version control

Prerequisites

• Familiarity with C++ syntax and compilation process
• Basic understanding of command-line tools and shell commands
• Experience with a code editor or IDE for C++ development

What You'll Be Able to Do After

• Write modern, maintainable CMakeLists.txt using target-based practices
• Structure cross-platform C++ projects with out-of-source builds
• Manage dependencies using find_package, FetchContent, and subprojects
• Generate IDE and build system files using CMake presets and generators
• Implement automated testing and packaging workflows with CTest and CPack