Merge topic 'doc-cmake-language'
79fd233
Help: Reference cmake-language.7 comment docs from cmake-developer.7a931ee4
Help: Add cmake-language.7 manual
This commit is contained in:
commit
064e6d3272
|
@ -40,6 +40,7 @@ Other Manuals
|
|||
|
||||
/manual/cmake-developer.7
|
||||
/manual/cmake-generator-expressions.7
|
||||
/manual/cmake-language.7
|
||||
|
||||
.. only:: html
|
||||
|
||||
|
|
|
@ -255,7 +255,8 @@ containing just the line::
|
|||
|
||||
The ``cmake-module`` directive will scan the module file to extract
|
||||
reStructuredText markup from comment blocks that start in ``.rst:``.
|
||||
Add to the top of ``Modules/<module-name>.cmake`` a #-comment of the form:
|
||||
Add to the top of ``Modules/<module-name>.cmake`` a
|
||||
:ref:`Line Comment` block of the form:
|
||||
|
||||
.. code-block:: cmake
|
||||
|
||||
|
@ -265,7 +266,7 @@ Add to the top of ``Modules/<module-name>.cmake`` a #-comment of the form:
|
|||
#
|
||||
# <reStructuredText documentation of module>
|
||||
|
||||
or a bracket-comment of the form:
|
||||
or a :ref:`Bracket Comment` of the form:
|
||||
|
||||
.. code-block:: cmake
|
||||
|
||||
|
|
|
@ -0,0 +1,470 @@
|
|||
.. cmake-manual-description: CMake Language Reference
|
||||
|
||||
cmake-language(7)
|
||||
*****************
|
||||
|
||||
.. only:: html or latex
|
||||
|
||||
.. contents::
|
||||
|
||||
Organization
|
||||
============
|
||||
|
||||
CMake input files are written in the "CMake Language" in source files
|
||||
named ``CMakeLists.txt`` or ending in a ``.cmake`` file name extension.
|
||||
|
||||
CMake Language source files in a project are organized into:
|
||||
|
||||
* `Directories`_ (``CMakeLists.txt``),
|
||||
* `Scripts`_ (``<script>.cmake``), and
|
||||
* `Modules`_ (``<module>.cmake``).
|
||||
|
||||
Directories
|
||||
-----------
|
||||
|
||||
When CMake processes a project source tree, the entry point is
|
||||
a source file called ``CMakeLists.txt`` in the top-level source
|
||||
directory. This file may contain the entire build specification
|
||||
or use the :command:`add_subdirectory` command to add subdirectories
|
||||
to the build. Each subdirectory added by the command must also
|
||||
contain a ``CMakeLists.txt`` file as the entry point to that
|
||||
directory. For each source directory whose ``CMakeLists.txt`` file
|
||||
is processed CMake generates a corresponding directory in the build
|
||||
tree to act as the default working and output directory.
|
||||
|
||||
Scripts
|
||||
-------
|
||||
|
||||
An individual ``<script>.cmake`` source file may be processed
|
||||
in *script mode* by using the :manual:`cmake(1)` command-line tool
|
||||
with the ``-P`` option. Script mode simply runs the commands in
|
||||
the given CMake Language source file and does not generate a
|
||||
build system. It does not allow CMake commands that define build
|
||||
targets or actions.
|
||||
|
||||
Modules
|
||||
-------
|
||||
|
||||
CMake Language code in either `Directories`_ or `Scripts`_ may
|
||||
use the :command:`include` command to load a ``<module>.cmake``
|
||||
source file in the scope of the including context.
|
||||
See the :manual:`cmake-modules(7)` manual page for documentation
|
||||
of modules included with the CMake distribution.
|
||||
Project source trees may also provide their own modules and
|
||||
specify their location(s) in the :variable:`CMAKE_MODULE_PATH`
|
||||
variable.
|
||||
|
||||
Syntax
|
||||
======
|
||||
|
||||
Encoding
|
||||
--------
|
||||
|
||||
A CMake Language source file must be written in 7-bit ASCII text
|
||||
to be portable across all supported platforms. Newlines may be
|
||||
encoded as either ``\n`` or ``\r\n`` but will be converted to ``\n``
|
||||
as input files are read.
|
||||
|
||||
Note that the implementation is 8-bit clean so source files may
|
||||
be encoded as UTF-8 on platforms with system APIs supporting this
|
||||
encoding. Furthermore, CMake 3.0 and above allow a leading UTF-8
|
||||
`Byte-Order Mark`_ in source files.
|
||||
|
||||
.. _`Byte-Order Mark`: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Byte_order_mark
|
||||
|
||||
Source Files
|
||||
------------
|
||||
|
||||
A CMake Language source file consists of zero or more
|
||||
`Command Invocations`_ separated by newlines and optionally
|
||||
spaces and `Comments`_:
|
||||
|
||||
.. productionlist::
|
||||
file: `file_element`*
|
||||
file_element: `command_invocation` `line_ending` |
|
||||
: (`bracket_comment`|`space`)* `line_ending`
|
||||
line_ending: `line_comment`? `newline`
|
||||
space: <match '[ \t]+'>
|
||||
newline: <match '\n'>
|
||||
|
||||
Note that any source file line not inside `Command Arguments`_ or
|
||||
a `Bracket Comment`_ can end in a `Line Comment`_.
|
||||
|
||||
.. _`Command Invocations`:
|
||||
|
||||
Command Invocations
|
||||
-------------------
|
||||
|
||||
A *command invocation* is a name followed by paren-enclosed arguments
|
||||
separated by whitespace:
|
||||
|
||||
.. productionlist::
|
||||
command_invocation: `space`* `identifier` `space`* '(' `arguments` ')'
|
||||
identifier: <match '[A-Za-z_][A-Za-z0-9_]*'>
|
||||
arguments: `argument`? `separated_arguments`*
|
||||
separated_arguments: `separation`+ `argument`? |
|
||||
: `separation`* '(' `arguments` ')'
|
||||
separation: `space` | `line_ending`
|
||||
|
||||
For example:
|
||||
|
||||
.. code-block:: cmake
|
||||
|
||||
add_executable(hello world.c)
|
||||
|
||||
Command names are case-insensitive.
|
||||
Nested unquoted parentheses in the arguments must balance.
|
||||
Each ``(`` or ``)`` is given to the command invocation as
|
||||
a literal `Unquoted Argument`_. This may be used in calls
|
||||
to the :command:`if` command to enclose conditions.
|
||||
For example:
|
||||
|
||||
.. code-block:: cmake
|
||||
|
||||
if(FALSE AND (FALSE OR TRUE)) # evaluates to FALSE
|
||||
|
||||
.. note::
|
||||
CMake versions prior to 3.0 require command name identifiers
|
||||
to be at least 2 characters.
|
||||
|
||||
CMake versions prior to 2.8.12 silently accept an `Unquoted Argument`_
|
||||
or a `Quoted Argument`_ immediately following a `Quoted Argument`_ and
|
||||
not separated by any whitespace. For compatibility, CMake 2.8.12 and
|
||||
higher accept such code but produce a warning.
|
||||
|
||||
Command Arguments
|
||||
-----------------
|
||||
|
||||
There are three types of arguments within `Command Invocations`_:
|
||||
|
||||
.. productionlist::
|
||||
argument: `bracket_argument` | `quoted_argument` | `unquoted_argument`
|
||||
|
||||
Bracket Argument
|
||||
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
|
||||
|
||||
A *bracket argument*, inspired by `Lua`_ long bracket syntax,
|
||||
encloses content between opening and closing "brackets" of the
|
||||
same length:
|
||||
|
||||
.. productionlist::
|
||||
bracket_argument: `bracket_open` `bracket_content` `bracket_close`
|
||||
bracket_open: '[' '='{len} '['
|
||||
bracket_content: <any text not containing a `bracket_close`
|
||||
: of the same {len} as the `bracket_open`>
|
||||
bracket_close: ']' '='{len} ']'
|
||||
|
||||
An opening bracket of length *len >= 0* is written ``[`` followed
|
||||
by *len* ``=`` followed by ``[`` and the corresponding closing
|
||||
bracket is written ``]`` followed by *len* ``=`` followed by ``]``.
|
||||
Brackets do not nest. A unique length may always be chosen
|
||||
for the opening and closing brackets to contain closing brackets
|
||||
of other lengths.
|
||||
|
||||
Bracket argument content consists of all text between the opening
|
||||
and closing brackets, except that one newline immediately following
|
||||
the opening bracket, if any, is ignored. No evaluation of the
|
||||
enclosed content, such as `Escape Sequences`_ or `Variable References`_,
|
||||
is performed. A bracket argument is always given to the command
|
||||
invocation as exactly one argument.
|
||||
|
||||
For example:
|
||||
|
||||
.. code-block:: cmake
|
||||
|
||||
message([=[
|
||||
This is the first line in a bracket argument with bracket length 1.
|
||||
No \-escape sequences or ${variable} references are evaluated.
|
||||
This is always one argument even though it contains a ; character.
|
||||
The text does not end on a closing bracket of length 0 like ]].
|
||||
It does end in a closing bracket of length 1.
|
||||
]=])
|
||||
|
||||
.. note::
|
||||
CMake versions prior to 3.0 do not support bracket arguments.
|
||||
They interpret the opening bracket as the start of an
|
||||
`Unquoted Argument`_.
|
||||
|
||||
.. _`Lua`: http://www.lua.org/
|
||||
|
||||
Quoted Argument
|
||||
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
|
||||
|
||||
A *quoted argument* encloses content between opening and closing
|
||||
double-quote characters:
|
||||
|
||||
.. productionlist::
|
||||
quoted_argument: '"' `quoted_element`* '"'
|
||||
quoted_element: <any character except '\' or '"'> |
|
||||
: `escape_sequence` |
|
||||
: `quoted_continuation`
|
||||
quoted_continuation: '\' `newline`
|
||||
|
||||
Quoted argument content consists of all text between opening and
|
||||
closing quotes. Both `Escape Sequences`_ and `Variable References`_
|
||||
are evaluated. A quoted argument is always given to the command
|
||||
invocation as exactly one argument.
|
||||
|
||||
For example:
|
||||
|
||||
.. code-block:: cmake
|
||||
|
||||
message("This is a quoted argument containing multiple lines.
|
||||
This is always one argument even though it contains a ; character.
|
||||
Both \\-escape sequences and ${variable} references are evaluated.
|
||||
The text does not end on an escaped double-quote like \".
|
||||
It does end in an unescaped double quote.
|
||||
")
|
||||
|
||||
The final ``\`` on any line ending in an odd number of backslashes
|
||||
is treated as a line continuation and ignored along with the
|
||||
immediately following newline character. For example:
|
||||
|
||||
.. code-block:: cmake
|
||||
|
||||
message("\
|
||||
This is the first line of a quoted argument. \
|
||||
In fact it is the only line but since it is long \
|
||||
the source code uses line continuation.\
|
||||
")
|
||||
|
||||
.. note::
|
||||
CMake versions prior to 3.0 do not support continuation with ``\``.
|
||||
They report errors in quoted arguments containing lines ending in
|
||||
an odd number of ``\`` characters.
|
||||
|
||||
Unquoted Argument
|
||||
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
|
||||
|
||||
An *unquoted argument* is not enclosed by any quoting syntax.
|
||||
It may not contain any whitespace, ``(``, ``)``, ``#``, ``"``, or ``\``
|
||||
except when escaped by a backslash:
|
||||
|
||||
.. productionlist::
|
||||
unquoted_argument: `unquoted_element`+ | `unquoted_legacy`
|
||||
unquoted_element: <any character except whitespace or one of '()#"\'> |
|
||||
: `escape_sequence`
|
||||
unquoted_legacy: <see note in text>
|
||||
|
||||
Unquoted argument content consists of all text in a contiguous block
|
||||
of allowed or escaped characters. Both `Escape Sequences`_ and
|
||||
`Variable References`_ are evaluated. The resulting value is divided
|
||||
in the same way `Lists`_ divide into elements. Each non-empty element
|
||||
is given to the command invocation as an argument. Therefore an
|
||||
unquoted argument may be given to a command invocation as zero or
|
||||
more arguments.
|
||||
|
||||
For example:
|
||||
|
||||
.. code-block:: cmake
|
||||
|
||||
foreach(arg
|
||||
NoSpace
|
||||
Escaped\ Space
|
||||
This;Divides;Into;Five;Arguments
|
||||
Escaped\;Semicolon
|
||||
)
|
||||
message("${arg}")
|
||||
endforeach()
|
||||
|
||||
.. note::
|
||||
To support legacy CMake code, unquoted arguments may also contain
|
||||
double-quoted strings (``"..."``, possibly enclosing horizontal
|
||||
whitespace), and make-style variable references (``$(MAKEVAR)``).
|
||||
Unescaped double-quotes must balance, may not appear at the
|
||||
beginning of an unquoted argument, and are treated as part of the
|
||||
content. For example, the unquoted arguments ``-Da="b c"``,
|
||||
``-Da=$(v)``, and ``a" "b"c"d`` are each interpreted literally.
|
||||
|
||||
The above "unquoted_legacy" production represents such arguments.
|
||||
We do not recommend using legacy unquoted arguments in new code.
|
||||
Instead use a `Quoted Argument`_ or a `Bracket Argument`_ to
|
||||
represent the content.
|
||||
|
||||
Escape Sequences
|
||||
----------------
|
||||
|
||||
An *escape sequence* is a ``\`` followed by one character:
|
||||
|
||||
.. productionlist::
|
||||
escape_sequence: `escape_identity` | `escape_encoded` | `escape_semicolon`
|
||||
escape_identity: '\(' | '\)' | '\#' | '\"' | '\ ' |
|
||||
: '\\' | '\$' | '\@' | '\^'
|
||||
escape_encoded: '\t' | '\r' | '\n'
|
||||
escape_semicolon: '\;'
|
||||
|
||||
A ``\`` followed by one of ``()#" \#@^`` simply encodes the literal
|
||||
character without interpreting it as syntax. A ``\t``, ``\r``, or ``\n``
|
||||
encodes a tab, carriage return, or newline character, respectively.
|
||||
A ``\;`` encodes itself but may be used in an `Unquoted Argument`_
|
||||
to encode the ``;`` without dividing the argument value on it.
|
||||
|
||||
Variable References
|
||||
-------------------
|
||||
|
||||
A *variable reference* has the form ``${variable_name}`` and is
|
||||
evaluated inside a `Quoted Argument`_ or an `Unquoted Argument`_.
|
||||
A variable reference is replaced by the value of the variable,
|
||||
or by the empty string if the variable is not set.
|
||||
Variable references can nest and are evaluated from the
|
||||
inside out, e.g. ``${outer_${inner_variable}_variable}``.
|
||||
|
||||
The `Variables`_ section documents the scope of variable names
|
||||
and how their values are set.
|
||||
|
||||
Comments
|
||||
--------
|
||||
|
||||
A comment starts with a ``#`` character that is not inside a
|
||||
`Bracket Argument`_, `Quoted Argument`_, or escaped with ``\``
|
||||
as part of an `Unquoted Argument`_. There are two types of
|
||||
comments: a `Bracket Comment`_ and a `Line Comment`_.
|
||||
|
||||
.. _`Bracket Comment`:
|
||||
|
||||
Bracket Comment
|
||||
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
|
||||
|
||||
A ``#`` immediately followed by a `Bracket Argument`_ forms a
|
||||
*bracket comment* consisting of the entire bracket enclosure:
|
||||
|
||||
.. productionlist::
|
||||
bracket_comment: '#' `bracket_argument`
|
||||
|
||||
For example:
|
||||
|
||||
.. code-block:: cmake
|
||||
|
||||
#[[This is a bracket comment.
|
||||
It runs until the close bracket.]]
|
||||
message("First Argument\n" #[[Bracket Comment]] "Second Argument")
|
||||
|
||||
.. note::
|
||||
CMake versions prior to 3.0 do not support bracket comments.
|
||||
They interpret the opening ``#`` as the start of a `Line Comment`_.
|
||||
|
||||
.. _`Line Comment`:
|
||||
|
||||
Line Comment
|
||||
^^^^^^^^^^^^
|
||||
|
||||
A ``#`` not immediately followed by a `Bracket Argument`_ forms a
|
||||
*line comment* that runs until the end of the line:
|
||||
|
||||
.. productionlist::
|
||||
line_comment: '#' <any text not starting in a `bracket_argument`
|
||||
: and not containing a `newline`>
|
||||
|
||||
For example:
|
||||
|
||||
.. code-block:: cmake
|
||||
|
||||
# This is a line comment.
|
||||
message("First Argument\n" # This is a line comment :)
|
||||
"Second Argument") # This is a line comment.
|
||||
|
||||
Control Structures
|
||||
==================
|
||||
|
||||
Conditional Blocks
|
||||
------------------
|
||||
|
||||
The :command:`if`/:command:`elseif`/:command:`else`/:command:`endif`
|
||||
commands delimit code blocks to be executed conditionally.
|
||||
|
||||
Loops
|
||||
-----
|
||||
|
||||
The :command:`foreach`/:command:`endforeach` and
|
||||
:command:`while`/:command:`endwhile` commands delimit code
|
||||
blocks to be executed in a loop. The :command:`break` command
|
||||
may be used inside such blocks to terminate the loop early.
|
||||
|
||||
Command Definitions
|
||||
-------------------
|
||||
|
||||
The :command:`macro`/:command:`endmacro`, and
|
||||
:command:`function`/:command:`endfunction` commands delimit
|
||||
code blocks to be recorded for later invocation as commands.
|
||||
|
||||
Variables
|
||||
=========
|
||||
|
||||
Variables are the basic unit of storage in the CMake Language.
|
||||
Their values are always of string type, though some commands may
|
||||
interpret the strings as values of other types.
|
||||
The :command:`set` and :command:`unset` commands explicitly
|
||||
set or unset a variable, but other commands have semantics
|
||||
that modify variables as well.
|
||||
Variable names are case-sensitive and may consist of almost
|
||||
any text, but we recommend sticking to names consisting only
|
||||
of alphanumeric characters plus ``_`` and ``-``.
|
||||
|
||||
Variables have dynamic scope. Each variable "set" or "unset"
|
||||
creates a binding in the current scope:
|
||||
|
||||
Function Scope
|
||||
`Command Definitions`_ created by the :command:`function` command
|
||||
create commands that, when invoked, process the recorded commands
|
||||
in a new variable binding scope. A variable "set" or "unset"
|
||||
binds in this scope and is visible for the current function and
|
||||
any nested calls, but not after the function returns.
|
||||
|
||||
Directory Scope
|
||||
Each of the `Directories`_ in a source tree has its own variable
|
||||
bindings. Before processing the ``CMakeLists.txt`` file for a
|
||||
directory, CMake copies all variable bindings currently defined
|
||||
in the parent directory, if any, to initialize the new directory
|
||||
scope. CMake `Scripts`_, when processed with ``cmake -P``, bind
|
||||
variables in one "directory" scope.
|
||||
|
||||
A variable "set" or "unset" not inside a function call binds
|
||||
to the current directory scope.
|
||||
|
||||
Persistent Cache
|
||||
CMake stores a separate set of "cache" variables, or "cache entries",
|
||||
whose values persist across multiple runs within a project build
|
||||
tree. Cache entries have an isolated binding scope modified only
|
||||
by explicit request, such as by the ``CACHE`` option of the
|
||||
:command:`set` and :command:`unset` commands.
|
||||
|
||||
When evaluating `Variable References`_, CMake first searches the
|
||||
function call stack, if any, for a binding and then falls back
|
||||
to the binding in the current directory scope, if any. If a
|
||||
"set" binding is found, its value is used. If an "unset" binding
|
||||
is found, or no binding is found, CMake then searches for a
|
||||
cache entry. If a cache entry is found, its value is used.
|
||||
Otherwise, the variable reference evaluates to an empty string.
|
||||
|
||||
The :manual:`cmake-variables(7)` manual documents many variables
|
||||
that are provided by CMake or have meaning to CMake when set
|
||||
by project code.
|
||||
|
||||
Lists
|
||||
=====
|
||||
|
||||
Although all values in CMake are stored as strings, a string
|
||||
may be treated as a list in certain contexts, such as during
|
||||
evaluation of an `Unquoted Argument`_. In such contexts, a string
|
||||
is divided into list elements by splitting on ``;`` characters not
|
||||
following an unequal number of ``[`` and ``]`` characters and not
|
||||
immediately preceded by a ``\``. The sequence ``\;`` does not
|
||||
divide a value but is replaced by ``;`` in the resulting element.
|
||||
|
||||
A list of elements is represented as a string by concatenating
|
||||
the elements separated by ``;``. For example, the :command:`set`
|
||||
command stores multiple values into the destination variable
|
||||
as a list:
|
||||
|
||||
.. code-block:: cmake
|
||||
|
||||
set(srcs a.c b.c c.c) # sets "srcs" to "a.c;b.c;c.c"
|
||||
|
||||
Lists are meant for simple use cases such as a list of source
|
||||
files and should not be used for complex data processing tasks.
|
||||
Most commands that construct lists do not escape ``;`` characters
|
||||
in list elements, thus flattening nested lists:
|
||||
|
||||
.. code-block:: cmake
|
||||
|
||||
set(x a "b;c") # sets "x" to "a;b;c", not "a;b\;c"
|
Loading…
Reference in New Issue