This target type only contains INTERFACE_* properties, so it can be
used as a structural node. The target-specific commands enforce
that they may only be used with the INTERFACE keyword when used
with INTERFACE_LIBRARY targets. The old-style target properties
matching LINK_INTERFACE_LIBRARIES_<CONFIG> are always ignored for
this target type.
The name of the INTERFACE_LIBRARY must match a validity generator
expression. The validity is similar to that of an ALIAS target,
but with the additional restriction that it may not contain
double colons. Double colons will carry the meaning of IMPORTED
or ALIAS targets in CMake 2.8.13.
An ALIAS target may be created for an INTERFACE library.
At this point it can not be exported and does not appear in the
buildsystem and project files are not created for them. That may
be added as a feature in a later commit.
The generators need some changes to handle the INTERFACE_LIBRARY
targets returned by cmComputeLinkInterface::GetItems. The Ninja
generator does not use that API, so it doesn't require changes
related to that.
* The ALIAS name must match a validity regex.
* Executables and libraries may be aliased.
* An ALIAS acts immutable. It can not be used as the lhs
of target_link_libraries or other commands.
* An ALIAS can be used with add_custom_command, add_custom_target,
and add_test in the same way regular targets can.
* The target of an ALIAS can be retrieved with the ALIASED_TARGET
target property.
* An ALIAS does not appear in the generated buildsystem. It
is kept separate from cmMakefile::Targets for that reason.
* A target may have multiple aliases.
* An ALIAS target may not itself have an alias.
* An IMPORTED target may not have an alias.
* An ALIAS may not be exported or imported.
With similar reasoning to the parent commit, as downstreams, we can't
determine what $<CONFIG> generator expressions would be appropriate.
Upstream would have populated the INTERFACE_INCLUDE_DIRECTORIES with
config-specific generator expressions, possibly appropriate for
their DEBUG_CONFIGURATIONS. In theory, if we would add include
directories for a DEBUG intent, we would have to match the upstream
configurations for that.
Rather than attempting to discover the appropriate configurations
at this time, simplify the feature instead. The use of IMPORTED targets
with these commands could still be added in the future if targets
would export their DEBUG_CONFIGURATIONS somehow.
Stephen Kelly
Brad King