How do I create interface libraries in CMake for C++?

Creating interface libraries in CMake for C++ allows you to define a library that only contains headers, which can be used by other targets. Interface libraries are useful for splitting the interface from implementation and promoting cleaner build dependencies.

Step-by-Step Guide to Create an Interface Library in CMake

  1. Define the interface library using `add_library` with the `INTERFACE` keyword.
  2. Specify the include directories with `target_include_directories`.
  3. Link the interface library to your other targets.

Below is a simple example of how to create and use an interface library in a CMake project:

cmake_minimum_required(VERSION 3.10) project(MyProject) # Create an interface library add_library(MyInterface INTERFACE) # Specify include directories for the interface library target_include_directories(MyInterface INTERFACE include) # Create an executable that links to the interface library add_executable(MyExecutable src/main.cpp) # Link the interface library to the executable target_link_libraries(MyExecutable PRIVATE MyInterface)

CMake C++ interface libraries build system header only