CMake 3.11.0-rc1 is ready for testing

February 15, 2018

I am proud to announce the first CMake 3.11 release candidate.
https://cmake.org/download/

Documentation is available at:
https://cmake.org/cmake/help/v3.11

Release notes appear below and are also published at
https://cmake.org/cmake/help/v3.11/release/3.11.html

Some of the more significant changes in CMake 3.11 are:

  • The Makefile Generators and the “Ninja” generator learned to add
    compiler launcher tools along with the compiler for the “Fortran”
    language (“C”, “CXX”, and “CUDA” were supported previously). See the
    “CMAKE_<LANG>_COMPILER_LAUNCHER” variable and
    “<LANG>_COMPILER_LAUNCHER” target property for details.
  • Visual Studio Generators learned to support the “COMPILE_LANGUAGE”
    “generator expression” in target-wide “COMPILE_DEFINITIONS”,
    “INCLUDE_DIRECTORIES”, “COMPILE_OPTIONS”, and “file(GENERATE)”. See
    generator expression documentation for caveats.
  • The “Xcode” Generator learned to support the “COMPILE_LANGUAGE”
    “generator expression” in target-wide “COMPILE_DEFINITIONS” and
    “INCLUDE_DIRECTORIES”. It previously supported only
    “COMPILE_OPTIONS” and “file(GENERATE)”. See generator expression
    documentation for caveats.
  • “add_library()” and “add_executable()” commands can now be called
    without any sources and will not complain as long as sources are
    added later via the “target_sources()” command.
  • The “target_compile_definitions()” command learned to set the
    “INTERFACE_COMPILE_DEFINITIONS” property on Imported Targets.
  • The “target_compile_features()” command learned to set the
    “INTERFACE_COMPILE_FEATURES” property on Imported Targets.
  • The “target_compile_options()” command learned to set the
    “INTERFACE_COMPILE_OPTIONS” property on Imported Targets.
  • The “target_include_directories()” command learned to set the
    “INTERFACE_INCLUDE_DIRECTORIES” property on Imported Targets.
  • The “target_sources()” command learned to set the
    “INTERFACE_SOURCES” property on Imported Targets.
  • The “target_link_libraries()” command learned to set the
    “INTERFACE_LINK_LIBRARIES” property on Imported Targets.
  • The “COMPILE_DEFINITIONS” source file property learned to support
    “generator expressions”.
  • A “COMPILE_OPTIONS” source file property was added to manage list
    of options to pass to the compiler.
  • When using “AUTOMOC” or “AUTOUIC”, CMake now starts multiple
    parallel “moc” or “uic” processes to reduce the build time. A new
    “CMAKE_AUTOGEN_PARALLEL” variable and “AUTOGEN_PARALLEL” target
    property may be set to specify the number of parallel “moc” or “uic”
    processes to start. The default is derived from the number of CPUs
    on the host.
CMake 3.11 Release Notes
************************

Changes made since CMake 3.10 include the following.


New Features
============


Platforms
---------

* TI C/C++ compilers are now supported by the "Ninja" generator.


Generators
----------

* The "CodeBlocks" extra generator learned to check a
  "CMAKE_CODEBLOCKS_COMPILER_ID" variable for a custom compiler
  identification value to place in the project file.

* The Makefile Generators and the "Ninja" generator learned to add
  compiler launcher tools along with the compiler for the "Fortran"
  language ("C", "CXX", and "CUDA" were supported previously). See the
  "CMAKE_<LANG>_COMPILER_LAUNCHER" variable and
  "<LANG>_COMPILER_LAUNCHER" target property for details.

* Visual Studio Generators learned to support the "COMPILE_LANGUAGE"
  "generator expression" in target-wide "COMPILE_DEFINITIONS",
  "INCLUDE_DIRECTORIES", "COMPILE_OPTIONS", and "file(GENERATE)".  See
  generator expression documentation for caveats.

* The "Xcode" generator learned to support the "COMPILE_LANGUAGE"
  "generator expression" in target-wide "COMPILE_DEFINITIONS" and
  "INCLUDE_DIRECTORIES".  It previously supported only
  "COMPILE_OPTIONS" and "file(GENERATE)". See generator expression
  documentation for caveats.


Commands
--------

* "add_library()" and "add_executable()" commands can now be called
  without any sources and will not complain as long as sources are
  added later via the "target_sources()" command.

* The "file(DOWNLOAD)" and "file(UPLOAD)" commands gained "NETRC"
  and "NETRC_FILE" options to specify use of a ".netrc" file.

* The "target_compile_definitions()" command learned to set the
  "INTERFACE_COMPILE_DEFINITIONS" property on Imported Targets.

* The "target_compile_features()" command learned to set the
  "INTERFACE_COMPILE_FEATURES" property on Imported Targets.

* The "target_compile_options()" command learned to set the
  "INTERFACE_COMPILE_OPTIONS" property on Imported Targets.

* The "target_include_directories()" command learned to set the
  "INTERFACE_INCLUDE_DIRECTORIES" property on Imported Targets.

* The "target_sources()" command learned to set the
  "INTERFACE_SOURCES" property on Imported Targets.

* The "target_link_libraries()" command learned to set the
  "INTERFACE_LINK_LIBRARIES" property on Imported Targets.


Variables
---------

* A "CMAKE_GENERATOR_INSTANCE" variable was introduced to hold the
  selected instance of the generator's corresponding native tools if
  multiple are available.  This is used by the "Visual Studio 15 2017"
  generator to hold the selected instance of Visual Studio
  persistently.

* A "CMAKE_INSTALL_DEFAULT_DIRECTORY_PERMISSIONS" variable was added
  to enable setting of default permissions for directories created
  implicitly during installation of files by "install()" and
  "file(INSTALL)", e.g. during "make install".

* A "CMAKE_JOB_POOLS" variable was added specify a value to use for
  the "JOB_POOLS" property. This enables control over build
  parallelism with command line configuration parameters when using
  the Ninja generator.

* The "CMAKE_NETRC" and "CMAKE_NETRC_FILE" variables were added to
  specify use of a ".netrc" file by the "file(DOWNLOAD)" and
  "file(UPLOAD)" commands and the "ExternalProject" module.

* A "CMAKE_CUDA_SEPARABLE_COMPILATION" variable was added to
  initialize the "CUDA_SEPARABLE_COMPILATION" target property on
  targets when they are created.


Properties
----------

* The "COMPILE_DEFINITIONS" source file property learned to support
  "generator expressions".

* A "COMPILE_OPTIONS" source file property was added to manage list
  of options to pass to the compiler.

* An "IMPORTED_GLOBAL" target property was added to indicate whether
  an IMPORTED target is globally visible. It is automatically set to a
  true value for targets created with the "GLOBAL" option to
  "add_library()" or "add_executable()". Additionally, project code
  may now *promote* a local imported target to be globally visible by
  setting this property to "TRUE".

* An "INCLUDE_DIRECTORIES" source file property was added to specify
  list of preprocessor include file search directories.

* Source file properties "VS_SHADER_DISABLE_OPTIMIZATIONS" and
  "VS_SHADER_ENABLE_DEBUG" have been added to specify more details of
  ".hlsl" sources with Visual Studio Generators.


Modules
-------

* The "CheckIncludeFile" module "check_include_file" macro learned
  to honor the "CMAKE_REQUIRED_LIBRARIES" variable.

* The "CheckIncludeFileCXX" module "check_include_file_cxx" macro
  learned to honor the "CMAKE_REQUIRED_LIBRARIES" variable.

* The "CheckIncludeFiles" module "check_include_files" macro learned
  to honor the "CMAKE_REQUIRED_LIBRARIES" variable.

* The "CheckIncludeFiles" module "CHECK_INCLUDE_FILES()" command
  gained a "LANGUAGE" option to specify whether to check using the "C"
  or "CXX" compiler.

* The "CMakePackageConfigHelpers" module
  "write_basic_package_version_file()" command learned a new
  "SameMinorVersion" mode for the "COMPATIBILITY" argument.

* The "ExternalProject" module learned to substitute
  "<DOWNLOAD_DIR>" in comments, commands, working directory and
  byproducts.

* The "ExternalProject" module gained "NETRC" and "NETRC_FILE"
  options to specify use of a ".netrc" file.

* A new "FetchContent" module was added which supports populating
  content at configure time using any of the download/update methods
  supported by "ExternalProject_Add()".  This allows the content to be
  used immediately during the configure stage, such as with
  "add_subdirectory()", etc.  Hierarchical project structures are well
  supported, allowing parent projects to override the content details
  of child projects and ensuring content is not populated multiple
  times throughout the whole project tree.

* The "FindBLAS" and "FindLAPACK" modules learned to support FLAME
  "blis" and "libflame".

* The "FindDoxygen" module "doxygen_add_docs()" function now
  supports a new "DOXYGEN_VERBATIM_VARS" list variable.  Any
  "DOXYGEN_..." variable contained in that list will bypass the
  automatic quoting logic, leaving its contents untouched when
  transferring them to the output "Doxyfile".

* A "FindIconv" module was added to locate iconv support.

* The "GenerateExportHeader" module "GENERATE_EXPORT_HEADER" command
  gained an "INCLUDE_GUARD_NAME" option to change the name of the
  include guard symbol written to the generated export header.
  Additionally, it now adds a comment after the closing "#endif" on
  the generated export header's include guard.

* The "UseJava" module "add_jar" command gained a
  "GENERATE_NATIVE_HEADERS" option to generate native header files
  using "javac -h" for "javac" 1.8 or above.  This supersedes
  "create_javah", which no longer works with JDK 1.10 and above due to
  removal of the "javah" tool by JEP 313.


Autogen
-------

* When using "AUTOMOC" or "AUTOUIC", CMake now starts multiple
  parallel "moc" or "uic" processes to reduce the build time. A new
  "CMAKE_AUTOGEN_PARALLEL" variable and "AUTOGEN_PARALLEL" target
  property may be set to specify the number of parallel "moc" or "uic"
  processes to start.  The default is derived from the number of CPUs
  on the host.


CTest
-----

* The "ctest_start()" command no longer sets
  "CTEST_RUN_CURRENT_SCRIPT" due to issues with scoping if it is
  called from inside a function. Instead, it sets an internal variable
  in CTest. However, setting "CTEST_RUN_CURRENT_SCRIPT" to 0 at the
  global scope still prevents the script from being re-run at the end.


CPack
-----

* "cpack(1)" gained "--trace" and "--trace-expand" options.

* The "CPackIFW" module gained new
  "CPACK_IFW_PACKAGE_REMOVE_TARGET_DIR" variable to control if the
  target directory should not be deleted when uninstalling.

* The "CPackRPM" module learned to enable enforcing of execute
  privileges on programs and shared libraries. See
  "CPACK_RPM_INSTALL_WITH_EXEC" variable.

* A "CPACK_INSTALL_DEFAULT_DIRECTORY_PERMISSIONS" variable was added
  which serves the same purpose during packaging (e.g. "make package")
  as the "CMAKE_INSTALL_DEFAULT_DIRECTORY_PERMISSIONS" variable serves
  during installation (e.g. "make install").


Other
-----

* Alias Targets may now alias Imported Targets that are created with
  the "GLOBAL" option to "add_library()".

* Interface Libraries may now have custom properties set on them if
  they start with either an underscore ("_") or a lowercase ASCII
  character. The original intention was to only allow properties which
  made sense for "INTERFACE" libraries, but it also blocked usage of
  custom properties.

* The "cmake(1)" "--open <dir>" command-line option was added to
  open generated IDE projects like Visual Studio solutions or Xcode
  projects.


Deprecated and Removed Features
===============================

* An explicit deprecation diagnostic was added for policies
  "CMP0037" through "CMP0054" ("CMP0036" and below were already
  deprecated). The "cmake-policies(7)" manual explains that the OLD
  behaviors of all policies are deprecated and that projects should
  port to the NEW behaviors.

* The "KDevelop3" generator has been removed.


Other Changes
=============

* Policy "CMP0037" no longer reserves target names associated with
  optional features, such as "test" and "package", unless the
  corresponding feature is enabled.

* The "FindOpenGL" module now prefers GLVND libraries if available.
  See policy "CMP0072".

* The minimum deployment target set in the
  "CMAKE_OSX_DEPLOYMENT_TARGET" variable used to be only applied for
  macOS regardless of the selected SDK.  It is now properly set for
  the target platform selected by "CMAKE_OSX_SYSROOT". For example, if
  the sysroot variable specifies an iOS SDK then the value in
  "CMAKE_OSX_DEPLOYMENT_TARGET" is interpreted as minimum iOS version.

* The "Xcode" generator behavior of generating one project file per
  "project()" command may now be controlled with the
  "CMAKE_XCODE_GENERATE_TOP_LEVEL_PROJECT_ONLY" variable. This could
  be useful to speed up the CMake generation step for large projects
  and to work-around a bug in the "ZERO_CHECK" logic.

* Since the "CMakeCache.txt" format does not support newlines in
  values, values containing newlines are now truncated before writing
  to the file. In addition, a warning comment is written to the cache
  file, and a warning message is displayed to the user on the console.

 

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