[CMake] Question about find_library()

[Alexander Neundorf]

On Friday 27 March 2009, Philip Lowman wrote:
> On Thu, Mar 26, 2009 at 10:23 PM, Robert Dailey <rcdailey at gmail.com> wrote:
> > I'm assuming that the macro in question will automatically mark all cache
> > variables as advanced. Is this the case?
> >
> > @Mike Jackson
> > Thank you for this info. I forgot about that function.
> >
> > There seems to be an inconsistency in naming convention. For example, the
> > set() function uses the term INTERNAL to represent a "hidden" cache
> > variable. However, the function mark_as_advanced() is using the term
> > "advanced". What I would like to see is one of the following pairs:
> >
> > set( CACHE ADVANCED )
> > mark_as_advanced()
> >
> >  - OR -
> >
> > set( CACHE INTERNAL )
> > mark_as_internal()
> >
> > Does this make sense, or am I misunderstanding the difference between the
> > two?
>
> You can consider INTERNAL "super advanced".  It won't get shown in the
> cache editor at all.  I think if you want an internal cache variable it
> probably should be created as an INTERNAL.  In general you probably want to
> avoid using INTERNAL unless you really need it.  Think of INTERNAL as a
> friendlier way to use set(...FORCE CACHE).  Basically you're setting a
> cache variable you want to be persistent, but you don't want to confuse the
> user into thinking they have a choice in changing it.
>
> Marking a variable as advanced is more of a discretionary thing.  Generally
> when writing a find module a good rule of thumb is do not
> mark_as_advanced() by default.  Generally, leave the user calling
> find_package() to do this and assume they care about the location of the
> library.

I think I have to object here.
AFAIK the CMake devs prefer to basically use mark_as_advanced() by default for 
all results from find_library/program/path/file() in find-modules, and only 
keep those entries visible in the simple view which should be 
user-adjustable.
E.g. for FindQt4.cmake I think the only non-advanced variable is 
QT_QMAKE_EXECUTABLE, since this is the one which basically decides about all 
other variables.
Or options which adjust how the project will be built should be non-advanced.

Alex