[CMake] How to integrate autoconf based library into my cmake build tree

Mon Mar 1 03:35:23 EST 2010

Michael Wild wrote:
> On 1. Mar, 2010, at 4:10 , Albert Z wrote:
>
>   
>> I just found that unless I explicitly include ExternalProject.cmak in my
>> cmake build, cmake won't find command "ExternalProject_Add", which is pretty
>> weird for me.
>> include(/usr/local/share/cmake-2.8/Modules/ExternalProject.cmake)
>>     
>
> Again:
>
> include(ExternalProject)
>
> will do... But then, the man-pages would tell you that.
>   
The

ExternalProject.cmake contains the function ExternalProject_Add ... so 
you have to explicitly include it to have the function defined.

>   
>> And now the problem is that if I use the following cmake script to build apr
>>
>>   ExternalProject_Add(${LIB_NAME}
>>     PREFIX /home/xxx/prj/trunk/external/apr/1.3.9
>>     SOURCE_DIR /home/xxx/prj/trunk/external/apr/1.3.9
>>     CONFIGURE_COMMAND /home/xxx/prj/trunk/external/apr/1.3.9/configure
>> --enable-static --disable-shared --disable-ipv6
>>     BINARY_DIR "/home/xxx/prj/trunk/external/apr/1.3.9/.libs/"
>>     BUILD_COMMAND make all
>>   )
>>
>>     
>
> You most probably don't want to use hard-coded paths, but something relative to either CMAKE_SOURCE_DIR or CMAKE_BINARY_DIR.
>   
Correct, otherwise you ' ll have to change your cmake code whan move the
stuff
>
>   
>> CMake complains
>>
>>  error: no download info for 'apr' -- please specify existing SOURCE_DIR or
>>  one of URL, CVS_REPOSITORY and CVS_MODULE, SVN_REPOSITORY or
>>  DOWNLOAD_COMMAND
>>
>> I have already specified the SOURCE_DIR, and I do not want the library is
>> downloaded online. Is it a bug of CMake? Or I have done something wrong?
>>     
>
> Does SOURCE_DIR exist and contain the apr sources?
>
> If I was you, I'd prefer to specify a URL to a tar-ball on the local system (e.g. ${CMAKE_SOURCE_DIR}/external/apr-1.3.9.tgz), point SOURCE_DIR to ${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR}/external/apr and then let CMake to the rest.
>   
If your source is alredy complete, try setting up DOWNLOAD_COMMAND ""
Anyway, I agree it would be probably better specifying a URL (either
local or remote) like
URL http://apache.fastbull.org/apr/apr-1.3.9.tar.gz and let him do: it
is cleaner and easier.

Then if you have mods, you can specify a PATCH_COMMAND to apply your patches
If apr configure must be run in-source, specify

BUILD_IN_SOURCE 1

But in that case, if you do not have a download step, your source will 
be cluttered, so another good reason
to specify a URL

I' ll probably would add some configure based libs to my deps, If you 
are interested, I' ll let you know.

Luigi

> Also, I might be wrong, but are you building in-source? If so, please don't and read http://www.cmake.org/Wiki/CMake_FAQ#Out-of-source_build_trees.
>
> Michael
>
>   
>> On Sun, Feb 28, 2010 at 5:45 PM, Albert Z <amzproject at gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>>     
>>> Thanks, Luigi. However, I read the CMake 2.8 doc and tried to use function
>>> "ExternalProject_Add". When I ran cmake in the root of my project, I got the
>>> following error
>>>
>>> Unknown CMake command "ExternalProject_Add"
>>>
>>> I tried on both linux and mac and got the same error. And I am sure the
>>> version of the cmake is 2.8
>>>
>>> Best,
>>> Meng
>>>
>>>
>>> On Sun, Feb 28, 2010 at 4:50 AM, Luigi Calori <l.calori at cineca.it> wrote:
>>>
>>>       
>>>> Albert Z wrote:
>>>>
>>>>         
>>>>> Hello,
>>>>> Our project now uses a bunch of 3rd party libraries such as apr,
>>>>> protobuf, libcurl, etc. Almost all of these libraries use autoconf (
>>>>> configure.in <http://configure.in>) based build system. Since we have
>>>>> some modifications to most of the libraries, we have to integrate these
>>>>> libraries to our cmake build tree. What is the easiest way to integrate such
>>>>> a 3rd-party library to a cmake build with keeping the maximum portability?
>>>>>
>>>>>           
>>>> Try to look at ExternalProject module
>>>> http://www.cmake.org/cmake/help/cmake-2-8-docs.html#module:ExternalProject
>>>> and page 10 of
>>>> http://www.kitware.com/products/archive/kitware_quarterly1009.pdf
>>>>
>>>> I have used it (with some mods): it allow to automate download
>>>> pactch,build and install)
>>>> Anyway, curl have recently included a CMakeLists in its distribution. I
>>>> have used it even if had to apply some patches.
>>>> I am trying to collect some cmake build recipes for some libraries I need.
>>>> If you are interested, grab the stuff at
>>>> bzr branch http://3d.cineca.it/storage/bazaar_repo/CmakeDeps/lib
>>>>
>>>> HTH
>>>>
>>>> Luigi
>>>>
>>>> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>>>         
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>>>>>           
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>>>>         
>>>       
>> _______________________________________________
>> Powered by www.kitware.com
>>
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>>
>> Please keep messages on-topic and check the CMake FAQ at: http://www.cmake.org/Wiki/CMake_FAQ
>>
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>
>
>
>   