[CMake] target_sources vs. PUBLIC_HEADER for libraries

[Alex Turbov]

Hi,

On Fri, Oct 11, 2019 at 9:33 PM Michael Ellery <mellery451 at gmail.com> wrote:

> I’d like to make sure I understand two different aspects of header files
> management for libraries:
>
> (1) typically you can add header files to target_sources, but it’s only
> helpful for IDEs..so that the IDE will show the header files in its sources
> list, correct?. In theory, cmake does not actually need header files
> explicitly specified for dependency tracking, although I guess listing them
> makes it explicit.
>

yep, correct


> (2) setting the PUBLIC_HEADER property for a target then makes header
> files available for installation via the PUBLIC_HEADER destination. Is this
> the preferred way to install the library interface/public headers? How do
> you handle a header directory hierarchy — for example maybe you have detail
> and impl subdirectories if you are following boost/stdlib conventions.
>
>
Nowadays this feature useless if you have a directory hierarchy %( So
pity...


> I found Craig’s article about target_sources very helpful (
> https://crascit.com/2016/01/31/enhanced-source-file-handling-with-target_sources/),
> but I don’t think it addresses the PUBLIC_HEADER installation use case.
>

Yep, it describes a trivial ("Hello World" level) projects.

Some time ago I've started a discussion about improvements to
`target_sources` addressed to resolve directory hierarchy install problem,
but it ends w/ no outcome... %(


> Thanks,
> Mike Ellery
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