CMAKE creating an additional directory in the build file

Question

My current project structure looks like this:

Project
      --src/
           --CMakeLists.txt 
           --Graph.cpp
           --Graph.hpp
           --main.cpp
      --build/
      --CMakeLists.txt

The CMakeLists.txt in the Project folder lookalike this:

cmake_minimum_required(VERSION 3.18)

project(GRAPHTHEORY VERSION 1.0.0)

set (CMAKE_CXX_STANDARD 17)

add_subdirectory(src)

the CMakeLists.txt in src file looks like this:


add_library(Graph Graph.hpp Graph.cpp)

add_executable(graph_theory main.cpp)

target_link_libraries(graph_theory PRIVATE Graph )

When I go into the build/ directory, and run cmake .. and then make, the executable graph_theory is in a new src/ directory within build

I am not sure why a new src/ directory is being created in my `build/' directory.

Edit:

So what I was trying to do is replicate running

cmake -S src/ -B build/ from Project directory.

When I do the above and then cd into build/ and then run make, the executable is created in build/ directory.

it holds the build files related to the source files in the src directory? — Stack Exchange Broke The Law
– Stack Exchange Broke The Law, Commented Jan 15, 2021 at 17:36
@user253751 is there a way for the executable to appear in the build directory directly? I mean so what I am describing is expected behavior? — Morpheus
– Morpheus, Commented Jan 15, 2021 at 17:37

Guillaume Racicot · Accepted Answer · 2021-01-15 17:43:04Z

2

Build artifacts and cache is kept in a directory that reflect the subdirectory you added in CMake with the add_subdirectory command.

However, you can change where the final target end up by changing the default value of RUNTIME_OUTPUT_DIRECTORY. For example, this code will put it in the bin directory:

set_target_properties(graph_theory
PROPERTIES
    RUNTIME_OUTPUT_DIRECTORY "${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR}/bin/"
)

answered Jan 15, 2021 at 17:43

Guillaume Racicot

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1 Comment

Morpheus Over a year ago

Thanks a lot! I added some additional info and the reason why I was doing this in the first place.

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