CMake 3.7 Release Notes — CMake 4.2.6 Documentation

# CMake 3.7 Release Notes

Changes made since CMake 3.6 include the following.

## New Features

### Platforms

- CMake now supports Cross Compiling for Android with simple toolchain files.

- The Clang compiler is now supported on AIX.

### Generators

- The `Ninja` generator learned to conditionally support Fortran when using a `ninja` tool that has the necessary features. See generator documentation for details.

- The `Ninja` generator learned to produce phony targets of the form `sub/dir/{test,install,package}` to drive the build of a subdirectory installation, test or packaging target. This is equivalent to `cd sub/dir; make {test,install,package}` with Makefile Generators.

- The `Visual Studio 15 2017` generator was added. This is experimental and based on "Visual Studio 2017 RC" because this version of VS has not been released.

- Visual Studio Generators for VS 2010 and above learned to place `.natvis` source files into VS project files properly.

- The `Xcode` generator's rudimentary Swift language support learned to honor a new `CMAKE_Swift_LANGUAGE_VERSION` variable to tell Xcode what version of Swift is used by the source.

- The `CodeLite` generator gained a new `CMAKE_CODELITE_USE_TARGETS` option to change project creation from projects to targets.

### Commands

- The `add_custom_command()` command gained a new `DEPFILE` option that works with the `Ninja` generator to provide implicit dependency information to the build tool.

- The `cmake_parse_arguments()` command gained a new `PARSE_ARGV` mode to read arguments directly from `ARGC` and `ARGV#` variables inside a `function()` body.

- The `export()` command gained an `ANDROID_MK` option to generate `Android.mk` files referencing CMake-built libraries as prebuilts for the Android NDK build system.

- The `file(DOWNLOAD)` and `file(UPLOAD)` commands gained `HTTPHEADER <HTTP-header>` and `USERPWD <username>:<password>` options.

- The `find_library()` and `find_package()` commands learned to search in `lib32/` directories when the build targets a 32-bit architecture. See the `FIND_LIBRARY_USE_LIB32_PATHS` global property.

- The `find_package()` command gained the possibility of sorting compatible libraries by `NAME` or by `NATURAL` sorting by setting the two new variables `CMAKE_FIND_PACKAGE_SORT_ORDER` and `CMAKE_FIND_PACKAGE_SORT_DIRECTION`.

- The `if()` command gained new boolean comparison operations `LESS_EQUAL`, `GREATER_EQUAL`, `STRLESS_EQUAL`, `STRGREATER_EQUAL`, `VERSION_LESS_EQUAL`, and `VERSION_GREATER_EQUAL`.

- The `install()` command gained an `EXPORT_ANDROID_MK` subcommand to install `Android.mk` files referencing installed libraries as prebuilts for the Android NDK build system.

- The `string(TIMESTAMP)` and `file(TIMESTAMP)` commands gained support for the `%a` and `%b` placeholders. These are the abbreviated weekday and month names.

- The `try_compile()` command source file signature now honors configuration-specific flags (e.g. `CMAKE_<LANG>_FLAGS_DEBUG`) in the generated test project. Previously only the default such flags for the current toolchain were used. See policy `CMP0066`.

### Variables

- Variable `CMAKE_FIND_PACKAGE_SORT_ORDER` was added to control the sorting mode of the `find_package()` command.

- Variable `CMAKE_FIND_PACKAGE_SORT_DIRECTION` was added to control the sorting direction the `find_package()` command.

- `Toolchain files` may now set a `CMAKE_<LANG>_FLAGS_INIT` variable to initialize the `CMAKE_<LANG>_FLAGS` cache entry the first time a language is enabled in a build tree.

- `Toolchain files` may now set `CMAKE_EXE_LINKER_FLAGS_INIT`, `CMAKE_SHARED_LINKER_FLAGS_INIT`, and `CMAKE_MODULE_LINKER_FLAGS_INIT` variables to initialize the `CMAKE_EXE_LINKER_FLAGS`, `CMAKE_SHARED_LINKER_FLAGS`, and `CMAKE_MODULE_LINKER_FLAGS` cache entries the first time a language is enabled in a build tree.

### Properties

- On Apple platforms the `BUNDLE_EXTENSION` target property now also applies to Frameworks and App Bundles.

- A `BINARY_DIR` directory property was added to get the absolute path to the binary directory corresponding to the source directory on which the property is read.

- A `BUILDSYSTEM_TARGETS` directory property was added to get the list of logical buildsystem target names added by the project in a directory.

- A `LINK_WHAT_YOU_USE` target property and supporting `CMAKE_LINK_WHAT_YOU_USE` variable were introduced to detect (on UNIX) shared libraries that are linked but not needed by running `ldd -r -u`.

- A `SOURCE_DIR` directory property was added to get the absolute path to the source directory associated with a directory.

- A `SUBDIRECTORIES` directory property was added to get the list of subdirectories added by a project in a directory.

- A `VS_SDK_REFERENCES` target property was added to tell Visual Studio Generators to reference the named SDKs.

- A `VS_TOOL_OVERRIDE` source file property was created to tell Visual Studio Generators what tool to use for a source file.

- The `WINDOWS_EXPORT_ALL_SYMBOLS` target property now applies to executable targets with the `ENABLE_EXPORTS` property set.

- A `XCODE_FILE_ATTRIBUTES` source file property was added to tell the `Xcode` generator to generate custom content in the Xcode project attributes for the file.

### Modules

- An `AndroidTestUtilities` module was added to manage transfer of test data to an Android device.

- The `CheckFortranSourceCompiles` module command `check_fortran_source_compiles()` gained a `SRC_EXT` option to specify a custom test Fortran source file extension.

- The `ExternalProject` module gained `HTTP_USERNAME` and `HTTP_PASSWORD` options to set http download credentials.

- The `ExternalProject` module gained a `HTTP_HEADER` option to add http download headers.

- The `FindBISON` module `bison_target()` command learned a new `REPORT_FILE` option to specify the bison `--report-file=` option.

- The `FindBZip2` module now provides imported targets.

- A `FindICU` module was introduced to find the International Components for Unicode (ICU) libraries and programs.

- The `FindMatlab` module learned to find the SIMULINK and MAT components.

- The `FindMatlab` module `matlab_add_mex()` command learned to add executables and modules.

- The `FindMatlab` module `matlab_add_unit_test()` command learned to support inline Matlab test code.

- The `FindOpenCL` module now provides imported targets.

- The `FindOpenMP` module learned to detect the OpenMP version (specification date) from the compiler.

- A `FindVulkan` module was added.

- The `GenerateExportHeader` module learned a new `CUSTOM_CONTENT_FROM_VARIABLE` option to specify a variable containing custom content for inclusion in the generated header.

- The `GNUInstallDirs` module gained a new `GNUInstallDirs_get_absolute_install_dir()` command.

- The `UseJava` module gained APIs to "export" jar targets for use by external CMake projects. See the `install_jar_exports` and `export_jars` functions.

### CTest

- CTest now supports test fixtures through the new `FIXTURES_SETUP`, `FIXTURES_CLEANUP` and `FIXTURES_REQUIRED` test properties. When using regular expressions or `--rerun-failed` to limit the tests to be run, a fixture's setup and cleanup tests will automatically be added to the execution set if any test requires that fixture.

- The `ctest_configure()`, `ctest_build()`, `ctest_test()`, `ctest_coverage()`, and `ctest_upload()` commands gained a new `CAPTURE_CMAKE_ERROR` option to capture any errors that occur as the commands run into a variable and avoid affecting the return code of the `ctest(1)` process.

### CPack

- CPack gained a `CPack productbuild Generator` on OS X.

- CPack gained a new `CPACK_PACKAGE_CHECKSUM` variable to enable generation of a checksum file for each package file.

- The `CPack DEB Generator` learned to support long file names when archive format is set to GNU tar. See `CPACK_DEBIAN_ARCHIVE_TYPE`

- The `CPackIFW` module gained a new `cpack_ifw_add_package_resources()` command to include additional resources in the installer binary.

- The `CPackIFW` module `cpack_ifw_configure_component()` and `cpack_ifw_configure_component_group()` commands gained a new `USER_INTERFACES` option to add a list of additional pages to the IFW installer.

- The `CPack RPM Generator` learned to generate debuginfo packages on demand. See `CPACK_RPM_DEBUGINFO_PACKAGE` and its per component version.

- The `CPack RPM Generator` learned to generate source rpm (SRPM) packages on demand. See `CPACK_RPM_PACKAGE_SOURCES`, `CPACK_RPM_SOURCE_PKG_BUILD_PARAMS` and `CPACK_RPM_SOURCE_PKG_PACKAGING_INSTALL_PREFIX`.

- The `CPack NSIS Generator` now supports `CPACK_NSIS_<compName>_INSTALL_DIRECTORY`. This can be used to set component specific installation directories.

- The `CPack WIX Generator` now supports `CPACK_WIX_SKIP_PROGRAM_FOLDER` to allow specification of a custom absolute installation prefix outside of the ProgramFiles folders.

- The `CPack WIX Generator` now supports `CPACK_COMPONENT_<compName>_DISABLED`. This can be used to deselect a component from being installed by default.

- The `CPack WIX Generator` now supports `CPACK_WIX_PATCH_FILE` fragments for Feature elements.

- The `CPack WIX Generator` now supports `CPACK_WIX_ROOT_FEATURE_TITLE` and `CPACK_WIX_ROOT_FEATURE_DESCRIPTION` to allow the specification of a custom title and description for the root feature element.

### Other

- `cmake(1)` gained a `-E capabilities` option to provide a machine-readable (JSON) description of the capabilities of the cmake tool (available generators, etc.).

- A new `cmake-server(7)` mode was added to provide semantic information about a CMake-generated buildsystem to clients through a JSON protocol. Currently all protocols are experimental and subject to change.

- The `cmake(1)` command learned a `--trace-source=<file>` option.

- `ccmake(1)` learned to support vim-like navigation bindings.

- `cmake-gui(1)` gained a button to open the generated project file for Visual Studio Generators and the `Xcode` generator.

## Deprecated and Removed Features

- We no longer provide Linux i386 binaries for download from `cmake.org` for new versions of CMake.

- Vim support files `cmake-indent.vim`, `cmake-syntax.vim`, and `cmake-help.vim` have been removed in favor of the files now provided from the vim-cmake-syntax project.

- Support for building CMake itself with some compilers was dropped:

  - Visual Studio 7.1 and 2005 -- superseded by VS 2008 and above

  - MinGW.org mingw32 -- superseded by MSYS2 mingw32 and mingw64

  CMake still supports generating build systems for other projects using these compilers.

## Other Changes

- The Fortran dependency scanner learned to support the syntax of Fortran Submodules.

- Vim support files `indent/cmake.vim` and `syntax/cmake.vim` from the vim-cmake-syntax project are now distributed with CMake.