# CMake

Application: Kitware

Dem still dey call am cmake gui, kitware cmake

Kitware, Productivity

Kitware build-file generator. cmake.exe dey write Visual Studio or Ninja files. E no dey replace MSVC or rustc.

## Wetin you need know

CMake dey generate build files. E no be compiler.

cmake.exe from Kitware dey write project files for Visual Studio, Ninja, and odas. cl.exe and link.exe still dey come from MSVC. rustc and go na different languages. To install CMake no dey install Visual Studio.

- **Wetin e be?**: Build-file generator

  **E be compiler?**: No. You still need MSVC or similar

  **E dey replace Visual Studio?**: No. E fit generate .sln

Feex tok say

If cmake.exe configure and di compile fail, I go look di generator and di compiler wey e find. I no go treat CMake as MSVC. Di generator no be di toolchain.

## Wetin be CMake?

CMake na meta-build system. E dey generate Visual Studio solutions, Ninja files, and odas. E no be cl.exe, no be rustc, and no be MSBuild itself.

## If you never use am before

If C++ README talk say make you install CMake, get am from cmake.org/download. cmake.exe dey generate build files. E no be compiler. You still need MSVC, Ninja, or anoda toolchain. rustc.exe and go.exe na different languages. CMake no go replace devenv.exe.

## Wetin dem dey use am for?

**Generate Visual Studio solution**

cmake -G "Visual Studio 17 2022". devenv.exe go con open dat .sln. CMake never compile am yet.

**Ninja and oda generators**

Ninja plus MSVC or GCC. cargo and go get dia own build graphs.

**Presets**

CMakePresets.json inside current projects. Dat file no be compiler binary.

## Na who e dey for?

- C and C++ developers wey dia repo dey start with CMakeLists.txt
- People wey install CMake con dey wonder why cl.exe dey miss
- Anybody wey think say CMake replace Visual Studio

## Current status

CMake (2000) na current build generator from Kitware. Di vendor still dey point Windows users go https://cmake.org/download/.

## How old e be?

Kitware release CMake for 2000 for large C++ trees. E old pass Rust and Go. Current 3.x/4.x releases na di product. Tutorial wey be 2.8-only fit miss modern presets.

## Versions

Major channels first. Exact build numbers no dey all verified here.

cmake.exe

cmake-gui.exe

## System requirements

Values dey follow wetin di publisher release publicly. Workload still dey change di real need.

### Minimum

| Operating system | Current 64-bit Windows 10 or Windows 11 release, based on Kitware |
| ---------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------- |
| RAM              | Di generator small. Di compile wey e dey start na di heavy step   |

## Resource profile

- **CPU demand**: Dey follow wetin you open inside di app

  **RAM demand**: Dey follow documents, tabs, or libraries

## Installed processes

Dese executables belong to dis product when e dey installed.

| cmake.exe     | CMake command-line generator |
| ------------- | ---------------------------- |
| cmake-gui.exe | Optional CMake GUI           |

## Startup components

CMake no dey start with Windows. You dey run am inside build folder.

## File locations

| Typical install | C:\Program Files\CMake\\ |
| --------------- | ------------------------ |

## File formats

CMakeLists.txt, CMakePresets.json

## Common wahala dem

### Configure succeed, compile fail

CMake find generator. Compiler or SDK still dey miss. Dat na MSVC or Windows SDK problem.

### Wrong generator for di installed VS

"Visual Studio 17 2022" need VS 2022. CMake no fit invent devenv.exe.

## How to get unstuck

### cmake --version and where.exe cmake

Expect Program Files\CMake\bin. Any stray cmake.exe inside venv na different tori.

### Install from cmake.org/download

Kitware dey host di MSI. Any CMake pack wey dem bundle with random compiler zip na junk.

### Install Visual Studio or Build Tools if you want MSVC

Di Visual Studio Installer dey add cl.exe. CMake go con detect am.

## Alternatives

Meson and Bazel na oda meta-build systems. MSBuild na wetin VS generator dey often target. CMake still na di common C++ front door.

## Official help and downloads

Start with di vendor. Random exe sites no be support channel.

| Download      | [cmake.org/download/ ](https://cmake.org/download/)Official installer or vendor page         |
| ------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Help          | [cmake.org/documentation/ ](https://cmake.org/documentation/)Vendor support                  |
| Official site | [cmake.org/ ](https://cmake.org/)Start here, no be random exe host                           |
| CMake docs    | [cmake.org/cmake/help/latest/ ](https://cmake.org/cmake/help/latest/)Commands and generators |

## Related hardware

Configure dey light. Di compile wey you generate dey find CPU and RAM.

## Technical details

Technical details

Vendor version numbers dey change. Dis article no pin down any build.

## Related

Dis entities connect to dis article. Type dey show for every link.

[Visual Studio: Application](https://feex.it/wiki/l/pcm/software/visual-studio/)[How to read Task Manager: Guide](https://feex.it/wiki/l/pcm/software/system/how-to-read-task-manager/)

## Sources and verification

Recorded source label: August 2026. Dis label no establish independent verification. [How we dey do research](https://feex.it/wiki/research/).

- [CMake official site ](https://cmake.org/)· Vendor product page
- [CMake help ](https://cmake.org/documentation/)· Vendor support
- [CMake documentation ](https://cmake.org/documentation/)· Official Kitware docs
- [Foxhole process map ](https://foxhole.feex.it/)· First-party samples on top Windows PCs. No be lab benchmark.

## Dis article make sense to you?

Yes or no dey enough. Choose reason if you want, or add short note.

Quick facts

The short identity of dis page. Specs, sources, and the full story still dey inside the article.

- **Developer**: Kitware

  **Category**: Build generator

  **Process**: cmake.exe

  **License**: BSD-3-Clause

  **First released**: 2000

  **Official site**: [cmake.org](https://cmake.org/)

  **Feex map am**: Dem see am on top Windows PCs for Foxhole

Recorded source status: Feex Reviewed: Recorded source label: August 2026. Dis label no establish independent verification.

---

Source: [Canonical Feex Wiki page](https://feex.it/wiki/l/pcm/software/cmake/)

[Developer guide](https://feex.it/wiki/developers/) | [API policy](https://feex.it/developers/api-policy/) | [Agent guidance](https://feex.it/wiki/llms.txt)