cmkr, pronounced "cmaker", is a modern build system based on CMake and TOML.

cmkr parses cmake.toml files and generates a modern, idiomatic CMakeLists.txt for you. A minimal example:

[project]
name = "cmkr_for_beginners"
[target.hello_world]
type = "executable"
sources = ["src/main.cpp"]

cmkr can bootstrap itself and you only need CMake and a C++ compiler to use it.

To get started, run the following commands from your project directory:

curl https://raw.githubusercontent.com/build-cpp/cmkr/main/cmake/cmkr.cmake -o cmkr.cmake
cmake -P cmkr.cmake

After the bootstrapping process finishes, customize cmake.toml for your project and run CMake:

cmake -B build
cmake --build build

Once bootstrapped, cmkr does not introduce extra steps to your workflow. After modifying cmake.toml you simply build/configure your CMake project and cmkr will automatically regenerate CMakeLists.txt when necessary.

_{Note: The cmake.toml project file, generated CMakeLists.txt and cmkr.cmake bootstrapping script are all intended to be added to source control.}

In CI environments the cmkr bootstrapping process is skipped, so there is no additional overhead in your pipelines.

Another way to get started is to use the cmkr_for_beginners template repository. Either open it in Gitpod, or clone the repository and run:

cmake -B build
cmake --build build

Check out the cmkr topic, the build-cpp organization or the tests for more examples and templates.

Optionally you can put a cmkr release in your PATH and use it as a utility from the command line:

Usage: cmkr [arguments]
arguments:
    init    [executable|library|shared|static|interface] Create a project.
    gen                                                  Generates CMakeLists.txt file.
    build   <extra cmake args>                           Run cmake and build.
    install                                              Run cmake --install.
    clean                                                Clean the build directory.
    help                                                 Show help.
    version                                              Current cmkr version.

• gulrak/filesystem
• Tessil/ordered-map
• ToruNiina/toml11
• mpark/variant
• SVG Repo Hammer
• can1357 for buying cmkr.build ❤️
• JustasMasiulis for fixing the dark theme ❤️