CMake | Qt Creator Manual
Description: CMake is an alternative to qmake for automating the generation of build systems.

- Qt Creator Manual
- CMake
- Qt Creator Manual 13.0.1

Reference

# CMake

CMake automates the configuration of build systems. It controls the software compilation process by using simple configuration files, called `CMakeLists.txt` files. CMake generates native build configurations and workspaces that you can use in the compiler environment of your choice.

You can use CMake from Qt Creator to build applications for the desktop, as well as mobile and embedded devices. Or, build single files to test your changes.

## Supported CMake Versions

Qt Creator requires CMake's file-based API, and therefore you'll need CMake version 3.14, or later.

For systems with older versions of CMake, only workarounds are available:

- For CMake version 3.5 or later, generate a compilation database and open that in Qt Creator, as described in Use compilation databases.
- Create an ad-hoc project file for a qmake build using `qmake -project` and open that in Qt Creator. Typically, you cannot compile such projects without manual changes.
- Manually create an ad-hoc project file for a generic project and open that in Qt Creator. Typically, you cannot compile such projects without manual changes.

See also Configure projects for building, Configure projects for running, How To: Build with CMake, CMake Build Configuration, Debug CMake project files, Deploying to Remote Linux, Open projects, and Use compilation databases.

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