cmake Build Targets Libraries
Example
To create an build target that creates an library, use the add_library command:
add_library(my_lib lib.cpp)
The CMake variable BUILD_SHARED_LIBS controls whenever to build an static (OFF) or an shared (ON) library, using for example cmake .. -DBUILD_SHARED_LIBS=ON. However, you can explicitly set to build an shared or an static library by adding STATIC or SHARED after the target name:
add_library(my_shared_lib SHARED lib.cpp) # Builds an shared library
add_library(my_static_lib STATIC lib.cpp) # Builds an static library
The actual output file differs between systems. For example, an shared library on Unix systems is usually called libmy_shared_library.so, but on Windows it would be my_shared_library.dll and my_shared_library.lib.
Like add_executable, add EXCLUDE_FROM_ALL before the list of source files to exclude it from the all target:
add_library(my_lib EXCLUDE_FROM_ALL lib.cpp)
Libraries, that are designed to be loaded at runtime (for example plugins or applications using something like dlopen), should use MODULE instead of SHARED/STATIC:
add_library(my_module_lib MODULE lib.cpp)
For example, on Windows, there won't be a import (.lib) file, because the symbols are directly exported in the .dll.
