- Make is targeted at a single platform, while CMake allows for cross-platform projects by generating build systems tailored to the environment.
- CMake provides automation and ease of maintenance, especially in large or collaborative projects, by simplifying the management of complex dependencies and configurations.
- Both tools have their place: Make is ideal for small or very specific projects, while CMake is the modern and versatile option for most current scenarios.
Today, efficient software project construction management is a central issue in any development environment, especially as projects grow in size and complexity. If you are a student, professional or simply an enthusiast of programming, you've probably come across tools like Make and CMakeAlthough both aim to make the compilation and construction process easier, their approaches, history, and capabilities are quite different.
A thorough understanding of the differences between CMake and Make can make all the difference when choosing the best option for your project. Many people, searching forums and articles, wonder which of these two tools is better, when to use one or the other, and how to make the most of their features. In this article, we offer a detailed, clear, and up-to-date comparison of CMake and Make, integrating both technical information and practical aspects so you can make informed decisions for your next development.
What is the build process and what role do Make and CMake play?
The compilation process in software development consists of transforming the source code into something that the computer can execute directly., whether it is an executable or a library. This process involves tasks such as preprocessed (for example, macro interpretation in C/C++), compilation (translation to machine code) and linked (union of different modules and libraries to create the final product).
Make and CMake are tools that automate software building., helping to avoid human error, save time, and ensure that the necessary steps are always performed consistently. Without them, we would have to manually execute a long series of commands Every time we want to compile our project, checking dependencies and relationships between files.
Origin and evolution of Make
Make is one of the oldest and most iconic build tools in the ecosystem Unix. It emerged in the 70s to simplify the then cumbersome and error-prone process of compiling and linking programs written in C and other languages. Previously, developers had to compile each file by hand, which could be chaotic on larger projects.
The key to Make is the 'Makefile', a text file that describes how to create the different components of the project from the source files.. This file details what depends on what y how each part should be built, so that Make only recompiles what has actually changed, optimizing There of construction.
However, Make was born in an era where Unix predominated. and development environments were much less varied than they are today. This meant that Makefiles were, in many cases, platform- and compiler-specific. For cross-platform projects, it soon became impractical to maintain and adapt Makefiles manually.
CMake: The leap to cross-platform and flexibility
CMake emerged in 2000 as a response to the growing complexity and diversity of development environments.. Where a Unix-specific Makefile had previously been sufficient, solutions that worked on Unix were now needed. Windows, macOS, Linux and other systems, using different compilers and development environments.
CMake is not a build system itself, but rather a 'build system generator'Its mission is to translate an abstract, cross-platform project description (stored in 'CMakeLists.txt') into environment-specific build files: Makefiles, Visual Studio projects, Ninja files, etc.
In this way, CMake allows a single configuration file to be sufficient to build the same project on different platforms and environments., saving considerable work and making life much easier if you have to collaborate with people who use OS different.
How do Make and CMake work step by step?
The traditional workflow with Make
The workflow with Make is straightforward but demanding.: The developer must create a Makefile tailored to the project and platform. This Makefile describes all the steps and dependencies, and when invoked from the console, Make will be responsible for executing the correct commands and keeping the generated files up to date with minimal rebuilds.
A typical Makefile in a C++ project might have entries like:
- 'main.o' depends on 'main.cpp'
- 'age.o' depends on 'age.cpp'
- 'hello_age' depends on both objects, which are linked to produce the executable
When you run 'make', it will analyze the dependencies and only recompile what has actually changed., reducing the time and resources needed for large projects.
The CMake process: generation and compilation
Working with CMake involves two main stages. First, a 'CMakeLists.txt' file is created, which defines the project requirements, source files, executables, libraries, and possible dependencies. This file is much more compact and easier to maintain than a traditional Makefile, especially in large projects or those with complex structures.
Then, running CMake (from the command line, or using its graphical interface) generates the necessary files for your preferred build system: Makefiles for Unix, Visual Studio projects on Windows, etc. The flow is:
- CMake interprets the CMakeLists.txt and generates the appropriate build system for the platform..
- The user runs the generated build system (e.g., Make or MSBuild) to compile and link the project..
The big advantage is that by changing just one parameter or running CMake on another system, you generate the necessary files for another platform without having to write everything from scratch or worry about the differences between environments..
Detailed Comparison: Key Differences and Similarities
1. Cross-platform vs. Single platform
One of the most notable differences is that Make is intended for a single system and environment, while CMake is inherently cross-platform.With CMake you can generate:
- Makefiles for Unix and GNU systems
- Projects for Visual Studio (NMAKE, MSBuild)
- Ninja Build Files
- XCode Projects for macOS
- And other formats for integrated development environments (IDEs)
This means that CMake is the preferred choice when your project must be easily portable between various operating systems, compilers and editors.You could do it with Make, but you'd have to maintain several Makefiles tailored to each case yourself, which increases the likelihood of errors and maintenance time.
2. Philosophy and workflow: automation and generation
Make requires the user to write and maintain a specific Makefile, which can be very laborious in large projects or with many variations. As complexity increases, the Makefile grows in size and becomes more difficult to maintain, especially if you have to support multiple platforms.
CMake introduces a much higher level of abstraction and automation: From a common CMakeLists.txt for all platforms, the Makefiles or specific projects required by your environment are generated. This not only saves work but also drastically reduces errors and inconsistencies.
In addition, CMake allows easy integration with testing systems (CTest), packaging (CPack) and continuous integration dashboards (CDash), facilitating the management of modern projects that must be automatically tested and deployed in different environments.
Which tool should you choose in each case?
If your project is small, you are only going to compile it on Linux and you are looking for something straightforward, Make may be enough.. But, if you want portability, ease of maintenance, scalability, integration with IDEs and automated testing, CMake is clearly the winning choice in most current scenarios.
Additionally, if you have developers working on different operating systems on your team, choosing CMake will eliminate a multitude of problems and improve collaboration..
Real-life use cases and migration
Many modern Open Source projects (e.g., scientific libraries, graphics engines, network utilities) have migrated their build systems to CMake., replacing manual Makefiles or older scripts (autotools, nmake, etc.). This migration is due to the ease of incorporating new platforms, managing dependencies, and automating testing and deployments.
Even very popular IDEs, such as Visual Studio, have incorporated native support for CMake, allowing you to open and compile projects directly from 'CMakeLists.txt' files without any intermediate steps.
The choice between Make and CMake will depend on the size and scope of your project, as well as the platforms you want to work on, but understanding their differences and strengths will help you make the best decision and move in the right direction for your software development. With the constant evolution of cross-platform development and the growing demands for automation, CMake is consolidating as the modern and versatile solution that more and more teams and communities are adopting.
Passionate writer about the world of bytes and technology in general. I love sharing my knowledge through writing, and that's what I'll do on this blog, show you all the most interesting things about gadgets, software, hardware, tech trends, and more. My goal is to help you navigate the digital world in a simple and entertaining way.